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A review by bethanychristou
Beetle Boy by M.G. Leonard
5.0
This is everything 8-year-old me would have wanted in a story: intelligent beetles with special abilities, a great mystery disappearance to solve, repulsive neighbours, and a simply horrific villain.
When I was little, I was fascinated by insects. I would go on ‘bug hunts’ in our garden – pulling back the grass around our patio to reveal woodlice, beetles and spiders. I had a pet garden beetle on my bedside table for a short time, before it escaped its flimsy container and disappeared somewhere behind my bed. I like how brave I was at that age. Nowadays I’m doing everything I can to keep the insects out my room – not invite them in as companions!
Reading Beetle Boy felt nostalgic to me. It made me remember that wonder I had as a child when I found insects in our garden. There was a certain magical quality to discovering them.
M.G. Leonard has made beetles cool, and dare I say it, cute?! Darkus and Baxter’s bond is heartwarming, I love the scene where they first meet with all my heart. I like to think that after reading Beetle Boy, children will imagine having their own six-legged sidekick to go on adventures with.
I was already a fan of Júlia Sardà, and I adore her gorgeous illustrations and her visualisation of Darkus and his friends.
An utterly brilliant, thrilling adventure. I immediately ordered Beetle Queen after finishing this one. I’m excited about this series and look forward to seeing where the story goes!
When I was little, I was fascinated by insects. I would go on ‘bug hunts’ in our garden – pulling back the grass around our patio to reveal woodlice, beetles and spiders. I had a pet garden beetle on my bedside table for a short time, before it escaped its flimsy container and disappeared somewhere behind my bed. I like how brave I was at that age. Nowadays I’m doing everything I can to keep the insects out my room – not invite them in as companions!
Reading Beetle Boy felt nostalgic to me. It made me remember that wonder I had as a child when I found insects in our garden. There was a certain magical quality to discovering them.
M.G. Leonard has made beetles cool, and dare I say it, cute?! Darkus and Baxter’s bond is heartwarming, I love the scene where they first meet with all my heart. I like to think that after reading Beetle Boy, children will imagine having their own six-legged sidekick to go on adventures with.
I was already a fan of Júlia Sardà, and I adore her gorgeous illustrations and her visualisation of Darkus and his friends.
An utterly brilliant, thrilling adventure. I immediately ordered Beetle Queen after finishing this one. I’m excited about this series and look forward to seeing where the story goes!