Teddy vs. the Fuzzy Doom

Secrets of Ravensbarrow

by Braden Hallett

The secrets of Ravensbarrow have been buried far too long. Now they're waking up . . . For fans of My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish and The Incredibly Dead Pets of Rex Dexter , a laugh-out-loud new series that kicks off in a school infested with brain-eating hamsters. Book 1: Teddy vs. the Fuzzy Doom Starting at a new school is hard enough for an anxious kid like Teddy. But Ravensbarrow Elementary seems extra unsettling. First, there are the zombielike kids and teachers, with their vacant stares and strange, echoey voices. Then there are the hamsters. So. Many. Hamsters. With their scrabbly claws and beady eyes and . . . wait. Can those hamsters talk? Teddy must face old fears (making friends) and new ones (evil hamsters!) in this frightening and fast-paced, hilarious, and heartfelt debut. About the Alongside a crew of misfits, Teddy untangles the supernatural mysteries of the rainy town of Ravensbarrow in this highly illustrated, action-packed new horror comedy series.

Genres: Middle Grade, Humor, Childrens

288 pages, Paperback

Published April 2, 2024

Reviews

[Mehsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from Edelweiss/the Publisher in exchange of an honest review.


As a hamster girl + a fan of books like this + evil world domination lover I just had to get this book when I spotted it on Edelweiss. It looked too good to pass!

In this book we meet Teddy who has just moved to Ravensbarrow and is now on to his first day at school. Oh boy, he already had his doubts about this town and the school, but after this day I wonder if he still wants to stick around. I mean, being a new kid is terrifying already, but add to that hamsters that are evil? Having to save the school and peeps you don’t even know? Plus, the fact that you have to face your hatred and disgust for milk? If he had known that I guess that he would have just stayed in bed. I wouldn’t have blamed him at all. Teddy was at times a bit annoying, but in overall I found him a good MC and I loved that despite everything he did try to keep on going. And that he was able to find people like him. Oh, and I could 100% understand his analogy about how society/stuff worked for him. Yes, I also feel like that, especially in school I had it. These days I have mastered some ways, but back then I was like whut and felt like an outsider a lot of times. I was glad when I found friends who understood me.

The evil hamsters were terrifically awesome and I just adored it. I guess, as a hamster girl, I wouldn’t mind being controlled by one, haha. Though the real plan by Scrabbles, no thank you. Haha. Yes, this hamster has plans and they are big, gruesome, and scary. But you know what, when we learn of the reason why he was doing it? I just couldn’t entirely fault him, yes, it is maybe not the way to go, but he had some good intentions along the way. It sounds weird to sympathise with a hamster with evil plans. But hey, I am sure I am not alone in this one. I did love how the hamsters all worshipped Heather and how they even had a catchphrase when they met up in the hallways and other places. I am now wondering if my hamsters also see me as the great provider and that they have faith in me, that would be cool. As long as they don’t go evil though, haha.

I did love seeing how they zombified the humans though! And had a big laugh that not everyone was noticing that. I guess everyone was just too hyped about the big announcement + the hamsters (even evil they are cute) running around!

I loved how things went in this book and how things got more exciting. I was really rooting for Teddy and his new friends to be able to save the school. Find a way. Not be hamsterfied.

Oh, and even more love is that this is the first book in a series! We get hints throughout the book that there is something in Ravensbarrow that is strange/off/odd, and I am so excited to discover more of this town and see what is going on.

Oh, and if someone REALLY REALLY shows all the signs that he or she REALLY REALLY hates or dislikes something? Don’t try to find out how far you can go. Haha. Teddy is really not into milk.

The illustrations were just oodles and oodles of fun. I love the characters designs, the hamsters were well done (and I love their evil faces but also when they go cute again), and there is more!

The only thing, Tienna wasn’t always a favourite. Her impulsiveness reminded of myself, but there were moments that I just wanted her to be a bit kinder, a bit more sweet, a bit less reactive. She did have many good times and I did like how she was there for Teddy, but at times she was too much.

All in all, I would HIGHLY recommend this book to all. This was just way too much fun! Evil hamsters. Fun illustrations. Secrets that I cannot wait to be explored more. Great characters.

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Gerry Ramsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance copy to give an unbiased review. It piqued my interest as I have a granddaughter in middle grades who experiences anxiety regarding friendships at school.

I loved the detailed illustrations and maps with the amusing notations! The quirky sense of humour will appeal to my granddaughter’s mindset for weird things. I wasn’t sure about the creepy evil hamsters. Too scary? But I realized the edgy illustrations would appeal to this age group.

What do we want our children to learn?
It’s ok to be anxious
To ask for help from friends & trustworthy adults
To develop relationships with peers
To keep trying even when you fail ( resilience)
To not listen to negative self-talk
Give friends a second chance

It’s all here! Even as an adult reader, I found it hard to put down. I’m pretty sure my granddaughter will feel the same.

[Glenna Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

With Teddy's anxiety of starting a new school (among his many anxieties), his strong aversion to milk, and the invasion of evil hamsters at Ravensbarrow Elementary, it almost seems as though Hallet spent a lot of time hanging out with my family. I loved the story from start to finish and was impressed with the way illustrations were used to carry forward the action and dialogue. I am eager to read the next installment of Teddy's adventures with his new offbeat friends.

[Gail Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teddy vs. the Fuzzy Doom by Braden Hallett was an ever-changing tale. I honestly never knew what was coming next.
Teddy was very leery going to his new school. The first student Teddy meets is Heather. She has a very odd voice and a raincoat stuffed with… what? Hamsters? And oh no, Heather is in his class. With a single touch, the hamsters are… turning the students into blank eyed peculiar talking puppets.
Teddy is saved just in time. He is sent down the hall to a small room with only three other students – and no hamsters. Teddy relates the terror unfolding in his new classroom. These four misfits are the only hope for the survival of the entire school population. Working together, they devise a plan.
But it is four against a growing army. Can they survive? There were moments I had a very uncomfortable feeling in my stomach. Hey wait!! It was same feeling I got as I listened to a Vinyl Café podcast when Dave and his pals were dangling Annie from a bridge, hoping to rescue a dog floating down a river.
If Braden Hallett can summon the same feeling in the gut as Stuart McLean, Braden has passed the litmus test. Read his books!!!

[Megan Majewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book that I wish I had as a quirky little girl growing up. The story was hilarious and a little dark. The illustrations were perfect and added to the story. I will definitely be buying more copies for my nieces and nephews when they are old enough.

[Leer Con Layca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teddy doesn't want to be the new kid; that's too much attention. He would rather blend in with the crowd. When he discovers a plan hatched by evil hamsters, will he be able to be a leader and save the world? Teddy vs the Fuzzy Doom is a fast-paced thriller for kids who do not want too much scariness but still crave the thrill. Teddy is a great protagonist who will resonate with many children through his anxiety-driven thoughts and actions. The hamsters are a fantastic mix of fluffy cuteness and overlord energy. This will be great for reluctant readers.

[Megyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teddy vs the Fuzzy Doom is a new middle grade book full of illustrations. It’s about a kid at a new school where things quickly start to get weird and crazy.

This was a good story full of fun illustrations. It had some humor and laughs throughout as well. I think a lot of kids will enjoy this book because of the humor and the illustrations. It reminded me a bit of The Last Kids on Earth series, which i know a lot of kids enjoy.

Thanks so much to netgalley and Annick Press for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Aaron (TheWeirdReader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seriously, Teddy.
I am OBVIOUSLY evil.
Bloody-red eyes? Fangs?
I mean, come on.

I'd been in full panic mode
WITHOUT the weird 🐹 hamsters.

I wasn't sure what else I wanted to read at the time when I stumbled upon this most delightful, FUN (very expressive) illustrated and highly entertaining book that is Teddy vs the Fuzzy Doom.


JUST BLEND IN,TEDDY:

As we follow our *Extreme Anxious* protagonist (seriously calm it waaay down, Teddy lol) throughout his even more anxiety-ridden world. One of my several favorite things about this book was Teddy's hilarious inner voice conversations he had with himself.

👉 Teddy! You're tangenting again!

Oh, geez, I am!
Right!
Back to the hamsters!

Sorry. UGH!

🤦‍♂️Stop apologizing, Teddy.

I know. I don't
like it either.

Sorry.

Okay.

I loved all those interrupted comedic moments. There was a particular scene that really stood out and made me literally *Laugh-out-Loud.* When our anxiety mess Teddy isn't quite sure if he's being helpful with information to defeating the hamsters. And quickly regrets it, then has a visual thought of slapping himself upside the head lol.

Wonderful. Wrong line, Teddy.
Even with this group of oddly
inclusive weirdos, you're still
in a different play.

*SMACK*!

Welcome to New class, same as old class. Well, except with evil fuzzy menaces. I love having/seeing POV of our furious fur balls lol they really were a crowd–pleaser, at least for me. Not so much for the students and especially teachers attending this infestation school with our many furry friends lol.


"A girl with blue hair who was dressed to run a marathon was spinning her pencil ✏ like a baton."

Of all the characters my favorite (besides the hamsters of course) was Tienna she's surely the toughest in this hostile furbrain scheme takeover lol. 🐹 I immediately took a liking to her vibe. As we're both sarcastic, outspoken, and humorous.

We're gonna hit Fletcher with a chair. Tienna glared at Fletcher.

Shane rolled his eyes. And what will that do for us?

Tienna grinned. It'll make me feel better before the hamsters get me.

. . . What?! They're gonna eat us?! Tienna gasped. That's  ridiculous! I mean, how many kids could they eat eat? Wait, maybe we can just feed them Fletcher.

Initially I had assumed Teddy vs the Fuzzy Doom was a graphic novel, especially with such a fascinating title.
That brings me to another favorite enjoyable thing about this book, which is the structure in the way it's written. This type of CHAOTIC storytelling (meant as a compliment) certainly works best for this non-traditional style format.

I greatly enjoyed everything about Teddy vs the Fuzzy Doom. The book target audiences will have a blast with this series, and relate to Teddy's many hyper-active conditions of fears & anxiety. I'm l👀king forward to more mysterious EV!L Ravenborrow adventures.

I really wanted to say, Hamsters
have taken over the school
for unknown nefarious reasons!
SAVE YOURSELVES!! But. . .
I didn't want to be the weird kid
going on about a hamster invasion.
I had to be normal. Normal was safe!

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Teddy vs. the Fuzzy Doom is the first volume of a genuinely funny illustrated middle grade series by Braden Hallett. Released 2nd April 2024 by Annick Press, it's 288 pages and is available in hardcover and paperback formats.

This is such a quirky and compassionately written book- Teddy has a lot of anxiety issues. His mind runs away with potentially catastrophic scenarios. It turns out, when he's really faced with a crisis on his first day at a new school, he's pretty good at figuring out what to do.

The plot is silly and over the top. It's not quite horror, but there's a lot of dramatic tension (mind control hamsters!!!). It's a bit dark in places, but nothing *really* scary. Teddy is appealing and sympathetically written.

The illustrations are excellent and abundant. There are maps and diagrams, some quite detailed, along with character studies and incidental art. Appealing and well rendered in grayscale pen and ink sketches throughout.

Four and a half stars. This would be a good choice for public or school library acquisition, home library, or gifting to a young reader of Goosebumps, or similar.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Wunderdrugged · Rating 3 out of 5]

This title is nominated for the 2026 Hackmatack award in the English fiction category. I appreciate that it is book one of a series, so I don't feel like I'm missing anything. Right away we are introduced to our protagonist, Teddy. Teddy and his parents have recently moved to his mom's hometown of Ravensbarrow, which means he is getting ready to start at a new school. We know that Teddy is a very anxious kid (which I personally found super relatable). His first day at Ravensbarrow Elementary is pretty weird from the moment he arrives, coinciding with the arrival of 'hamster girl' Heather. Luckily he has an opportunity to meet Tienna, Shane, and Duggy when he goes to the learning assistance room for math help. We meet some other interesting characters along the way who I expect will make appearances in titles to come. I especially like the French-Canadian janitor, Monsieur Lambert. I hope eventually we delve more into his back story & learn how he ended up in British Columbia. There are lots of engaging illustrations throughout the book, which makes it more appealing for reluctant readers. It put me in mind of the 'Goosebumps' series that was popular when I was a kid in the 90s. I thought the story was great, but I personally do not enjoy reading about vomit (or brain eating hamsters). I would recommend this title to kids who enjoy 'gross' humor & mild scares - especially boys.

[L. G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader for this, and was asked to give an honest opinion.

Obviously this book is not meant for adult readers, I'm just going to point that out immediately. It's target audience is clear, and so are the messages. It is very much a kid's book.

While the text can be hard follow given the narrator is an elementary school student who clearly suffers from an anxiety problem coupled overthinking, and an extremely active imagination. Paired with the very expressive art style, I believe it works to keep the attention of the reader. Having such expressive, and vivid imagery relating to the anxiety that the protagonist is suffering from, allows you to better connect with the protagonist. You see what he sees. Understand it alongside him. Feel it with him. Yeah, there's some silly gross stuff, but (a lot of) kids love silly gross stuff, and I wouldn't expect anything less in a kid's book. That kind of goes hand in hand.

The lesson of the story is one everyone can get behind. Sometimes, you just need to drink the milk.

Overall, it was a fun ride that felt similar to a sugar rush.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

I picked this to read thinking that it was part of the Five Nights at Freddy's franchise, and probably a graphic novel. It was neither, just in case the cover strikes you the same way! (I have students who are interested in FNAF, but it's not my favorite.)

Instead, this book was more along the lines of Swanson and Behr's Ben Yokoyama and the Cookie of Doom (https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...). The illustration style is very similar, with large text and plentiful pictures on each page, but not done in graphic novel strip-style panels. Teddy's fears are more justified than Ben's, since he's at Ravensbarrow Elementary with zombie teacher and students and lots of evil hamsters. While I'm all about a good evil hamster (think O'Donnell's Hamstersaurus Rex or McCreeley's My Zombie Hamster), Teddy's level of anxiety and the format made this one more suitable for elementary school readers, and I would buy it for a public library or elementary library where there is a need for age appropriate horror books.

[Heather Sutherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy to write an unbiased review of this book.

Once you start reading this Canadian authors book you can't put it down. As a reader you quickly descend into Teddy's world, Teddy's anxious world (a world many can relate to). As Teddy and you navigate through all those anxious feelings you learn about the true meaning of friendship, overcoming your fears and trusting those around you have got your back. A great mystery full of some hilarious bits and great illustrations. I highly recommend this book to any kiddo who worries.
I work in a school library and I will definitely encourage my students to check out this book. I look forward to reading the next book in this mysterious world of Ravensbarrow!

[Kay S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The formatting of this book is going to kill with the kids: part Wimpy Kid, part Last Kids. The humour is a great mix between terrible but weird dad humour and dumb kid jokes that kids go wild for.

I zipped through this title - Ravensbarrow is totally my vibe. Spooky atmosphere and odd background things but everyone is perfectly normal and nothing weird ever happens!

I honestly can't figure out whether the author is trying too hard to get the kids to laugh at the creepiness or if it's just funny enough for the kiddos. Given the seriousness of what I've been reading lately, I find it difficult to tell. / oh no… I'll have to read the second one to find out…

[Theediscerning · Rating 1 out of 5]

An adult-proof kid's novel, and one whose off-putting hyperkinetic energy involves cartoonish asides, labels to drawings, disembodied voices jumping in in italics – too much for any sensible and logical mind to deal with, so how someone like the anxiety-laden kid hero could cope I have no idea. I'm sure this kind of thing goes far too far in making books like this appealing to reluctant readers, as the eye doesn't even know where to turn next some times. Certainly it wasn't the kind of entertainment I sought or a book I'd recommend. One and a half stars.

[Andréa]

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Steffi]

CW/TW: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Vomit, Animal death, Confinement, Gore, Kidnapping, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail