by George Brewington ; illustrated by David Miles ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 5, 2019
Monsters and mayhem—but unfortunately mundane.
Twelve-year-old Bailey Buckleby is a monster hunter, but unlike his father, who sells them for profit, Bailey seeks to understand them.
When he is not in seventh grade or texting his maybe soon-to-be girlfriend, Savannah, Bailey can be found staffing the counter at Buckleby and Son’s Very Strange Souvenirs. In addition to the usual saltwater taffy, snow globes, and tacky T-shirts, the Bucklebys stock fairies, a harpy, hoop snakes, and what Bailey’s father claims is a Swiss Troll. But during a routine extermination job, Bailey and his father encounter Axel Pazuzu, a dangerous, dog-headed adversary who is determined to take down Buckleby and Son’s and steal the troll for himself. While Bailey and his father share the same rusty hair and bright green eyes, their approaches to life are nothing alike. Bailey wants to communicate with the monsters and help them return to their homes, but his father is determined to keep them in cages. Bailey is brave and intelligent, and Savannah is a girl to be reckoned with, but they seem unreasonably levelheaded and adept even when battling 3,000-year-old monsters, which depresses tension significantly. Wacky humor and an unusual cast of characters keep the pages turning anyway, but a lackluster story and a flat ending may prove disappointing. The human characters present white.
Monsters and mayhem—but unfortunately mundane. (Fantasy. 8-12)Pub Date: March 5, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-250-16578-7
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: Dec. 15, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2019
Share your opinion of this book
More by George Brewington
BOOK REVIEW
by Peter Brown ; illustrated by Peter Brown ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 26, 2023
Hugely entertaining, timely, and triumphant.
Robot Roz undertakes an unusual ocean journey to save her adopted island home in this third series entry.
When a poison tide flowing across the ocean threatens their island, Roz works with the resident creatures to ensure that they will have clean water, but the destruction of vegetation and crowding of habitats jeopardize everyone’s survival. Brown’s tale of environmental depredation and turmoil is by turns poignant, graceful, endearing, and inspiring, with his (mostly) gentle robot protagonist at its heart. Though Roz is different from the creatures she lives with or encounters—including her son, Brightbill the goose, and his new mate, Glimmerwing—she makes connections through her versatile communication abilities and her desire to understand and help others. When Roz accidentally discovers that the replacement body given to her by Dr. Molovo is waterproof, she sets out to seek help and discovers the human-engineered source of the toxic tide. Brown’s rich descriptions of undersea landscapes, entertaining conversations between Roz and wild creatures, and concise yet powerful explanations of the effect of the poison tide on the ecology of the island are superb. Simple, spare illustrations offer just enough glimpses of Roz and her surroundings to spark the imagination. The climactic confrontation pits oceangoing mammals, seabirds, fish, and even zooplankton against hardware and technology in a nicely choreographed battle. But it is Roz’s heroism and peacemaking that save the day.
Hugely entertaining, timely, and triumphant. (author’s note) (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 26, 2023
ISBN: 9780316669412
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Aug. 26, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2023
Share your opinion of this book
More by Aaron Reynolds
BOOK REVIEW
by Aaron Reynolds ; illustrated by Peter Brown
BOOK REVIEW
by Peter Brown ; illustrated by Peter Brown
BOOK REVIEW
by Peter Brown ; illustrated by Peter Brown
by Max Brallier ; illustrated by Douglas Holgate ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 13, 2015
Classic action-packed, monster-fighting fun
Awards & Accolades
Likes
12
Our Verdict
GET IT
New York Times Bestseller
It’s been 42 days since the Monster Apocalypse began, and 13-year-old Jack Sullivan, a self-proclaimed “zombie-fighting, monster-slaying tornado of cool” is on a quest to find and rescue his not-so-secret crush, June Del Toro, whether she needs it, wants it, or not.
Jack cobbles together an unlikely but endearing crew, including his scientist best friend, Quint Baker; Dirk Savage, Parker Middle School’s biggest bully; and a pet monster named Rover, to help him save the damsel in distress and complete the “ULTIMATE Feat of Apocalyptic Success.” Middle-grade readers, particularly boys, will find Jack’s pitch-perfect mix of humor, bravado, and self-professed geekiness impossible to resist. His sidekicks are equally entertaining, and it doesn’t hurt that there are also plenty of oozing, drooling, sharp-toothed monsters and zombies and a host of gizmos and gadgets to hook readers and keep them cheering with every turn of the page. Holgate’s illustrations play an integral role in the novel’s success. They not only bring Brallier’s characters to life, but also add depth and detail to the story, making plain just exactly how big Rover is and giving the lie to Jack’s “killer driving.” The marriage of text and illustration serves as a perfect example of what an illustrated novel can and should be.
Classic action-packed, monster-fighting fun (. (Graphic/horror hybrid. 8-12)Pub Date: Oct. 13, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-670-01661-7
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: July 21, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2015
Share your opinion of this book
More In The Series
by Max Brallier ; illustrated by Douglas Holgate
by Max Brallier ; illustrated by Douglas Holgate
by Max Brallier illustrated by Douglas Holgate
More by Max Brallier
BOOK REVIEW
by Max Brallier with Joshua Pruett ; illustrated by Jay Cooper & Douglas Holgate
BOOK REVIEW
by Max Brallier ; illustrated by Letizia Rubegni
BOOK REVIEW
by Max Brallier ; illustrated by Douglas Holgate
© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Hey there, book lover.
We’re glad you found a book that interests you!
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Don’t fret. We’ll find you.