The Haunting of Freddy

Booklist 2/15/06Reiche, Dietlof. The Haunting of Freddy. Illus. by Joe Cepeda. Tr. by John Brownjohn. Mar. 2006. 320p. Scholastic, $16.99 (0-439-53159-4).Gr. 4-7. Hamster author Freddy, who loves a good story, is writing again, this time a dark tale set in 1593. But fiction soon becomes reality, and Freddy must write the sinister ghosts of a poacher and his vicious ferrets out of the present and back to where they belong. Occasionally spooky, Freddy's fourth adventure is an entertaining blend of suspense and fantasy, with Freddy's droll commentary on animal and human behavior adding an appealing overlay of humor. -Shelle Rosenfeld SLJGr 3-5-Author Freddy Auratus is back in another amusing adventure. This time, the prolific hamster; dignified tabby cat, Sir William; goofy guinea pigs Enrico and Caruso; and owner, Mr. John, are invited to England by an admirer of Freddy's books. Upon their arrival at Templeton Castle, the travelers discover that their hostess passed away recently. Her son and two grandchildren nonetheless ask their guests to stay. Freddy works on his latest opus, a scary tale based on a true story of a late-16th-century rabbit poacher sentenced to death by an unpleasant baron. Mysterious events begin occurring and apparitions appear. A den of rabbits is imperiled by ghostly ferrets while the humans are visited with visions of vengeful poacher Grim Harry. Of course, a connection between the past and the Templeton family is discovered. It takes some ingenuity and cooperation to deal with the situation successfully. Pompous, overly serious Freddy still has difficulty having a sense of humor about himself. Sir William continues to be the calming influence while Enrico and Caruso pursue their vaudevillian clowning. With the help of little Annabelle, a new crush for Freddy, all is resolved. Cepeda's artwork and enlarged text fonts enhance the humor greatly, with many enjoyable visual puns. A solid addition wherever the Freddy books have a