Review Detail

5.0 2

The Monsterjunkies, An American Family Odyssey.

Young Adult Indie 135

The Monsterjunkies, An American Family Odyssey.

December 06, 2012

Overall rating

5.0

Writing Style

N/A

Plot

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Characters

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Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

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This book was a joy to read! "The Monsterjunkies" reminded me of some typical realities facing kids and teens as they grow up. Even more precisely, it provides excellent insight into the intricacies of the problem of bullying. Bullying is a big issue than most of us would like to believe, but this book will open your eyes and show you some of what is really going on.

For me, this title was a quick read and it got me hooked from the start. Pretty interesting plot and well developed characters! This book highlights the reality that it's always best to be our "true" self and "unmask" in whatever sphere of live we have to operate.

I absolutely recommend this book to not only teens but also to every parent, educator, any person who has ever bullied anyone or who was bullied!

Good Points

You'll recognize at least one character from The Monsterjunkies; an American Family Odyssey, whether it's the main character, much maligned Cromwell, his sister the well-arranged Indigo or the bully-master himself, Rutherford J. Grimes III. Cromwell or Crow, as he prefers to be called, finds a way to deal with the bullying. He meets it head-on in a unique combination of smarts and one-ups-manship. Indigo, too, must find a way to have friends over without sacrificing her family's desire and need for privacy. Why the overly espoused need for privacy? Find out what the Monsterjunkie estate is harboring. It is the very estate itself and it's unusual set of inhabitants that provides the ticket for Crow's acceptance. The author, Erik Shein, noted author and animator, provides teens a look inside a family who struggles with inheritance, science and a community's fear of the unknown. Highly recommended for school and public library collections.