A Home for Unusual Monsters (The Kairos Files #2) by Shaun David Hutchinson
on February 11, 2025
ISBN: 0593646339
Pages: 276
Format: Middle Grade Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads

A sequel that can stand alone, A Home for Unusual Monsters is a first-person narrative by twelve-year-old Sam, an agent-in-training for a secret organization that monitors monsters and the supernatural. This story deals with seeking independence, when your needs conflict with another’s needs, and the struggle of not knowing who to trust or who is your friend.

Even though the story sounds formulaic—hero orphan kid saves the world while dealing with both the supernatural and common coming-of-age issues—the writing sets it apart. Hutchinson respects his audience. Unlike a lot of middle grade fiction, he doesn’t explain how to interpret the narrator’s feelings. He’s also good at establishing characters concisely, which is useful in a book that introduces at least ten people in addition to reestablishing those met in the first book. Sam, the main character, is intelligent, curious, and on a quest to make the world a better place, a perfect role model for tween readers who prefer mystery and action to romance and melodrama. It also alludes to a third book in the future, a boon to series-hungry readers.

Reviewed by Becky Cooper, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta