Field Guide to the Supernatural Universe

January 15, 2022
A tween spends the summer with his eccentric grandfather, ghosts, and more. After a viral video taken on the last day of sixth grade solidifies his status as "Class Weirdo," Maxen Smith wants nothing more than to be normal. Trouble is that Max can see ghosts--the real culprits behind what adults at school call his "incidents"--but nobody believes him. Reaching his last straw, Max's dad sends him to stay with his estranged paternal grandfather, Ramhart Woodbead, in his mansion in Glimmerville. As the mansion and its inhabitants' secrets slowly reveal themselves, Max learns that his weirdness is part of a family legacy. But when a dastardly plot renders Ramhart out of commission, Max finds himself woefully unprepared to take his place in keeping order between realms. With the help of a young ghost and a squad of Supernaturalists, Max must save not only his grandfather, but the world. No�l combines a quick pace, zany characters, and plenty of comedic relief to create a quirky adventure with heart. Strong themes of family legacies, personal mythologies, and destinies--if slightly heavy-handed--enhance the cautionary tale of hiding one's true self. The over-the-top first-person narration keeps the tone infectiously light. From a Chupacabra to mutant glowworms, the creatures encountered mix the familiar with the original for delightful worldbuilding. Max and family are White by default, but side characters add some ethnic diversity. Spectral silliness with high appeal. (Paranormal fantasy. 8-12)

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March 1, 2022
Grades 3-7 No�l's latest middle-grade offering is full of quirky characters, ghosts, and zany adventures. Maxen (Woodbead) Smith is 12 years old and completely normal in every way--except for the fact that he can see ghosts. It's probably because he's the grandson of the famous ghost-hunter Ramhart Woodbead. When Max is sent to live with his oddball grandfather in Woodbead Mansion for the summer, everything seems normal at first . . . too normal. Until Max discovers the truth about Ramhart and a book called Field Guide to the Supernatural Universe. Max must face his worst fears, but there are scarier things in the normal world than demon dogs and mischievous spirits. No�l's fast-paced story combines humor and action, along with the more serious theme of losing a loved one. Ideal for kids who appreciated Katherine Arden's Small Spaces (2018), a spookier story that also focuses on the themes of loss and grief, and a natural read-alike for Lamar Giles' supernatural romp, The Last Last-Day-of-Summer (2019).

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March 1, 2022

Gr 4-7-Twelve-year old Max has been seeing ghosts all his life, which has caused him no end of trouble. At school he's a social pariah, and his continual "incidents" with the paranormal may have influenced his parents' breakup. After a chaotic last day of sixth grade (which resulted in a viral video of him destroying a classroom), his father decides to send Max to stay with his grandfather, Ramhart Woodbead, at his mansion. Ramhart is known as "the Indiana Jones of the supernatural world" and authored the paranormal encyclopedia Field Guide to the Supernatural Universe. Max is initially angry at these summer plans, but realizes that the guide might hold the key to ridding himself of his unique abilities. Ramhart, however, has other ideas and begins training Max to take over the family duties of guarding graveyards, battling ghosts, and keeping the veil between the worlds secure. Max is immediately thrust into all sorts of wild and near-fatal adventures, discovering that his role in all of this was foretold in a prophecy. Will Max rise to the challenge set before him and take up the family mantle, or will he deny his destiny and risk the consequences? Narrated by Max in a droll, self-deprecating voice, this middle grade paranormal adventure by the award-winning No�l (the "Immortals" series) is irresistible. Sure to satisfy, the plot contains a cast of colorful characters including bogeys, school bullies, zombies, a monkey king, and a craven Chupacabra. Max is cued as white. VERDICT A captivating and diverting read with loads of action and humor, with a bonus lesson about accepting who you are. Recommended for purchase.-Amy Nolan

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April 4, 2022
Unlike those around him, 12-and-a-half-year-old white Maxen Smith has always been able to see ghosts, though he wishes he didn’t. When his goal of an incident-free school year is ruined by a viral video of him fighting off invisible monsters, Max’s father sends him to spend the summer with his grandfather, ghost hunter Ramhart Woodbead, “the Indiana Jones of the supernatural world.” Max hopes to find a way out of “the wrong side of normal” by using Ramhart’s book, Field Guide to the Supernatural Universe. Instead, Ramhart introduces Max to their family legacy as minders of the veil, tasked with keeping the balance between the realm’s ghosts and monsters, and the rest of the world. When Ramhart is incapacitated, it’s up to Max and his new friends—white Bex, Latina Jools, and Indian Krish—to save the world from a supernatural storm. Noël (The Bone Thief) weaves myth, folklore, and conspiracies with wry humor and bone-chilling moments, creating an entertaining deep dive into the paranormal. While Max’s stubborn refusal to embrace his situation and insistence on being “normal” is sometimes repetitive, his narrative voice is attention-grabbing, ideal for this “anything goes” adventure. Ages 8–12. Agent: Elizabeth Bewley, Sterling Lord Literistic.