Monty and the Monster
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
When seventh grader Monty Hyde moves for the fourth time in two years, it’s the same old story. New neighborhood, new school, new bullies, no friends. With his dad working all the time and his older brother too popular to notice, he’s the lonely outcast yet again. That is, until he finds a mysterious human replication serum in his basement and decides to make a friend. From scratch.
But when his creation turns out to be a revolting, hairy eight-foot-tall monster that might be eating the neighborhood kids, Monty knows he needs to put a stop to it. STAT! Problem is, despite its insatiable appetite and stinky BO, the monster fast becomes the best friend he’s ever had.
From award-winning writer Rhonda Smiley comes the humorous and heartwarming story of a boy trying to make sense of life when he’s uprooted yet again since his mother’s death. But to his surprise, his secret friendship with a real-life monster sets a harrowing journey in motion that brings his family closer together.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
This high-energy romp follows 12-year-old outcast skater and amateur magician Montague "Monty" Hyde, his dysfunctional family, and the monstrous friend he makes. Two years after his mom dies, Monty, his 18-year-old brother Kyle, and their scientist father are moving again this time into a dilapidated mansion within the gated community of his father's alma mater and new employer, Clear Rock University. When Monty discovers a trap door in his attic bedroom, he follows the passageway and finds a secret basement lab. Lonely and bullied, Monty is desperate enough to try to create a friend with the glowing green serum he finds. When the resulting hairy, odious, shape-shifting pantomiming monster he names Houdini runs amok and locals start going missing, Monty's family and frenemies must help him save Houdini from the clutches of an unprecedented villain. Monty's voice is distinct, abounding with snarky middle grade humor. Smiley also touches upon serious themes, including grief, identity, the mutability of relationships, and healing. While the villain's trajectory and intentions feel underbaked, fans of Bruce Coville may enjoy the fast-paced action and campy "weird science" elements. Ages 9 12. (Self-published)
