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awaywithforestfae's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
A gothic and creepy, yet wholesome and heartwarming middle grade novel. Unfortunately, I think I read this at the wrong time, I should probably have dived into it in October or November and I may have enjoyed it more then, but thus is the way. Sometimes it's just the wrong place and wrong time for a book.
I really loved the found family involved in this story, and how there was more than meets the eye to each character and their own stories. I particularly loved the character of "Piglet" with all of his enigmas.
I thought that the message of "real monsters aren't the ones you assume" was delivered excellently, and is much needed in this day and age, when the corrupt and devious will do anything to turn you against people for being different, while they are doing the real evil things behind everyone's backs.
Again, the creepy vibes were immaculate, I think this is a bit too creepy for a middle grade though, I won't be putting this one in my Year 4's reading corner as I'd rather not give them nightmares 😂. I probably would've vibed with this more if I'd read it earlier in the year, but I made the mistake of thinking it looked like there was snow on the cover and saved it for December!!
I didn't really get shocked or taken aback by anything in the book, it was very good and different from other middle grade reads, but I didn't get the same feeling as with "Pog" by the same author. It was sweet and heartfelt, full of vibes, but nothing too special to me.
All in all I recommend to those who like creepy and Gothic middle grades, with found family and a heartwarming message.
I really loved the found family involved in this story, and how there was more than meets the eye to each character and their own stories. I particularly loved the character of "Piglet" with all of his enigmas.
I thought that the message of "real monsters aren't the ones you assume" was delivered excellently, and is much needed in this day and age, when the corrupt and devious will do anything to turn you against people for being different, while they are doing the real evil things behind everyone's backs.
Again, the creepy vibes were immaculate, I think this is a bit too creepy for a middle grade though, I won't be putting this one in my Year 4's reading corner as I'd rather not give them nightmares 😂. I probably would've vibed with this more if I'd read it earlier in the year, but I made the mistake of thinking it looked like there was snow on the cover and saved it for December!!
I didn't really get shocked or taken aback by anything in the book, it was very good and different from other middle grade reads, but I didn't get the same feeling as with "Pog" by the same author. It was sweet and heartfelt, full of vibes, but nothing too special to me.
All in all I recommend to those who like creepy and Gothic middle grades, with found family and a heartwarming message.
mrstephenconnor's review
5.0
A sprawling novel that transcends worlds and makes you consider what a monster really is.
Beginning with a Pullman-esque portal into a parallel world, one where the monsters love, two siblings - Tom and Jem - are met by hungry flowers, an angry bear, and a shape-shifting, time-travelling family who are keeping themselves a secret - part of the Covenant, an agreement with the local villagers on the ‘real’ side of the world.
Mirabelle lives with the monsters, and takes Jem under her wing. Tom, meanwhile, seems as though he’s plotting...
In the midst of all this is Piglet, another being who lives trapped in the basement. Everybody fears him. Her. It. And it is inevitable that Piglet will be free, soon.
There are so many strands and themes explored in this book, all touched upon, lightly, maybe delicately, but they are all there: family, grief, truth and lies, trust, fear, democracy and much more. It is wonderfully written, and I would wager that this is a book that can be discussed (and read) time and time again, and different people will notice different themes. I loved it.
Beginning with a Pullman-esque portal into a parallel world, one where the monsters love, two siblings - Tom and Jem - are met by hungry flowers, an angry bear, and a shape-shifting, time-travelling family who are keeping themselves a secret - part of the Covenant, an agreement with the local villagers on the ‘real’ side of the world.
Mirabelle lives with the monsters, and takes Jem under her wing. Tom, meanwhile, seems as though he’s plotting...
In the midst of all this is Piglet, another being who lives trapped in the basement. Everybody fears him. Her. It. And it is inevitable that Piglet will be free, soon.
There are so many strands and themes explored in this book, all touched upon, lightly, maybe delicately, but they are all there: family, grief, truth and lies, trust, fear, democracy and much more. It is wonderfully written, and I would wager that this is a book that can be discussed (and read) time and time again, and different people will notice different themes. I loved it.
elysephone_escapes's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
lesmotsdelivrants's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
andalara's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
nyxshadow's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
Une fin qui compense un ensemble un peu lent et contemplatif. On pense fortement à « Miss Peregrine » dans le traitement du monstre.
Une fin qui compense un ensemble un peu lent et contemplatif. On pense fortement à « Miss Peregrine » dans le traitement du monstre.
vinpauld's review
3.0
I enjoyed reading "The Monsters of Rookhaven," but while reading it, I never felt like I was encountering anything new. I was primarily reminded of "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs. Even though "Rookhaven" is quite different in its characters and plot, there are enough similarities to make you think of "Miss Peregrine." You have a hidden home populated by unusual individuals, each with their own peculiar power or trait, characters from the outside world who stumble into this strange home and an evil entity who wants to destroy the home's residents. It all felt very familiar. The book is nicely illustrated, but there was one illustration in particular that seemed like a missed opportunity. When we are introduced to the character of Piglet, there is a long, vivid description of the door to the room where Piglet resides. The description details the amazing carvings that cover the door but the illustration of the door by Edward Bettison depicts just a plain wooden door. If he didn't want to attempt to depict the carvings on the door, why didn't he just leave that illustration out? I imagine the illustrator must have felt it would be difficult to compete with the imaginations of the readers, but in that case, he shouldn't have shown the door at all. There are plenty of other scenes he could have illustrated. For example, I would have loved to have seen an illustration of Odd's room, complete with its full-sized stuffed Mammoth. For the most part the illustrations are either silhouettes, or spot illustrations, though there are a couple of beautifully detailed illustrations of the house and grounds. These are quite atmospheric and I wish more of the illustrations had been like those.
britwhimsy's review
Love books with illustrations and this had a good amount, decent spooky middle grade.