Frankie isn’t like the other monsters in Monsterweld. They enjoy showing off the weird things their bodies can do, like Violet the Skeleton and her musical rib cage, but Frankie needs to be careful he doesn’t accidentally undo the stitches and bolts that hold his body together.
Frankie’s home, Frankenstein Castle, sets him apart even more because … ‘humans used to live there.’ Sure, humans are creepy but Frankenstein Castle has secret tunnels so it’s definitely my kind of creepy.
Frankie really wants a friend, but not Spooky Suki. He does have standards. So he comes up with an ingenious plan; he’ll make his own friend. Sounds easy enough.
Fido might be human but it quickly becomes apparent that Frankie has indeed created a monster.
Rachel Delahaye has reimagined a classic in a fun, imaginative way that will make you wonder why you didn’t think of it. The focus is on friendship but there’s some accidental learning in there as well.
I always look forward to finding out how Rachel is going to play with words to make me smile. One of my favourites in this book was discovering that Monster Radio plays rhythm and boos.
Maïté Schmitt’s illustrations are detailed and just the right amount of quirky. The characters are expressive and there’s just so much to find in the backgrounds. I absolutely adored the Jaws poster.
I really liked Frankie and wanted him to find a friend. It was Suki who stole my heart, though. She was independent, smart and merrily did her own thing instead of trying to blend in with the crowd. I need another story set in Monsterweld that has her centre stage. I’m also keen to watch Frankie’s mother at work. She’s definitely got some stories to tell.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Sweet Cherry Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
A charming twist on a classic gothic tale, a classic villain is turned into the good guy in this story that explores modern themes and issues.
‘But there wasn’t any harm in making one human…’
Frankie is fed up of his nasty monster classmates and bored of being lonely in freaky Frankenstein Castle. What he needs is a friend. But since monsters are mean and werewolves are scary, Frankie decides to make his own friend – a human!
But with a mind of his own, this new friend might make Frankie realise why humans were banned from Monsterweld in the first place…
Justin Chase’s mortification began on Miserable Monday, when Nan’s crocheted swimmers were part of the chain reaction that resulted in … Traumatic Tuesday, where Justin (now more widely known as Pool Boy, viral video star), tried to save face at school. Unfortunately for Justin, his face didn’t cooperate, as evidenced by his disastrous school photo. Justin was stranded with his arch-nemesis, Marvin, on Wacky Wednesday. There were robot sharks!
Now it’s Thursday. And it’s time to Wake Up!
The viral video is a gift that keeps on giving. We catch up with Justin as one of his most embarrassing moments attracts worldwide attention (again!), this time as a result of his appearance on a breakfast TV show. Never mind the fact that he looks like he belongs in the circus.
Everything is fine. Nothing to worry about.
And it’s absolutely fine that champion swearer Nan is in arm’s reach of her photo album. It’s not as though she’d ever share humiliating photos of her grandson with a worldwide audience…
The most interactive day yet, Thursday invites you to colour by number, show off your artistic talent and solve some a-mazing puzzles. There’s leaping in and out of cakes, an abundance of cats and the obligatory wardrobe malfunction. Thursday has some fartastic moments and more evidence that this is not the series for readers with emetophobia.
Thursday’s deleted scenes feature such cuties as turtles, polar bear cubs, baby sloths and fluffy birds. My current favourite is the hatted axolotl.
Kid me would have been busy perfecting the secret handshake. Adult me waited as long as they could for the library to purchase this book but couldn’t let any more Thursdays pass without knowing what thorny situations Justin would be facing.
I definitely need a Mia spin-off, if only to see more of her drawings.
How much humiliation can one boy take? The schadenfreude continued unabated on Thunderstruck Thursday and Justin has three more red faced days to go.
Bring on Fraught Friday!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
Have you ever had a bad week? Justin Chase sure has and this is it! Monday was mortifying, Tuesday was tumultuous, Wednesday was wild, but now it’s … Thursday!
Justin’s utterly unwanted celebrity status sees his most embarrassing moments being beamed around the globe! But it’s a case of mistaken identity, creating a kidnapping kerfuffle, that will truly test our hapless hero to his limits.
I’m all for judging a book by its cover and this one is absolutely breathtaking. More often than not, though, I choose a book because of who wrote it. Sometimes I get an unexpected bonus, discovering an illustrator whose work I wasn’t already familiar with.
This book, though, I chose to read specifically because I wanted to see more of the illustrator’s work, having fallen in love with their style when I read The Glimme.
This time, it was Sofie Laguna’s words that surprised me, drawing me into Ruby’s world just as much as Marc McBride’s illustrations did.
Ruby has had a rough week at school when she comes across the creature at the beach. Hoping she’s found a new friend, Ruby takes the creature home but quickly learns that caring for it isn’t as easy as she thought it would be.
This is such an adorable book. Ruby is an absolute sweetheart who is yearning for connection. The story majors on friendship and has more heart than I usually find in picture books.
Within its pages you’ll visit the bakery of my dreams and meet one of the most colourful, imaginative creatures you’ll ever encounter.
Kid me would have loved the story, wanted to be friends with Ruby and spent way too much time poring over every detail of the creature. Adult me loves the story and has spent so much time poring over every detail of the creature, marvelling at how the riot of colours don’t seem like they should work so well together but somehow do.
I’m putting my hand up for the bakery’s leftover cakes and hoping that one day I’ll walk into a store and find a plush toy creature to adopt.
This author and illustrator team complement one another brilliantly. I definitely need to clear some space in my TBR pile for the books they’ve written and illustrated that haven’t taken up residence in my heart yet.
Thank you so much to Allen & Unwin for the opportunity to read this picture book.
Title: A Friend for Ruby Author: Sofie Laguna Illustrator: Marc McBride Publisher: Allen & Unwin Published: 29 August 2023 RRP: AUD $24.99
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
Ruby led the creature out into the garden. She drew a dancing circle in the sand. ‘I choose you!’ she said to the creature.
Walking along the beach, Ruby finds a strange creature on the shore. She takes it home, feeds it and makes a bed of straw for it in her cubby – but a cubby is no place for a creature from the sea.
Ruby must draw on all her resources to help the creature find their way home – and perhaps, along the way, she might just find an unexpected friendship.
A whimsical tale of friendship, compassion and resourcefulness, from a wonderfully talented creative team.
This book is a lovely introduction to the six types of sloths that live in Central and South America as well as some of the dozens that used to walk the earth (and in one case swam the sea) millions of years ago. Comparing the three-toed sloths with their “bandit-like masks” and the larger two-toed sloths to those we have learned about through their fossils, we discover how they live, sleep, raise their young and poop.
While I’ve yet to meet a sloth, I’ve read about them, fallen in love with some cuties I’ve seen in documentaries and have bought my mother, who adores them even more than I do, all manner of sloth merchandise. Did you know you can buy sloth bandaids?
This was a quick, enjoyable read that taught me some new fun facts. My top three are:
🦥 The largest tree sloths grow to 32 inches (81cm) and weigh up to 24 pounds (10.9kg). That’s tiny when you compare it to the Megatherium, a giant ground sloth, that lived 10 million years ago. It grew to 18 feet (almost 5.5m) and weighed around 8,000 pounds (3,628kg)!
🦥 Sloths move about 13 feet per minute through trees and about one foot a minute on the ground. They’re good swimmers, moving three times as fast in the water than they do on land.
🦥 It takes more than a month for a sloth to digest a meal.
Isabella Grott’s illustrations are gorgeous, showcasing species both past and present.
Kid me definitely would have borrowed this book from the library for a school project.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Norton Young Readers, an imprint of W. W. Norton & Company, for the opportunity to read this book.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
Slow, sleepy — and adorable. This playful and informative picture book follows the fascinating history of one of the world’s most beloved animals.
Many find sloths cute, while some find them just plain bizarre. In The Upside-Down Book of Sloths, Elizabeth Shreeve uncovers their less-well-known evolutionary history and how they became the beloved — and unique — creatures of today. She pairs and compares the six extant modern species, like the pygmy sloth, the brown-throated sloth, and the ai, with their prehistoric counterparts, such as Thalassocnus, the tough seafaring sloth; Paramylodon, which had armor-like skin and walked on the sides of its feet; and Megatherium, which could weigh up to 8,000 pounds. She even reveals how modern sloths have adapted to hang upside down, how they learned to swim, and even how they poop!
As entertaining as it is educational, The Upside-Down Book of Sloths offers a brilliant deep dive into sloths, their evolution, and their connections to our planet’s natural history — and future.
One night a month, kids rule Tremorglade. They can stay up all night and do whatever they want. Once their parents have been securely locked in their cages, that is.
Set up, lock in, watch out.
Every full moon, the adults of Tremorglade transform into Rippers; they’re hirsute and they have fangs and claws. Raw meat becomes much more appetising to them and if you’re not careful, you’ll also be on the menu.
Here in Tremorglade, because we’re so isolated, we don’t have to put up with many of the horrors that the rest of the world does – deadly weather, plagues, violent crime and marauding pirates.
In fact, it’s so scary out there that hardly anyone ever leaves Tremorglade.
Thirteen year old Sel is approaching the age where they too will Turn but for now, their Confinement night is spent outside of a cage.
This was a really entertaining read. I guessed some plot points before Sel experienced them but it didn’t bother me as I was having too much fun.
Although I liked Sel, the standout character for me was Ingrid, Sel’s archnemesis. Taekwondo champion Ingrid hates everyone but her hatred for Sel is next level. Dora, who Ingrid is responsible for on Confinement night, was the person I most wanted to spend more time with.
This book has horror, action and humour, with an overarching mystery that kept me engaged. I loved learning how this insular community worked, especially its technology, and trying to figure out who I could trust.
I flew through this book and can’t wait for the sequel.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Australia for the opportunity to read this book.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
When everyone’s a vicious beast, it’s hard to spot the monsters …
The first book in S. J. Wills’ blockbuster teen horror series, perfect for fans of Stranger Things, Fear Street and Skulduggery Pleasant.
Sel Archer lives in a normal town with normal residents, except for one night a month …. When the full moon comes out, almost all of the adults turn into werewolves, and it’s up to the young people to protect themselves from danger.
But, as this quiet life begins to unravel, and the Turned start to escape, can Sel and his friends uncover exactly who – or what – is watching their every move, before it’s too late?
“Remember us, and if you can, find your way back to us in time.”
You know those special reads that cause you to immediately search out a signed copy as soon as you reach The End, if not sooner, because it’s now one of your forever books? Welcome to Thornhedge and check out my pretty Broken Binding preorder.
You probably think you know this story … a princess trapped in a tower in an enchanted sleep … the whole Sleeping Beauty thing. You’ve seen the Disney movie. You’ve read the retellings. You may have even read the original. You’ve absolutely questioned the lack of consent of that kiss.
But you don’t know this story. See, this isn’t the princess’ story. It’s Toadling’s. I unequivocally adore Toadling, with her blue-black tears and her determination to complete the task she was given so long ago.
“But we are not always given the choices that we want.”
Toadling is an absolute sweetheart whose loyalty is strong enough to endure for centuries and who wants nothing more than to be with her family. Not the family of her birth; the one who adopted her after she was stolen.
Toadling’s got a job to do, though, and it involves the princess in the tower that this story is not about. Unbeknownst to dear Toadling, although soon to be knownst, a knight has commenced a quest and it’s quite possible he’s going to make a right mess of the status quo.
“This is my place,” she said finally. “You are in it.”
This is a story of aching loneliness and not entirely fitting in anywhere. It’s found family and deep connections. It has magic and it is magical. It’s dark and it’s delightful and, I have to agree with the author here, it is sweet.
T. Kingfisher has quickly become one of my favourite authors and this novella has confirmed why. Toadling lives in my heart now and she’s not leaving anytime soon.
Favourite no context quote:
“This would be easier if you could turn into a toad”
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Titan Books for the opportunity to read this novella.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
There’s a princess trapped in a tower. This isn’t her story.
Meet Toadling. On the day of her birth, she was stolen from her family by the fairies, but she grew up safe and loved in the warm waters of faerieland. Once an adult though, the fae ask a favor of Toadling: return to the human world and offer a blessing of protection to a newborn child. Simple, right?
If only.
Centuries later, a knight approaches a towering wall of brambles, where the thorns are as thick as your arm and as sharp as swords. He’s heard there’s a curse here that needs breaking, but it’s a curse Toadling will do anything to uphold…
Camp Damascus has been one of the best surprises of the year so far. I love it when books take you in a direction you weren’t expecting, where the place you end up is even better than the destination you thought you’d signed up for. I expected to enjoy this read but nowhere near as much as I did.
Rose lives in Neverton, a God-fearing small town in Montana whose claim to fame is being home to the world’s most effective conversion therapy camp.
“A life free from sin is possible, and it’s waiting for you at Camp Damascus”
Regardless of what genre a book is marketed as, as soon as conversion therapy makes its way onto the pages, it’s always going to be labelled horror in my mind. This one was already filed in the correct genre but it gave me so much more than I’d hoped it would.
Rose is a Kingdom Kid, churched in the doctrine of the Kingdom of the Pine. Her parents are devout, making sure they abide by the Four Tenets. Coffee is not allowed in their home, which is about the biggest red flag ever.
“Perfectly normal” Rose has recently begun seeing a woman that other people don’t seem to notice. She’s also started vomiting up all manner of creepy crawlies. Yeah, nothing to see here…
“God’s plan can feel pretty crazy sometimes, huh?”
I loved Rose’s pursuit of the truth. I loved the squirmy, squishy body horror. I loved to hate everything even cultish adjacent. I couldn’t read this book fast enough and am so keen for a reread.
“Follow the rot”
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Titan Books for the opportunity to read this book.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
Camp Damascus is the world’s most effective gay conversion camp. Nestled in the Montana wilderness, parents send their children from around the world to experience the program’s 100% success rate.
But, this story isn’t about that. This story is about Rose Darling, a God-fearing young lady who can’t stop puking up flies. It’s about her parents who ignore her visions of an eerie woman with sagging, pale skin who watches from the woods. It’s about the desires deep inside Rose that don’t seem to make any sense, and her waking nightmares that are beginning to feel more like memories. And maybe, just maybe, it’s a little bit about Camp Damascus after all.
How uncanny the way what one reads can sometimes synchronise with reality.
A book about books and a librarian who recommends the right one at the right time is always going to be a must read for me. I’ve experienced bookish transformative magic and have long suspected some librarians are particularly gifted in wielding it.
This book introduces you to five people who are at a crossroads in their life. Whether they’re unsatisfied with their job, wanting to follow a dream or are searching for purpose, they all find their way to the librarian.
‘What are you looking for?’
After a short conversation with Sayuri Komachi, the librarian, she produces a list of books on the subject they have requested but invariably also sneaks in a surprise title that appears entirely irrelevant. It is this title that leads the reader on a journey of self discovery, while trying to decipher the meaning of the librarian’s bonus gift.
The comparisons between this book and Before the Coffee Gets Cold made sense early on. Each chapter focuses on a specific individual, although as you make your way through the book you discover connections between characters and their backstories. One of my favourite things about this book was searching for the ways in which the seemingly unconnected stories interwove.
One description, which initially niggled at me, became something that impacted my enjoyment of the book. Every character, upon seeing the librarian for the first time, noted their shock at her appearance. She’s described as “huge”, “really huge”, “large” (multiple times), “very large” (more than once) and “humungous”. She has “plump fingers”. Characters are surprised she can move quickly and that she is capable of the fine work of felting.
The paleness of her skin was also consistently commented one; it reminded one character of a “white glutinous rice cake”.
Comparisons are made between her and a polar bear, the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man, Disney’s Baymax and Genma Saotome from Ranma ½. While I’m usually up for any Ghostbusters reference, all of the comparisons felt disparaging rather than descriptive.
I haven’t been able to find a better word to describe my experience of this book as a whole than ‘soft’. It’s easy to read. The characters aren’t difficult to get to know and you don’t need to think deeply to follow the story. It’s a nice, feel-good read and there are sentences that leave you feeling warm and squishy. Ultimately, though, while I will remember how it made me feel, I don’t think any of the individual stories are going to linger with me long term.
Everybody should have their own story.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Doubleday, an imprint of Transworld Publishers, for the opportunity to read this book.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
Sayuri Komachi is no ordinary librarian. Sensing exactly what someone is searching for in life, she provides just the book recommendation to help them find it.
In this uplifting book, we meet five of Sayuri’s customers, each at a different crossroads:
– the restless retail assistant eager to pick up new skills – the mother faced with a demotion at work after maternity leave – the conscientious accountant who yearns to open an antique store – the gifted young manga artist in search of motivation – the recently retired salaryman on a quest for newfound purpose
Can she help them find what they are looking for?
What You Are Looking For is in the Library is about the magic of community libraries and the discovery of connection. Already loved by thousands of readers all over the world, this inspirational tale shows how, by listening to our hearts, seizing opportunity and reaching out, we too can fulfil our long-held dreams.
Today I have the privilege of interviewing Remy Lai, the author of GHOST BOOK.
Hi Remy. Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to me.
GHOST BOOK was one of my most anticipated graphic novel reads of the year. It exceeded my expectations and I loved it even more during my reread.
What inspired you to write this book?
July and William popped into my head and wouldn’t leave. I knew they are friends, William is a ghost, and one would sacrifice for the other. But the story didn’t click into place until years later when I figured out Hungry Ghosts play a role. From there, I drew inspiration from the Chinese myths and stories that I grew up with.
July and William meet. That’s Floof on William’s head. I adore Floof!
Hungry Ghost Month is about the gates of the underworld opening. How much fun was it creating your version of the underworld?
On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most fun, it was 20. I mean, to be honest, when I was in the thick of drawing street market scenes, I thought the fun score was a 2, because it was so time-consuming and I felt trapped in a never-ending loop of drawing street vendors and crowds. But the end product is so worth it.
Even though it was easy for me to connect emotionally with both July and William, I didn’t expect to get misty-eyed. How do you create characters that readers care about?
I try show the characters as truthfully as I can, from their strengths to their flaws and vulnerabilities.
All of the Hungry Ghosts fascinated me but my current favourite is Needle-throat Ghost. Do you have a favourite Hungry Ghost? What’s their backstory?
The vomit-licking Hungry Ghost is probably the most fun to draw because of the long tongue. When they were alive, they must have done something heinous involving puke.
July and her classmates encounter a Hungry Ghost
Dumplings play a pivotal role in this graphic novel and I found myself craving them as I read. I have to ask, how many dumplings were consumed in the name of research during the creation of this graphic novel?
298. Which isn’t excessive considering it took me 8 months to draw this book.
You’ve said that you create the artwork for your books digitally using an iPad. What apps do you use? Do you have a favourite brush?
Clip Studio and Photoshop. No favourite brush as I use different ones for different books — whichever is best to tell that story.
If you could spend time with a character in this book, who would it be and what would you do together?
Heibai Wuchang. They’re hilariously solemn, and I’d like to try to tell them a joke so good they’d laugh. Or at least chuckle.
What do you want readers to take away from July and William’s story?
That a little kindness might mean the world to someone.
What are July and William doing now?
They’re probably having another adventure. I think there’s another story set in the world of GHOST BOOK. I just haven’t figured it out yet.
What’s next for you?
I have a much, much spookier book coming out next year titled READ AT YOUR OWN RISK. It’s an illustrated prose book about a girl who played an Ouija board-like game and unleashed an evil that started communicating with her in her journal.
That sounds incredible! I can’t wait to read it!
Lastly, is there anything else you’d like readers to know that we haven’t already covered?
During Hungry Ghost Month, do not go swimming.
Based on what I’ve read about Hungry Ghost Month, that is very good advice. It’s been an absolute honour talking to you today, Remy.
Thank you so much for having me! I’m so glad you enjoyed GHOST BOOK!
GHOST BOOK is published by Allen & Unwin. If you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend you grab a copy.
Remy Lai writes and draws for kids. She is the author and illustrator of the critically acclaimed PIE IN THE SKY, FLY ON THE WALL, PAWCASSO, and the junior graphic novel series SURVIVING THE WILD. Her latest book is the spooky graphic novel GHOST BOOK. She lives in Brisbane, Australia, where she can often be found exploring the woods with her two dogs —Poop Roller and Bossy Boots. Sometimes, she eats ice cream for breakfast.
Once Upon a Blurb
Twelve years ago, the boy and the girl lived. But one was supposed to die …
July Chen sees ghosts. But her dad insists ghosts aren’t real. So she pretends they don’t exist. Which is incredibly difficult now as it’s Hungry Ghost month, when the Gates of the Underworld open and dangerous ghosts run amok in the living world. When July saves a boy ghost from being devoured by a Hungry Ghost, he becomes her first ever friend. Except William is not a ghost. He’s a wandering soul wavering between life and death. As the new friends embark on an adventure to return William to his body, they unearth a ghastly truth – for William to live, July must die.
Inspired by Chinese mythology, this resoundingly hopeful tale about friendship, sacrifice and the unseen world of ghosts is a dazzling heir to beloved Studio Ghibli classics.
When we meet Charity, she’s in the process of surviving her third summer at Camp Mirror Lake. Camp Mirror Lake was the location for the 1983 movie, The Curse of Camp Mirror Lake. Now it’s the location for a “full-contact terror-simulation experience” based on the movie.
Charity is basically living her best horror life; as the Final Girl, she’s the last one standing every night. Bonus points for her job giving her somewhere other than her home to be all summer.
Charity and her team of seven spend their nights terrorising whoever wants to pay for the privilege. Well, it used to be Charity and her team of seven. Some of the team recently stopped showing up to work.
Luckily, during one of the only times reception was good enough to make a phone call, Charity was able to call in some fresh victims reinforcements. Bezi is Charity’s girlfriend. She wears her heart on her sleeve but hopefully not literally. She does know she’s just walked into a slasher, doesn’t she?
“Oh, honey. You’re going to die out here, and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it.”
Then there’s Paige, who knows all of the scary stories so maybe she’s Randy from Scream. She’s also a reporter, so I guess she’s Gale Weathers as well. Charity is obviously Sidney Prescott.
I matched a few other characters with their Scream equivalents but this is not that franchise. It’s a slasher but then it’s also something else so, while I figured out who the Big Bad was early on, it wasn’t until everything began to unfold that I had any idea what form their monologue would take. While I don’t have any specific unanswered questions about the direction it went, I would have liked the story behind this to have been fleshed out more.
This was a quick, entertaining read. As someone who celebrates every Friday the 13th, this felt like a homage but the soon to be slaughtered characters were trying to survive a horror that wasn’t Jason shaped at all.
I absolutely adored Fernanda Suarez’s cover image. It’s what drew me to the book in the first place and what kept reminding me I needed it in my life.
This is my first book by this author. I don’t expect it to be my last.
“It’s all fun and games until you’re dead.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
Charity Curtis has the summer job of her dreams, playing the “final girl” at Camp Mirror Lake. Guests pay to be scared in this full-contact terror game, as Charity and her summer crew recreate scenes from a classic slasher film, Curse of Camp Mirror Lake. The more realistic the fear, the better for business.
But in the last weekend of the season, Charity’s co-workers begin disappearing. And when one ends up dead, Charity’s role as the final girl suddenly becomes all too real. If Charity and her girlfriend Bezi hope to survive the night, they’ll need to figure out what this killer is after. Is there more to the story of Mirror Lake and its dangerous past than Charity ever suspected?
Schizanthus Nerd 