Grumbones - jenn bennett

Pixars Coco meets Neil Gaiman in this chilling middle grade novel about a girl whose quest to ensure her deceased grandmother is resting peacefully leads her to the magical and perilous kingdoms of the underworld.

Everyone in Whispering Pines knows their town is full of ghosts, but Helena Novak hasnt seen a trace of her late grandmother, Babi.

Helena and her best friend, Ben, spend most of their free time in the cemetery, yet no amount of gifts on Babis grave has lured her spirit out.

But someone else has been paying attention.

Helena feels shes being followed, and one day, all Babis grave gifts disappear.

When Helena and Ben investigate, they find a secret door in a crypt that leads to the underworld itself.

The sprawling subterranean world is a maze of eerie kingdoms, piercing castles, creepy forests, swirling seas, and crowded marketplaces full of unsavory characters.

While the living can visit, if they get lost--or taken by the mysterious Nightmare--they wont be able to leave.

Despite the danger, Helena is set on finding her grandmother and seeing for herself that Babi is doing well in this strange place.

So when eccentric underworld guide Grumbones offers to help Helena and Ben find their way, they think its their lucky break.

Sure, he looks like Santas skinny evil brother and some of the memento mori spilling out of his pockets look awfully familiar, but better a slightly suspicious helper than none at all.

right?.