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brittster622's review
4.0
I was really excited to read this book because it just sounds like fantastic beasts and I’m all about that. I LOVED that there was a list of all the monsters mentioned in the book at the beginning. It gave a little blurb about them too. I started flipping back to this section every time a new creature was introduced or mentioned, which was fun.
I enjoyed the beginning and getting to know the characters. Once we got into the thick of the story and throughout the middle it dragged a little which is why I didn’t give a full 5 stars. While there was action happening, nothing really progressed the main plot until closer to the end. Plus, I really wish there had been a little more interaction with the monsters in the middle. (I probably should have given this 3 stars but the elements that I liked were too good to drop it.)
I found the ending satisfying and was overall pleased with the book and glad I read it.
I enjoyed the beginning and getting to know the characters. Once we got into the thick of the story and throughout the middle it dragged a little which is why I didn’t give a full 5 stars. While there was action happening, nothing really progressed the main plot until closer to the end. Plus, I really wish there had been a little more interaction with the monsters in the middle. (I probably should have given this 3 stars but the elements that I liked were too good to drop it.)
I found the ending satisfying and was overall pleased with the book and glad I read it.
bookishnan's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
libwinnie's review
2.0
The premise of this book has so much potential and I just kept waiting and waiting and waiting for it to live up to it, but about 2/3 of the way through, I gave up. The pace was just too slow for me.
missbookiverse's review against another edition
2.0
[2.5 stars]
How is it, that a book entitled "The Magnificent Monsters..." that deals with a father-daughter-team running a shelter for said beings contains so few monsters? Technically they accompany the protagonists throughout their journey and the main conflict of the novel comes down to what makes a monster and how to protect monsters from intolerant humans and yet, none of the creatures stood out to me. They don't have any personality, which is what I look for when I pick up a monster book: animal companions, peculiar lovable creatures, cheeky dragons, and loyal zombie dogs. None of the monsters of Cedar Street (except for the one at the end perhaps) ever comes to life in that way. What we get instead is a generic middle grade adventure that only gains momentum in the last third where it actually managed to surprise and entertain me with a few twists and encounters. Also, the audiobook narrator, Reba Buhr, does an excellent job, especially with the different voices.
How is it, that a book entitled "The Magnificent Monsters..." that deals with a father-daughter-team running a shelter for said beings contains so few monsters? Technically they accompany the protagonists throughout their journey and the main conflict of the novel comes down to what makes a monster and how to protect monsters from intolerant humans and yet, none of the creatures stood out to me. They don't have any personality, which is what I look for when I pick up a monster book: animal companions, peculiar lovable creatures, cheeky dragons, and loyal zombie dogs. None of the monsters of Cedar Street (except for the one at the end perhaps) ever comes to life in that way. What we get instead is a generic middle grade adventure that only gains momentum in the last third where it actually managed to surprise and entertain me with a few twists and encounters. Also, the audiobook narrator, Reba Buhr, does an excellent job, especially with the different voices.
moonbites's review
3.0
This is a 2.5 star. I was really into this in the first 20% because of the beautiful writing style BUT I loathed Cordelia. I almost wanted to give this a two stars because of how insufferable she became as the plot crept on. Cordelia enlists the help of Gregory and the two are on the search for her father and the whole thing begins to get repetitive by the 50% mark. All of the major action happens at the 95% mark which I felt like could have happened much earlier and certain plot points could have been cut altogether.
I liked our other two main characters, mainly Gregory. I really shouldn't hate a child in a middle grade book, but here I am. I wonder if I was younger if I would hate her as much though. I am not the target demographic for this, but Cordelia's carelessness, selfishness, and mood shifts were just annoying. I wanted to scream every time she closed her eyes in the face of danger, but then would simultaneously egg on trouble. But, in the end I didn't let Cordelia affect my overall impressions of the book.
I really did love Lauren Oliver's writing. She was so descriptive and knows how to keep a story moving. I think a kid would love all the action scenes that I found repetitious. I liked all the themes she was playing with, which I will include below. I think fans of [b:Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them|41899|Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Hogwarts Library)|Newt Scamander|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1303738520l/41899._SX50_.jpg|4195128] and adventure stories will really enjoy this. I have a feeling middle grade readers will not hate Cordelia as much as me and instead will be wrapped up in the wild plot. Overall, not the best middle grade book I have read but it was good.
Themes/Topics:
- Parental Death
- Embracing who you are, no matter how different
- Evolution/Origin of species
- Class and race inequalities
stitchinthyme's review
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
clara99's review
medium-paced
4.5
i didnt like the 20 ish page intro with all of the monsters that are and aren’t mentioned in the book only 5 or 6 of them were actually in the book otherwise loved it
librarypatronus's review
5.0
4.5 stars - my six year old monster enthusiast adored this and said it was five stars, and I felt it was a solid four star MG, so I’m rounding up.
The monster guide introduction was VERY hard for her to get through and I wish they’d split it to begin each chapter with a little bit about a monster, once we made it into the story, though, she thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing.
This was a super cute, if heavy handed at times, look at who the real monsters are by a little girl whose father is a veterinarian of monsters. This tackles topics like immigration and difference in an early 1900’s setting, but still feels very relevant to today. My daughter tends to books that are scary (Goosebumps) or have cute animals and this combined the two when it included Zuppy (zombie puppy) Cabal. She had an easy time following the action, and I would recommend this as a read aloud for early elementary or for older kids/adults who love MG, especially those who liked Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster or Wishtree.
The monster guide introduction was VERY hard for her to get through and I wish they’d split it to begin each chapter with a little bit about a monster, once we made it into the story, though, she thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing.
This was a super cute, if heavy handed at times, look at who the real monsters are by a little girl whose father is a veterinarian of monsters. This tackles topics like immigration and difference in an early 1900’s setting, but still feels very relevant to today. My daughter tends to books that are scary (Goosebumps) or have cute animals and this combined the two when it included Zuppy (zombie puppy) Cabal. She had an easy time following the action, and I would recommend this as a read aloud for early elementary or for older kids/adults who love MG, especially those who liked Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster or Wishtree.