Fall of the House of Mandible (Secrets of Dripping Fang Series #4) Book

The fourth book in a hilarious series about two orphans and a world of monsters

Children's Literature

Part of the "Secrets of Dripping Fang" series, the humor in this book will certainly appeal to 11-year-old boys. When the Onts, who are really giant ants disguised as elderly aunts, kidnap twins Cheyenne for her snot production and Wally for his smelly feet, Wally escapes and must rescue his sister. Wally enlists the aid of 36 orphans and the mercenary orphanage director, who are busy singing show tunes and talking about pooing their pants. Their formerly zombie vampire dad helps after being fired from his volunteer position at the bloodmobile. The Spydells, a giant spider and her husband, and wolves from the forest add to the little army. Encounters with minor characters such as a taxi driver, a crop duster, and a department store employee add to the romp when they have varied reactions to the Onts. The illustrations are lively and contribute a lot to the story. The text is silly but fun. Reviewer: Sue Poduska