A Bite Above the Rest by Christine Virnig

A Bite Above the Rest by Christine Virnig

Release: August 6, 2024

Format: Ebook
Publisher: ‎Aladdin
Source: TBR and Beyond Tours
Find it at: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

A boy moves to a Halloween-themed town only to realize there may be more to the tourist trap than meets the eye in this fast-paced romp of a middle grade novel perfect for fans of The Last Kids on Earth and Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library!

When Caleb’s mom decides they are moving to her childhood home in Wisconsin, Caleb is not thrilled. Moving schools, states, and time zones would be bad enough, but Mom’s hometown is Samhain, a small and ridiculously kitschy place where every day is Halloween.

Caleb is not a fan of Halloween when it only happens once a year, so Halloween-obsessed Samhain is really not the place for him. How is he supposed to cope with kids wearing costumes to school every single day ? And how about the fact that the mayor is so committed to the bit that City Hall is only open from sundown to sunup to accommodate his so-called vampirism? Sure enough, Caleb becomes an outcast at school for refusing to play along with the spooky tradition like the other sixth graders. Luckily, he manages to find a friend in fellow misfit Tai, and just in time, because things are getting weird in Samhain…or make that weird er .

But there’s no way the mayor is an actual vampire, and their teacher absolutely cannot really be a werewolf—right? Caleb discovers Samhain is so much stranger than he ever could have imagined. As one of the only people who realizes what’s happening, can he save a town that doesn’t want saving?

About the Author:

Christine Virnig is a former physician who now spends her time writing gross-but-educational middle grade nonfiction, spooky-but-funny middle
grade novels, and picture books that feature inanimate objects as the main characters. Her three books to date include: A Bite Above the Rest, Dung for Dinner, and Waist-Deep in Dung.

Website | Instagram | Goodreads

A Bite Above the Rest Review:

As someone who grew up with R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps series, “A Bite Above the Rest” brought back fond memories for me.

First and foremost, I was captivated by the author’s writing style, which is impressive for a debut fiction novel. The story’s whimsical tone makes it enjoyable and suitable for children despite involving themes like vampires and werewolves. The narrative is delightfully campy and fun, keeping readers guessing about the mysterious happenings in Samhain and how Caleb and Tai will tackle these challenges.

Speaking of whom, Caleb and Tai genuinely shine in this story. Their dynamic is heartwarming, with Caleb stepping up when Tai is down and vice versa. Caleb’s feelings of being an outsider and his struggle with loss immediately endeared him to me. His Halloween-themed puns and costumes had me laughing out loud, adding a light-hearted touch to the story.

Similarly, the quirky residents of Samhain also add a unique appeal to the book. The author introduces a diverse array of characters. Mr. Tritone and Ms. Heks are particularly memorable and spooky. Their mysterious actions kept me on edge, wondering what they would do next.

On a side note, I also adored the illustrations Caleb and Tai used in their research on the various monsters.

The story concludes with unanswered questions, making me hope for a sequel. I would love to revisit Samhain’s fascinating characters and intriguing town.

Overall, “A Bite Above the Rest” is a delightful, campy Halloween-themed middle-grade novel I highly recommend.