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Let the Monster Out: A Novel
An equal parts heart-pounding and heartfelt middle-grade mystery about facing––and accepting––your fears, perfect for fans of Stranger Things and The Parker Inheritance Bones Malone feels like he can’t do anything right in his new small He almost punched the son of the woman who babysits him and his brothers, he’s one of the only Black kids in Langille, and now his baseball team (the one place where he really feels like he shines) just lost their first game. To make matters worse, things in town are getting weird . His mom isn’t acting like herself at all—she’s totally spaced out, almost like a zombie. And then he and his brothers have the same dream—one where they’re running from some of their deepest fears, like a bear and an eerie cracked mirror that Bones would rather soon forget.
Kyle Specks feels like he can never say the right thing at the right time. He thinks he might be neurodivergent, but he hasn’t gotten an official diagnosis yet. His parents worry that the world might be too hard for him and try to protect him, but Kyle knows they can’t do that forever. Even though he’s scared, he can’t just stand by and do nothing while things in this town get stranger and stranger, especially not after he and Bones find a mysterious scientist’s journal that might hold answers about what’s going on.
But when faced with seemingly impossible situations, a shady corporation, and their own worst nightmares, will Kyle and Bones be brave enough to admit they're scared? Or will the fear totally consume and control them?
Kyle Specks feels like he can never say the right thing at the right time. He thinks he might be neurodivergent, but he hasn’t gotten an official diagnosis yet. His parents worry that the world might be too hard for him and try to protect him, but Kyle knows they can’t do that forever. Even though he’s scared, he can’t just stand by and do nothing while things in this town get stranger and stranger, especially not after he and Bones find a mysterious scientist’s journal that might hold answers about what’s going on.
But when faced with seemingly impossible situations, a shady corporation, and their own worst nightmares, will Kyle and Bones be brave enough to admit they're scared? Or will the fear totally consume and control them?
320 pages, Hardcover
Published May 17, 2022
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August 24, 2023
✰ 4 stars ✰
“You have to swing, Kyle. Even if you’re going down, at least go down swinging.”
With steady pacing, well-fleshed out characters, an intriguing plot, and strong cohesive writing, Let the Monster Out is another wonderful testament of Chad Lucas' writing. It's a heart-felt read that explores the challenges of our personal mental struggles and how they can manifest into something out of our hands, if we don't have the time to take a look at ourselves. It is actually truly commendable that Mr. Lucas was able to incorporate science fiction/horror elements into a story that addresses some heavy issues concerning domestic violence, parental abuse, racism, and mental health - and still do it with a very poignant and caring touch that made all the concerns expressed so much more valid. 😟😟
The story revolves around two very distinctive and different protagonists - Bones - a Black, bold and brave boy, whose family has recently moved into a mostly White neighborhood and Kyle - a young boy on the autism spectrum, who sees things in a different way than others. Somehow, their friendship works - they are so vastly different, but they become friends - the best of friends - on unsteady footing, but transcend into a bond that the other would there to help in the blink of an eye, despite the ups and downs that plague their newly-found friendship.
“Friends don’t abandon each other when it’s tough.”
The friendship theme was really strong for me in this one - it just captured their dynamic so well that it felt real and tangible. Built on the reassurance and steady strength - for both of them, for whatever problems they were dealing with personally or at home - through baseball references or white boards analysis - there was this general comfort that prevailed from their dynamic - that warmed my heart - that there is someone looking out for you - believes in you and will reach out a hand to pull you of the darkness, be it in the real world or a dream. 🥺🥺
“Kyle was still watching him. “You are definitely the most interesting person I know,” he said.”
Bones is bold and brave and bound to reveal the cause behind the mysterious actions that is affecting his family and friends. The responsibility of being a big brother and support to his mother weighs heavily on him - my heart ached for him - he's the product of some really bad parenting - so shockingly grim and disturbingly so that it hurt me - that I recoiled in pain for what he's had to endure - at times, an inner war raged within me over the monstrosity. 😢 One can only commend the author for his play on the title - the double entendre, one that applies to so much more than just the literal sense. The build-up to the climax heightened so very much the reveal - how it wasn't best for him to carry the burden on his own for so long - all the guilt over the trauma his family has faced. It just really captured so much - and the writing shined in how it brought everything together. ❤️🩹❤️🩹
“Are you kidding?” Bones blurted. “You’re the best friend I’ve ever had.��
Kyle was a sweetheart - a boy who was always determined to be better than he was - to fit into the crowd - to let others see that he's more than the awkward boy they see. Chad Lucas portrayed that feeling of not fitting in - the odd ball out so very well - but he rose to defeat each challenge so strongly and proudly. I loved his defiance, I loved that he was so resolute and determined not to change who he is, but bring who he is and his talents to the team. He and Bones made such a great sleuthing team and some of their tender confessions of just being so open about their feelings warmed my heart so - no hidden agenda, just raw open feelings of caring. 🥹 🥹
“People are most vulnerable when they wish they’d made a different choice in life. It’s still fear, in a way—fear they’ve made a mistake they can never undo, something that will haunt them forever.”
I really appreciated the creative way in which he tackled some very heavy sensitive issues - in a unique scientific, yet honest approach. It was meaningful and impactful and well-done - the villains didn't feel like cardboard cut-outs. They had a motive and a plan with a purpose; children who do resonate with Stranger Things-esque vibe and who may also be struggling with issues like Bones and Kyle will really connect with this. It is a dark story, rather painful and traumatic, but through the power of friendship, the kindness and good was able to outweigh the bad thoughts - to defeat the demons that lie dormant within us. There is also an excellent balance in the humor and dramatic moments provided by the levity the young kids, who are struggling, but surviving. 👍🏻 👍🏻
“Parents were supposed to take care of their kids, and people were supposed to take care of one another—and the planet too—but it didn’t always work that way.
Everything was always in flux. Some people were willing to break everything for money, or power, or because they were broken too.”
And I may have already stated this before, but I feel the need to reiterate myself. It's funny when I see someone say that a Middle Grade book is targeted only for the audience of this age group - I disagree. I'm in my thirties, and I still feel that, parents can even benefit from reading middle grade books. it should really read - ages this and above - because, you never know how much you can learn from a book that is written for a younger audience - what kind of stories can be told in their voices that still speak to us today. 😔 😔 It is truly commendable for an author to portray; and, especially, if you know the genre that you're about to read - I think, it would appeal to readers a lot more, before dismissing it and not taking a chance on something that can really leave an impact on you.
“You have to swing, Kyle. Even if you’re going down, at least go down swinging.”
With steady pacing, well-fleshed out characters, an intriguing plot, and strong cohesive writing, Let the Monster Out is another wonderful testament of Chad Lucas' writing. It's a heart-felt read that explores the challenges of our personal mental struggles and how they can manifest into something out of our hands, if we don't have the time to take a look at ourselves. It is actually truly commendable that Mr. Lucas was able to incorporate science fiction/horror elements into a story that addresses some heavy issues concerning domestic violence, parental abuse, racism, and mental health - and still do it with a very poignant and caring touch that made all the concerns expressed so much more valid. 😟😟
The story revolves around two very distinctive and different protagonists - Bones - a Black, bold and brave boy, whose family has recently moved into a mostly White neighborhood and Kyle - a young boy on the autism spectrum, who sees things in a different way than others. Somehow, their friendship works - they are so vastly different, but they become friends - the best of friends - on unsteady footing, but transcend into a bond that the other would there to help in the blink of an eye, despite the ups and downs that plague their newly-found friendship.
“Friends don’t abandon each other when it’s tough.”
The friendship theme was really strong for me in this one - it just captured their dynamic so well that it felt real and tangible. Built on the reassurance and steady strength - for both of them, for whatever problems they were dealing with personally or at home - through baseball references or white boards analysis - there was this general comfort that prevailed from their dynamic - that warmed my heart - that there is someone looking out for you - believes in you and will reach out a hand to pull you of the darkness, be it in the real world or a dream. 🥺🥺
“Kyle was still watching him. “You are definitely the most interesting person I know,” he said.”
Bones is bold and brave and bound to reveal the cause behind the mysterious actions that is affecting his family and friends. The responsibility of being a big brother and support to his mother weighs heavily on him - my heart ached for him - he's the product of some really bad parenting - so shockingly grim and disturbingly so that it hurt me - that I recoiled in pain for what he's had to endure - at times, an inner war raged within me over the monstrosity. 😢 One can only commend the author for his play on the title - the double entendre, one that applies to so much more than just the literal sense. The build-up to the climax heightened so very much the reveal - how it wasn't best for him to carry the burden on his own for so long - all the guilt over the trauma his family has faced. It just really captured so much - and the writing shined in how it brought everything together. ❤️🩹❤️🩹
“Are you kidding?” Bones blurted. “You’re the best friend I’ve ever had.��
Kyle was a sweetheart - a boy who was always determined to be better than he was - to fit into the crowd - to let others see that he's more than the awkward boy they see. Chad Lucas portrayed that feeling of not fitting in - the odd ball out so very well - but he rose to defeat each challenge so strongly and proudly. I loved his defiance, I loved that he was so resolute and determined not to change who he is, but bring who he is and his talents to the team. He and Bones made such a great sleuthing team and some of their tender confessions of just being so open about their feelings warmed my heart so - no hidden agenda, just raw open feelings of caring. 🥹 🥹
“People are most vulnerable when they wish they’d made a different choice in life. It’s still fear, in a way—fear they’ve made a mistake they can never undo, something that will haunt them forever.”
I really appreciated the creative way in which he tackled some very heavy sensitive issues - in a unique scientific, yet honest approach. It was meaningful and impactful and well-done - the villains didn't feel like cardboard cut-outs. They had a motive and a plan with a purpose; children who do resonate with Stranger Things-esque vibe and who may also be struggling with issues like Bones and Kyle will really connect with this. It is a dark story, rather painful and traumatic, but through the power of friendship, the kindness and good was able to outweigh the bad thoughts - to defeat the demons that lie dormant within us. There is also an excellent balance in the humor and dramatic moments provided by the levity the young kids, who are struggling, but surviving. 👍🏻 👍🏻
“Parents were supposed to take care of their kids, and people were supposed to take care of one another—and the planet too—but it didn’t always work that way.
Everything was always in flux. Some people were willing to break everything for money, or power, or because they were broken too.”
And I may have already stated this before, but I feel the need to reiterate myself. It's funny when I see someone say that a Middle Grade book is targeted only for the audience of this age group - I disagree. I'm in my thirties, and I still feel that, parents can even benefit from reading middle grade books. it should really read - ages this and above - because, you never know how much you can learn from a book that is written for a younger audience - what kind of stories can be told in their voices that still speak to us today. 😔 😔 It is truly commendable for an author to portray; and, especially, if you know the genre that you're about to read - I think, it would appeal to readers a lot more, before dismissing it and not taking a chance on something that can really leave an impact on you.
November 3, 2021
I loved Thanks a Lot, Universe and I was so glad to read Let the Monster Out early. Chad Lucas’ writing is smooth and captivating, and funny and serious at the same time. Unlike his first book, Chad Lucas’ second MG is a mystery story with some horror and dystopian elements. But his writing remained the same and again he didn’t shy away from hard hitting topics.
Bones is Black and has moved to a small village together with his mom and two brothers. They’re one of the only Black families in a mostly white town. He hates injustice and defends his family and friends wherever he can. He wants to be brave and fearless.
Kyle might be on the autistic spectrum but he doesn’t know for sure. He always feels different and is afraid people might find him weird. Sometimes he just doesn’t understand other people and says the wrong things.
What I liked most about this story is that Bones was a real friend to Kyle and saw him as a normal person. Because what is normal anyway? We’re all different and normal has many kinds of shapes. Furthermore, I loved the message that it’s okay to admit that you’re scared or anxious, even for Bones who once decided he couldn’t afford to be afraid anymore. And I loved Marcus of course, the sweetest boy ever.
What I liked less were the mystery/horror/dystopian parts, and the ‘whodunnit’ part (or more exactly ‘what they used’). I can’t explain it without giving away spoilers but it’s got something to do with conspiracy theories nowadays.
Although I didn’t fully enjoy the mystery part, I believe that middle graders definitely will like this story and that’s why I rounded up my 3.5 star rating to 4. Personally, I hope Chad returns to the contemporary genre and I would love to see him writing a contemporary YA story. I think that his writing and contemporary YA would go very well together.
I received an ARC from Abrams and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Bones is Black and has moved to a small village together with his mom and two brothers. They’re one of the only Black families in a mostly white town. He hates injustice and defends his family and friends wherever he can. He wants to be brave and fearless.
Kyle might be on the autistic spectrum but he doesn’t know for sure. He always feels different and is afraid people might find him weird. Sometimes he just doesn’t understand other people and says the wrong things.
What I liked most about this story is that Bones was a real friend to Kyle and saw him as a normal person. Because what is normal anyway? We’re all different and normal has many kinds of shapes. Furthermore, I loved the message that it’s okay to admit that you’re scared or anxious, even for Bones who once decided he couldn’t afford to be afraid anymore. And I loved Marcus of course, the sweetest boy ever.
What I liked less were the mystery/horror/dystopian parts, and the ‘whodunnit’ part (or more exactly ‘what they used’). I can’t explain it without giving away spoilers but it’s got something to do with conspiracy theories nowadays.
Although I didn’t fully enjoy the mystery part, I believe that middle graders definitely will like this story and that’s why I rounded up my 3.5 star rating to 4. Personally, I hope Chad returns to the contemporary genre and I would love to see him writing a contemporary YA story. I think that his writing and contemporary YA would go very well together.
I received an ARC from Abrams and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
April 6, 2022
Chad Lucas writes middle grade characters so poignantly, perfectly capturing that age when a kid is on the cusp of young adulthood, at that precarious, lonely, and important place where your friends are becoming the most compelling force in your world, but you still really want your mom to be at your baseball game. Bones Malone and Kyle Specks are no exception. Both are lovingly drawn and heartfelt in their fears, their heartbreaks, and their aspirations. Lucas handles Bones’ traumatic history and Kyle’s growing concern that his ‘brain works differently’ with tenderness, and the fact that both boys come to face their fears through such supportive friendships is just beautiful. My thanks to Abrams Kids for the eARC.
March 1, 2022
Definitely a good middle grades novel that deals with some intense themes. I appreciate how the author talked about things like abuse, grief, anger, fear, racism, and ability, but in a way that flowed naturally and easily. I think young people will love the story, but I also think that they will learn so much more from Bones Malone and Kyle Specks.
October 24, 2022
Review originally published 24 October 2022 at Falling Letters.
I read Lucas’ debut Thanks A Lot, Universe last year. Objectively, I found it a great read. Subjectively, it was realistic fiction – not my favourite genre. So, I was excited to learn Lucas’ next book is a speculative fiction scary story.
Let the Monster Out stars two protagonists. Bones has recently moved to small town Nova Scotia with his mother and his younger brothers. Bones is biracial (white mother and Black father). Bones’ father is out of the picture for reasons explored over the course of the story). Being one of the few Black kids in town comes with challenges, but Bones is finding his place on the baseball team. Also on the team is Kyle, a quieter white kid who believes he may be autistic. Bones and Kyle may not seem the likeliest friends – an unusual shared experience draws them to work together. Bones’ treatment of Kyle like an “ordinary kid” allows them to build a real friendship.
Bones is the prominent protagonist of the story, and the one to whom the titular phrase applies. Kyle, however, is just as keenly written. The two balance each other well. They have their own unique fears and challenges that they grapple with over the course of the novel.
Two distinct protagonists allow Let the Monster Out to explore a lot of great themes. Lucas deftly weaves them together without the story feeling too heavy-handed or overcrowded. Not all of these themes can be boiled down to a single word. Here’s a few that I’ve come up with: teamwork, racism, neurodivergency, family dynamics, empathy, overcoming fear, coming into one’s own identity, and what it means to be a good friend.
As for creep factor, I would say Let the Monster Out is roughly on the same level as Ghostlight . Less gruesome, a little more psychological. The plot (family moves to small town, everything seems great but kids realize things are not as they seem, there turns out to be a ‘supernatural’ element at play) has a lot of pop culture appeal, what with the everlasting popularity of Stranger Things et al. This book doesn’t have the most original plot, but Lucas uses it well to explore the characters and give them room to grow (something that the plot of Ghostlight doesn’t do at all).
💭 The Bottom Line: A lightly scary yet intense story with heartfelt characters and great pacing, Let the Monster Out has plenty to offer for fans of horror or speculative middle grade.
I read Lucas’ debut Thanks A Lot, Universe last year. Objectively, I found it a great read. Subjectively, it was realistic fiction – not my favourite genre. So, I was excited to learn Lucas’ next book is a speculative fiction scary story.
Let the Monster Out stars two protagonists. Bones has recently moved to small town Nova Scotia with his mother and his younger brothers. Bones is biracial (white mother and Black father). Bones’ father is out of the picture for reasons explored over the course of the story). Being one of the few Black kids in town comes with challenges, but Bones is finding his place on the baseball team. Also on the team is Kyle, a quieter white kid who believes he may be autistic. Bones and Kyle may not seem the likeliest friends – an unusual shared experience draws them to work together. Bones’ treatment of Kyle like an “ordinary kid” allows them to build a real friendship.
Bones is the prominent protagonist of the story, and the one to whom the titular phrase applies. Kyle, however, is just as keenly written. The two balance each other well. They have their own unique fears and challenges that they grapple with over the course of the novel.
Two distinct protagonists allow Let the Monster Out to explore a lot of great themes. Lucas deftly weaves them together without the story feeling too heavy-handed or overcrowded. Not all of these themes can be boiled down to a single word. Here’s a few that I’ve come up with: teamwork, racism, neurodivergency, family dynamics, empathy, overcoming fear, coming into one’s own identity, and what it means to be a good friend.
As for creep factor, I would say Let the Monster Out is roughly on the same level as Ghostlight . Less gruesome, a little more psychological. The plot (family moves to small town, everything seems great but kids realize things are not as they seem, there turns out to be a ‘supernatural’ element at play) has a lot of pop culture appeal, what with the everlasting popularity of Stranger Things et al. This book doesn’t have the most original plot, but Lucas uses it well to explore the characters and give them room to grow (something that the plot of Ghostlight doesn’t do at all).
💭 The Bottom Line: A lightly scary yet intense story with heartfelt characters and great pacing, Let the Monster Out has plenty to offer for fans of horror or speculative middle grade.
July 4, 2022
This book was quite a read. I loved how the boys stuck together and had an extremely healthy relationship for burgeoning teenage boys (V. unrealistic in my experience on the outside of baseball-based teenage friendships. My brother and co still call one guy princess... he's a cop now...). It didn't give off the same horror vibes as some of the other titles I've read this year as it leaned hard into sci-fi-meets-scooby-doo. In a way I think older kids would find that comforting - the familiarity of a bunch of friends trying to solve a mystery way above their pay grade while dealing with all the weirdness that is early puberty boy life. I also really loved how they handled their new friend's neurodivergance; it provides a great example of how to help and be a friend to someone who may be different than you instead of isolating them.
January 22, 2023
The best part of this book was the wholesome and healthy male friendship that was modelled among Bones, Kyle, Marcus, and Albert. It was so lovely seeing these kids sharing caring, emotional, and supportive relationships with one another, and it’s something that I don’t think middle-grade boys get to see a lot of. I’m so glad Lucas made it a focal point!
The character arcs of the two MCs, Bones and Kyle, were amazing. Bones is grappling with trauma from his past, and Kyle is figuring out how to deal with the ableist world as an autistic kid. They both had come so far by the end of the book, and helped each other a lot on their journeys. Aside from this, both characters made for great, engaging narrative voices.
The book also engaged me with its pacey and intriguing plot; most of it is investigative, which is a personal favourite plot motivator for me.
I would have loved some more plot structure and also information about how “AZLing” actually worked. I was also hoping for more of a spooky atmosphere. But overall, this was a super enjoyable read.
The character arcs of the two MCs, Bones and Kyle, were amazing. Bones is grappling with trauma from his past, and Kyle is figuring out how to deal with the ableist world as an autistic kid. They both had come so far by the end of the book, and helped each other a lot on their journeys. Aside from this, both characters made for great, engaging narrative voices.
The book also engaged me with its pacey and intriguing plot; most of it is investigative, which is a personal favourite plot motivator for me.
I would have loved some more plot structure and also information about how “AZLing” actually worked. I was also hoping for more of a spooky atmosphere. But overall, this was a super enjoyable read.
August 7, 2023
Mostly a good book a few anti white statements and their is a man looking for his husband who has gone missing so may not be appropriate for some kids in middle school but good story fav character is Kyle the writer handled descriptions of an autistic boy and his feeling very well lots of baseball too
April 25, 2022
Review TK
August 15, 2022
I had this book playing for my son on a road trip and seriously we both thought it was fantastic. I’m excited for us to check out his other book.
August 29, 2022
Impressive character work and lightly spooky. Loved this.
January 30, 2022
This author has a gift for writing middle grade characters that feel fully realized on the page and Let the Monster Out is no exception. The story follows Bones and Kyle; Bones is new to town and one of only two Black families; he's also harboring a whole lot of guilt and hurt related to his father, who no longer lives with them. Kyle is neurodivergent and used to never fitting in. The two boys encounter each other during baseball and a series of strange events draw them together. Their friendship develops as they work to save their town from the corporation using nefarious technology to control its inhabitants. In the end, Bones will have to come to terms with his past––and himself––and Kyle will have to embrace his gifts if they are to succeed. This book is a blend of contemporary, sci-fi, and horror that carries whispers of A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness.
October 30, 2022
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Bones Malone, his mother, and two brothers have moved to Langille, where they are one of the few Black families. The community has a large company called Fluxcor, Royden University, and a new sports complex where Carlos Robeson, a retired baseball player, is coaching, so Bones' mother wants him to be open minded. Due to problems with his father (who is no longer in the picture) in the past, Bones has some anger management issues that are constantly getting him in trouble. He's a great pitcher, and he starts to make friends on his baseball team. Marcus, the coach's son, seems too cool for Bones, but is really nice. Kyle is a bit difficult to deal with, since he himself suspects he might be on the autism spectrum, even though his parents don't want him tested and labeled. When odd things start to happen to the adults in town, including Bones' mother and the local librarian, the boys wonder what is going on. Fluxcor has recently unveiled new technology, a free WiFi that they are gifting to the town, and this conincides with the rise in incidents of Alien Zombie Librarian-ification. Will they be able to figure out what's causing this, and deal with their personal issues, before things get really bad?
Strengths: While there has been an increase in the number of books centering inner city children of color, there aren't as many set in the suburbs. Seeing Bones struggling with being Black in a predominately white community adds another layer of interest, and it was good that people (other than his babysitter and her son) seemed to be welcoming. The inclusion of baseball details will make this appealing to more readers. I especially liked that Marcus was a great kid who was kind to Bones and Kyle and included them in his plans. This has sort of a Twilight Zone vibe to it, and was a solid science fiction tale with enough elements to root it to the real world so that readers who don't read a lot of sci fi can easily pick it up.
Weaknesses: I was surprised that Bones wasn't in some kind of therapy to deal with his trauma. He had gotten in trouble several times at school, so that seemed like a logical next step. As the mystery ramped up, his anger became less of an issue. I was glad that when Kyle approached his parents directly to be evaluated so that he could understand his reactions to things better, they did agree to help him even though they were afraid of having him labeled.
What I really think: This was very similar to Hautman's The Flinkwater Factor, Lang and Bartkowski's Whispering Pines Lawrence, or Lawrence's The Stitchers . The cover isn't great, so this might take a little hand selling, but will be an enjoyable book for the right reader.
Bones Malone, his mother, and two brothers have moved to Langille, where they are one of the few Black families. The community has a large company called Fluxcor, Royden University, and a new sports complex where Carlos Robeson, a retired baseball player, is coaching, so Bones' mother wants him to be open minded. Due to problems with his father (who is no longer in the picture) in the past, Bones has some anger management issues that are constantly getting him in trouble. He's a great pitcher, and he starts to make friends on his baseball team. Marcus, the coach's son, seems too cool for Bones, but is really nice. Kyle is a bit difficult to deal with, since he himself suspects he might be on the autism spectrum, even though his parents don't want him tested and labeled. When odd things start to happen to the adults in town, including Bones' mother and the local librarian, the boys wonder what is going on. Fluxcor has recently unveiled new technology, a free WiFi that they are gifting to the town, and this conincides with the rise in incidents of Alien Zombie Librarian-ification. Will they be able to figure out what's causing this, and deal with their personal issues, before things get really bad?
Strengths: While there has been an increase in the number of books centering inner city children of color, there aren't as many set in the suburbs. Seeing Bones struggling with being Black in a predominately white community adds another layer of interest, and it was good that people (other than his babysitter and her son) seemed to be welcoming. The inclusion of baseball details will make this appealing to more readers. I especially liked that Marcus was a great kid who was kind to Bones and Kyle and included them in his plans. This has sort of a Twilight Zone vibe to it, and was a solid science fiction tale with enough elements to root it to the real world so that readers who don't read a lot of sci fi can easily pick it up.
Weaknesses: I was surprised that Bones wasn't in some kind of therapy to deal with his trauma. He had gotten in trouble several times at school, so that seemed like a logical next step. As the mystery ramped up, his anger became less of an issue. I was glad that when Kyle approached his parents directly to be evaluated so that he could understand his reactions to things better, they did agree to help him even though they were afraid of having him labeled.
What I really think: This was very similar to Hautman's The Flinkwater Factor, Lang and Bartkowski's Whispering Pines Lawrence, or Lawrence's The Stitchers . The cover isn't great, so this might take a little hand selling, but will be an enjoyable book for the right reader.
February 21, 2023
I have never read a book by Chad Lucas before, and was delighted to find that the writing was like most of what I was used to; It was quite my style. Although mystery and thrillers are not my favourite, nevertheless, I enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it to a friend, as well as read a sequel if there is to be one. This book was not perfect, but was entertaining.
Bones Malone is not doing well in his new small town; It is almost as if he can’t do anything right! As being the one of the few Black kids around, and being the oldest of three boys, he is overly protective of his family and defends them (and his friends) whenever he can, after the departure of his father. Kyle Specks is possibly autistic, and stands out from the crowd; Not necessarily in a way that everyone likes. Even with all the attention that his parents have given him, he knows that he can’t stand by while Bones and him start to notice strange things happening around Langille. All the adults in their small town have started acting odd. They are zoned out, unfocused and inattentive; Almost like zombies. So it is up to Bones and his friends to crack the mystery.
I personally liked the themes the book brought out of racism, fear, and friendship. The book revolved around fear, and eventually, the protagonist, Bones Malone, has to learn to overcome it. This sends a good message. The book constantly mentions the idea of fear, and it ended up showing that everyone has different fears, and that you have to overcome it, just like Bones did. There was also a healthy friendship between the boys that I liked to see, as it is not very normal these days. Additionally, there was a Black factor that Bones and Marcus have to deal with that is brought out in the book. The author did not refrain from sharing those details of racism that Bones constantly feels.
I did not like the fact that the four main protagonists were all boys. The most prominent female character was Bones’s mom, and she was one of the first to be AZL’d( zombied). Another of my least favourite parts of this book was that the ending was predictable; It was as if nothing had ever happened, and everything was back to normal; It was like a happily-ever-after. I expected this and also had foreshadowed this, and I like to be surprised.
Overall, this is a great book, that I would recommend, with different factors all woven into one book. I liked the themes of fear and friendship, and although the ending was quite predictable, it was still a great book. I would give this book a 4 out of 5 stars.
February 19, 2024
Let The Monster Out by Chad Lucas is a middle-grade novel set in a fictional town in Nova Scotia called Langille. Twelve-year-old Bones (Quentin) Malone, his brothers, and his mom have just recently moved to town. His mother, a single parent, works for the town paper, and they are one of just two black families living in Langille. Bones has a spectacular fastball and a large chip on his shoulder, but cares and looks out for his brothers. He plays Peewee AAA baseball as a pitcher/shortstop for the Falcons. His coach, Carlos Robeson is a retired ball player and head of the only other black family in town.
Kyle Specks, who is an awesome outfielder, but not a skilled batter, is homeschooled because he doesn’t fit in. His father teaches environmental science at Royden University, mother is a Constable with the town’s police force. He is neurodivergent, his brain works differently and he believes he has autism, although he has never been tested. His parents did not want him to be labeled in their small town.
Half the town was either employed by the university or by Fluxcor, a virtual reality gaming business. After Fluxcor’s announcement of the launch of free wifi held at the library, Kyle noticed that the head librarian had started behaving differently, acting weird. Bones also noticed that his Mother, who covered the story for the paper, was behaving strangely. She started missing his ballgames and was zoning out like a zombie. After Bones and his brother share a dream, then he shares another one with his friend Kyle involving some deeply held fears, he and Kyle begin sleuthing the mystery of the Alien Zombie Librarians or the ‘AZL Effect’.
This story tastefully deals with the heavy issues and themes of racism, abuse, bullying, fears, anger, friendship, and teamwork. As a person who worked with several adults with autism spectrum disorders for several years, I was pleased with how Chad described Kyle’s difficulties with social situations accurately and with sensitivity. I also couldn’t help but see parallels between the behaviors when my son is gaming and the adults displaying the ‘AZL Effect’, maybe Chad is on to something with the wifi. I am looking forward to reading Chad’s next Middle-Grade novel set to be released in January 2025.
Kyle Specks, who is an awesome outfielder, but not a skilled batter, is homeschooled because he doesn’t fit in. His father teaches environmental science at Royden University, mother is a Constable with the town’s police force. He is neurodivergent, his brain works differently and he believes he has autism, although he has never been tested. His parents did not want him to be labeled in their small town.
Half the town was either employed by the university or by Fluxcor, a virtual reality gaming business. After Fluxcor’s announcement of the launch of free wifi held at the library, Kyle noticed that the head librarian had started behaving differently, acting weird. Bones also noticed that his Mother, who covered the story for the paper, was behaving strangely. She started missing his ballgames and was zoning out like a zombie. After Bones and his brother share a dream, then he shares another one with his friend Kyle involving some deeply held fears, he and Kyle begin sleuthing the mystery of the Alien Zombie Librarians or the ‘AZL Effect’.
This story tastefully deals with the heavy issues and themes of racism, abuse, bullying, fears, anger, friendship, and teamwork. As a person who worked with several adults with autism spectrum disorders for several years, I was pleased with how Chad described Kyle’s difficulties with social situations accurately and with sensitivity. I also couldn’t help but see parallels between the behaviors when my son is gaming and the adults displaying the ‘AZL Effect’, maybe Chad is on to something with the wifi. I am looking forward to reading Chad’s next Middle-Grade novel set to be released in January 2025.
May 26, 2022
2.75 stars
This one wasn't for me. I didn't DNF because I really like to try to read through the Mid-grades to give a good review on them.
This cast of characters is very diverse, multiple kids of different races, with multiple backgrounds, and varying personality ticks. I think most kids will be able to find themselves in one of the characters that are presented to them. I am not part of any of the groups represented in the characters so I cannot attest to whether the portrayals are accurate or not.
As for things that may make it difficult to connect or harder for a kid to understand is that our MC's play baseball and there's quite a lot of baseball talk. Personally, I loathe the sport but I get the terms and things but if we're talking a 10 year old who has never really had anything to do with the sport? I think they'd get very bored and/or confused fairly quickly. It could be a sticky spot for them.
There was a lot of brain science jargon that I was just like "Okay 12 y/o, when did you become an expert on thermonuclear astrophysics?" Which is not the correct branch of science for this book, but a great Agent Hill quote, so we're going with it. You're confused? So was I. Point being, it gets a bit weird in the science department and idk, I guess kids are smarter than me.
The plot was a bit meh for me. It was just too blatantly obvious about everything that was happening. Which like, cool, it's for kids, but I feel like on one hand this book was expecting kids to be super effing smart to understand what the characters were talking about, but we were being spoon fed the plot.
I didn't have fun. Spooky mid-grade for me are an escape. It's probably one of my highest read genres and this one just wasn't fun for me.
I received an eARC of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
cover 4; characters 3; plot 2; pace 2; writing 3; enjoyment 2
This one wasn't for me. I didn't DNF because I really like to try to read through the Mid-grades to give a good review on them.
This cast of characters is very diverse, multiple kids of different races, with multiple backgrounds, and varying personality ticks. I think most kids will be able to find themselves in one of the characters that are presented to them. I am not part of any of the groups represented in the characters so I cannot attest to whether the portrayals are accurate or not.
As for things that may make it difficult to connect or harder for a kid to understand is that our MC's play baseball and there's quite a lot of baseball talk. Personally, I loathe the sport but I get the terms and things but if we're talking a 10 year old who has never really had anything to do with the sport? I think they'd get very bored and/or confused fairly quickly. It could be a sticky spot for them.
There was a lot of brain science jargon that I was just like "Okay 12 y/o, when did you become an expert on thermonuclear astrophysics?" Which is not the correct branch of science for this book, but a great Agent Hill quote, so we're going with it. You're confused? So was I. Point being, it gets a bit weird in the science department and idk, I guess kids are smarter than me.
The plot was a bit meh for me. It was just too blatantly obvious about everything that was happening. Which like, cool, it's for kids, but I feel like on one hand this book was expecting kids to be super effing smart to understand what the characters were talking about, but we were being spoon fed the plot.
I didn't have fun. Spooky mid-grade for me are an escape. It's probably one of my highest read genres and this one just wasn't fun for me.
I received an eARC of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
cover 4; characters 3; plot 2; pace 2; writing 3; enjoyment 2
September 10, 2021
trigger warning
Life in the new town could be so great, but then things are getting weird. People are getting weird. Does the big corporation half of the town relies on for jobs have something to do with this?
I liked the characters. Our protagonist belongs to one of the two black families in town, and he'd love to befriend his basebull buddy from the other black family, but everyone wants to be friends with him.
His single mom is a top-notch journalist who has won awards and now buried her career in the local newspaper, for her family, to get her three sons into better surroundings and possibly a brighter future.
Then there is Kyle, the sidekick. The possibly new best friend. Kyle has autism. At the start of the novel, he isn't diagnosed yet, but that's because his father fears the stigma of the diagnosis in a small town.
What I did not like that the horror parts I was promised mostly played out as nightmares, and the main plot was more sci-fi-y. I understand that this is a case where you didn't want to give too much away, and I also understand that the target audience has consumed less media than I have, but I found the plot too predictable. It's like the middlegrade adaption of and I'd rather re-watch that.
I guess this one was just not for me.
The arc was provided by the publisher.
Life in the new town could be so great, but then things are getting weird. People are getting weird. Does the big corporation half of the town relies on for jobs have something to do with this?
I liked the characters. Our protagonist belongs to one of the two black families in town, and he'd love to befriend his basebull buddy from the other black family, but everyone wants to be friends with him.
His single mom is a top-notch journalist who has won awards and now buried her career in the local newspaper, for her family, to get her three sons into better surroundings and possibly a brighter future.
Then there is Kyle, the sidekick. The possibly new best friend. Kyle has autism. At the start of the novel, he isn't diagnosed yet, but that's because his father fears the stigma of the diagnosis in a small town.
What I did not like that the horror parts I was promised mostly played out as nightmares, and the main plot was more sci-fi-y. I understand that this is a case where you didn't want to give too much away, and I also understand that the target audience has consumed less media than I have, but I found the plot too predictable. It's like the middlegrade adaption of and I'd rather re-watch that.
I guess this one was just not for me.
The arc was provided by the publisher.
May 12, 2022
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC of this book!
Bones Malone has just moved to the small Canadian town of Langille and he already feels out of place. He barely has any friends and just wants to spend his time playing baseball. However, upon rescuing a drowning man, he gets a waterlogged journal that shows him something very wrong is going on behind the sleepy facade of this town.
Going into this book, I was definitely expecting a more standard horror story. Maybe it was based on the cover (that clown gave me Pennywise vibes). However, while there are creepy elements, it's actually more of a sci-fi, high-tech mystery. Either way, the cover is super cool!
I enjoyed this story a lot. While some of the baseball lingo was lost on me (even though I enjoy watching it!), I felt like we really got a feel for the cast in those scenes. I enjoyed all that went on, from trying to figure out the journal and other secrets to the human character interactions.
While I don't know the exact word count, this book felt pretty long and had a lot of characters. I did have to occasionally flip back to figure out who someone was. However, I still enjoyed at think a wide range of middle graders (and older) will find things to relate to in this story.
Bones Malone has just moved to the small Canadian town of Langille and he already feels out of place. He barely has any friends and just wants to spend his time playing baseball. However, upon rescuing a drowning man, he gets a waterlogged journal that shows him something very wrong is going on behind the sleepy facade of this town.
Going into this book, I was definitely expecting a more standard horror story. Maybe it was based on the cover (that clown gave me Pennywise vibes). However, while there are creepy elements, it's actually more of a sci-fi, high-tech mystery. Either way, the cover is super cool!
I enjoyed this story a lot. While some of the baseball lingo was lost on me (even though I enjoy watching it!), I felt like we really got a feel for the cast in those scenes. I enjoyed all that went on, from trying to figure out the journal and other secrets to the human character interactions.
While I don't know the exact word count, this book felt pretty long and had a lot of characters. I did have to occasionally flip back to figure out who someone was. However, I still enjoyed at think a wide range of middle graders (and older) will find things to relate to in this story.
May 17, 2022
This is a good MG read that has some Stranger Things vibes and such. I liked this story, but it wasn't my norm and I wasn't the target audience so I think that's part of why I didn't get as much out of it. I think the target audience would enjoy, love, and get more out of it.
It deals with some good topics about autism, such as a child deciding to ask their parents about finding out about themselves and if they're autistic, etc or not. Also, it talks about and deals with anger, bullying, and what it's like for children to find themselves, figure things out for themselves, find their groups, the people that will be their true friends, and the importance of family as well.
This is a story about a group of kids in a town where things start to go awry with the grown-ups. The adults start to behave very strangely and out of character so the group of friends go investigate to find what the reason behind their changed behavior is. They discover that a strange and mysterious corporation/business is behind why the grown-ups begin acting strangely and they all have to face their fears.
If you're looking for something that has a mystery/Stranger Things vibes, that's great for Middle-Grade readers and such then make sure to look at this one. Thanks to NetGalley and Abrams Kids/Amulet Books for letting me read and review this story. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
It deals with some good topics about autism, such as a child deciding to ask their parents about finding out about themselves and if they're autistic, etc or not. Also, it talks about and deals with anger, bullying, and what it's like for children to find themselves, figure things out for themselves, find their groups, the people that will be their true friends, and the importance of family as well.
This is a story about a group of kids in a town where things start to go awry with the grown-ups. The adults start to behave very strangely and out of character so the group of friends go investigate to find what the reason behind their changed behavior is. They discover that a strange and mysterious corporation/business is behind why the grown-ups begin acting strangely and they all have to face their fears.
If you're looking for something that has a mystery/Stranger Things vibes, that's great for Middle-Grade readers and such then make sure to look at this one. Thanks to NetGalley and Abrams Kids/Amulet Books for letting me read and review this story. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 23, 2023
Let the Monster Out is a very exciting book. The story involves Bones Malone, a person who's recently moved to Langille Nova Scotia. Bones is settling in when one day he finds his mother acting strange, the librarian strange, and a drowning man. Bones and his friend Kyle investigate the mysteries about the strange people.
The book is very detailed when it comes to the characters' dialogue and thoughts. I have a very easy time understanding the characters' emotions. The characters have very clear and concise dialogue; you can tell what a character feels with just a few words.
Sometimes the book does lack in description. For example, on page 246, Kyle gets an idea on how to stop Ray Giraud, and he somehow rewires the Fluxbox Wi-Fi machine. The book never mentions how Kyle's innovation worked, which made the mentioning of the rewired Fluxbox almost worthless. Kyle also doesn't even use the Fluxbox, so I don't even why the author bothered adding it in.
Overall, if you're looking for a book with mystery and action with great character depth and development, then this is a good book for you.
The book is very detailed when it comes to the characters' dialogue and thoughts. I have a very easy time understanding the characters' emotions. The characters have very clear and concise dialogue; you can tell what a character feels with just a few words.
Sometimes the book does lack in description. For example, on page 246, Kyle gets an idea on how to stop Ray Giraud, and he somehow rewires the Fluxbox Wi-Fi machine. The book never mentions how Kyle's innovation worked, which made the mentioning of the rewired Fluxbox almost worthless. Kyle also doesn't even use the Fluxbox, so I don't even why the author bothered adding it in.
Overall, if you're looking for a book with mystery and action with great character depth and development, then this is a good book for you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 4, 2022
Twelve-year-old Bones Malone is the new kid in town—a small town, to make things worse. His mom moved them here for a fresh start, and they’re maybe only the second Black family here. The one bright side is that the other Black family includes the coach of his baseball team. And the man sees potential in him.
Bones may have attitude trouble but he also has a strong protective streak. That includes rescuing a drowning stranger with his baseball teammate Kyle Specks. Then when things get weird in town and all the adults start acting strange, he has to help. And Kyle’s just the friend to solve this mystery with him. Kyle is on the Autism spectrum and the scenes from his point of view give a glimpse of what that can look like in one person’s experience.
There’s so much to like about this book. There’s humour. The language is fresh and vivid. There’s a diverse cast of characters who learn to respect one another. There’s teamwork and friendship. And there are kids who learn to look past the labels they wear and discover who they really are and what they can really become. Perhaps the dedication says it best: “For the kids who are learning that other people’s eyes are not mirrors.”
Favourite lines:
Canadian author Chad Lucas writes middle-grade fiction. Let the Monster Out is his second book, following the award-winning Thanks A Lot, Universe. For more about the author and his work, visit chadlucaswrites.com.
[Review copy from my personal library.]
Bones may have attitude trouble but he also has a strong protective streak. That includes rescuing a drowning stranger with his baseball teammate Kyle Specks. Then when things get weird in town and all the adults start acting strange, he has to help. And Kyle’s just the friend to solve this mystery with him. Kyle is on the Autism spectrum and the scenes from his point of view give a glimpse of what that can look like in one person’s experience.
There’s so much to like about this book. There’s humour. The language is fresh and vivid. There’s a diverse cast of characters who learn to respect one another. There’s teamwork and friendship. And there are kids who learn to look past the labels they wear and discover who they really are and what they can really become. Perhaps the dedication says it best: “For the kids who are learning that other people’s eyes are not mirrors.”
Favourite lines:
Moms couldn’t let a little thing like a near drowning slide. Moms had a mom code. [page 56]
In the dark, a mournful melody wafted from a piano. Notes melted into one another like a chalk drawing dissolving in the rain. [page 59. Isn’t that perfect?]
Canadian author Chad Lucas writes middle-grade fiction. Let the Monster Out is his second book, following the award-winning Thanks A Lot, Universe. For more about the author and his work, visit chadlucaswrites.com.
[Review copy from my personal library.]
March 29, 2023
Middle grade stranger things. I would categorize this middle grade novel, "Let the Monster Out" by Chad Lucas as an intelligent mystery/thriller. In this novel, Quentin “Bones” Malone and his family move to Langeville for a fresh start. Other than making the baseball team, Bones doesn’t get off to a great start. His past behavior of getting into fights seems to have followed him to Langeville. However, things start getting weird when the adults in the town start exhibiting strange behavior and start acting like zombies.
One of the best parts of this book is its diverse characters. Anyone who reads this can surely find someone they can relate to. The mystery and thrilling elements in this story are also very well developed! Can you imagine waking up and finding out you had the same scary dream as one of your friends? That happens to Bones and he and his friends are determined to find out why. If you’re a fan of stranger things, you would love this book!
One of the best parts of this book is its diverse characters. Anyone who reads this can surely find someone they can relate to. The mystery and thrilling elements in this story are also very well developed! Can you imagine waking up and finding out you had the same scary dream as one of your friends? That happens to Bones and he and his friends are determined to find out why. If you’re a fan of stranger things, you would love this book!
April 30, 2022
Monsters come in all shapes and forms. Some are imagined, some otherwordly and terrifying, but then there are those that are real and come in the form of difficult truths we try to hide from ourselves, or giant corporations bent on controlling humanity. Chad Lucas tackles monsters of all kinds in LET THE MONSTER OUT with the same kind of sensitivity and emotional intelligence we saw in THANKS ALOT UNIVERSE.
Bones and Kyle's story tackles very real, and difficult issues around abuse, grief, racism, and neurodivergency with tenderness, honesty, and great care for the reader. Combining elements of sci-fi, horror, and realistic contemporary fiction, the heart of this tale is the development of a warm and supportive friendship btw boys, exactly the kind of relating young readers need to see so much more of.
Thank you to Abrams Kids and the author for the opportunity to read the eARC.
Bones and Kyle's story tackles very real, and difficult issues around abuse, grief, racism, and neurodivergency with tenderness, honesty, and great care for the reader. Combining elements of sci-fi, horror, and realistic contemporary fiction, the heart of this tale is the development of a warm and supportive friendship btw boys, exactly the kind of relating young readers need to see so much more of.
Thank you to Abrams Kids and the author for the opportunity to read the eARC.
June 10, 2022
Chad Lucas can really write! I loved his debut novel, THANKS A LOT, UNIVERSE, and this book is just as entertaining. It's written in third person, and we get to know the two main characters very well, Bones Malone and Kyle Specks. Bones is one of the few Black kids in Langille, Nova Scotia. Kyle is a white kid who suspects he might be on the autism spectrum.
Bones and Kyle have to work together to figure out why the adults in town are suddenly acting like zombies. Marcus Robeson and Albert Chen get roped in to help. The relationships are excellent, the dialog spot-on, and the mystery is compelling. Normally, I'm squeamish about horror (I couldn't keep watching "Stranger Things", which this might remind you of), but this is a way more sophisticated horror, where the "monster" may not be what you expect. No spoilers here.
Bones and Kyle have to work together to figure out why the adults in town are suddenly acting like zombies. Marcus Robeson and Albert Chen get roped in to help. The relationships are excellent, the dialog spot-on, and the mystery is compelling. Normally, I'm squeamish about horror (I couldn't keep watching "Stranger Things", which this might remind you of), but this is a way more sophisticated horror, where the "monster" may not be what you expect. No spoilers here.
Read
December 9, 2022I really enjoyed this! The friendship was very wholesome and sweet, and there was plenty of humor to balance out the Big Issues the kids were facing, and it's really more of a science fiction Scooby Doo story than anything else. Give to kids who liked This Town Is Not All Right, The Darkdeep, and/or other books about groups of scrappy youngsters banding together to solve problems when they get in way over their heads.
January 8, 2022
I read an early version of LET THE MONSTER OUT and adored it. (I'm a huge fan of THANKS A LOT, UNIVERSE as well, and fully intend to read everything Chad Lucas ever writes.) The story is a blend of mystery, sci-fi, and spookiness - the cover truly captures it perfectly. While this book is more speculative compared to TALU, which is firmly contemporary, Bones, Kyle, and their friends felt every bit as multifaceted and real as Brian & Ezra. They're lovable characters, impossible not to root for, and while they face dire situations and work through serious personal troubles, there's just enough humor to balance out the darkness, too.
May 5, 2022
If you're looking for somewhere to get your Stranger Things fix, look no further than Lucas's latest middle grade novel, Let the Monster Out. It's set in a totally creepy small Canadian town where a mysterious big corporation pulls the strings behind the scenes and everyone's worst fears start coming alive. When the town's adults are reduced to little more than zombies, main character Bones Malone and his friends find they have to confront the things that terrify them most or risk losing everything they love. With alternating points of view, Lucas masterfully tells the story with writing that grabs you from the start and holds on through the very last page.
November 12, 2022
This is a Forest of Reading book for this year and I know my students will love this one.
All the adults in their small town have started acting odd. They are zoned out, unfocused and inattentive. The kids get together to try and solve the mystery. Could it have something to do with the tech takeover of their town or maybe something eerie going on at that library.
This book is very inclusive and gives the reader a little insight of what a child with autism is thinking and feeling during certain situations. I enjoyed this one and found it unique and refreshing. I think many of my students will like the mysterious nature of this one.
All the adults in their small town have started acting odd. They are zoned out, unfocused and inattentive. The kids get together to try and solve the mystery. Could it have something to do with the tech takeover of their town or maybe something eerie going on at that library.
This book is very inclusive and gives the reader a little insight of what a child with autism is thinking and feeling during certain situations. I enjoyed this one and found it unique and refreshing. I think many of my students will like the mysterious nature of this one.
February 21, 2023
Found this completely at random while looking for available audiobooks on Libby, and I'm super glad I did. The writing/narration was really engaging, the characters were lovable, and the diversity was great. I really loved how accepting Bones and the others were of Kyle's autism . I felt like the villain got a bit cartoonish at times, especially by the end, but hey, it's a middle grade novel, I think they're allowed a little of that. Overall an enjoyable read.
February 26, 2024
A modern middle grade pulpy sci-fi/adventure that's fun but also has depth.
The characterization is excellent; some of the adults are a little on the shallow end, and while that's unfortunately common among MG stories, this one kept it to a minimum. The characters deal with some significant real-life concerns as well as the main plot, and these challenges affect the development of that plot in believable and interesting ways.
I found the shared-dreaming sequences particularly interesting, as it gave us insight into the character who was dreaming THROUGH the perspective of the character narrating that chapter.
The characterization is excellent; some of the adults are a little on the shallow end, and while that's unfortunately common among MG stories, this one kept it to a minimum. The characters deal with some significant real-life concerns as well as the main plot, and these challenges affect the development of that plot in believable and interesting ways.
I found the shared-dreaming sequences particularly interesting, as it gave us insight into the character who was dreaming THROUGH the perspective of the character narrating that chapter.
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