FictionDB

The Notebook of Doom — by Troy Cummings

The Notebook of Doom Series in Order: 13 books

  • Rise of the Balloon Goons

    Book - 1

    Monsters + Humor + Fun = THE NOTEBOOK OF DOOM! This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line called Branches, which is aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrat...

  • Day of the Night Crawlers

    Book - 2

    Monsters have never been this much fun! This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line called Branches, which is aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on...

  • Attack of the Shadow Smashers

    Book - 3

    Monsters, monsters, everywhere This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line called Branches, which is aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every pa...

  • Chomp of the Meat-Eating Vegetables

    Book - 4

    What could be more monstrous than giant vegetable monsters?! This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line called Branches, which is aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots,...

  • Whack of the P-Rex

    Book - 5

    Alexander Bopp is ready to battle Stermont's biggest monster yet -- the P-Rex! In this fifth book, Alexander stumbles into a VERY large footprint. And his friend Rip keeps finding candy in the street. What kind of monster leaves HUGE footprints be...

  • Pop of the Bumpy Mummy

    Book - 6

    A creepy mummy monster is on the loose in Stermont! In this sixth book, Alexander's class goes on a field trip to the history museum. The students have been learning about the legend of the bumpy mummy in class. But then Alexander thinks he sees t...

  • Flurry of the Snombies

    Book - 7

    It's summertime in Stermont! And it's...SNOWING?! In this seventh book, it's summertime in Stermont! Alexander, Rip, and Nikki are at summer camp up in the Gloamy Mountains. And it is REALLY hot! But suddenly, it starts snowing - and with the snow...

  • Charge of the Lightning Bugs

    Book - 8

    Stermont's latest monster is SHOCKING! This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line called Branches, which is aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on ...

  • Rumble of the Coaster Ghost

    Book - 9

    Alexander's class is going on a field trip to an amusement park. Everyone is excited -- until they find out they're going to SAFETY Land! Before the students take a ride on the Slow and Steady Teacups, a weird magician tells them there's a haunted ro...



  • Snap of the Super-Goop

    Book - 10

    In this tenth book, Alexander keeps seeing monsters that the S.S.M.P. has ALREADY defeated! But his friends Rip and Nikki think he is going crazy. Could there be zombie monsters on the loose? Or is there a monster that can turn into ANYTHING? Alexand...

  • Sneeze of the Octo-Schnozz

    Book - 11

    Everything stinks! Alexander, Rip, and Nikki aren't in the same class anymore. The monster notebook is missing. And a HONKing monster is sliming Stermont! Plus, actual smelly stuff is going missing all over town. Could all of these stinky things ...

  • March of the Vanderpants

    Book - 12

    The S.S.M.P. needs to track down the boss-monster and get their monster notebook back! Alexander, Rip, and Nikki are keeping their eyes open for clues. Then Alexander spots Principal Vanderpants carrying a white bucket filled with spaghetti through t...

  • Battle of the Boss-Monster

    Book - 13

    The Super Secret Monster Patrol has protected Stermont from all kinds of monsters. But is the S.S.M.P. ready to take on a whole ARMY of monsters? Alexander, Rip, and Nikki need to find the BOSS-MONSTER's secret hideout and steal back the notebook. Bu...

Series Premise

The core premise centers on young Alexander Bopp, who relocates with his dad to the peculiar small town of Stermont. Almost immediately, he discovers that this seemingly normal place hides a secret infestation of bizarre, one-of-a-kind monsters. On his first day exploring the old school building slated for demolition, Alexander uncovers an ancient notebook emblazoned with the word "DOOM." This mysterious volume—filled with sketches, descriptions, and vital combat notes—turns out to be the official record of the Super Secret Monster Patrol (S.S.M.P.), a long-defunct group dedicated to defending the town from these threats. Alexander realizes he's now the reluctant heir to this legacy. Teaming up with two new school friends, he revives the patrol to confront wave after wave of wildly inventive monsters that pop up in unexpected ways, often tied to everyday objects or seasonal quirks. Each encounter demands quick thinking, teamwork, and using the notebook's clues to outsmart the creatures before they wreak havoc.

The Notebook of Doom Series Reading Order

🔄 Best Read in Order · Start with Book 1: Rise of the Balloon Goons

Standalone stories, but characters and relationships develop across the series.

The series benefits greatly from being read in chronological order. While the early books function mostly as self-contained monster-of-the-week escapades with satisfying resolutions, a stronger overarching continuity develops as the story progresses, particularly from around the midpoint onward. Character relationships deepen, secrets about Stermont's monster history emerge, and the stakes for the young heroes grow. Jumping around risks missing key developments in friendships, monster lore, and Alexander's growth from a nervous newcomer to a confident leader. For the fullest enjoyment and emotional payoff, following the sequence is highly recommended.

Explanation of reading order types



The Notebook of Doom Series Characters

Leading the charge is Alexander Bopp, a cautious, allergy-prone boy with a vivid imagination and a talent for observation. New to town and initially overwhelmed, he grows into the role of S.S.M.P. leader through determination and quick wits. His best friends and fellow patrol members form the unbreakable trio: Rip (short for Ripl ey), a bold, energetic boy full of bravado and ready for action, and Nikki, a smart, resourceful girl who excels at strategy and isn't afraid to call out bad ideas. Together, they brainstorm, bicker, and battle with infectious enthusiasm. Alexander's dad appears as a supportive but mostly clueless parent figure, keeping things grounded in everyday family life. The monsters themselves act as recurring antagonists of sorts—each unique creation like balloon goons, shadow smashers, meat-eating vegetables, or prehistoric piñatas brings fresh chaos, with the notebook providing essential (and often humorous) countermeasures.

Setting of the The Notebook of Doom Series

Stermont serves as the quirky, monster-plagued heart of the series. This sleepy little town appears ordinary at first glance, with its school, parks, neighborhoods, and seasonal events, but it harbors an endless supply of strange phenomena. Monsters seem drawn to the place, emerging from shadows, food, weather, or discarded objects in ways that transform familiar settings into battlegrounds. The town's history hints at long-standing supernatural activity, giving the location a lived-in, slightly eerie charm that feels both cozy and unpredictable.

Tone & Themes of the The Notebook of Doom Series

The tone strikes a perfect balance between mildly scary and gleefully silly, never venturing into true horror but delivering just enough goosebumps to excite without overwhelming young readers. Humor abounds through groan-worthy puns, absurd monster designs, and the kids' banter, keeping the mood light even during tense showdowns. Themes revolve around courage in the face of the unknown, the power of friendship and teamwork, embracing change (like moving to a new town), and believing in oneself despite feeling small or outmatched. There's an underlying message about curiosity leading to discovery and how facing fears head-on builds resilience—all wrapped in an empowering package that celebrates kid ingenuity over adult intervention.

In the end, The Notebook of Doom captures the magic of being a kid who stumbles into a secret world of adventure right in your own backyard. Troy Cummings crafts a series that's equal parts thrilling and hilarious, proving that even the scariest monsters can be defeated with friends, a little knowledge, and a whole lot of heart. It's the kind of reading experience that turns reluctant readers into eager fans, leaving them scanning every shadow for the next goofy ghoul—and cheering for three brave kids who refuse to let doom win.



Books in this series fall into the following genres

Age Level

Genres

Sub-Genres

Themes

People / Creatures

Click on any of the links above to see more series and books in these genres.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

There are 13 books in The Notebook of Doom series.

The Notebook of Doom series does not have a new book coming out soon. The latest book, Battle of the Boss-Monster (Book 13), was published in January 2018.

The first book in The Notebook of Doom series, Rise of the Balloon Goons, was published in June 2013.

The Notebook of Doom series primarily falls into the Fantasy genre. This chapter book series was written for ages 7-10, but some older readers may still like to read these books.

Top Series in Fantasy

No ads, please...
$25 / year

FictionDB Premium Membership

Subscribe