Minnie and Jackson have moved into a house with their family that is giving creepy vibes. What’s with the weird stain on the wall? Dad assures them that everything is fine, so they are going to have to get used to living in an old creepy house. They meet a boy at the park who tells them about two famous houses that were supposedly haunted: The Guyra House in Australia and The House of Blood in Atlanta, Georgia. Should this make the siblings feel better about their own potentially haunted house?

These two stories were definitely spooky. The illustrations in the graphic novel were really good and added to the atmosphere.This frame story worked a little better than in Area 51, as it felt like an authentic story outside of just giving details about these famously “haunted houses.” The diversity in the characters was great, Minnie and Jackson are black kids. As a young reader who was very interested in all things spooky and creepy, that means a lot to see characters from your own background. The writing preserves a sense of mystery and leaves the reader feeling like it is totally possible that the hauntings are real, and perhaps Minnie and Jackson’s house does have its own resident otherworldly inhabitant. It’s quite short, so on that level, the reader may feel like they want a little more from its rather open ending. But overall, this is a fun, ghostly story for readers who are intrigued by real and fictional hauntings.

3.5 stars.

Archives of the Unexplained: Unwanted Guests is a a graphic novel with two ghostly true stories. It starts with a family that has just moved into a slightly spooky looking house with creepy stains, attic, and creaking noises. The kids are told to go to the park where they meet Theo, who tells them two mysterious unsolved stories over the course of two days.

The artwork was well done in a fun style. Minnie, especially gave off the annoying little sister vibe with her thick and sometimes wicked eyebrows. The stories Theo told were interesting, especially given that they really did happen. I'm with Minnie, though, with the 'What Happened Next'!

With the way the students at my school gravitate towards ghost stories, I think this one will be a huge hit.

Unwanted Guests is an intriguing blend of folklore, strange events, and historical mystery.

Steve Foxe remains skilled at weaving historical lore into approachable middle-grade fiction. The historical accounts unfold with a quiet intensity, leaving just enough ambiguity to blur the line between fact and folklore..

Naomi Franquiz’s art elevates the material. Her style is moody, expressive, and rich with detail—perfect for the haunted-house flavor the story aims for. The supernatural elements are visually arresting, and some panels do achieve real narrative tension.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this book, but I was very pleasantly surprised. I ended up finishing the book in just a few sittings and really enjoyed the story and characters.

Thank you so much to First Second & NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review these e-book ARCs!

Now, let's get into it!

This is a new series, Archives Of The Unexplained, and I was able to to read two of the first volumes courtesy of NetGalley, now these are children's books, which I would consider perfect for kids between 7-12 years old, maybe a little older depending on the child's interests! I know my 9 year old loved the themes, and so did I! Is both educational and entertaining, which is what I look for in books as a parent! Both of these are perfect for summerween and would be awesome for Halloween or, in general, if your kiddos like the spooky or sci-fi books!

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Book One: AREA 51

This was super informative and entertaining! It goes into both conspiracy theories and scientific explanations about the evolution of planes & technology and the sighting of UFOs as well as the conspiracy and witnesses aroind them. I was super invested in the explanations as well enthralled by the art! It's definitely a great one for inquisitive kids!

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Book Two: Unwanted Guests

This was the perfect amount of spooky and educational! It gives kids a look into how the occult came to be a form of entertainment as well as how urban legends are made! It has a just creepy enough story to have the kiddos craving Halloween but to also ask questions and dip their toe into the paranormal/horror side of storytelling.

I really enjoyed these two books and find them to be a great addition to your elementary to middle school-aged children Fall reads!

Both books stories are written by the same author but illustrated by different artists, and each one was the perfect choice for the settings!

Again huge shout out to NetGalley & First Second Books for allowing me to read and review these e-book ARCs in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to First Second Books and Netgalley for the digital arc.
“Unwanted Guests” is the second book in a new graphic novel series, Archives of the Unexplained. It follows the format of the first book in the series, Area 51, by embedding the histories of a couple of ghosts within a fictional story. Anything paranormal, especially in a graphic novel format, is popular so expect these books to fly off the shelves.

This book was a relatively light read in comparison many other books that I usually read. I loved the contrast between the sibling duo and their interactions with Theo. The stories are something I had heard of before but the artwork made them really pop out. The second story (Atlanta Blood House) was really very creepy. I adored it. Pulled me right into it.

A spooky, fun graphic novel for young readers, Unwanted Guests blends real-life ghost stories with sharp art and engaging mystery. Perfect for kids curious about the paranormal.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. This book had various ghost stories and some unexplained and unusual stories as well. I like that it’s a graphic novel; makes it more suspenseful.

This new series looks into historical mysterious events such as Area 51, the House of Blood, and the Guyra Ghost. Steve Foxe did a great job turning these mysteries into graphic novels and making the history of it accessible.

I enjoyed Archives of the Unexplained: Unwanted Guests much more than the first volume. It still had the informative quality, but it felt more fun and entertaining. I think this story was more of what I was expecting where true ghost stories were told in a kid friendly way. It is something I would have enjoyed as a preteen and enjoyed now. The idea that the house the family moved into was haunted and the family dealing with that while hearing other ghost stories was interesting. I loved hearing about the house with the blood because I had never heard that story before. I highly recommend this collection to preteens interested in the paranormal.

This was really interesting! Great read about the history behind some haunted house stories. Will be a good complementary recommendation for customers looking for something similar to goosebumps since spooky graphic novel books are increasingly popular.. Can't wait for more in the series.

This was a fast-paced, fun, and entertaining read. Perfect for fans of I Survived. The story is engaging and kids will absolutely devour this series.

"Archives of the Unexplained: Unwanted Guests" is the second book in the middle grade graphic novel series written by Steve Foxe and illustrated by Naomi Franquiz. The series introduces kids to unexplained and mysterious paranormal stories from history. In this volume, a family has moved into a new house that has some creepy noises and a gross stain on the wall. The two kids run into another kid on the playground who tells them about other unexplained paranormal stories from history. Contains historical sources at the end of the book. A fun and creepy graphic novel that can be read as part of a series or on its own. A suggested purchase for middle grade graphic novel collections where paranormal and creepy books are popular.

Creepy, middle school graphic novel that tells some spooky tales, with just the right amount of chills!