Monster Club by Darren Aronofsky, Ari Handel
Published by HarperCollins on September 13, 2022
ISBN: 0063136635
Pages: 352
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads

Eric “Doodles” King is a typical sixth grader with some not so typical problems. The amusement park on Coney Island that his dad’s family has owned for generations has been badly damaged by a hurricane. The stress of trying to rebuild is definitely putting a strain on his parent’s marriage. At school there are bullies to avoid, cute girls to try and have conversations with, and classes to do well in. The one thing Eric does enjoy is monster club. He and his friends have created an elaborate game involving their own individually drawn monsters, and the battles they hold are epic. So when some of the group start to outgrow the club, it seems like the last straw for Eric. Until he finds an old vial of magic ink that belonged to his great-great grandfather, and all of sudden the monsters are real. Which is awesome. Except that the bully’s monster is real now too.

This middle grade book is a great staple for any library’s shelves. Touching on all the problems most middle schoolers face (divorce, growing pains while navigating friendships, and budding romance) it also features fast-paced monster battles galore. Can Eric and his friends vanquish the monsters and save his dad’s amusement park? A fun, fast read, great for reluctant readers and a cliffhanger ending that suggests a sequel!

Recommended for grades 4-7

Reviewed by Lee Remick, York Middle School