A sequel that’s just as fun and funny as the first book.
Trainers Gabe and Hayden are back, ready to battle with a new monster.
Ten-year-old Trainers Gabe Basuldua and Hayden Fracasso find monsters to enter in battle against other Trainers. Using special medallions designed by the Crafters Guild, a secret society that conducts events to help monsters socialize, Trainers can stay safe while working with the dangerous creatures. In this second series entry, Gabe and Hayden face Lilly Concannon and Amos Funada, 12-year-old Trainers who have found a Brazilian ghost named Marta Lucélia Pêra, who died decades ago, to fight in the Versus battle against their ancient mummy, Ptahhotep. With one win under their belts, Gabe and Hayden hope that Ptahhotep will be successful in taking on a ghost as powerful as Marta. While Ptahhotep is more than 4,000 years old and extremely strong, can he stand up to Marta’s ghostly chill? Or will Ptahhotep fail when faced with a beautiful ghost who matches him in ways no one else has for millennia? This action-packed and humorous novel brings beloved characters Gabe and Hayden back to yet again elevate the monster-battle genre. With perspectives that change from chapter to chapter, excellent character building, and fast pacing, this romp will appeal even to reluctant readers: It’s a fun and fantastical read that’s ideal for fans of classic monsters and Pokémon battles. Hayden and Lilly are white, Gabe is Black, and Amos is Japanese American.
A sequel that’s just as fun and funny as the first book. (Paranormal. 8-12)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9781619639034
Page Count: 272
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: Dec. 28, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
Supernatural mystery meets generational drama with hopeful endings for all.
Eleven-year-old Frank must solve a supernatural mystery to save his new home.
As fifth grade comes to an end, Frank Fernández is looking forward to finally staying put in Alabama for a second year, as promised, after a childhood spent following his parents’ home renovation work all across the country. Frequent relocation has made Frank wary of forming friendships or making plans, but his hopes for more stability are temporarily dashed when his parents announce plans to renovate a lighthouse in the Florida Keys, near where his mother grew up and his father’s home country of Cuba. Papi promises this will be their last move, though: The lighthouse will be theirs. But from their first day on Spectacle Key, things seem to go wrong: Tensions rise between his parents, and Frank’s hopes of a forever home are under threat from seemingly supernatural forces. In order to put down roots, Frank and new ghostly friend Connie, a White girl with freckles, must discover what secrets the island is hiding, uncovering Frank’s own family roots along the way. Frank is a fan of horror—he names his new Great Dane puppy Mary Shelley. But though there is some mild peril to be found, rather than a ghostly thriller, this is an appealing, lightly spooky family drama with valuable lessons for those who would hide from a difficult past instead of confronting and healing generational trauma.
Supernatural mystery meets generational drama with hopeful endings for all. (Supernatural. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 6, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-06-313481-2
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: July 12, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
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