Theodora Hendrix and the Curious Case of the Cursed Beetle

Theodora Hendrix And The Curious Case of the Cursed Beetle is a fun sequel in the Theodora trilogy by Jordan Kopy. I enjoy the play on names, such as Grimeny Cricket and Sir Pumpkin de Patch, that we encounter with the monsters. The illustrations are fun, but also make a great tool for students transitioning to longer chapter books.
Theodora is in more danger than ever as the MLM sends an investigator to determine if her found family is in trouble for keeping her since she is human. Additionally, the school principal is sinister and imposes numerous restrictive rules that will make the school unbearable for the students. The themes of this book inspire room for conversation beyond the plot, for example, when and how do you protest unjust rules to keep them from making life worse for the majority?
I like Dexter’s character. He is shy with anxiety to the point of stuttering, but his heart is true and loyal. The principal tries many times to get him to rethink his friendship with Theodora and her ‘bad influence,’ but he never lets that stop him from helping his friend.
Overall, this second book of the trilogy uses humor and heart to make a not-so-scary story about monsters. This is perfect for fans of Vampirina who are now ready for a longer story.

After enjoying the first book in the Theodora Hendrix series I was delighted to dig into its sequel, "Curious Case of the Cursed Beetle". Readers are once again headed back to the Monstrous League of Monsters (MLM) in London where Theodora and her monster friends lot live in a creepy, but homey old mansion. As the first case has been closed and the initial novel a new case is opened with the arrival of inspector Shelly and her sneaky sidekick Ratsputin to investigate Theodora's presence mansion. Appearances are not what they seem and it's up to Theodora and friends to stop them before more trouble rises along with foiling sinister plans at the school led by Mrs. Frumple.

Like the first book this sequel keeps the whimsical feeling of the series. It's that spooky kind of Halloween fun which is not so scary. I enjoyed getting to interact with the monsters even more in the second novel and learning more about their backgrounds, especially my favorite character Mummy! Though sweet on the outside she is a force to be reckoned with and we get to see her skills in action in the story. I also enjoyed seeing monsters and their little quirks and seeing more of them interact with Theodora as one big family.

The author Kopy makes this world of Theodora Hendrix so much fun to be immersed in! The plot along with the illustrations gives you a more detailed imagery of the characters within the novel as well as some of the scenes that happen throughout the book. On top of that Kopy also makes this an immersive read because the reader is invited as a secret agent to work along with the MLM and piece together the clues of the mystery for themselves. I feel like this aspect of inviting the reader to solve the case adds to the suspense and constantly keeps the reader engaged with the text.

I was eager to get to the bottom of the mystery along with our main characters along with the plot twists along the way. The second novel being set around the Halloween season is sure to put any reader in a spooky seasonal mood. I can't wait to see what adventures Theodora and friends, will take us on next!