MonsterStreet: The Boy Who Cried Werewolf
It’s a mysterious and surprising tale regarding a young boy who finally discovers his father and the grandparents, that he doesn’t recall. The story moves quickly; swallowing you in an adventure where you’re not sure what will happen in the end.
Max finds it strange that he’s off to spend a weekend alone with some relatives that he doesn’t even know or remember. Yet, somehow, he is told the time is right for this visit with his grandparents. Welcome to Creepville, in Wolf County. This can’t be the place when they finally turn off the engine and get out. The home has been taken over by cobwebs, some boarded up windows, and Max will discover later, no phone or electricity.
The place looks deserted but as they walk around, an older man appears clutching an ax, and then an older woman emerges in a bloodstained apron, lugging a hog. The stage is set for Max’s weekend as mom quickly makes her exit in her minivan.
I enjoyed how Max was fed the story of his family. Through a neighbor girl, his father’s diary, his mother, and his grandparents, Max learns about himself and his family. There are elements of surprise and anticipation in the novel and I liked how they flowed into the story. There wasn’t anything gross or descriptive in the novel, just mysterious and creature horror.
I think it’s a great book for kids who can handle some horror without getting scared.
“He was torn between his desire to obey his grandparents and the curiosity he now felt about what Jade was saying. He wasn’t sure who to trust.”
4
