HOWARD'S HOUSE IS HAUNTED Maureen Bayless Richmond Hill (Ont.), Scholastic Canada, 1993. 78pp, paper, $3.95 ISBN 0-590-74559-X. CIP Grades 2 to 4/Ages 7 to 9 Reviewed by Alison Mews. Volume 21 Number 4 1993 September Another easy-to-read chapter book in the "Shooting Star" series, this book is an excellent choice for children just beginning to read on their own. Howard is definitely a coward and amongst his list of terrors are ghosts, spiders, creaky noises, snakes and bullies. When his parents announce they have bought an old house which Howard knows is haunted, he desperately appeals to the class bully to help rid him of the ghost. When the bully's plan to flush out the ghost with a pet snake backfires, Howard learns that everyone has fears, and that many fears can be overcome. Children will readily identify with Howard. Because his parents remain blissfully unaware of what's happening throughout the story, a conspiratorial tone is created. The story is well written with believable dialogue and swiftly moving plot, and it achieves just the right balance of scariness and humour. Recommended. Alison Mews is Coordinator of the Centre for Instructional Services, Faculty of Education, at Memorial University of Newfoundland in St. John's, Newfoundland.