Fiends on the Other Side-Disney Chills, Book Two

“I know many things. Including the fact that you have something that belongs to me . . . .”Twelve-year-old Jamal has always lived in his twin brother, Malik’s, shadow. All he wants in the world is to know, just for one day, what it’s like to be his more popular, more talented, and more confident brother. So when a mysterious man named Dr. Facilier appears and offers Jamal the opportunity to do just that, Jamal jumps at the chance. But when he wakes up the next morning to find his dream has come true, he learns it comes at a terrible cost. There’s a reason people say “Never make a deal with the Shadow Man.” And Jamal is about to find out why. Grab your night-light, dear reader, and prepare to be CHILL-ed!

From School Library Journal

GR 3–5-In the second book of Disney's "Chills" series, twins Malik and Jamal must work together if they and their beloved New Orleans are to survive. Malik is smart, good at basketball, and has just been voted class president. Jamal feels like he is always in his brother's shadow and desperately wants to be noticed. When the twins' mysterious and reclusive grandmother dies, she leaves two boxes for the boys. Malik's box contains a cool antique trumpet, and Jamal's a strange skull necklace and a cryptic note. Once again Jamal feels he has been cheated. What Jamal doesn't know is that the evil Dr. Facilier wants that necklace, and he is willing to do anything to get it. Fans of "Goosebumps" and Alvin Schwartz will like this title. The story isn't keep-you-up-at-night scary, but it is creepy. Each book in the series incorporates a Disney villain that young readers will be familiar with and will enjoy reading about. The New Orleans setting brings an interesting element to the book and Jamal learns a very important lesson about friendship and the destructive nature of envy and jealousy. VERDICT If you are looking for a new series to satisfy students seeking a creepy, but not bone-chilling story, this is one to consider.—Peggy Henderson Murphy, Wyandot Elem. Sch., Dublin, OH

About the Author

Jennifer Brody (writing as Vera Strange) is a graduate of Harvard University and a creative writing instructor at the Writing Pad. She began her career working in Hollywood on many films, including The Lord of the Rings and The Golden Compass. She lives and writes in LA, where she's hard at work on her next book. You can find her on Twitter @JenniferBrody, and Instagram and Facebook @JenniferBrodyWriter.

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