Useless and the Carnival of Terror — Margaret Pearce

The carnival gates swing open--but no one leaves.When Useless (real name: Ewen) and his best friend Perry sneak into the mysterious New Carnival, they expect a few free rides... not to discover that everyone inside has vanished. No operators. No exit. No explanation.Then their friend Will finds a strange reward token in a rigged arcade game. One canoe ride later, the boys are transported to a tropical island where nothing makes sense--and everything might be watching.Drugged food, crested enforcers and masked guards, and monstrous creatures all point to one terrifying truth: the Carnival is a trap. And the prize isn't candy or popcorn... it's kids.But Useless and his friends aren't giving up without a fight.Packed with fast-paced twists, dry humour, and classic adventure vibes, this sci-fi companion to Useless is perfect for middle-grade readers who love brainy heroes and bizarre mysteries.