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laurenthefox 's review for:
The Beast and the Bethany
by Jack Meggitt-Phillips
To review The Beast and the Bethany, I really had to consider how I would have felt about this book as a kid, rather than how I felt as an adult. I really am not a fan of books where, say, a sentient bird is fed alive to a monster, especially in a way that's supposed to be funny. (This has more to do with me than with the book.) But as a kid, I probably would have enjoyed the dark humor contained in these pages. And I think a lot of other kids will, too.
I did appreciate the growth I saw from the two main characters throughout the book, especially Bethany. I'm not sure all of it was fully earned or believable - one event in particular seems to drastically change Bethany more than I think one such event would - but then again, this is a fairly short children's book and a lot is crammed into it.
The description of "Lemony Snicket meets Roald Dahl" is apt, especially the comparison to the latter author. The characters, plot, and use of language definitely reminded me of Dahl's works. Kids who like these authors will probably enjoy The Beast and the Bethany as well.
I would give this one three stars for myself, but rounding up to four to keep the target audience in mind.
Thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for the e-ARC.
I did appreciate the growth I saw from the two main characters throughout the book, especially Bethany. I'm not sure all of it was fully earned or believable - one event in particular seems to drastically change Bethany more than I think one such event would - but then again, this is a fairly short children's book and a lot is crammed into it.
The description of "Lemony Snicket meets Roald Dahl" is apt, especially the comparison to the latter author. The characters, plot, and use of language definitely reminded me of Dahl's works. Kids who like these authors will probably enjoy The Beast and the Bethany as well.
I would give this one three stars for myself, but rounding up to four to keep the target audience in mind.
Thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for the e-ARC.