School Library Journal Review
Gr 4--6--Twins Jess and Josh and their neighbor Marco discover a terrifying, unconscious creature shut away in an empty classroom. It awakens and chases them into a terrifying alternate reality school where middle schoolers are treated like very young children. The protagonists must work together to evade the principal and find a way home. This thrilling, compelling book is Stine's first original graphic novel and the first in a new series. Much like the author's "Goosebumps" books, each "Just Beyond" installment will follow a different set of characters. The bold palette combined with a minimalist drawing style will attract a wide range of readers. There are plenty of action sequences featuring scary monsters from the alter school and the principal, who resembles the trio's own principal. Unfortunately, plot holes may drive away stronger readers wishing for more exposition. It's unclear why the students in the alternate world are forced to act like little kids, studying coloring and building blocks. It is also never explained how in the opening sequence the three alternate children are able to escape into the real universe. VERDICT Strong on action and weak on details. Give to those who love "Goosebumps" or fans of Jarrett J. Krosoczka's "Lunch Lady" series who are looking for something more intense.--Jenni Frencham, Indiana University, Bloomington
Kirkus Review
Scaremeister Stine offers a graphic chiller about weird middle schools in parallel universes.Dressed in infantilizing school uniforms with shorts and Mandarin jackets, Drake, Leeda, and their tag along, Buddy, find themselves in the parallel world of the Scare School, which has a very strange principal but more-conventionally attired students. Pursued by an insectile robot and betrayed by Buddy, an undercover captain in the student guard, Leeda and Drake are forced back into their own school universe to await an ominous punishment at the hands of the Master Dean. Back in the Scare School world, Jess, her twin brother, Josh, and his snarky best friend, Marco, accidentally fall into the portal that lands them in Leeda and Drake's school. Though the students in Leeda and Drake's school are also middle schoolers, their lessons are kindergarten level, as the Master Dean mysteriously keeps the students from growing up. After the kids from both realities are locked together in an empty room with bars on the window, they band together to destroy the Master Dean. This diverse cast includes brown-skinned Leeda and Marco; Drake, Jess, and Josh present white; the quisling Buddy presents Asian, unfortunately. The cluttered and confusingly paced illustrations have the feel of second-rate anime and do a disservice to this graphic-novel script, which has a bit of a Twilight Zone appeal. The open ending hints at a second installment that may offer more clues to this rather bizarre middle school wormhole.Odd. (Graphic horror. 8-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Beloved children's horror author Stine makes the move to the visual medium in this original graphic novel. Three kids in strange school uniforms are sneaking around Scare School, an institution founded by the forebodingly named George P. Scare. Clearly they're on the run from something could it be the insectlike robots stalking them down the hallway? In fact, that's only the start of it; turns out there's not just one Scare School, and students from both will have to work together to find (one hopes) real safety. Bright, colorful cartoon artwork keeps this spooky story from getting too grim, though the robots are certainly intimidating to behold, and the plot unfurls at a nice pace. It's unfortunate that voice-overs routinely describe the action depicted in the artwork, since they take the power and energy away from the visuals, which are often compelling. Nevertheless, Stine is still a household name and that alone will draw interest, and the ever-deepening plot will likely be thrilling to burgeoning middle-grade horror fans.--Sarah Hunter Copyright 2019 Booklist
