Thelma Bee and the Darkwood Queen

Gr 4-7–In this third in the “Thelma Bee” series, middle schooler Thelma continues to explore her Disiri lineage, but not without learning the valuable lesson that she can’t do it alone. With her Riverfish Valley Paranormal Society buddies in tow, she sets out to discover the root of some mysterious happenings at the Haunted Dungeon. This cool yet spooky old fort is set to be the site of her upcoming seventh grade Halloween dance. Almost immediately, Thelma gets magical tinglings that evil of the deepest darkness is underfoot. Things come to an exciting pinnacle when some of her dearest friends are placed in a magical coma, and her sassy friend Izzy is possessed by the evil spirit of Mercy—Thelma’s own ghostly distant relation. Thanks to some quick thinking by the preteens, everything comes to a satisfying conclusion. Suspense is sufficient to keep readers engaged throughout, including reluctant readers. The main characters default to white, with the exception of Thelma’s friend Cho, who is Korean American. Just like in the previous editions, the friendships and relationships ring true for preteens. Kids do not necessarily have to read the other books in the series to enjoy this quick thrill ride.