If your kid loves reading books which are similar to the Goosebump series’ spooky books, there’s a high chance that they’ll enjoy A Bad Night for Bullies (The Goolz Next Door) by Gary Ghislain. To discover whether or not your child is likely to enjoy this particular book, simply continue reading.
Storyline:
A Bad Night for Bullies revolves around seventh grader Harold Bell, an English immigrant who lives in Maine and who becomes the target of a cruel bully named Alex Hewitt. Who makes fun of the fact that Harold is wheelchair bound.
However, Alex Hewitt is the least of Harold’s problems as after a world renown horror and his daughters move into Harold’s neighborhood, things really go haywire for poor Harold. As his new neighbor, Frank Goolz accidentally activates the Stone of the Dead, a mysterious ancient relic which raises the dead by sucking the life out of the living.
Soon after the Stone of the Dead is activated Harold’s bully Alex disappears into thin air and Harold and Frank Goolz’ adventurous daughters Ilona and Suzie are tasked with battling numerous ghosts in order to protect the living and to rescue Alex.
This particular book will appeal to both boys and girls as girls will relate to how brave and adventurous Ilona and Suzie are, although Harold is the central protagonist of the story.
What makes Harold an interesting protagonist?
Firstly, both Harold and the Goolz sisters have dry senses of humor that most kids will relate to. Secondly, while Harold is wheelchair bound at the start of the book, he soon finds that when he holds the Stone of the Dead, he can walk again.
Harold has an interesting journey in A Bad Night for Bullies, when he starts to covet the Stone of the Dead as he knows that if he gives up the Stone of the Dead for the good of all mankind, he’ll live out the rest of his life in a wheelchair.
So if your kids enjoy books which have moral dilemmas which their protagonists have to face, they’ll definitely have empathy for Harold. Who has been wheelchair-bound since he became permanently paralyzed at just 7 years of age.
Will A Bad Night for Bullies be too scary for your child?
Most children will have no problems reading A Bad Night for Bullies as while it does contain plenty of scary ghouls examples of which include a rotting ghost and a crap covered corpse, there aren’t any scenes in this kid-friendly horror which will keep your child awake at night.
Conclusion:
So if you’re looking for a kid-friendly horror that will encourage your child to read, it’s definitely worth seriously considering treating your kid to a copy of A Bad Night for Bullies. Especially if they enjoy spooky tales. As a bonus, A Bad Night for Bullies is actually is actually the first book in a series and the ending of this first book in the series sets Harold and the Goolz sisters on a harrowing new adventure.
So if your child loves binge reading book series, they’re sure to fall in love with The Goolz Next Door series.
