Extra Normal

It is incredibly difficult living in a special family, especially when there’s nothing special about you. Charlie does know that her parents need a break from their demanding jobs as supernatural investigators so she encourages them to go on vacation and leave her in charge. Besides, the family operative is there to help with schedules and meals.

However, when the new neighbors, the Weavers, move in, acting fishy and keeping Charlie out while inviting her brother in, she knows there is something going on. When her next-door neighbor, Mr. Crispin, disappears, she plans to find out the truth by doing some investigating of her own from what she’s learned from her parents. She will not, under any circumstances, interrupt her parents’ well-earned vacation. She can surely handle the situation herself.

Similar to Ordinary Magic by Caitlen Rubino-Bradway, Charlie discovers that being ordinary and curious is as great an advantage as having special abilities. Her family of scary characters—werewolf, ghost, and telekinetic brother—juxtaposed against the chilling nature of the neighbors begs the question, What makes something, or someone, scary? The story is Goosebumps-level frightening and great for middle grade readers.