Invasion of the I.Q. Snatchersby Arthur SladePublished by Shadowpaw Press RepriseReview by Shelley A. Leedahl$14.99 ISBN 9781998273041 The Canadian Chills Series is a trifecta of amusing middle-grade novels created by Saskatoon’s award-winning Arthur Slade, and I’ve just devoured the Nanaimo Bar-themed Invasion of the I.Q. Snatchers, the third book in the series. As with his earlier books, Slade’s chosen two clever and curious friends—Gordon Whillickers and Sophia Morrison—to team up against a threatening force, and futuristic technology, an amiable Sasquatch, and bizarrely-behaving adults are part of the package. It’s a recipe that works as well as combining custard, a chocolate ganache topping, and a coconut crumb base. Coastal Nanaimo’s the setting for Slade’s slightly clumsy and seriously science-minded pair. The novel begins thus: “A long, hairy arm reached through my open window and pounded around the top of my desk”. Meet Cheryl, a pink-fingernailed Sasquatch. She’s after the Nanaimo bars someone’s left on the Whillickers’ doorstep, and Gordon has yet to sample. His sassy talking parrot, Archimedes—who’s been listening to “ornithopetic IQ-raising songs” on an MP3 player (this reprinted book initially hit shelves in 2007) and is velcro-strapped into a tiny helmet with a bird cam—takes an investigative flight over…

Ghost Hotelby Arthur SladePublished by Shadowpaw Press RepriseReview by Shelley A. Leedahl$14.99 ISBN 9781998273027 Ghost Hotel, the 2nd novel in prolific writer Arthur Slade’s Canadian Chills Series, is a spooky send-up for young readers and—abracadabra—it’s just been re-released. If you’re already a Slade fan, you may remember Ghost Hotel. First published in 2004, Shadowpaw Press Reprise has resurrected it … and lucky you if you have yet to discover it. The tone of this supernatural, middle years’ mystery—featuring junior detective friends “Wart” and Cindy—is light-hearted. Though the youthful leads are wise-crackers and the story’s a hoot, the author’s a serious writer with mad skills: you don’t have over thirty novels published if you’re a dabbler. Disclaimer: I know Arthur Slade. Back in the day, we wrote radio commercials in the same office. I read his first novel, Draugr, when it was still in manuscript form. I attended his wedding. As lovely as these things may be, they don’t matter as far as this review goes, for even if I was inclined to bolster a book on account of a long friendship, there’s no need to here: Slade’s books consistently win awards and fly off the shelves because he is simply…

Return of the Grudstone Ghostsby Arthur SladePublished by Shadowpaw Press RepriseReview by Michelle Shaw$14.99 ISBN 9781998273003 Moose Jaw is the setting for yet another page-turning adventure. This time there are ghosts, gangsters, a school in peril and, of course, the tunnels of Moose Jaw which lend themselves so well to nail-biting escapades. Return of the Grudstone Ghosts is the first of award-winning author Arthur Slade’s Canadian Chills series to be reprinted by Shadowpaw Press Reprise. The book was originally published by Coteau Books in 2002. The story begins when Daphne’s sixth-grade teacher, Miss Vindez, falls from the belfry of St. Wolcott School. Daphne and her friends Nick and Peach are determined to find out what happened. Why was Miss Vindez shrieking and babbling nonsense words and why, after surviving her fall, did she punch Principal Peterka? The three children discover that St. Wolcott’s is built on the site of another school, Grudstone, which burned down many years before. Daphne, Peach and Nick’s investigations lead them into the tunnels of Moose Jaw and a ghostly tale which they can barely believe. And it’s not over yet. Dark and dastardly things are about to happen and only the three children can stop…

Modo: Ember’s End Written by Arthur Slade, Art by Christopher Steininger Review by Courtney Bates-Hardy $20.00 ISBN 978-0-9880139-0-2 Modo: Ember’s End is a graphic novel that follows the adventures of Modo, the main character from The Hunchback Assignments, a previously published four book series. However, you don’t need to have read the series to enjoy the graphic novel. It’s a standalone story set in the Old West, with a steampunk twist. Modo is hunchbacked with the unique ability to change his appearance for short amounts of time. His friend, and fellow British spy, Octavia, provides the comic relief as they make their way in Ember’s End. Upon their arrival, they are quickly deputized and pulled into a race to find a mystery device made by a former weapons inventor. Unfortunately, someone else is after it too. The mercenary Ogden Bull will stop at nothing to find it before they do. His assassin, a ninja with glowing eyes, is after them and their only help is a mysterious young woman with a clockwork heart. These characters will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading. A middle school audience will really enjoy this story, although it has appeal for older audiences…