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‘The wit, charm, and chaotic spookiness of this series make it one of my favorite things in bookstores right now.’ Second Buttercup Sunshine is a treat for Spooky KidLit

Jessica at Spooky KidLit has treated us with a review of the second book in the Buttercup Sunshine series, The House on Hangman’s Hill, by Colin Mulhern;

Buttercup Sunshine’s world gets weirder and spookier in the second book in the Briar’s Cove Series, as she tries her best to save the world from zombies despite plenty of distractions from a bumbling mailman, mutant bunny rabbits, and a certain Dr. Victor Frankenstein. The deliciously dry humour and silly sight gags that I loved so much in the first book are back, as is everyone’s favourite secret agent handler Barry the toad.

In addition to Colin Mulhern’s sense of humour and his clear affection for the macabre, one of the things I appreciate most about his series is how much he obviously respects kids. Nearly every encounter Buttercup has with an adult shows something that all kids know but that many adults seem to forget: grown-ups don’t listen to kids, especially when it comes to the really important stuff. Buttercup is trying to prevent the actual end of the world, but the adults she encounters can’t hear what she’s telling them because they’re too wrapped up in their own agendas to listen to her.

They’re also too blinded by the idea of the “good little girl” to take her seriously. They look at an adorable girl in a pretty dress and see someone docile and frivolous, rather than the chainsaw-wielding zombie expert we know her to be.

The zombie threat still looms over the story, but this tale is a fun detour from the events of the first book. Mulhern seems determined to make Briar’s Cove as wacky and creepy as possible, and it’s a thrill to see Buttercup Sunshine’s universe expand to include classic horror characters and new monsters to defeat. Buttercup’s next step in her quest to save the world will take her straight through the most hilariously named swamp in existence, so I can’t wait to see what she faces in the third instalment. The wit, charm, and chaotic spookiness of this series make it one of my favourite things in bookstores right now. If you haven’t checked it out yet, you’re in for a real treat.

Thank You!
Read the full review here, including the first review and pick up a copy here!