Araminta Spookie 2

The Sword in the Grotto, the second Araminta Spookie book, sends Araminta and her friend Wanda on a birthday quest for Sir Horace — a friendly haunted suit of armor — that turns unexpectedly dangerous when a hidden grotto beneath their old house fills with rising water. Angie Sage (Septimus Heap) writes Araminta with a strong, distinctive voice, and the haunted house setting is played for comedy rather than fear. The short chapter format is well-suited to transitional readers moving off easy readers. The honest caveats: parents who object to any ghost or supernatural content should know the series is built around friendly haunting, and the adventure in this particular book resolves fairly quickly without a great deal of complexity. For families comfortable with mild spooky comedy, this is a charming series entry. Worth It.