R.L. Stine

Devin and his sister Violet are spending their summer vacation by the ocean with their Uncle Jack. Jack used to be a sailor, and his old, creaky house is packed with strange and mysterious treasures he collected from his days at sea. While exploring a dusty back room, the siblings find a heavy, locked pirate trunk wrapped in rusty chains. They finally manage to crack it open, expecting to find gold or jewels. Instead, the chest is packed with antique, creepy jack-in-the-boxes. When they turn the handle on the oldest box, a terrifying puppet pops out. It is the ghost of a mean, scarred pirate, and he has a terrible magic trick up his sleeve. The pirate uses his dark magic to swap places with Uncle Jack, trapping their uncle inside the tiny toy box! Now, Devin and Violet must face the terrifying phantom to get their uncle back before he is trapped forever.

Ian Barker is having the worst twelfth birthday ever. He is stuck celebrating with his sister and their two incredibly annoying cousins who break everything they touch. His new birthday presents are completely ruined, and his patience is running out. Then, Ian's dad gives him a very unique gift: a vintage ventriloquist dummy named Slappy. At first, it seems like a cool addition to his room, but things quickly take a dark turn. When Slappy is around, no one is safe from his wicked tricks. You will feel the spine-tingling suspense as Ian realizes that his new dummy has a mind of its own. Instead of Ian controlling the puppet, Slappy is the one pulling the strings. Prepare for a wild, scary ride as Ian tries to outsmart the evil wooden dummy and save his family from a birthday celebration they will never forget.