Monsterland

Starred review from June 1, 2017
A young boy confronts a devastating loss.Halloween has always been the favorite holiday in Charlie's small town. But this year, the white fifth-grader isn't up for much celebration. Charlie's older cousin Billy has been missing, last seen by Charlie jumping into a churning river, and presumed drowned--though Charlie still holds out hope that Billy is alive. On Halloween night Charlie thinks he spots Billy in a pumpkin patch and runs after him, soon finding himself in Monsterland, a secluded valley purposefully left off the map by the U.S. government as a sanctuary for all the things that go bump in the night. Vampires, werewolves, witches, and more all mingle in Monsterland. Charlie navigates this peculiar place with Frankenstein's monster (here named Franklin Prometheus) as his companion, searching for Billy, who may be alive and well and hopelessly lost. This hefty novel is filled with imagination and incident. The book's episodic nature satiates the curiosities readers will have about the citizens of Monsterland and how it operates, but those itching for closure about Billy may get a bit restless. Charlie is a pleasant character, but Franklin Prometheus steals the show as a pragmatic beast forging a quiet but strong bond with his young charge. The book's emotional journey is just as enthralling as its physical one, blending well and evoking the works of Norton Juster and Jeff Smith. A compelling, imaginative, cathartic journey. (Fantasy. 10-14)

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July 1, 2017

Gr 4-6-Charlie Cooper is a troubled daydreamer who misses his cousin, Billy, who disappeared six months ago. For Charlie, nothing feels quite right. Halloween isn't the same without his sidekick, and he believes Billy is still out there. When Charlie's teacher discusses some local lore about uncharted land on the town map, Charlie's curiosity is piqued. While escaping bullies, Charlie stumbles into a graveyard and seeks shelter in Monsterland, the unexplored piece of his town. In Monsterland, Charlie meets the Prime Minister, a vampire who explains how Monsterland serves as a haven from the outside world for all kinds of monsters. Charlie encounters giants, werewolves, trolls, ogres, goblins, hobgoblins, a Persian Manticore, witches, marauders, wendigos, warlocks, mummies, and strigoi (troubled spirits of the dead rising from graves). The boy realizes that the land must remain protected and that Billy might be in there somewhere. Charlie begins his quest accompanied by none other than Frankenstein's monster himself (aka Franklin). The two journey across various parts of Monsterland as they search for Billy. The ending is satisfying, though Crowley paves the way for a sequel. Themes about death and the grieving process elevate this title above the average ghoulish fantasy. VERDICT Perfect for fans of Ransom Riggs's Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children or readers looking for a monster tale that's not overly scary.-Laura Dooley-Taylor, Lake Zurich Middle School North, IL

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