From School Library Journal
Grade 4-7-Completed posthumously, this book offers readers another taste of Bellairs's macabre writing. During a party, noted folklorist Dr. Coole shows Professor Childremass, Johnny Dixon, and his friend Fergie a small drum and tells them a strange story about voodoo cults in Haiti and the Caribbean. A few casual taps on the drum set in motion a tale of terror that includes zombies, evil spells, and death threats. Set in the mid-1950s, the horror is subtle, yet detailed enough to appeal to fans of the television show Tales from the Crypt and readers too young for Stephen King. The "gee whiz" tone lends a touch of naivete, and some plot turns are a bit obvious, but readers of Dixon's last escapade, The Secret of the Underground Room (Dial, 1990), will not be disappointed.
Jeanette Larson, Texas State Library, AustinCopyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Gr. 5-7. Flopping and thrashing about on the desk was a weird form, repulsive, slimy, drooling. The sounds it made were horrible, like the bawling of a baby animal in terrible pain. Descriptions in R. L. Stine's horror oeuvre can't match this stuff, which has the added benefit of being part of a story that has a tight plot and characters who actually have some personality. Readers may recognize Johnny Dixon, Fergie Ferguson, Father Higgins, and Professor Childermass from such books as
The Secret of the Underground Room (1990). This time the group is battling zombies and exorcizing voodoo demons invoked by vicious Madame Sinestra, who has come to America in search of a drum that has special significance for her evil cult. There's suspense and action aplenty as Johnny, Childermass, and Fergie investigate the weird goings-on, with the spookiness nicely balanced by comedy that comes direct from the pompous but good-hearted professor. This ably devised bit of supernatural fun, completed by Strickland after Bellairs' death, is perfect for the preStephen King set.
Stephanie Zvirin
