Today I'm going to
review a book called Monster on the Hill
by Rob Harrell. It takes place in a world where all the towns have monsters
that attack regularly. Instead of the monsters being a bad thing, they're more
like tourist attractions, but in one town the monster hasn't attacked in seven
years. So the town sends a professor named Dr. Wilkie to "fix" the
monster. It turns out that the monster, Rayburn, is severely depressed and
unconfident. Rayburn says that he used to know a monster named Tentaculor who
might be able to help him with his self esteem. They travel to the town that
Tentaculor has terrorized for years. Rayburn tells him how long it's been since
he attacked. Tentacular explains to them that there is a monster called The
Murk who destroys towns without a monster, and since Rayburn hasn't terrorized
his town, The Murk will think the town has no monster. So the race is on to
get Rayburn's confidence back so that he can save the town.
I really like a
scene where Dr. Wilkie first finds Rayburn. You're expecting
a horrible monster
to come out of the cave and attack the professor, but what does come out is
this puny, skinny, sleepy, pathetic excuse for a monster. I really like how
this scene really establishes the main character in such a simple way. You know
what they say, one picture tells a thousand words.
The art in this book
is phenomenal. It looks like a modern adaptation of Dr. Seuss. It's very
colorful and inventive. I love how Tentaculor looks. Half the time I don't even
know if his eyes are eyes. Sometimes I think they're his nostrils. I don't know if this
was deliberate or not, but I love it. The humans really look like Dr. Seuss
characters, with big eyes and no lips. 
Monster on the Hill
feels like a children's book to me. Monster
on the Hill is perfectly appropriate for all audiences. There are no really
controversial scenes in it and I think it can be enjoyed by all. If you feel
too mature to read a little kiddie's book every once in a while, then this
one's not for you. But if you're actually mature and you know a good book when
you see one, then this is definitely for you. I would give Monster on the Hill four and a half monster souvenirs out of five.
Hey Milo, I want to use your blog as an example for a media literacy class I teach to middle schoolers. We are doing a "message making" class about being producers of media, not just consumers. Is there anything you'd like me to share with the kids about your experience? Do you have anything on YouTube about writing the blog?
ReplyDeleteThanks for being such a great resource--my 11-year-old is a graphic novel-only reader.
Kenna
milliontinythings at gmail dot com
what grade do you teach
DeleteOnce again, the graphic novelologist has opened a new literary avenue for me to explore. Can't wait to read this book, based on your review! From what I see here, it also reminds me a little of Mercer Mayer's early work (There's a Monster in My Attic, There's an Alligator under My Bed, There's a Nightmare in My Closet): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/760205.There_s_a_Nightmare_in_My_Closet
ReplyDeleteI recommend them for small children (but not so much 12 year old book reviewers). Thanks for the insights!
"Instead of the monsters being a bad thing, they're more like tourist attractions, but in one town the monster hasn't attacked in seven years. So the town sends a professor named Dr. Wilkie to 'fix' the monster. " Magical phrasing! I now must read this book in order to find out if it's the monster they fix, or their attitude toward violence. Or both!
ReplyDeleteAnother graphic novel for my young, budding readers. Thanks for the great review!
ReplyDeleteHey Milo! I wouldn't want to meet the person who thinks they're too mature for this book. I loved it too. I think it has something for everyone, and it's not childish at all. In that way it reminds me of Jeff Smith's Bone series. Did you know that Monster on the Hill is supposed to be a series too? I also wrote a review of it for the blog for the library I work at: http://www.bcpl.info/between-the-covers/here-there-be-monsters
ReplyDeleteGreat review, Milo, it totally makes me want to read this book. The conceit sounds hilarious and the story sounds like it's got all sorts of fun twists and turns. I am now going to search the apartment for the book so I can read some of it before food's on the table.
ReplyDelete