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ahpotts's review against another edition
4.0
Took me a few chapters to buy in, but once I did, I laughed my way through the rest of the book. I’ll tell you what, I’ve never read a middle grade novel with this particular setting or plot. It’s weird and gross and funny and refreshing. In some ways, the oddness of the whole thing seems to me to echo the crazy emotional ride that is middle school. I’d recommend this one.
rkiladitis's review against another edition
4.0
From the opening line, "Dead bodies are the worst", you just know you're in for a good time with this book. Fovea Munson is the 12-year-old daughter of two doctors: cadaver surgeons. They operate on dead folks, and they teach medical students how to work their craft on dead folks. They've got the corniest senses of humor, a never-ending love for Hippocrates, the father of medicine, and they've just hired Fovea to be their receptionist for the summer. This is bad enough for a 12-year-old who's already feeling tragically uncool, but wait: three heads in the cadaver lab start talking to her. Death isn't necessarily final, after all, and Lake, McMullen, and Andy - the three heads in question - want to start a barbershop quartet, hit a recording studio, and have a release party, and it's up to Fovea to make it happen. Quickly. Because that receptionist that quit left a lovesick, slightly unhinged cremator, behind, and he's got information that will ruin Fovea's family. The heads know something, so it's a little quid pro quo in action.
Is this madcap? Absolutely! Is it hilarious? Without question! Fovea narrates this laugh-out-loud story of a summer vacation gone sideways with a priceless, put-upon tween voice as she navigates her relationship with her parents, her friends (both dead and living), and her scooter-riding grandmother. There's an unexpected amount of pathos here as Fovea comes to care for a classmate and the trio of cadaver heads in her care, and a bittersweet realization that some friendships aren't meant to last. There are black and white illustrations throughout, adding some visual humor to the story, and chapters titles remind us how much Hippocrates has influenced Fovea's life. The end of the book leaves me hopeful that we'll get some more fun with Fovea down the road, and an appendix (snicker) includes amusing little in-jokes that readers will get a kick out of.
The Mortification of Fovea Munson is a perfect summer read, especially for kids who think their parents are weird (which is, honestly, most of 'em). Don't miss it. Add it to your STEM reading - cadavers science is a thing!
Is this madcap? Absolutely! Is it hilarious? Without question! Fovea narrates this laugh-out-loud story of a summer vacation gone sideways with a priceless, put-upon tween voice as she navigates her relationship with her parents, her friends (both dead and living), and her scooter-riding grandmother. There's an unexpected amount of pathos here as Fovea comes to care for a classmate and the trio of cadaver heads in her care, and a bittersweet realization that some friendships aren't meant to last. There are black and white illustrations throughout, adding some visual humor to the story, and chapters titles remind us how much Hippocrates has influenced Fovea's life. The end of the book leaves me hopeful that we'll get some more fun with Fovea down the road, and an appendix (snicker) includes amusing little in-jokes that readers will get a kick out of.
The Mortification of Fovea Munson is a perfect summer read, especially for kids who think their parents are weird (which is, honestly, most of 'em). Don't miss it. Add it to your STEM reading - cadavers science is a thing!
neglet's review against another edition
5.0
Funny and charming fantasy with a truly unique setting—a cadaver lab. The main character’s desire for a more “normal” family gets upended by a trio of talking heads ... that sing. Truly original and hysterically funny.
biblioemily's review
4.0
So sweet & funny! (and bizarre, of course) I think I'd recommend it to 4th-7th.
jggiggle's review against another edition
5.0
Truly delightful. I hope my 5th graders give it a try and enjoy it as much as I did.
thedizzyreader's review against another edition
4.0
"Everybody's always talking about the bowling ball, but what about the pin, you know? The thing about a pin is, it always gets back up."
A silly, funny exploration about being yourself and making every moment count! Fovea Munson's not having a good summer. You could say she's not having a good life - not since her former best friend Em spilled the beans about her parents' cadaver lab and made her the school freak. Her summer takes a strange twist when she meets three defrosting talking heads and discovers nothing is what it seems- not death, not friendship, not even her grumpy grandma.
Quirky, funny and fast! So many body part puns. So. Many.
A silly, funny exploration about being yourself and making every moment count! Fovea Munson's not having a good summer. You could say she's not having a good life - not since her former best friend Em spilled the beans about her parents' cadaver lab and made her the school freak. Her summer takes a strange twist when she meets three defrosting talking heads and discovers nothing is what it seems- not death, not friendship, not even her grumpy grandma.
Quirky, funny and fast! So many body part puns. So. Many.
epedrotti's review against another edition
4.0
Cute book from beginning to end. Middle school aged kids are going to love this book. There is just the right mixture of adventure, mystery, friendship and family relationships.
the_fabric_of_words's review against another edition
5.0
Eek, this one has got me punning, too.
First of all, we pun at dinnertime - incessantly. As a family. So, if ever anyone could enjoy this book, it's us.
It's also the second book I've read this year where characters - kids - brave a morgue or, in this case, a cadaver lab. Proximity to the dead is a "hot" plot device.
Mix in a plethora of puns, partying grannies and talking heads singing barbershop, and you've got a great reading romp. Doesn't hurt that "mortify" is one of my favorite verbs, as well.
Enjoy!
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
First of all, we pun at dinnertime - incessantly. As a family. So, if ever anyone could enjoy this book, it's us.
It's also the second book I've read this year where characters - kids - brave a morgue or, in this case, a cadaver lab. Proximity to the dead is a "hot" plot device.
Mix in a plethora of puns, partying grannies and talking heads singing barbershop, and you've got a great reading romp. Doesn't hurt that "mortify" is one of my favorite verbs, as well.
Enjoy!
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
barbaragorgon's review against another edition
3.0
This one started out strong, and Fovea's voice is clear and hilarious. However, as it progressed it became very obvious that the author sacrificed plot for quirk. The concept is really intriguing, but there are tons of extraneous elements (Whitney, for example) and a completely underdeveloped mystery. This was a cool premise with no substance behind the execution.