Chuck Wendig
Little Brown, 2021
368 pages
Grades 5-8
Fantasy/Horror
After Molly's father dies his brother, Uncle Gordo, deposits her in the home of estranged older brother, Dustin. Dustin was raised by their deceased mother and is now under the care of her unfriendly best friend. All is not as it seems in the creepy manor house, which serves as a mortuary, yet no bodies are ever delivered. Uncle Gordo is putting the screws to Molly to snoop around and find hidden secrets. A walk into the woods delivers just that as Molly discovers a door with a mysterious multi-holed lock and wolves who can communicate with her and are less than welcoming. Further investigation reveals that the family business is not as it was presented and although they are caretakers to the dead, it becomes apparent the customers are not quite human. Molly meets otherworldly beings, who become her allies and friends, and develops a tentative partnership with Dustin in order to protect the realm of the fantastical dead and their family lineage. Does Molly have what it takes to travel into the unknown and battle supernatural forces?
Adult author, Wendig, tries his hand at middle grade and delivers a deliciously creepy tale of monsters and the supernatural afterlife. What can be more scary than an old graveyard? A burial ground for a variety of deceased monsters! The gothic vibe of the book immediately clues readers into the fact that something sinister is going on and that this house is hiding secrets. The reader discovers the secrets right along with Molly and the story then dives into the realm of the monsters of legend. No one is as they seem and twists and turns reveal who the "bad guy" actually is. Meanwhile, Molly slowly makes close connections for the first time and discovers "family" and what that means. Horror is trending right now, so this story is sure to find an audience. The underlying humor and humanness of the monsters undermine some of the fright aspects, rendering the book not too scary. Molly never loses her composure, also helping the reader to be brave enough to keep reading. Though the main arc of the plot ends, I would not be surprised to see more adventures in store for Molly, Dustin, and the gang.
No comments:
Post a Comment