I had to reread this after reading a newer Naifeh book and a couple of young Aloysius books, and it was so worth revisiting! I love cranky Courtney, Uncle Aloysius, and all the creatures she comes to know in this book. It will be fun to go through the whole series again. ( )

Dark, creepy, and cute!
( )

Courtney and her parents move in with her aging great-great uncle whose house contains mysterious secrets.

This was an interesting read that felt pretty 'middle of the road' for me, with a solid 3-star rating. I certainly didn't dislike it, but I didn't love it either. I found the bizarre and somewhat pretentious foreword/introduction rather off-putting but then enjoyed the rest of the book on the whole.

Courtney is a misfit in every sense of the word, having difficulty making friends at school and not meshing with her parental units. Uncle Aloysius might be a kindred spirit, but she's only starting to make inroads with him. What interests her the most are his books on magic, whose lessons she quickly takes to heart -- although not always with the outcome she expects. There's certainly appeal here for readers who feel like they aren't fitting in and wish for easy solutions to their problems.

This title is technically horror but it is also has elements of humor, school stories, and fantasy. That might make it seem like the audience for it is broad, but I think it takes a unique child (or adult) to truly embrace this one. Not a criticism, just a realization that this book will have a niche audience. ( )

The volume starts with an explanation that posits that children are pure id-driven, selfish, mean creatures that only learn kindness and civility as they grow up in order to obtain things they want like a job or spouse, and I just disagree so hard with the idea that children do not have any kindness or gentleness intrinsic in their souls that it cast a pall over the rest of the book for me. (Not that children can't be cruel or mean, but I rebel against the idea that this is solely how children naturally act.) The comic itself was enjoyable enough; I would have eaten it up with a spoon in my teenage years. ( )