Category Archives: By Age Range

Review: Make Me a Monster by Kalynn Bayron

Make Me a Monster by Kalynn Bayron

Make Me a Monster
Kalynn Bayron
Bloomsbury YA
Published September 30, 2025

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About Make Me a Monster

New York Times bestselling author Kalynn Bayron is back with a Frankenstein-tinged horror romance.

Meka is used to death. After all, it’s the family business.

As a newly certified mortician’s assistant at her parents’ funeral home, her days are not for the faint of heart. Luckily her boyfriend Noah isn’t squeamish, and Meka is finally feeling ready to say the three little words that will change everything.

But then tragedy strikes, and Meka’s world is torn apart. Nothing makes sense, especially the strange things start happening. Ravens are circling her home. Strangers are following her. Someone is leaving mysterious items at her door. And worst of all . . .

The dead don’t seem to be staying dead.

Meka thought she understood death better than anyone. Turns out, the family business is a bit more complicated than it seems. And Meka isn’t the only one desperate to unearth their secrets . . . because the truth may be worth dying for.

My Review

Meka’s job working as a mortician’s assistent is such an interesting part of this story. She prepares several “guests” for their wake or funeral services and even accompanies her father when he picks up new guests.

This is something that most readers won’t have a lot of knowledge about, including me, so it adds a lot of interesting background to the story. And as the darker side of the plot unfolds, it also makes a lot of sense why this was included in the story.

If you’re familiar with the story of Frankenstein, you might guess a couple of the plot points before the story reveals them. I didn’t find this to lessen my enjoyment of the story, though. In some ways, it was really satisfying to see Meka put the pieces together and figure out her own role within the story.

I really appreciate that the ending left unanswered questions. It made me think back through the story to try to predict what I think would happen and how it might go.

Because I’d read and loved My Dear Henry, Bayron’s reimagining of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, I think I expected the setting to be historical, like set during the time that the original Frankenstein took place. It’s set in the present day, though, and once I realized that, I adjusted to it just fine. I’ve read enough of Kalynn Bayron’s books at this point to know I’ll follow wherever the story leads and love it.

If you are looking for a contemporary story with a strong connection to Frankenstein, you will want this one on your reading list. It’s a great pick for a Halloween read.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
Some characters have the ability to reanimate the dead.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Body horror. Meka prepares “guests” (deceased people) for viewing at a wake. (Not violent, but might be disturbing to some readers.) Loss of a person close to the narrator.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

MMGM Review: Busted by Dan Gemeinhart

Busted
Dan Gemeinhart
Henry Holt & Co.
Published October 7, 2025

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About Busted

When 12-year-old Oscar Aberdeen decided he would do anything to save the only home he’s ever known, he didn’t realize that anything would include theft, trespassing, gambling, a broken nose, grand theft auto, a federal prison, and a police car chase. He had no idea it would be so dangerous…or so fun. A heartfelt middle-grade romp from the New York Times-bestselling author of The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise.

Oscar Aberdeen is a bit of an oddball. He’s an ace at playing bridge, loves Frank Sinatra, and attends a whole lot of funerals. He’s also the youngest resident of Sunny Days retirement home by more than a half-century―and he wouldn’t have it any other way. So when his grandpa’s suddenly served an eviction notice that threatens their place at Sunny Days, he needs to find some cash. Fast.

Enter Jimmy Deluca, a shady elderly man with a reputation for being bad news, who makes Oscar an offer he can’t refuse. He’s got the drop on riches hidden away on the “outside” and he’ll share the loot with Oscar on one condition: he busts him out of Sunny Days.

In this humdinger of an adventure, the ultimate odd couple, along with an uninvited stowaway, go from high-stakes escape to rollicking escapade as they search for the secret stash―and forge an unlikely friendship along the way. Will Oscar succeed in saving the only home he’s ever known? Or will he have to fuggedaboutit and return a failure?

My Review

Leave it to Dan Gemeinhart to put together this wacky, fast-paced adventure starring an unlikely threesome. I loved Coyote Lost and Found for its wild on-the-road adventure and its quirky characters, and this story delivers those same elements so well.

Oscar is a sweet kid. He is used to playing it safe, so the whole road trip with Jimmy is way outside his comfort zone. I like that each of the people in the car is keeping secrets about themselves. The situations that the characters face draw out those secrets. Jimmy is a fantastic character. He reads like what you might expect of an ex-mob guy, only Oscar censors his liberal use of profanity by replacing those words with “quack”. This adds some extra humor and keeps things a little more PG.

Busted takes the intergenerational friendships trope out for a whole different spin. In the stories I’ve read in which kids befriend an older person, usually the kid is the rebellious or impulsive one and the adult offers wisdom that helps steer them on a better course. Here, the situation is not reversed, because Jimmy does offer some wise words, but he is clearly the rebel, and Oscar is the one trying to keep track of the rules.

One great lesson that comes up through the story is a lesson about the difference between doing what’s right and what’s good. Sometimes those are the same thing, but sometimes they differ. When Oscar reframes the situation he faces looking for the good choice, it helps him figure out a path forward. That idea lends itself to discussion as well.

Content Notes for Busted

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Oscar doesn’t approve of swearing. If he hears some salty language, he cleverly subs “quack” in for the bad words. One character requires frequent substitutions.

Romance/Sexual Content
Some of the Sunny Days residents try to set Oscar up with a girl his age. The two joke about being engaged.

Spiritual Content
Oscar talks about witnessing people as they die and noticing them responding as if they see loved ones calling to them at the end.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Oscar gets hit in the face more than once. At one point, he and his allies steal a car. Vague references to other potentially illegal activity.

Drug Content
Jimmy smokes cigars and drinks a glass of Scotch in one scene.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday

I’m sharing this post as a part of a weekly round-up of middle-grade posts called Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday. Check out other blogs with posts about middle-grade books today on Marvelous Middle-Grade Mondays at Always in the Middle.

Review: Through Our Teeth by Pamela N. Harris

Through Our Teeth
Pamela N. Harris
Quill Tree Books
Published September 16, 2025

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About Through Our Teeth

Three teens investigate a murder—while each tries to hide their own complicated history with the dead girl—in this thought-provoking novel from award-winning author Pamela N. Harris. Perfect for fans of Karen M. McManus and Tiffany D. Jackson!

Hope Jackson is dead. Everyone is convinced she took her own life, but Liv, one of Hope’s best friends, isn’t so sure. Hope’s boyfriend, Brendan, was always jealous and possessive, and his alibi doesn’t really check out. But in the town’s eyes, Hope was just some nobody who was going to drag down golden boy Brendan. 

So with the help of Hope’s other two best friends, Kizzie and Sherie, Liv is determined to bring Brendan’s actions to light. Together, they vow to make him pay.

But as their plans keep escalating, Liv begins to have second thoughts—especially as she’s realizing that Brendan may not be the only one with the motive or opportunity to kill Hope. Is Liv really getting justice for Hope, or is she just helping one of Hope’s so-called friends cover up their lies?

My Review

This book definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. Wow.

One thing that stands out to me about this book is the way that the author uses references to Wuthering Heights. I know to a lot of people, it’s a romantic story, but I can’t help thinking of it as the story of a family who abuse one another through multiple generations. Through Our Teeth had some of the same kinds of toxic relationships throughout.

On the surface, Liv’s friend group seems closeknit, if bent on vengeance– understandable when they believe their friend’s death wasn’t truly a suicide, and no one will listen to them. As the story peels back those surface layers, it’s clear that many relationships bear deep, unresolved wounds. Those hurts drive the characters to hurt back.

Liv isn’t an easy narrator to pin down for most of the story. She has her own secrets, and I found myself vacillating wildly between belief and blame as each new bit of information unfolded. I love that Harris writes complex characters like this. It feels realistic, and it compels readers to remember that people aren’t only their best or worst choices.

If you liked You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron, add this one to your reading list.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 16 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used somewhat frequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing. References to sex. A boy shares photos of a topless girl online.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
References to an apparent death by suicide. Situations of peril. Reference to police brutality/death. A small group kidnap and drug someone. Someone intends to use a tattoo gun to hurt another person by tattooing harmful messages without consent. Descriptions of hitting someone. Descriptions of self-harm. Characters discover the bodies of murdered teens.

Drug Content
Teens attend a bonfire party where some drink alcohol. A teen drugs someone’s drink.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Monthly Recap: September 2025 Reading

September 2025 Reading Status Update

I’ve been wildly disorganized this season, so I haven’t been posting lists or updates as much as I’d like. I thought I’d try out a monthly wrap post to see if it’s something I can sustainably do. The one or two sentence summaries I create for posts like this help me later when I am doing themed lists or my reading challenge pages, so maybe this will be useful. We’ll see.

At any rate, I managed to finish 25 books this month, including 11 backlist titles. Most of those are audiobooks, but I read a few as ebooks this time. I average about 20 books per month, so that’s pretty good for me. I’m happy with that.

The bad news is that due to my disorganization, I wildly overcommitted this month in terms of reviews, so I’ve still got 11 September release titles that I agreed to review which I haven’t read yet. O.o

So I’ll be working on those as quickly as I can.

I’m still working on updating my reading challenge lists for this year, but I added some new completed prompts to my list. (Read Harder: 17/24 prompts completed. Beat the Backlist: 33/52 prompts completed. 69 total backlist titles read.)

Note: This post contains affiliate links that do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. Thanks for using them to do your shopping.

September 2025 Reading

Guardians of Dawn: Ami by S. Jae-Jones

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Notes: This is book two in the “Guardians of Dawn” series and follows bookish Ami. The series includes reimaginings of some fairytales, which I enjoyed. I missed this book when it came out, so this was a catch-up for me so I could jump into the third book, which came out in August 2025.

Published August 6, 2024 | My Review to Come


Guardians of Dawn: Yuli by S. Jae-Jones

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Notes: The third book in the “Guardians of Dawn” series follows Yuli, whom I was less interested in before reading this book. This one adds a new point-of-view to the story and takes the characters to new places. There’s got to be at least one more book in the series, as there’s still one more guardian to meet.

Published August 19, 2025 | My Review


Only This Beautiful Moment by Abdi Nazemian

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Notes: This story follows three generations of Iranian/Iranian American men in one family, telling the stories of their adolescence. I read this for a book club, and it was so much fun talking about how we each perceived the story and what worked or didn’t. I loved that the book repeatedly challenged assumptions about the characters.

Published November 9, 2023 | My Review to Come


El Deafo by Cece Bell

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Notes: My littlest is a graphic novel fiend, so I read this one partly because she was interested and I wanted to make sure it was appropriate for her age (she’s seven; I thought it was fine). Bell does a wonderful job sharing her experience with humor and honesty, giving readers lots of space to think about what happens.

Published September 2, 2014 | My Review to Come


Trans History: A Graphic Novel: From Ancient History to the Present Day by Alex L. Combs, Andrew Eakett

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Notes: Hands down, one of my favorite reads this month. I can’t stop telling people about this incredible book packed with biographical information about gender-nonconforming people from history and the development of medical care supporting transgender people. The authors include lots of great questions to prompt further thought and discussion.

Published May 13, 2025 | My Review


North of Tomboy by Julie A. Swanson

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Notes: I might have initially thought this was going to be a memoir. It’s a novel about a girl who doesn’t fit conventional gender stereotypes and how painful that is for her in a small Michigan town in the 1970s. Poignant and thoughtful.

Published September 2, 2025 | My Review


A Wolf Called Fire (A Voice of the Wilderness #4) by Rosanne Perry

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Notes: I’m on the lookout for middle grade with short chapters aimed at the younger side of the audience, so I picked up this heavily illustrated title for review. It’s a neat nature story that could appeal to “Warriors” series fans. I love the author’s notes connecting the story to a real wolf pack.

Published February 4, 2025 | My Review to Come


The Sherlock Society: Hurricane Heist by (The Sherlock Society #2) by James Ponti

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Notes: The second in a super fun middle grade detective series. Each member of the team brings different knowledge. Great balance between investigation and the reality that these are kids. Loved it.

Published September 2, 2025 | My Review


I Wish I Didn’t Have to Tell You This: A Graphic Memoir by Eugene Yelchin

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Notes: This memoir delivers a dark story with so many sweet moments. It’s a little disconcerting to read about the actions of the government in the story right now, but so important to continue learning about people who’ve been through the kinds of experiences the author has.

Published September 16, 2025 | My Review


By Invitation Only by Alexandra Brown Chang

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Notes: A really smart story that honors and challenges fashion and privilege. I loved both the narrators. The character names are well chosen.

Published September 2, 2025 | My Review


Linus and Etta Could Use a Win by Caroline Huntoon

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Notes: A book about a boy running for class president! In middle grade fiction! I love this. Also, transgender rep with a dash of coming out, but not the point of the story. A celebration of finding a friend who “gets” you and your humor. This was a joy to read.

Published May 7, 2024 | My Review to Come


The Firelight Apprentice by Bree Paulsen

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Notes: I loved the “Garlic” books, so this was a catch-up read bringing me more current on the author’s work. My 7yo wants to read this, but it’s got some scary illustrations in the final scenes, so we’re waiting on that a bit. Great story of sisterhood and how to support one another through different dreams.

Published October 29, 2024 | My Review to Come


Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman

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Notes: I’ve been a fan of Gorman since her inaugural poem in 2020. I picked up this collection of her poetry written during and about COVID-19 at the library. It’s a cool collection that includes some blackout poetry using historial documents. She has such a distinct voice that I felt like I heard her reading in my head.

Published December 7, 2021


Sisters in the Wind by Angeline Boulley

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Notes: I’m such a fan of Boulley’s work. This book delivers another high-stakes, intense story with thoughtful exploration of cultural issues. The main character is a Native girl in foster care who’s disconnected from her history and people.

Published September 2, 2025 | My Review


Ghoul Summer by Tracy Badua

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Notes: I’ve enjoyed the MG series Badua cowrites with Alechia Dow, so I wanted to try one of her solo novels. This is a great choice for a fall read with an unusual take on ghostly problems.

Published September 2, 2025 | My Review


Mallory in Full Color by Elisa Stone Leahy

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Notes: I loved Leahy’s debut, Tethered to Other Stars, so I was delighted to find that this is a companion novel. This one deftly explores anxiety and identity while celebrating comics and manga.

Published November 19, 2024 | My Review to Come


Wish You Were Her by Elle McNicholl

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Notes: I loved the You’ve Got Mail vibes/parallels in this book. Both main characters are autistic and very bookish. A thoughtful, cozy read. Perfect if you’re looking for a fall romance.

Published August 26, 2025 | My Review


Sunrise on the Reaping (A Hunger Games Novel) by Suzanne Collins

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Notes: This is Haymitch’s story at the 25th Hunger Games. The story answers so many questions about Haymitch and also offers glimpses of familiar characters, like Beetee and Wiress.

Published March 18, 2025 | My Review to Come


The Bard and the Book: How the First Folio Saved the Plays of William Shakespeare from Oblivion by Ann Bausum and Marta Sevilla

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Notes: A fun look at how Shakespeare’s work survived and how theaters operated during his lifetime.

Published April 2, 2024 | My Review to Come


The Forest of a Thousand Eyes by Frances Hardinge and Emily Gravett

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Notes: Beautiful illustrations fill this eerie tale of the power of community. It’s a quick but thoughtful read at about 100 pages.

Published August 26, 2025 | My Review


For the Rest of Us: 13 Festive Holiday Stories to Celebrate All Seasons edited by Dahlia Adler

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Notes: A collection featuring stories of holidays throughout the year, like Lunar New Year, Valentine’s Day, Holi, Nowruz, Eid, Passover, Juneteenth, Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Diwali, Día de Los Muertos, Winter Solstice, Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa from incredible authors.

Published September 2, 2025 | My Review


The Guardians of Dreamdark: Windwitch by Laini Taylor

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Notes: As a fan of Taylor’s other books, I had to read this one. It’s easy to see how Daughter of Smoke and Bone followed this series, though this is a completely different story and aimed at a much younger audience. Fans of the 1994 Thumbelina movie will love it.

Published September 23, 2025 (Orig. 2007) | My Review


This is How We Roll edited by Rosiee Thor

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Notes: If you play tabletop RPGs like Dungeons and Dragons, you do not want to miss this collection. It’s a fabulous homage to the gameplay experience.

Published September 16, 2025 | My Review to Come

Your September 2025 Reading Wrap-Up

Did you read anything in September that stands out? Do you track your reading? Leave a comment and let me know if you read anything on my list.

Review: Paul Weaver and the Soul Reaver by Sean McMurray

Paul Weaver and the Soul Reaver
Sean McMurray
Artemesia Publishing
Published July 8, 2025

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About Paul Weaver and the Soul Reaver

Can one vlogger and his loyal dog save their town from the clutches of a dark wizard?

When 12-year-old fantasy super fan Paul Weaver started a channel on his favorite fantasy website documenting his quest to become a Paladin Knight, he never considered he would one day have to pull off the heist of all stealing his principal’s soul.

That sounds more like something a member of the thieves’ guild or a dark wizard would do, not a supposed Knight-in-Training, but to halt a growing evil changing his grandfather, older sister, and best friend – err – former best friend for the worse, and turning many others in his small town into mind-controlled zombies, Paul doesn’t have much choice.

With the help of his loyal dog, Samwise, and their modest following of fans and subscribers, Paul may just pull it off. If he doesn’t, his town will be lost forever and his grandpa, sister, and former best friend will never be normal again.

My Review

The way this book is set up is pretty clever. Each chapter opens with an illustration of what looks like a video thumbnail, like you might see on YouTube. The chapters are largely a transcript of a boy recapping his adventures for his viewing audience.

The format made the book seem like a quick read with a fast-moving plot. After Paul witnesses something supernatural in the woods, he’s determined to figure out what’s going on and to stop the person from harming anyone else. At first I assumed this was going to resolve into a misunderstanding with some kind of non-magical explanation, but I think I liked that the book leaped into the paranormal even better than that outcome.

At times, Paul seemed a bit young for his age. I think this works, especially in clueing readers into some of the subtext for why his recent friendship may have faltered. It seems like he’s still clinging to games he and his friend played when his friend is ready to move on to a new phase of life. That’s pretty relatable. It’s also complicated, as another kid picks on Paul and the fact that his friend doesn’t stand up for him or stop the other kid hurts.

One interesting relationship in the story is the one between Paul and his sister. She is experiencing some changes and growth herself, and at first, Paul feels disconnected from her. His adventure provides a new way for them to connect. I like that it shows that process of growing apart and finding new ways to connect.

Conclusion

All in all, I could see readers looking for a paranormal story for the season enjoying this tale and relating to the social media-based format. If you liked A Bite Above the Rest by Christine Virnig, check this one out.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 to 14.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
References to a crush.

Spiritual Content
Some characters have supernatural ability and may be stealing souls.

Violent Content
Situations of peril.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: Beetle and the Chimera Carnival by Aliza Layne

Beetle and the Chimera Carnival (The Beetle Books #2)
Aliza Layne
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Published April 29, 2025

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About Beetle and the Chimera Carnival

Beetle and her friends attend a carnival full of dragons and magic, only to discover something sinister at play behind the scenes, in this delightful sequel to the Stonewall Honor-winning Beetle & the Hollowbones middle grade graphic novel.

Hidden behind the clouds, giant dragons guard the most powerful magic in the world from prying eyes. On one magical night, once every ten years, these leviathans reveal themselves to a fanfare of costumes, music, and parades in the Chimera Carnival.

But this time, something’s wrong.

When Beetle, Penny, and Kat decide to check out the empty carnival site one night, they discover an injured dragon screaming for help. And the more Beetle uncovers about the Chimera Carnival, the more sinister it gets. Dragons who arrive for the early festivities disappear without a trace. Beetle’s magic begins to go haywire. And Kat’s parents come back to town, worrying both girls about whether they have a future together.

In the catacombs beneath the demolished ‘Allowstown mall, something hungers for dragon magic. And Beetle and her friends are already more entwined with it than they could possibly imagine.

My Review

I remember being surprised at how much I enjoyed Beetle and the Hollowbones, the first book in this series, which I reviewed the year it came out. When I spotted the sequel on the shelf at the library, I grabbed it immediately.

Layne’s illustration style is both reminiscent of Halloween and whimsical. This is definitely the kind of story that The Nightmare Before Christmas fans will enjoy. The book opens with a clever recap of events that looks like pages in a scrapbook. From there, we dive straight into the story.

I had forgotten how much I liked the sweet relationship between Beetle and Kat. They’re in the early days of a romance that leaves them a little swoony about one another. Beetle also worries about the status of their relationship, but she tries really hard to give Kat the space she needs to figure out when to talk to her family.

Though Kat and Beetle end up mired in a dangerous mystery, the story has so many joyful moments. I love the way that Layne shows big emotions and just embraces the goofiness of her characters. The story also has one of the best moments between Kat, Beetle, and Beetle’s Gran’ma. That scene (it’s near the end) was absolutely perfect.

So, two books into the series, and I’m more a fan now that ever. I hope there are more Beetle and Kat adventures to come. Definitely check this one out if you need a boost of joy in your life or are ready to celebrate new love or Halloween.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
A couple of panels show a couple kissing. Two characters discuss relationship status.

Spiritual Content
Beetle is a goblin. Kat is a living skeleton. Penny is a ghost. The group plan to attend a festival at which dragons gather. Another character is a vampire. Characters can perform different kinds of magic. References to necromancy.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Kidnapping. Brief cartoon battle scenes. Brief homophobic comments.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I borrowed a copy of this book from my local library. All opinions are my own.