cover image I So Don't Do Spooky

I So Don't Do Spooky

Barrie Summy. Delacorte, $15.99 (256p) ISBN 978-0-385-73604-6

In this sequel to Summy's debut novel I So Don't Do Mysteries, Sherry, who has continued contact with her dead mother, returns as an eighth-grader preoccupied with her new boyfriend, her hair, and her dismal grades in computer class, which is taught by her stepmother, Paula, aka "The Ruler." As in the previous book, Sherry is helping her mother, a former cop now a ghost enrolled in an afterlife police academy, with real-world assignments. This time around, it involves finding a stalker who's harassing Paula. Between numerous classmates, rival school robotics teams, disgruntled parents, and the entire spirit realm, there are plenty of walk-on roles to provide fodder for Sherry's snarky commentary ("Who are these crazy, crazy, unbalanced nutzoids? I came here today totally believing the Donner robotics team wouldn't stalk The Ruler. Now? I'm not so sure"). Readers who like their mysteries light and frothy should find this to their taste, and those who missed the first installment will have no trouble starting here. Ages 10-up. (Dec.)