The Society of Dread

Gr 5 Up—Theo Wickland, 13, is adjusting to newfound freedom and responsibility following the death of his evil guardian, Dr. Saint. In The Society of Unrelenting Vigilance (Egmont, 2009), Theo discovered that he is a descendant of the Victorian era crime fighter The Candle Man and shares his ancestor's ability to melt criminals with a single touch. Dr. Saint's death left Theo the head of the Society of Good Works, an organization originally founded as a cover for Saint's criminal enterprise. As a gesture to appease the remaining society members and to convince them to turn from crime to legitimate acts of charity, Theo orders the reconstruction of the tunnels under London that are the society's primary mode of traveling. During the renovations, several of his friends are abducted by hideous creatures loyal to a mysterious new enemy. To rescue them and unravel a deadly plot, Theo must find a way to unify his remaining allies and former enemies into a new organization, the Society of Dread. This appealing contemporary fantasy has a fast-paced plot and enough inventive monsters and villains to captivate even the most reluctant readers. The only disappointment is Theo himself, whose glum nature, lack of practical knowledge, and fear of the unknown, while explained by his sheltered existence, nonetheless render him an unlikable protagonist. One hopes that he will grow in confidence and independence in future installments to become a hero whom readers can cheer.—Leah J. Sparks, formerly at Bowie Public Library, MD