Despite some contradictory plot details, a message of empathy is delivered with quirky charm.
In Allen’s chapter book, a little basement-dwelling monster hopes to find acceptance in the human world.
There’s a secret in the basement of the 150-year-old Marymount Mansion, and only the septuagenarian owner, Celeste, knows what it is: families of monsters live there. Celeste is their friend, keeping them safe from discovery (they do attend her Halloween party every year, since her guests assume they’re wearing costumes). But 8-year-old monster Toby, who has “furry green skin” and smells like cotton candy, wants to see more of the world outside the basement. (Goodwin’s cartoony black-and-white spot illustrations accompany the text here and there, with Toby depicted as a bucket-shaped figure with froggy eyes and skinny legs.) There are a few inconsistencies in its messaging, but this fantasy story offers a fanciful and compassionate approach to being “different.” Young readers will root for the courageous Toby as curiosity about the human world drives his quest to be free to be himself there, convinced that “we should be able to get along with others who aren’t exactly like us.” His courage and curiosity lead to him befriending a huge, lonely monster, so different that he even scares other monsters, and to an outing trick-or-treating and fitting in with costumed human kids. The narrative balances Toby’s good experiences with a scary encounter with a teenage human bully, followed by the little monster’s confidence-building realization that humans have many differences, too, from skin colors to the glasses some of them wear and the way they dress. Celeste is a bit problematic in her role as the monsters’ affectionate protector: She brings them cookies, considers them family, and attends their weddings and births, yet leaves their basement home “dark and dank” and short on “elbow room” (elsewhere, the basement is inconsistently described as big enough to have areas that Toby’s family never explored, including the lair of Toby’s sad, giant monster friend).
Despite some contradictory plot details, a message of empathy is delivered with quirky charm.Pub Date: Oct. 10, 2023
ISBN: 9780996102940
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Asd Publishing
Review Posted Online: Nov. 14, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Classic action-packed, monster-fighting fun
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A worthy combination of athletic action, the virtues of inner strength, and the importance of friendship.
A young tennis champion becomes the target of revenge.
In this sequel to Legacy and the Queen (2019), Legacy Petrin and her friends Javi and Pippa have returned to Legacy’s home province and the orphanage run by her father. With her friends’ help, she is in training to defend her championship when they discover that another player, operating under the protection of High Consul Silla, is presenting herself as Legacy. She is so convincing that the real Legacy is accused of being an imitation. False Legacy has become a hero to the masses, further strengthening Silla’s hold, and it becomes imperative to uncover and defeat her. If Legacy is to win again, she must play her imposter while disguised as someone else. Winning at tennis is not just about money and fame, but resisting Silla’s plans to send more young people into brutal mines with little hope of better lives. Legacy will have to overcome her fears and find the magic that allowed her to claim victory in the past. This story, with its elements of sports, fantasy, and social consciousness that highlight tensions between the powerful and those they prey upon, successfully continues the series conceived by late basketball superstar Bryant. As before, the tennis matches are depicted with pace and spirit. Legacy and Javi have brown skin; most other characters default to White.
A worthy combination of athletic action, the virtues of inner strength, and the importance of friendship. (Fantasy. 9-12)Pub Date: Aug. 24, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-949520-19-4
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Granity Studios
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
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