You are Now Old Enough to Hear This

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Author(s)

Aaron Starmer

Publisher

Penguin Workshop

Genre(s)

Age Range

10+

Release Date

March 24, 2026

ISBN

978-0593751091

Buy This Book

There’s always more to the story.

In the latest middle grade speculative novel from Spontaneous author Aaron Starmer, Roman follows the twisted threads of bizarre family legends and magical secrets to write his own chapter in his peculiar family narrative.

"A triumph of imaginative storytelling…"—Booklist, starred review

The Toe Beast looms large in the Barnes family lore—a tale concocted by twelve-year-old Roman’s grandpa to explain his missing toe. But Roman has never actually heard the full story, and after his grandpa dies suddenly, it seems like he never will.

That is, until Roman is tasked with clearing out his grandpa’s house, and stumbles upon some strange things. An old mason jar full of formaldehyde, a mysterious handwritten book about a girl and a pack of dogs, a rusty metal bucket with peculiar abilities. And they all tie back to extraordinary secrets from the distant past.

By unraveling even more unbelievable stories that have been hidden from him, Roman is forced to rethink how he fits into his family’s history. Now it’s up to him to see his own story through to the end. Because the Toe Beast was only the beginning . . .

Editor review

1 review

A family's rite of passage

March 09, 2026 (Updated: May 31, 2026)

Overall rating

4.3

Plot

4.0

Characters

5.0

Writing Style

4.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

N/A

What worked:
The author is a master storyteller, weaving several of them together in this book. Roman has never heard the entire story of his grandfather’s missing toe, and readers can expect the unexpected from events surrounding the grandfather’s death. Roman is surprised by his grandfather’s terrified face while padlocking a shed, and the man dies the very next day. However, Roman is shocked when he later finds his grandfather locked in that same shed. A series of short, creepy stories follows, and readers must piece together new information to make sense of the overall plot.
The short stories are divided into sections, so they stand out from the overall tale. This strategy helps young readers focus on them separately, helping with comprehension. The book opens with the events mentioned above, but it later describes the full story of the Toe Monster, The Girl, and the bucket. The bucket becomes a very important part of the plot, so readers will need to pay attention. The author wraps things up by alternating points of view between Roman and The Girl. These chapters provide a full explanation of how everything ties together, and reader imagination is required. The stories of the bucket and The Girl depict a family rite of passage, and the entire plot gives Roman and readers things to think about.
The Girl is the most intriguing character. Her name isn’t mentioned until late in the book, so she projects an aura of mystery. She’s always accompanied by dogs, and many family pets choose to join her. She takes over all the businesses in a small town, so readers will ponder her possible motives. On the other hand, she sometimes sounds lost and alone, causing readers to develop empathy for her character. A Tasmanian Tiger called Tiger is always nearby, and this extinct animal can talk and grant wishes. These two characters are at the heart of the plot, and their stories are revealed in the end.
What didn’t work as well:
The short stories are quite peculiar, so readers must be tolerant and open to strangeness. The ending will still have readers scratching their heads, trying to piece everything together.
The final verdict:
Hopefully, you understand this book is for active readers and requires mental engagement. The ending may leave readers with some unanswered questions, but overall, I recommend you try this book for yourself.