Review Detail

Wow. It’s been a while since I’ve read a YA novel with as much emotional punch as THE FULLINGTON ROAD MONSTER.

For most of us, our teenage years are difficult times in which we have to learn painful lessons about who we are, who we want to be, and what role the people we love will play in those journeys. But 16-year-old Daphne Ware has learned so many of those tough lessons at a young age. Sure, she’s from one of her town’s most prominent families. But her father is an abusive alcoholic who terrorizes the family. Her mom does the best she can, but the burden often falls on Daphne to protect her sister, Charlotte, and little brother Wilkie. That’s a lot for any kid to handle.

Her life gets more complicated when she meets Sean, the new guy in town. He’s gorgeous, charming, and seems sweet. But troubling rumors follow him around. More worrisome to Daphne, her dad will hit the roof if he finds out she’s dating a guy. So what should be an enjoyable teen summer romance becomes another source of stress.

And then there’s the Fullington Road Monster. Legend has it a shadowy, seven-foot-tall creature stalks Fullington Road. Is it real or just stories? No spoilers here. But the lesson of this book is that people are the real monsters.