Return of the Hungry Hamster

Gr 2–5—Joe idolizes his adventurous Uncle Charlie and can't wait for his visits. When Charlie returns from an archaeological expedition, he gives Joe an Egyptian amulet shaped like a jackal that has the power to grant one wish to its bearer. That night, Joe wishes for a pet of his very own. He gets his wish—sort of. He is visited by an undead hamster named Dumpling, who explains that he cannot rest in peace until his "unresolved issues" have been resolved. As the Keeper of the Amulet of Anubis, Joe is stuck with him until then. Joe reluctantly agrees to help Dumpling, even as the zombie hamster causes trouble at school and at home. Hay sets the premise quickly, with the majority of the story focusing on Joe and Dumpling's investigation, and the misadventures that ensue. The supernatural elements are played for laughs rather than chills. Fans of gross-out humor will appreciate the high jinks of the sneezing, oozing Dumpling. Frequent illustrations help bring Joe and Dumpling to life…or at least undeath. This simply written mystery will appeal to reluctant or newly confident readers, and the cliff-hanger ending promises that Joe hasn't seen his last undead pet.—Tony Hirt, Hennepin County Library, MN