Stermont's latest monster is SHOCKING!This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line called Branches, which is aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and stamina. Branches books help readers grow!In this 8th book, there's trouble at Alexander's brand-new school. Lights are flickering, students are getting zapped, and escalators are running at super-speeds! When the sky fills with green lightning, Alexander, Rip, and Nikki know monsters must be to blame. Can the S.S.M.P. turn out the lights on these shocking monsters?

Troy Cummings has been drawing since he was a little kid. His illustrations have appeared in newspapers and magazines, on websites, on frozen-fish-stick packages, and in hospital waiting rooms. His picture books include THE EENSY WEENSY SPIDER FREAKS OUT!, MORE BEARS!, and GIDDY-UP, DADDY! THE NOTEBOOK OF DOOM is his first early chapter book series. He lives in Indiana with his cat and family.