Last year, I had the opportunity to review a book from author I. M. Eerie, one that felt every bit as Goosebumps as the actual ones. Eerie’s way with words has this unique, spellbinding quality that not only keeps kids interested, but adults such as myself dialed in as well. Their newest release may have a summertime sting to it, but after reading The I Scream Truck, I’m convinced this frozen fearfest will continue to be all the rage throughout the fall as well.
Asking too many questions about the new ice cream truck puts a boy on thin ice in this entry in the bone-chilling middle grade horror series An Eerie Tale, perfect for fans of Goosebumps and Christopher Pike.
The I Scream Truck, I. M. Eerie
John is a bit of a nosy younger brother, but this is probably the one time that’s actually a good thing. At the start of summer break, the usual ice cream man was mysteriously replaced with Mister Twisty’s I Scream Truck, a demented, horror-fied dessert-mobile with ghoulish grubberies to match. Mr. Twisty is a morbid sight to see with the snacks to match, much to John’s chagrin. But this spooky soda jerk won’t be the last scare John and his sister Kat come up against.
I read half of this book the first day I opened it, I liked it so much. I probably could’ve finished the whole thing that night… but I wanted to spread the joy over a few days and linger in the PG-rated horrors printed before me. With easily-read chapters ending in some pretty well-timed cliffhangers, The I Scream Truck reads like a breeze. No dull moments exist in its 150-ish pages, and with its slightly spooky storyline, it’s sure to give tweens a run for their money.
At every turn, The I Scream Truck threw surprises at me, subverting expectations in every chapter. A boy admitting he enjoyed spending time with his sister. The Big Bad turning out to be more Better Homes & Gardens than Bela Legosi. I have seen so many familiar storylines from shows like R. L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour and 1995’s Ice Cream Man play out, but The I Scream Truck kept it fresh and new. It was the perfect amount of demented, but was sure to also entertain the reader with witty names and dialogue and even jokes. For example, Mr. Twisty’s creepy concoctions all had the funnest names: drudgesicles, slime sorbet, witch’s brew milkshakes, blood pops, cookies ‘n’ scream, mint chocolate crypt… the list goes on. Some of the neighbors aren’t what they seem either, as we find out midway through the book; elderly Mrs. Collins has a few secrets she’s hiding herself, and neighborhood crush Sean’s calm and cool demeanor changes quickly when real danger approaches.
And I never thought about Eerie’s books being in their own type of metaverse (which, to be honest, I should have seen coming since everyone has one), but John and Kat’s horror-loving father mentions alien dentists — something fans of Open Wide would know a whole lot about. It’s easter eggs and touches of whimsy that makes The I Scream Truck something everyone can enjoy, from the kids reading during “sustained silent reading” time to the parents reading to their younger kids, and then people like me who just love a good book — no matter the reading level.
The I Scream Truck may be a tall tale for kids, but it definitely brought me back to summertime adventure and inklings of fear we had growing up. It is a tremendously fast read — so fast I had to purposely stop myself because I wanted to extend my time with the story. Along with Open Wide, I cannot wait to introduce my son to the works of I. M. Eerie, especially this book.
The I Scream Truck is a chiller, but it is also pretty fuego.
The I Scream Truck is available to buy now! Visit I. M. Eerieโs website to learn more about The I Scream Truck and upcoming works. Follow them on Instagram as well!
