Scan barcode
celjla212's review against another edition
4.0
A quick, humorous read that fans of series like Percy Jackson and Goosebumps will love!
Colin Strauss doesn't fit in anywhere--least of all the town he's been living in for the past year. A town where he's had to endure the mean, blind grandma he lives with as well as bullying from cruel older kids at his school. He never gets a break. Until one day, by chance, he collides with a werewolf.
Colin is suddenly bigger, stronger, and well, hairier. He feels a strange power surging within him. He wants to eat EVERYTHING including his classmates! Colin must find out all about his freaky new shapeshifting ability all while trying to solve a murder he may have committed.
I immediately liked Colin and felt for him. Who hasn't been bullied or felt out of place? But when he decided he was going to do something about it, his life was changed forever. It was both funny and heartwarming to watch him deal with the wolf inside. If there was ever a kid who needed a jolt like becoming a werewolf, it was Colin Strauss.
As the book went on, the action never slowed down and I didn't once find myself losing interest. I finished it rather quickly once I learned all the secrets of the town. I am kind of hoping this is the beginning of a series so I can learn more about the intriguing townspeople living in Elkwood.
I did guess who the killer was early on, but the final showdown was worth it and still a fast paced part to read. I also didn't understand why Colin's grandmother had to be so mean to him all the time--it seemed unnecessary.
A little bit scary and gory, plenty hilarious, and with a little bit of romance, I think this book will be a hit with boys and girls from about 5th grade on.
Colin Strauss doesn't fit in anywhere--least of all the town he's been living in for the past year. A town where he's had to endure the mean, blind grandma he lives with as well as bullying from cruel older kids at his school. He never gets a break. Until one day, by chance, he collides with a werewolf.
Colin is suddenly bigger, stronger, and well, hairier. He feels a strange power surging within him. He wants to eat EVERYTHING including his classmates! Colin must find out all about his freaky new shapeshifting ability all while trying to solve a murder he may have committed.
I immediately liked Colin and felt for him. Who hasn't been bullied or felt out of place? But when he decided he was going to do something about it, his life was changed forever. It was both funny and heartwarming to watch him deal with the wolf inside. If there was ever a kid who needed a jolt like becoming a werewolf, it was Colin Strauss.
As the book went on, the action never slowed down and I didn't once find myself losing interest. I finished it rather quickly once I learned all the secrets of the town. I am kind of hoping this is the beginning of a series so I can learn more about the intriguing townspeople living in Elkwood.
I did guess who the killer was early on, but the final showdown was worth it and still a fast paced part to read. I also didn't understand why Colin's grandmother had to be so mean to him all the time--it seemed unnecessary.
A little bit scary and gory, plenty hilarious, and with a little bit of romance, I think this book will be a hit with boys and girls from about 5th grade on.
lostinagoodbook's review against another edition
4.0
Disclaimer: I received this free book in exchange for an un-biased review.
Oh that title! You feel like you know just what you’re getting when you see it. A funny, tongue-in-cheek middle school book about werewolves. Puberty and monsters, in one silly package. I’m no stranger to this type of thing. I’ve got an 8 year old girl and a 15 year old boy. I’ve seen the Wimpy Kid books, watched the movies. Game night at our house is hilarious but at some point during the night I know I will plead, “Guys, no more fart jokes! Please!” I expected no more from this book. I looked forward to a fun read, but my eyes were ready to start rolling. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
This book was delightful. It was still a ton of fun, don’t get me wrong. The main character, a young man who suddenly finds himself turning into a werewolf, is a mess of insecurity and growing pains. His attempts to charm the young woman he likes, while trying to deal with his personal changes are humorous. The character has a great sense of humor and is clever, though he’d never realize it about himself, but there is a sad history to him as well. Abandoned by his parents, he is isolated and lonely. The book has serious moments of peril and pathos. The scene where he is first bitten by the werewolf (I don’t feel like that’s a spoiler, we all know where werewolves come from), is harrowing. However, the book is nicely balanced, and the story moves along smoothly to its conclusion. It never gets too scary or too sad before it rights itself with some well-timed humor. The author’s experience with screenwriting shines here.
The atmosphere was also excellent, lending a sense of tension and apprehension to the scenes. I also liked the little details of how the physical changes affected the main character, his exaggerated sense of smell in particular being a nice touch. What I found most fascinating was the older werewolf we encounter. The glimpses we get of werewolf history and even the morality and ethics of monsters. Love it!
All in all, it was a fascinating, exciting and humorous read. I’m going to buy a copy for my son. I know he will enjoy it as I did. The author hints at the possibility of future books set in this world and I look forward to it. If you’d like a fun read, it’s well worth your time.
Spotify Song for this book: Level Up by Vienna Teng
Oh that title! You feel like you know just what you’re getting when you see it. A funny, tongue-in-cheek middle school book about werewolves. Puberty and monsters, in one silly package. I’m no stranger to this type of thing. I’ve got an 8 year old girl and a 15 year old boy. I’ve seen the Wimpy Kid books, watched the movies. Game night at our house is hilarious but at some point during the night I know I will plead, “Guys, no more fart jokes! Please!” I expected no more from this book. I looked forward to a fun read, but my eyes were ready to start rolling. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
This book was delightful. It was still a ton of fun, don’t get me wrong. The main character, a young man who suddenly finds himself turning into a werewolf, is a mess of insecurity and growing pains. His attempts to charm the young woman he likes, while trying to deal with his personal changes are humorous. The character has a great sense of humor and is clever, though he’d never realize it about himself, but there is a sad history to him as well. Abandoned by his parents, he is isolated and lonely. The book has serious moments of peril and pathos. The scene where he is first bitten by the werewolf (I don’t feel like that’s a spoiler, we all know where werewolves come from), is harrowing. However, the book is nicely balanced, and the story moves along smoothly to its conclusion. It never gets too scary or too sad before it rights itself with some well-timed humor. The author’s experience with screenwriting shines here.
The atmosphere was also excellent, lending a sense of tension and apprehension to the scenes. I also liked the little details of how the physical changes affected the main character, his exaggerated sense of smell in particular being a nice touch. What I found most fascinating was the older werewolf we encounter. The glimpses we get of werewolf history and even the morality and ethics of monsters. Love it!
All in all, it was a fascinating, exciting and humorous read. I’m going to buy a copy for my son. I know he will enjoy it as I did. The author hints at the possibility of future books set in this world and I look forward to it. If you’d like a fun read, it’s well worth your time.
Spotify Song for this book: Level Up by Vienna Teng
kawarwick's review against another edition
4.0
When I saw the title at the Scholastic book fair, I had to read it. It’s a perfect tween read! Part funny and part mystery/suspense. Don’t be scared of all the hair, it’s just your normal teenage boy werewolf.
asaph95's review against another edition
3.0
I was a little sceptical about this book at first, I loved the idea of it but I thought it may have been a little too 'young' for me. I hate saying that because I do sometimes really enjoy books written for younger teens (rather than those in their twenteens) so I did want to give this a go and see how it turned out. Needless to say, I'm so happy that I decided to read this book, I really enjoyed it. It was great at first: interesting and mysterious, although it did get a little bit weird at the end! The writing was great, funny, easy to read. The MC Collin was really likeable, he was my favourite. He was a great character. I just really did enjoy this, it was different.
Full review on my blog:
http://originalbooker.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/hair-in-all-wrong-places-andrew-buckley.html
Full review on my blog:
http://originalbooker.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/hair-in-all-wrong-places-andrew-buckley.html
booksavvyreviews's review against another edition
4.0
I absolutely enjoyed reading this book, it was comical, mysterious and entertaining. Andrew Buckley did well to blend in the awkwardness of a pubescent teen who has self-esteem issues. As if that isn't a hard enough period in life, add in a dose of werewolf-itis and you've got a pretty disastrous entry into teenhood.
Colin Strauss is a nobody, he's a dork, awkward and nothing to make one take a second look at him. He's been bounced around from family member to family member which means he's moved around his fair amount. Now he's living with his grandmother in Elkwood, she's blind and creepy. She also makes no qualms about her distaste for him.
He's constantly bullied in school to the point one day he's beaten and fairly humiliated in the alley nearby school and it drives him to steal his dead grandfather's car and try to leave town. Except the powers that be had a different idea and it was then that he was bitten by a mysterious creature.
That mysterious creature just happened to be a werewolf!
From there things become really interesting, a mystery murder pops up and Colin begins to not only experience new changes in his body, but there is a murder that must be unfolded and he cannot remember if it was him or not. The deeper Colin looks the more interesting things he finds out about Elkwood and its citizens, there are many, many secrets involved in this town.
Andrew Buckley creates this quirky little town full of interesting characters, that truly made me laugh out loud. This book was amusing and delightful to read. This would definitely be a fun read for a middle grader with the supernatural elements, mystery and humor tossed into it. Not to mention teen issues on top of it, such as attraction to the opposite sex.
What kept me from giving it a full five stars was that toward the ending it seemed to be prolonged a touch, but when you have an awkward, smart mouthy boy like Colin, it's not exactly a horrible thing!
Website - Facebook - Instagram
Colin Strauss is a nobody, he's a dork, awkward and nothing to make one take a second look at him. He's been bounced around from family member to family member which means he's moved around his fair amount. Now he's living with his grandmother in Elkwood, she's blind and creepy. She also makes no qualms about her distaste for him.
He's constantly bullied in school to the point one day he's beaten and fairly humiliated in the alley nearby school and it drives him to steal his dead grandfather's car and try to leave town. Except the powers that be had a different idea and it was then that he was bitten by a mysterious creature.
That mysterious creature just happened to be a werewolf!
From there things become really interesting, a mystery murder pops up and Colin begins to not only experience new changes in his body, but there is a murder that must be unfolded and he cannot remember if it was him or not. The deeper Colin looks the more interesting things he finds out about Elkwood and its citizens, there are many, many secrets involved in this town.
Andrew Buckley creates this quirky little town full of interesting characters, that truly made me laugh out loud. This book was amusing and delightful to read. This would definitely be a fun read for a middle grader with the supernatural elements, mystery and humor tossed into it. Not to mention teen issues on top of it, such as attraction to the opposite sex.
What kept me from giving it a full five stars was that toward the ending it seemed to be prolonged a touch, but when you have an awkward, smart mouthy boy like Colin, it's not exactly a horrible thing!
Website - Facebook - Instagram
madetofly's review against another edition
3.0
I was excited to read this book because it sounded like such a fun werewolf book. As someone who really loves stories about werewolves, it had been far too long since I had last read one, so it was only natural that I would be excited about this book.
While I know we are talking about a book where the main character turns into a werewolf, I had difficulty believing some of the elements of the plot (going into more detail would be too much of a spoiler), which did pull me out of the story at times. That being said, this is a middle grade novel, and I don't think the vast majority of the target audience would find the same details as unbelievable. For that reason, I don't view it as that big of a deal.
The book was fun enough that I didn't think I should care about more unbelievable aspects of the plot, it was an enjoyable story. I just had to suspend my disbelief for a bit and accept what was happening. That was the kind of book this is, I think. I can easily imagine middle grade readers getting a lot of enjoyment from the book. It seems like the perfect story for any middle schooler who wants to read about werewolves and other supernatural creatures.
I received this book for review through Chapter by Chapter Book Tours.
http://hmweasley-blog.blogspot.com/2016/06/book-review-hair-in-all-wrong-places-by.html
While I know we are talking about a book where the main character turns into a werewolf, I had difficulty believing some of the elements of the plot (going into more detail would be too much of a spoiler), which did pull me out of the story at times. That being said, this is a middle grade novel, and I don't think the vast majority of the target audience would find the same details as unbelievable. For that reason, I don't view it as that big of a deal.
The book was fun enough that I didn't think I should care about more unbelievable aspects of the plot, it was an enjoyable story. I just had to suspend my disbelief for a bit and accept what was happening. That was the kind of book this is, I think. I can easily imagine middle grade readers getting a lot of enjoyment from the book. It seems like the perfect story for any middle schooler who wants to read about werewolves and other supernatural creatures.
I received this book for review through Chapter by Chapter Book Tours.
http://hmweasley-blog.blogspot.com/2016/06/book-review-hair-in-all-wrong-places-by.html
anthea287's review against another edition
3.0
I was a little sceptical about this book at first, I loved the idea of it but I thought it may have been a little too 'young' for me. I hate saying that because I do sometimes really enjoy books written for younger teens (rather than those in their twenteens) so I did want to give this a go and see how it turned out. Needless to say, I'm so happy that I decided to read this book, I really enjoyed it. It was great at first: interesting and mysterious, although it did get a little bit weird at the end! The writing was great, funny, easy to read. The MC Collin was really likeable, he was my favourite. He was a great character. I just really did enjoy this, it was different.
Full review on my blog:
http://originalbooker.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/hair-in-all-wrong-places-andrew-buckley.html
Full review on my blog:
http://originalbooker.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/hair-in-all-wrong-places-andrew-buckley.html
theestherhadassah's review against another edition
4.0
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, during the course of a blog tour.
My review will be shared the day of my tour stop.
My review will be shared the day of my tour stop.
charmainelim's review against another edition
3.5
A very amusing book that made me laugh out loud while reading. It's been awhile since I was entertained by something so fun.
Full review here - https://charmainelimen.wordpress.com/2016/05/28/review-hair-in-all-the-wrong-places-by-andrew-buckley/
Full review here - https://charmainelimen.wordpress.com/2016/05/28/review-hair-in-all-the-wrong-places-by-andrew-buckley/