As "Fall of the House of Mandible" begins, Wally and Cheyenne Shluffmuffin are on the run from the Onts (Hedy and Dagmar Mandible) who are really giant ants who want to overthrow humans and control the world. Wally manages to get away but the Onts kidnap Cheyenne and Wally is determined to help her escape. He enlists the help of his vampire Dad, Professor Spydelle and his spider wife Shirley, and Hortense Jolly (owner of the Jolly Days Orphanage) as well as the thirty-six orphans she is eager to get rid of. This motley group of characters will try to rescue Cheyenne and stop the Onts from spreading a flu-like virus that can destroy humans.

Children ages nine and older will enjoy "Fall of the House of Mandible", the fourth book in Dan Greenburg's delightful "Secrets of Dripping Fang" series. It's a quick and easy read filled with quirky humor. The humor starts with the chapter titles; the title of the first chapter "The No Child Left Alive Program" is a good example of the humor throughout the book. Other funny moments include when Wally and Cheyenne try to tell someone they are being kidnapped and Wally says "we're also orphans, in case that makes us more sympathetic"; Hortense Jolly treating the orphans as if they were a product she is selling; Wally and Cheyenne's dad volunteering at a blood bank and getting "fired" from the volunteer job that he is doing for free; the Dripping Fang Forest and it's inhabitants; the Onts spraying a flu virus using a perfume bottle; and a song the orphans sing. While much of the book is humorous and meant to be fun, there are some scary moments (one involving a fire) that may scare younger readers. Since the book is part of a series, the end of the book is a cliffhanger.

Older children, especially Lemony Snicket fans, will enjoy "Fall of the House of Mandible" and all the books in the Secrets of Dripping Fang series. ( )