Review – The Hollow Boy (Lockwood and Co, Book 3) by Jonathan Stroud (5/5 stars)
Reading Level: MIddle Grade
Genre: Fantasy/Horror
Length: 400 pages
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Release Date: September 15, 2015
ISBN-13: 978-1484709689
Stand Alone or Series: 3rd book in the Lockwood and Co series
Source: Borrowed from Library
Rating: 5/5 stars
This is the third book in the Lockwood and Co series. This was a wonderful addition to this creepy middle grade series; I thought it was the best book in this series so far. I absolutely loved it.
A supernatural outbreak is happening in London and absolutely baffling Scotland Yard. Even before being called in to help with this outbreak Lockwood and Co are being run ragged. Lucy is extremely surprised when, during her absence, Anthony and George hire the perky and efficient Holly Munro as an assistant. Then Lockwood and Co get called in on a high profile case involving a ghostly boy and bloody footprints. They rush to solve the case and it ends up being their entry into the bigger mystery surrounding the larger supernatural outbreak.
This was a wonderful continuation of the Lockwood and Co series; I really really enjoyed it. I continue to enjoy this world where children must save adults from the ghosts that haunt them. The book is very creepy and very well done; full of mystery and action.
We learn more about Lockwood’s past in this book and more about the haunted past of London in general. All the characters are incredibly enjoyable and well done. The addition of Holly made things even more interesting.
The politics between the different ghost fighting companies remains intense and interesting. I also love that we continue to learn more about why the appearance of ghosts happened and why it has been intensifying.
The plot is incredibly well done. Things are just creepy and gory enough to give you the chills, but are never completely terrifying. This is an excellent series that combines mystery, action, horror, and supernatural elements in a story that ages middle grade and older will love.
Overall this is an incredibly well done middle grade horror series that I think adults will enjoy just as much as kids. I love the world, the characters, and the mystery. The story is incredibly engaging and hard to put down. I would definitely recommend to middle grade readers who love the creepy and supernatural.
This book goes towards the following reading challenges:
– You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge
