Wretched Waterpark was one of my favorite reads of the summer — the mystery within a mystery! the action! the word play! the spookiness! the siblingness! Vampiric Vacation is a worthy addition to the series, retaining all the fun features of the first book, but it doesn't quite hit the same heights for me. The word play, one of my favorite aspects, felt just a little forced, and a shouting gag that runs throughout didn't quite work for me (but middle grade readers may enjoy it immensely, especially as a readaloud). With the addition of more adults around (well, sort of around), this one takes on an even more Roald Dahl feel to it, though, which I do enjoy. And there's some interesting science/nature/medical stuff, too! (Fans of Gregor the Overlander might appreciate the appearance of bats here, though they're not nearly large enough to ride.)