Review: The Slither Sisters by Charles Gilman

The Slither Sisters
by Charles Gilman

Available as: hardcover, Kindle edition, ebook
Pages: 174
Publication date: January 15, 2013
Publisher: Quirk Books
Suggested tags: middle grade, paranormal



Second in the Tales from Lovecraft Middle School series. From Goodreads:

"This second novel in the Tales from Lovecraft Middle School series begins right where Professor Gargoyle ended. Seventh-grader Robert Arthur has discovered that two of his classmates are actually sinister snake-women in disguise. Even worse, his new middle school is full of “gates” to a terrifying alternate dimension – a haunted mansion full of strange spirits and monstrous beasts. For Robert to protect his teachers and classmates, he'll need to return to this haunted dimension with his best friends Glenn and Karina. Can they uncover the secrets of Lovecraft Middle School before it's too late?

The Slither Sisters features more bizarre beasts, more strange mysteries, and more adventure. It's perfect for readers ages 10 and up. Best of all, the cover features a state-of-the-art “morphing” photo portrait – so you can personally witness the sisters transforming into their slithering alter egos. You won't believe your eyes!"

{ I received an ARC for free through Early Reviewers on LibraryThing. }


I am such a fan of the Tales from Lovecraft Middle School series! I was hooked by Professor Gargoyle (read my review here) and The Slither Sisters is just as creepy and exciting! If you're a fan of paranormal middle grade reads and you haven't started this series yet, YOU MUST.

At the end of Professor Gargoyle, Sylvia and Sarah Price had returned to the school after a mysterious disappearance, and it seemed that something was a bit...off. In The Slither Sisters, Robert and his friends Glenn and Karina find out that something is indeed off - Sylvia and Sarah are running for class president, but they certainly don't have the other students' best interests in mind. They're working for Crawford Tillinghast, the mastermind behind the monsters and gates that have invaded Lovecraft Middle School.

I thought The Slither Sisters was even better than Professor Gargoyle because it brought us a little deeper into the story behind the school and Crawford Tillinghast, and it really seemed to take advantage of the "haunted dimension" aspect mentioned in the synopsis. There were some really creepy scenes that had me glued to the book to find out how Robert, Glenn, and Karina would escape. Just like the first book in the series, the second is dark and spooky, but with plenty of fun and adventure to balance it out. It's the perfect amount of creepy - it sets the mood, wraps you up in it and makes you feel like you're there with Robert and his friends, but it's not too scary.

Just like the first book in the series, The Slither Sisters wraps up with a hint that, despite all Robert's hard work, all is still not well at Lovecraft Middle School. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book, Teacher's Pest. I really hope we get to learn more about Mrs. Lavinia and that we get to go back into the Tillinghast mansion!


Final verdict: 4 out of 5 stars