Thank you NetGalley and publisher for sharing an ARC with #collabookation in exchange for an honest review

This book has been on my to-be-read stack for about three months. I just could not pick it up for some reason, however when I started reading, I COULD NOT put this down! This was the perfect mix of sci-fi and creepy. I felt like I knew Maggie and Nate and it had a pretty interesting story that kept me hooked the whole way through.

Perfect for middle grade kiddos who love sci-fi - I will definitely be adding this to our classroom library!

I'm honestly surprised it took this long for someone to write a book in which the zombie ant fungus makes the jump to people. IT was only a matter of time. Was this plot particularly believable? Not really. There were many points where the logic of it completely defies science. But if you're willing to suspend disbelief it's a solidly entertaining read. It at least follows it's own internal logic pretty closely. Events build upon one another. And the resolution is seeded into the plot at various points without becoming too obvious.

The Mutant Mushroom Takeover by Summer Rachel Short(@summerrachelwrites) is a perfect and chilling read for this Halloween. ⠀
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Maggie is an aspiring young naturalist who lives in Shady Pines with her grandmother and elder brother, Ezra. Maggie’s best friend is Nate, who is a wannabe YouTube Star and alien conspiracy theorist. Maggie’s dream is to win the Vitaccino Junior Naturalist Award. Nate has an idea that can make Maggie the winner. ⠀
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Nate and Maggie go to scary old man Bell’s land and discover bioluminescent fungus. Due to an unfortunate incident, Maggie’s brother, who also joined them inhales spores. Now, his brother is having a cough. Maggie also finds animals sprouting unusual growths and displaying herd behavior. Are all these related? As things get worse in Shady Pines, it is up to Maggie to make their town safe. ⠀
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I loved the dynamic between Maggie and Nate, scientific Maggie, and weird and unrealistic Nate. The town name of Shady Pines is an apt word for all the happenings in the town. The book also goes in-depth about mushrooms, spiders, and other critters. We see the world through the meticulous eyes of Maggie. This book takes weird facts in Science and molds it into an interesting and mysterious novel. ⠀
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Strange but fun story that feels like a cross between a realistic novel and a Scooby Doo mystery. Kids will love the glorious climactic scene where Maggie and Nate spray the infected zombies with fungicide from their water guns.

Bioluminescent fungi is spreading through town and strange things are happening so Maggie and Nate are off to try and get to the bottom of what is happening. A page turning science fiction book perfect for middle grade science fiction lovers.

I really appreciated the Author's Note at the end of the book which explained which of the scientific concepts in the book are actually true, which are based on some truth and which are fiction.

Just in time for Halloween comes a wonderfully creepy story that is perfect for kids who love science!

Maggie is convinced that if she can win the Junior Naturalists’ Merit Award, her father can get his old job back. All she needs is the right photograph. She enlists the help of her friend Nate, an aspiring paranormal reporter to investigate the mysterious “ghost lights” people have reported seeing in Old Man Bell’s Woods. The ghost lights turn out to be bioluminescent mushrooms.

When Old Man Bell dies, she begins noticing ants and spiders around town behaving strangely. Soon her brother and others are sick. She and Nate are in a race against time to stop mutant mushrooms from taking over the town and maybe the world! One small town, two curious kids, monster insects and more, what could possibly go wrong?

STEM science never looked so good. This is a fast-paced, action-packed science fiction sure to get kids’ imaginations to go wild. It is a must read.

The Mutant Mushroom Takeover is such a FUN book. I love that the MC is a tenacious girl with a passion for nature and science! It's a great read to encourage kids in STEM. It's also slightly creepy, but not too much, so it would be perfect for kids who want to read an atmospheric fall book with some spooky vibes without it being over-the-top terrifying for them. This fascinating story kept me turning the pages late into the night, and I enjoyed every minute. I've already pre-ordered a finished copy, and I can't wait for my ten-year-old to read it, too!

Thanks NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for the free eARC to review.

(I'll also be sharing this on my social media soon)

Being one who loves weird books, I had to pick this up because of the cover. It definitely has Stranger Things vibes and was very entertaining!

This is a great book for young readers. It's easy to read and fast paced, so the pages will keep turning.