The Whispering Pines (Exit 13 #1)

Just right for Goosebumps fans, this compulsively readable (although at times exposition-heavy) offering builds a delightfully creepy atmosphere and leaves readers with many burning unanswered questions; expect vociferous demands for the sequel slated for later this year.... Intriguing both in plotting and format.

Otherworldly hotel horrors interrupt a family's summer trip in this page-turning, humor-tinged series kickoff from Preller (Blood Mountain). On the road, the family of 11-year-old Ash McGinn becomes lost in a heavy fog, far from accommodations that will allow their goldendoodle, Daisy. When they pull over to assess the situation, Ash, whose imagination "conjured fresh terrors around every corner," is frightened by the appearance of two red eyes flashing in the nearby woods--and summarily mocked by older sister Willow. A suddenly lit-up billboard points the McGinns toward the rundown Exit 13 Motel, where a vampire-resembling teen greets them, emphasizing the establishment's love of animals. As unsettling events unfurl, reserved Ash feels drawn into the nearby woods at dusk, where he finds menacing, red-eyed rabbits, vicious crows, and a wolf that knows his name--leading to a midnight misadventure. Interspersed with climactic b&w paneled art by Keele, sensory-focused text builds a genuinely creepy vibe while following Ash's arc of connection and the siblings' growing bond. The biracial-cued siblings' father is of Scottish ancestry; their mother is described as having light brown skin. Othering language appears in descriptions of the variously diverse secondary cast. Ages 8-12. Author's agent: Elizabeth Bennett, Transatlantic Agency. (Feb.)