The Vours are evil, demonic figures that inhabit human bodies during the darkest hours of the winter solstice. After Reggie reads about them in an old journal, she assumes they are figments of a madwoman's imagination. But after her little brother begins acting strangely, Reggie soon finds out what happens when fear comes to life. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Gr 7 Up-Comparable to books by R. L. Stine and Stephen King, The Devouring will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Reggie is a horror fanatic. When she finds a journal in a box of used books at the bookstore where she works, she "borrows" it. It tells of the Vours, black smokelike beings that possess humans who can't conquer their fear on Sorry Night (the eve of the winter solstice). Reggie and her friend Aaron attempt to make the Vours materialize but instead they possess her little brother. In a fight to the death, Reggie joins the battle of humanity against the Vours. This story contains classic elements of the genre: a horrific monster, fusion (where two different entities are fused into one), and the process of discovery. The book has some graphic content, blood, and gore, which only add to the chills. A must-have for horror fans.-June H. Keuhn, Corning East High School, NY Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information