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Monster Movie!
In this modern, spooky novel by New York Times bestselling author Chuck Wendig, a boy must face his many fears to save his friends from a cursed videotape. Ethan Pitowski is afraid of everything. Luckily, his best friends don’t mind, and when their entire class gets invited to watch a long-buried horror movie at the most popular boy in school’s house, Ethan’s friends encourage him to join in the fun. But when the “scariest movie ever made” reveals itself to be not just a movie about a monster, but a movie that is a monster, only a terrified Ethan escapes its clutches. Now he must find a way to stop the monster and save his friends (and also, um, get their heads back). With his signature balance of kid-friendly horror and humor, Chuck Wendig crafts a spookily heartfelt novel about anxiety, friendship, and finding your unique voice and inner strength.
320 pages, Hardcover
Published September 24, 2024
16 people are currently reading
3578 people want to read
About the author
Chuck Wendig
181 books7,172 followersChuck Wendig is a novelist, a screenwriter, and a freelance penmonkey.
He has contributed over two million words to the roleplaying game industry, and was the developer of the popular Hunter: The Vigil game line (White Wolf Game Studios / CCP).
He, along with writing partner Lance Weiler, is a fellow of the Sundance Film Festival Screenwriter's Lab (2010). Their short film, Pandemic, will show at the Sundance Film Festival 2011, and their feature film HiM is in development with producer Ted Hope.
Chuck's novel Double Dead will be out in November, 2011.
He's written too much. He should probably stop. Give him a wide berth, as he might be drunk and untrustworthy. He currently lives in the wilds of Pennsyltucky with a wonderful wife and two very stupid dogs. He is represented by Stacia Decker of the Donald Maass Literary Agency.
You can find him at his website, terribleminds.com.
He has contributed over two million words to the roleplaying game industry, and was the developer of the popular Hunter: The Vigil game line (White Wolf Game Studios / CCP).
He, along with writing partner Lance Weiler, is a fellow of the Sundance Film Festival Screenwriter's Lab (2010). Their short film, Pandemic, will show at the Sundance Film Festival 2011, and their feature film HiM is in development with producer Ted Hope.
Chuck's novel Double Dead will be out in November, 2011.
He's written too much. He should probably stop. Give him a wide berth, as he might be drunk and untrustworthy. He currently lives in the wilds of Pennsyltucky with a wonderful wife and two very stupid dogs. He is represented by Stacia Decker of the Donald Maass Literary Agency.
You can find him at his website, terribleminds.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
November 3, 2024
4.0 Stars
This was such a fantastic middle grade horror novel. It's obviously targeted at a younger audience but I was so impressed by the quality of this writing. I have loved so many of Chuck Wendig's adult novels and I felt that he brought the same quality of writing and storytelling to this work. I loved following our main character and he worked to overcome his fears.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
This was such a fantastic middle grade horror novel. It's obviously targeted at a younger audience but I was so impressed by the quality of this writing. I have loved so many of Chuck Wendig's adult novels and I felt that he brought the same quality of writing and storytelling to this work. I loved following our main character and he worked to overcome his fears.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
September 8, 2024
Ethan is scared of everything. He knows about germs and horror films and all types of different accident. Google is his number 1 app, because it never lies to him. So when his two best friends try to convince him to see the SCARIEST MOVIE EVER MADE! he’s terrified and nothing his best friends say can change his mind…..until Olivia calls one last time and he just needs to make an appearance….but when he arrives he realizes he was nowhere near prepared for how scary this movie actually is
Ethan finds his strength and courage in an adventure of a lifetime. This book was absolutely adorable and I really enjoyed how out of his comfort zone he got. It was awesome!
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for the ARC of this book
Ethan finds his strength and courage in an adventure of a lifetime. This book was absolutely adorable and I really enjoyed how out of his comfort zone he got. It was awesome!
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for the ARC of this book
August 24, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley, Little, Brown Young Readers, and Hachette Audio for the advanced copy of the audiobook.
Chuck Wendig is well-known for his adult horror and has been on my to-read for ages, so when I saw he had a middle grade horror out, I knew I had to check it out. I read a lot of horror in general, and I especially like checking out the middle grade horror for my niblings, to curate for them what I know would spook them but not give nightmares... I am torn on Monster Movie! lol
This was a surprisingly creepy story for kids, and is on par more with R.L. Stine's The Haunting Hour than Goosebumps in terms of scares, and is perhaps better for kids on the older or more mature side of middle grade. Wendig paints some tense scenes and creates some scary monsters. It reminded me a lot of a cheesier Stranger Things, and of Trevor Henderson's great middle grade horror from last year, Scarewaves. Screenhead is up there with Sirenhead imo (and as basic as the name, I can't help but wonder if Wendig was inspired by Henderson).
The content can be intense but Wendig does great at presenting it for children. He's not patronizing and he doesn't hold back on the scares. I also loved the story message of not letting others bully you out of your passion, and of staying strong and brave in the face of adversity, especially when standing up for what's right. I also love a book that supports the arts lol
As for the narrator, Dan Bittner - he's a good narrator and kids will enjoy listening to him, getting a laugh from some of the voice. Adults... may be a bit annoyed. I know I was at times, especially with the *akshually* voice he does for the villain. Again, kids will get a kick from it but it grated on me, and I think I'd have preferred to read it.
Overall, I'm not sure it's a good fit for my niblings but I know that middle school me would have loved this story and read it over and over. Monster Movie! is a great addition to any middle grade horror collection.
Chuck Wendig is well-known for his adult horror and has been on my to-read for ages, so when I saw he had a middle grade horror out, I knew I had to check it out. I read a lot of horror in general, and I especially like checking out the middle grade horror for my niblings, to curate for them what I know would spook them but not give nightmares... I am torn on Monster Movie! lol
This was a surprisingly creepy story for kids, and is on par more with R.L. Stine's The Haunting Hour than Goosebumps in terms of scares, and is perhaps better for kids on the older or more mature side of middle grade. Wendig paints some tense scenes and creates some scary monsters. It reminded me a lot of a cheesier Stranger Things, and of Trevor Henderson's great middle grade horror from last year, Scarewaves. Screenhead is up there with Sirenhead imo (and as basic as the name, I can't help but wonder if Wendig was inspired by Henderson).
The content can be intense but Wendig does great at presenting it for children. He's not patronizing and he doesn't hold back on the scares. I also loved the story message of not letting others bully you out of your passion, and of staying strong and brave in the face of adversity, especially when standing up for what's right. I also love a book that supports the arts lol
As for the narrator, Dan Bittner - he's a good narrator and kids will enjoy listening to him, getting a laugh from some of the voice. Adults... may be a bit annoyed. I know I was at times, especially with the *akshually* voice he does for the villain. Again, kids will get a kick from it but it grated on me, and I think I'd have preferred to read it.
Overall, I'm not sure it's a good fit for my niblings but I know that middle school me would have loved this story and read it over and over. Monster Movie! is a great addition to any middle grade horror collection.
June 25, 2024
Ethan is afraid of everything, so when his best friends Olivia and Harvey insist on him joining in on a screening of a mysterious film considered to be the scariest movie ever made, he refuses outright. However, when the movie turns out to be a monster bent on destroying the town, Ethan must brave his fears if he is to save everyone and everything he loves.
There's a difficult balance to reach with middle grade horror, which I hadn't thought much before I started reading this book. The best sort of horror, in my opinion, is underpinned with the horrors of daily life, but as a result middle grade horror writers have what seems a smaller pool to draw upon. Wendig does a good job at dredging those depths though.
Ethan is a great lead - his anxiety, his art, and his determination to stick by his friends makes him easy to root for, but beyond that he just sounds like a twelve year-old boy, tiptoeing somewhere between his careless childhood and his very first more mature realizations about life and other people. The horror too is innovative, walking the tightrope between creepy and truly irredeemably terrifying. There's plebty imagery is vivid, whether it's the headless townsfolk, the filming scenes, or Ethan's artwork.
However, I did think the pacing could have been tightened up, as it takes a fairly long time establishing the setting and characters, and consequently the final sequence felt like it went too fast. I wished we'd had more of a denouement too - the cheeky twist at the ending is fun but left me with plenty of questions still.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
There's a difficult balance to reach with middle grade horror, which I hadn't thought much before I started reading this book. The best sort of horror, in my opinion, is underpinned with the horrors of daily life, but as a result middle grade horror writers have what seems a smaller pool to draw upon. Wendig does a good job at dredging those depths though.
Ethan is a great lead - his anxiety, his art, and his determination to stick by his friends makes him easy to root for, but beyond that he just sounds like a twelve year-old boy, tiptoeing somewhere between his careless childhood and his very first more mature realizations about life and other people. The horror too is innovative, walking the tightrope between creepy and truly irredeemably terrifying. There's plebty imagery is vivid, whether it's the headless townsfolk, the filming scenes, or Ethan's artwork.
However, I did think the pacing could have been tightened up, as it takes a fairly long time establishing the setting and characters, and consequently the final sequence felt like it went too fast. I wished we'd had more of a denouement too - the cheeky twist at the ending is fun but left me with plenty of questions still.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
November 17, 2024
Very fun middle grade spooky book.
October 21, 2024
This review was originally posted on my blog https://booksare42.com/
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book through Net Galley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Monster Movie! is a fun middle-grade horror story about a monster movie that comes to life and starts biting people’s heads off. It has some great characters that were easy to root for and some great messages about bravery and following your dreams.
The premise of Monster Movie! was a lot of fun. One of the most popular kids at school managed to get his hands on the scariest horror movie ever created. He invites everyone in the grade over to his house to watch it while all of the parents are at the school for parent night. The movie ends up putting everyone in a trance, coming to life, and starts biting people’s heads off. It’s kind of creepy, but it’s also kind of fun. That being said, this probably isn’t the best introduction to middle-grade horror and might be better for kids who are already fans of the genre.
The main character in Monster Movie! is Ethan Pitowski. Ethan has anxiety and is afraid of everything. He has a habit of spiraling and thinking of the worst case scenarios. He doesn’t want to watch the movie, but his two best friends, Olivia and Harvey, pressure him into going. He’s late and it ends up being up to him to save the town from the monster that’s terrorizing the town.
Ethan is a great main character who is easy to root for. He loves his friends and tries so hard to be brave. While some of his fears were a bit on the extreme side, I think some of his fears could be very relatable, especially the fear of losing his friends. I enjoyed reading about him working through his fears and being brave.
I also loved the friendship between Ethan, Olivia, and Harvey. I enjoyed their different personalities and how they balanced each other out. I also loved that they had a code phrase to use when it was time to be serious.
I liked the messages about following your dreams and standing up for what you believe in in Monster Movie! There were a few points where this came up, but I especially liked how it applied to Ethan and his artwork. I also liked how Ethan’s artwork helped show Ethan’s growth throughout the story.
I didn’t love the pacing of Monster Movie! I thought the first half of the book was a bit slow and that the second half flew by. This made it a bit more difficult to become invested in the story, but once I got into it, it was hard to put down.
Monster Movie! does touch upon some heavier topics. There’s mentions of divorce, a few instances of bullying, and depictions of a parent bullying their child. Monster Movie! also has some scary and violent moments. The head eating monster isn’t gory, but it is disturbing. There are other scenes that were fairly intense and on the frightening side. I don’t think there was anything unusual for a horror story, but as I mentioned above, this might not be the best introduction to the genre for kids.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book through Net Galley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Monster Movie! is a fun middle-grade horror story about a monster movie that comes to life and starts biting people’s heads off. It has some great characters that were easy to root for and some great messages about bravery and following your dreams.
The premise of Monster Movie! was a lot of fun. One of the most popular kids at school managed to get his hands on the scariest horror movie ever created. He invites everyone in the grade over to his house to watch it while all of the parents are at the school for parent night. The movie ends up putting everyone in a trance, coming to life, and starts biting people’s heads off. It’s kind of creepy, but it’s also kind of fun. That being said, this probably isn’t the best introduction to middle-grade horror and might be better for kids who are already fans of the genre.
The main character in Monster Movie! is Ethan Pitowski. Ethan has anxiety and is afraid of everything. He has a habit of spiraling and thinking of the worst case scenarios. He doesn’t want to watch the movie, but his two best friends, Olivia and Harvey, pressure him into going. He’s late and it ends up being up to him to save the town from the monster that’s terrorizing the town.
Ethan is a great main character who is easy to root for. He loves his friends and tries so hard to be brave. While some of his fears were a bit on the extreme side, I think some of his fears could be very relatable, especially the fear of losing his friends. I enjoyed reading about him working through his fears and being brave.
I also loved the friendship between Ethan, Olivia, and Harvey. I enjoyed their different personalities and how they balanced each other out. I also loved that they had a code phrase to use when it was time to be serious.
I liked the messages about following your dreams and standing up for what you believe in in Monster Movie! There were a few points where this came up, but I especially liked how it applied to Ethan and his artwork. I also liked how Ethan’s artwork helped show Ethan’s growth throughout the story.
I didn’t love the pacing of Monster Movie! I thought the first half of the book was a bit slow and that the second half flew by. This made it a bit more difficult to become invested in the story, but once I got into it, it was hard to put down.
Monster Movie! does touch upon some heavier topics. There’s mentions of divorce, a few instances of bullying, and depictions of a parent bullying their child. Monster Movie! also has some scary and violent moments. The head eating monster isn’t gory, but it is disturbing. There are other scenes that were fairly intense and on the frightening side. I don’t think there was anything unusual for a horror story, but as I mentioned above, this might not be the best introduction to the genre for kids.
September 18, 2024
thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the advanced audio copy.
this creepy little middle grade horror comes out September 24th, 2024.
--
i'm so glad that chuck wendig dabbles in middle grade. he's truly the voice that we need in absence of r.l. stine's more prolific days. though i prefer his adult fiction, i think wendig does a great job in the field of middle grade terror and monster movie! is no exception.
this is a story about ethan, who is a big ol' fraidy-cat. we're talking creepy noises sending him into a panic, obsessing over a sneeze that he thinks could be an indicator of defunct diseases, full-blown paranoia, mostly fostered by overbearing parents. so naturally, it's his friends (and bully) that coerce him into heading over to a kid's house to watch the "scariest movie ever made". and when he gets there he finds his friends are headless zombies and the town is getting terrorized.
obviously, this book takes some inspo from the film the ring, but i found it took me back to that old disney channel movie, don't look under the bed! and yes, this is plenty scary - but it's interspersed and injected with a lot of humor, but also a lot of heart. there's definitely a lot to be said in this one about how we perceive ourselves and others, how people aren't always what they seem, and the lasting impacts of trauma on others and how trauma breeds more of it.
ultimately, this middle grade horror was fun and great for the halloween season.
this creepy little middle grade horror comes out September 24th, 2024.
--
i'm so glad that chuck wendig dabbles in middle grade. he's truly the voice that we need in absence of r.l. stine's more prolific days. though i prefer his adult fiction, i think wendig does a great job in the field of middle grade terror and monster movie! is no exception.
this is a story about ethan, who is a big ol' fraidy-cat. we're talking creepy noises sending him into a panic, obsessing over a sneeze that he thinks could be an indicator of defunct diseases, full-blown paranoia, mostly fostered by overbearing parents. so naturally, it's his friends (and bully) that coerce him into heading over to a kid's house to watch the "scariest movie ever made". and when he gets there he finds his friends are headless zombies and the town is getting terrorized.
obviously, this book takes some inspo from the film the ring, but i found it took me back to that old disney channel movie, don't look under the bed! and yes, this is plenty scary - but it's interspersed and injected with a lot of humor, but also a lot of heart. there's definitely a lot to be said in this one about how we perceive ourselves and others, how people aren't always what they seem, and the lasting impacts of trauma on others and how trauma breeds more of it.
ultimately, this middle grade horror was fun and great for the halloween season.
July 20, 2024
What a fun, fun read! This is EXACTLY the book that I would have loved as a middle grade reader (as opposed to a reader of middle grade, which I occasionally am now, being a dad of an 8 year old, and which I very much enjoy—all to say that I love the book now, too). Full of cinematic adventure, good humor, tough choices, active emotional growth, and genuine scares (oh how middle-grade-me would have so appreciated Wendig not pulling his punches on the horror elements), Monster Movie is not just a fun read, it is also a good read. Good as in entertaining, sure, but also good as in intelligent, honest, unique, and respectful of its audience by treating its readers as peers rather than pupils. Highly recommend—for all ages!
August 10, 2024
I listened to this book with my son! He absolutely loved it! He thought it was so funny! Of course any mention of poop and he’s laughing!
I saw a lot of myself in Ethan. I could really appreciate a lot of his inner monologue. As a fellow worrier, a lot of the things he worried about made sense to me. I was glad to see him overcome his worries and take big steps to do hard things! I think young readers will be able to relate to Ethan.
The spooky aspects of the story were fun and reminded me of Goosebumps books. A town full of people loosing their heads is just the right amount of horror for young readers. I can see lots of kids getting a kick out of this book!
I saw a lot of myself in Ethan. I could really appreciate a lot of his inner monologue. As a fellow worrier, a lot of the things he worried about made sense to me. I was glad to see him overcome his worries and take big steps to do hard things! I think young readers will be able to relate to Ethan.
The spooky aspects of the story were fun and reminded me of Goosebumps books. A town full of people loosing their heads is just the right amount of horror for young readers. I can see lots of kids getting a kick out of this book!
March 15, 2025
Fun book for kids. I’m old but young in life. Haven’t grown up yet: This book was great.
October 10, 2024
Good YA adventure
August 20, 2024
Chuck Wendig has been on my reading list many times with novels such as Black River Orchard, but this time he found his way onto the list with a middle grade horror novel, Monster Movie!, and man was I pleasantly surprised.
Ethan Pitowski is afraid of everything. Luckily, his best friends don’t mind, and when their entire class gets invited to watch a long-buried horror movie at the most popular boy in school’s house, Ethan’s friends encourage him to join in the fun. But when the “scariest movie ever made” reveals itself to be not just a movie about a monster, but a movie that is a monster, only a terrified Ethan escapes its clutches. Now he must find a way to stop the monster and save his friends (and also, um, get their heads back).
Chuck Wendig is a New York Times bestselling author and master storyteller. His novels have given people chills, thrillers and horrible nightmares for many years. Additionally, us Star Wars fans have been graced with a number of novels based in a galaxy far, far away. When we stumbled across his latest middle grade horror novel I was confused and surprised, but also excited. I was unaware of his other similar level novels (Dust & Grim), so a middle grade horror was something that seemed off to me, but I am so glad I took the opportunity to read it.
Wendig was able to balance kid-friendly horror, humor and a chilling story to craft a spooky tale with heart just in time for the Halloween season. Monster Movie! has so much going for it and the fact that any middle grade student to senior citizen can get something from this novel is a thing of beauty. Monster Movie! features a tale about anxiety, friendship, and finding you voice in and inner strength while keeping us on edge with some clean spooky horror.
Balancing horror in the middle grade level can be difficult. Not all authors can do what R.L. Stine was able to make his name doing with Goosebumps, but every once in a while a talent writer comes along and gives it a go and man did Wendig do just that. The things that scare us the most are those horrors underlying in everyday life. Younger readers have far less years to pull from, but one thing they can relate to is a television or something on this tv scaring us. But what if the tv itself was the horror. Wendig does a wonderful job using these fears to push middle grade horror right to the edge without going over.
I had the pleasure to listen to the Monster Movie! audiobook. The narration by Dan Bittner is casual, wonderfully paced, and gave me chills as moments. Bittner voices the story being told by Wendig nearly perfect. When cracking open a book is not something easily done, like when doing the dishes or driving your car, listening to an audiobook can give you the ability to keep reading when a book is too good to put down. Bittner gave a voice to Ethan Pitowski and his classmates in such a wonderful way.
While Monster Movie! will not be for all readers, it is a perfect story for anyone looking for some good clean horror that won't make you want to sleep with the lights on. Chuck Wendig blends horror, comedy, and everyday life of a middle grade student perfectly to give us a unique tale of suspense. Monster Movie! was the horror novel I needed to break myself from some of the other truly spine-chilling novels on the market today.
Ethan Pitowski is afraid of everything. Luckily, his best friends don’t mind, and when their entire class gets invited to watch a long-buried horror movie at the most popular boy in school’s house, Ethan’s friends encourage him to join in the fun. But when the “scariest movie ever made” reveals itself to be not just a movie about a monster, but a movie that is a monster, only a terrified Ethan escapes its clutches. Now he must find a way to stop the monster and save his friends (and also, um, get their heads back).
Chuck Wendig is a New York Times bestselling author and master storyteller. His novels have given people chills, thrillers and horrible nightmares for many years. Additionally, us Star Wars fans have been graced with a number of novels based in a galaxy far, far away. When we stumbled across his latest middle grade horror novel I was confused and surprised, but also excited. I was unaware of his other similar level novels (Dust & Grim), so a middle grade horror was something that seemed off to me, but I am so glad I took the opportunity to read it.
Wendig was able to balance kid-friendly horror, humor and a chilling story to craft a spooky tale with heart just in time for the Halloween season. Monster Movie! has so much going for it and the fact that any middle grade student to senior citizen can get something from this novel is a thing of beauty. Monster Movie! features a tale about anxiety, friendship, and finding you voice in and inner strength while keeping us on edge with some clean spooky horror.
Balancing horror in the middle grade level can be difficult. Not all authors can do what R.L. Stine was able to make his name doing with Goosebumps, but every once in a while a talent writer comes along and gives it a go and man did Wendig do just that. The things that scare us the most are those horrors underlying in everyday life. Younger readers have far less years to pull from, but one thing they can relate to is a television or something on this tv scaring us. But what if the tv itself was the horror. Wendig does a wonderful job using these fears to push middle grade horror right to the edge without going over.
I had the pleasure to listen to the Monster Movie! audiobook. The narration by Dan Bittner is casual, wonderfully paced, and gave me chills as moments. Bittner voices the story being told by Wendig nearly perfect. When cracking open a book is not something easily done, like when doing the dishes or driving your car, listening to an audiobook can give you the ability to keep reading when a book is too good to put down. Bittner gave a voice to Ethan Pitowski and his classmates in such a wonderful way.
While Monster Movie! will not be for all readers, it is a perfect story for anyone looking for some good clean horror that won't make you want to sleep with the lights on. Chuck Wendig blends horror, comedy, and everyday life of a middle grade student perfectly to give us a unique tale of suspense. Monster Movie! was the horror novel I needed to break myself from some of the other truly spine-chilling novels on the market today.
September 7, 2024
What worked:
Many book characters suffer from anxiety or phobias but Ethan takes it to the extreme. The opening chapter finds his mind spiraling out of control as he thinks about how a squirrel might have rabies, or maybe a weird human-hybrid squirrel disease, or maybe The Plague, or maybe… He’s also terrified of being around classmates because he doesn’t know how to behave around them (of course they also carry diseases and infections). Much of the first fourth of the book builds tension as Ethan insists he’s not going to a movie even though all of his classmates will be attending. His best friends try pressuring him into going and the author shares his obsessive thoughts about why that won’t be happening. Kids say people became hysterical and died watching the movie!
Luckily, Ethan has two best friends, Olivia and Harley. Olivia is cool and calm and she’s the one who helps Ethan navigate his panic attacks. She’s also the one who tries using Ethan’s own fear, like the fear of missing out, to convince him about going to the movie. Harley adds humor to the story as he’s goofy and free-spirited. Ethan says Harley always thinks things will work out, no matter what, which leads him to do wacky things, like having a squirrel leave his cellphone on a tree branch. Much of the levity readers will experience comes from Ethan’s vivid imagination and the extreme scenarios his mind comes up with.
The dramatic build-up in the early chapters eventually reveals the malevolent movie monster, a television coming to life. The author conjures strange scenes and events as the monster movie emerges. The whole idea of a movie becoming a monster is very creative and bizarre all on its own. The way it attacks its victims is surprising and a little disturbing. The plot takes an unexpected turn in the later chapters when Ethan finally decides to face the monster and his fears. This twist leads to new characters with a separate, but related, conflict of their own. Ethan knows he must solve this problem if he’s ever going to save his friends and family.
What didn’t work as well:
Ethan freaking out becomes redundant as the plot develops further into the book. Anxiety and panic control much of his behavior and decisions but there are only so many ways the author can describe it. Emphasizing his fears is important in showing how brave people move on despite their fears.
The final verdict:
This book tells a charming tale of an anxiety-filled boy overcoming his fears to become a hero. The entertaining, humorous plot leads readers through spooky confrontations and surprising twists. It will appeal to monster lovers and I recommend you give it a shot.
Many book characters suffer from anxiety or phobias but Ethan takes it to the extreme. The opening chapter finds his mind spiraling out of control as he thinks about how a squirrel might have rabies, or maybe a weird human-hybrid squirrel disease, or maybe The Plague, or maybe… He’s also terrified of being around classmates because he doesn’t know how to behave around them (of course they also carry diseases and infections). Much of the first fourth of the book builds tension as Ethan insists he’s not going to a movie even though all of his classmates will be attending. His best friends try pressuring him into going and the author shares his obsessive thoughts about why that won’t be happening. Kids say people became hysterical and died watching the movie!
Luckily, Ethan has two best friends, Olivia and Harley. Olivia is cool and calm and she’s the one who helps Ethan navigate his panic attacks. She’s also the one who tries using Ethan’s own fear, like the fear of missing out, to convince him about going to the movie. Harley adds humor to the story as he’s goofy and free-spirited. Ethan says Harley always thinks things will work out, no matter what, which leads him to do wacky things, like having a squirrel leave his cellphone on a tree branch. Much of the levity readers will experience comes from Ethan’s vivid imagination and the extreme scenarios his mind comes up with.
The dramatic build-up in the early chapters eventually reveals the malevolent movie monster, a television coming to life. The author conjures strange scenes and events as the monster movie emerges. The whole idea of a movie becoming a monster is very creative and bizarre all on its own. The way it attacks its victims is surprising and a little disturbing. The plot takes an unexpected turn in the later chapters when Ethan finally decides to face the monster and his fears. This twist leads to new characters with a separate, but related, conflict of their own. Ethan knows he must solve this problem if he’s ever going to save his friends and family.
What didn’t work as well:
Ethan freaking out becomes redundant as the plot develops further into the book. Anxiety and panic control much of his behavior and decisions but there are only so many ways the author can describe it. Emphasizing his fears is important in showing how brave people move on despite their fears.
The final verdict:
This book tells a charming tale of an anxiety-filled boy overcoming his fears to become a hero. The entertaining, humorous plot leads readers through spooky confrontations and surprising twists. It will appeal to monster lovers and I recommend you give it a shot.
January 9, 2025
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 4.0 of 5
Ethan Pitowski is afraid of just about everything, so when he (along with the entire class) is invited to a classmate's house to watch a horror movie, Ethan isn't too keen on the idea - even though it is the most popular by in school. Ethan's friends, knowing of Ethan's fears, encourage him to attend anyway. It's hard for Ethan to say no to someone like Olivia.
But when Ethan shows up, the horror is far more than he could imagine in his worst nightmares! The movie is one that was once thought to be lost and is considered by every single person who's ever survived seeing it, as the scariest movie ever made! And the worst part is, it isn't just a movie - it is coming to life! The movie IS the monster and it's eating Ethan's friends ... or their heads, anyway - the rest of them seems just fine. But Olivia is missing and no matter how scared Ethan is, rescuing Olivia comes first.
In addition to finding his best friend, Ethan needs to find a way to stop the monster and rescue all his classmates - if that's even possible, considering their heads are gone. But he has to try. And it won't be easy since he's the boy who's afraid of everything up against the scariest movie ever made!
I am a big fan of Chuck Wendig's work. I think his adult horror novels are among the best dark fantasy/horror novels available today. And his YA series "Miriam Black" is phenomenal. Now he's writing for kids as well. He's toned back his language and the darkness of his adult works and created a delightful 'horror' story for young readers. How horrific? Think "Goosebumps."
I was not a big fan of his previous young reader book - I thought that it was missing the 'edge' that makes Wendig so much fun to read. This book, however, has a nice balance of age appropriate horror combined with fun and characters that the target readers can identify with.
The search for Olivia gets a little long and redundant but I recognize that we're building up a reason for Ethan to stay focused and not run away in absolute fear. Young readers will likely enjoy his jumping from one scary incident to the next.
And - SPOLIER ALERT! - there's no need to worry about monsters eating people's heads. Everyone's okay. That's what makes it fun.
Looking for a good book? A good age-appropriate horror book for middle grade readers is Chuck Wendig's Monster Movie!
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Ethan Pitowski is afraid of just about everything, so when he (along with the entire class) is invited to a classmate's house to watch a horror movie, Ethan isn't too keen on the idea - even though it is the most popular by in school. Ethan's friends, knowing of Ethan's fears, encourage him to attend anyway. It's hard for Ethan to say no to someone like Olivia.
But when Ethan shows up, the horror is far more than he could imagine in his worst nightmares! The movie is one that was once thought to be lost and is considered by every single person who's ever survived seeing it, as the scariest movie ever made! And the worst part is, it isn't just a movie - it is coming to life! The movie IS the monster and it's eating Ethan's friends ... or their heads, anyway - the rest of them seems just fine. But Olivia is missing and no matter how scared Ethan is, rescuing Olivia comes first.
In addition to finding his best friend, Ethan needs to find a way to stop the monster and rescue all his classmates - if that's even possible, considering their heads are gone. But he has to try. And it won't be easy since he's the boy who's afraid of everything up against the scariest movie ever made!
I am a big fan of Chuck Wendig's work. I think his adult horror novels are among the best dark fantasy/horror novels available today. And his YA series "Miriam Black" is phenomenal. Now he's writing for kids as well. He's toned back his language and the darkness of his adult works and created a delightful 'horror' story for young readers. How horrific? Think "Goosebumps."
I was not a big fan of his previous young reader book - I thought that it was missing the 'edge' that makes Wendig so much fun to read. This book, however, has a nice balance of age appropriate horror combined with fun and characters that the target readers can identify with.
The search for Olivia gets a little long and redundant but I recognize that we're building up a reason for Ethan to stay focused and not run away in absolute fear. Young readers will likely enjoy his jumping from one scary incident to the next.
And - SPOLIER ALERT! - there's no need to worry about monsters eating people's heads. Everyone's okay. That's what makes it fun.
Looking for a good book? A good age-appropriate horror book for middle grade readers is Chuck Wendig's Monster Movie!
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
September 27, 2024
I got this book for free, in exchange for my honest opinion via Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.
Ethan is scared of everything. And I mean everything. Germs, choking, horror films. You get the idea. So when one of the most popular kids in school invites his fellow classmates to watch the scariest movie ever made, Ethan’s two best friends try to convince him to go. And he’s terrified. Nothing they say can change his mind. That is, until Olivia calls and tells him he needs to make an appearance. However, when Ethan arrives, he realises that this indeed is the scariest movie, it’s unleashed a monster bent on destroying the town, and he must be brave and face his fears to save everyone and everything that he loves.
Ethan is a great lead, his strength and courage, his anxiety and art, his determination to stick with his friends. He’s easy to root for. Even though this book is geared toward middle grade, I felt seen. I too, am a ball of anxiety. It almost appears that his parents kind of created it for him, where mine is all natural. I also need to add in here real quick, that I enjoyed seeing names like Robert Englund and Freddy Krueger pop up in the book. As a lover of horror movies, I kind of geeked out at that.
I found this a surprisingly creepy story for kind. I’d say it’s more intense than a “Goosebumps” book. It’s better suited for the mature side of middle grade, as Wendig doesn’t hold back on the scares. I also enjoyed the message of not staying strong and brave in the face of adversity, especially when standing up for what’s right.
Overall, this is a wonderful read, and would certainly recommend to any middle grade reader who is into horror.
Thank you, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and Chuck Wendig for allowing me to review! As always, my review is my own opinion and thoughts. This review will be shared to my Instagram @what_emm_reads shortly.
Ethan is scared of everything. And I mean everything. Germs, choking, horror films. You get the idea. So when one of the most popular kids in school invites his fellow classmates to watch the scariest movie ever made, Ethan’s two best friends try to convince him to go. And he’s terrified. Nothing they say can change his mind. That is, until Olivia calls and tells him he needs to make an appearance. However, when Ethan arrives, he realises that this indeed is the scariest movie, it’s unleashed a monster bent on destroying the town, and he must be brave and face his fears to save everyone and everything that he loves.
Ethan is a great lead, his strength and courage, his anxiety and art, his determination to stick with his friends. He’s easy to root for. Even though this book is geared toward middle grade, I felt seen. I too, am a ball of anxiety. It almost appears that his parents kind of created it for him, where mine is all natural. I also need to add in here real quick, that I enjoyed seeing names like Robert Englund and Freddy Krueger pop up in the book. As a lover of horror movies, I kind of geeked out at that.
I found this a surprisingly creepy story for kind. I’d say it’s more intense than a “Goosebumps” book. It’s better suited for the mature side of middle grade, as Wendig doesn’t hold back on the scares. I also enjoyed the message of not staying strong and brave in the face of adversity, especially when standing up for what’s right.
Overall, this is a wonderful read, and would certainly recommend to any middle grade reader who is into horror.
Thank you, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and Chuck Wendig for allowing me to review! As always, my review is my own opinion and thoughts. This review will be shared to my Instagram @what_emm_reads shortly.
December 17, 2024
📖physical
⭐4.0
Reading Monster Movie was an absolute delight. It is funny, creepy, and sweet; an enjoyable book for readers of all ages. There's strong friendship, a cursed video tape, time travel (maybe??), and a lot of laughs.
Ethan Pitowski is a VERY anxious kid so when the whole 6th grade class is invited to the rich kid's house to watch "the scariest movie ever" he doesn't want to go. But his best friends Harley and Olivia force him to get outside of his comfort zone and join the class. By the time Ethan arrives, everyone is quite literally hypnotized by the TV. Then, the monster appears.
The book is broken up into 3 parts and each one almost reads like a different book -- it all comes together in the end but it did feel like a slightly different experience each time. What I mean is, each part opens up a new area of the plot. There's before the monster, the show down in the movie theater, and then the battle inside the monster.
I loved these characters, especially our main three (Ethan, Harley and Olivia).
I also listened to most of this on audiobook and the narrator hit it out of the park.
For a book written for (mostly) 10 year olds, I think I’m over analyzing the story. If I was a younger reader I’d probably say “cool! This book is a lot of fun” but instead I’m trying to figure out how/why things happened.
Two things reading this as an adult.
1. I really hope the middle school was named after THE incomparable Geena Davis.
2. The movie in the book being the scariest ever reminded me of the theater audience reactions to Terrifier a few years ago
⭐4.0
Reading Monster Movie was an absolute delight. It is funny, creepy, and sweet; an enjoyable book for readers of all ages. There's strong friendship, a cursed video tape, time travel (maybe??), and a lot of laughs.
Ethan Pitowski is a VERY anxious kid so when the whole 6th grade class is invited to the rich kid's house to watch "the scariest movie ever" he doesn't want to go. But his best friends Harley and Olivia force him to get outside of his comfort zone and join the class. By the time Ethan arrives, everyone is quite literally hypnotized by the TV. Then, the monster appears.
The book is broken up into 3 parts and each one almost reads like a different book -- it all comes together in the end but it did feel like a slightly different experience each time. What I mean is, each part opens up a new area of the plot. There's before the monster, the show down in the movie theater, and then the battle inside the monster.
I loved these characters, especially our main three (Ethan, Harley and Olivia).
I also listened to most of this on audiobook and the narrator hit it out of the park.
For a book written for (mostly) 10 year olds, I think I’m over analyzing the story. If I was a younger reader I’d probably say “cool! This book is a lot of fun” but instead I’m trying to figure out how/why things happened.
Two things reading this as an adult.
1. I really hope the middle school was named after THE incomparable Geena Davis.
2. The movie in the book being the scariest ever reminded me of the theater audience reactions to Terrifier a few years ago
September 13, 2024
• 𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐌𝐎𝐕𝐈𝐄!
1. If you love to laugh, then this one is for you!
2. Have you ever wondered what an evil TV might look like? Read this to find out!
3. Looking for a funny and scary middle grade read for your children? I highly recommend this one!
4. Ethan is an amazing artist and an even better friend. If you can relate to either of these, check out this novel!
5. Enjoy chapters with punny titles? Monster Movie! has all that and more!
• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓
Ethan Pitowski is afraid of everything. Luckily, his best friends don’t mind, and when their entire class gets invited to watch a long-buried horror movie at the most popular boy in school’s house, Ethan’s friends encourage him to join in the fun. But when the “scariest movie ever made” reveals itself to be not just a movie about a monster, but a movie that is a monster, only a terrified Ethan escapes its clutches. Now he must find a way to stop the monster and save his friends (and also, um, get their heads back).
With his signature balance of kid-friendly horror and humor, Chuck Wendig crafts a spookily heartfelt novel about anxiety, friendship, and finding your unique voice and inner strength.
• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒
This was such a funny read! I loved how Chuck mixed humor with real-life issues such as bullying, anger, resentment, and fear. I kept reading because I really needed to know what this monster was and why it was attacking people. I was pleasantly surprised with the ending and the reasoning for everything. This would make for a really cool movie with a lot of great imagery. I found myself imagining everything Ethan was seeing so vividly it was pretty frightening even for me! I would love to see more adventures with Ethan and his friends.
1. If you love to laugh, then this one is for you!
2. Have you ever wondered what an evil TV might look like? Read this to find out!
3. Looking for a funny and scary middle grade read for your children? I highly recommend this one!
4. Ethan is an amazing artist and an even better friend. If you can relate to either of these, check out this novel!
5. Enjoy chapters with punny titles? Monster Movie! has all that and more!
• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓
Ethan Pitowski is afraid of everything. Luckily, his best friends don’t mind, and when their entire class gets invited to watch a long-buried horror movie at the most popular boy in school’s house, Ethan’s friends encourage him to join in the fun. But when the “scariest movie ever made” reveals itself to be not just a movie about a monster, but a movie that is a monster, only a terrified Ethan escapes its clutches. Now he must find a way to stop the monster and save his friends (and also, um, get their heads back).
With his signature balance of kid-friendly horror and humor, Chuck Wendig crafts a spookily heartfelt novel about anxiety, friendship, and finding your unique voice and inner strength.
• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒
This was such a funny read! I loved how Chuck mixed humor with real-life issues such as bullying, anger, resentment, and fear. I kept reading because I really needed to know what this monster was and why it was attacking people. I was pleasantly surprised with the ending and the reasoning for everything. This would make for a really cool movie with a lot of great imagery. I found myself imagining everything Ethan was seeing so vividly it was pretty frightening even for me! I would love to see more adventures with Ethan and his friends.
September 5, 2024
If you need a gateway horror title for the scaredy cat kid in your life, then this book is for you! Ethan Pitowski is a fellow scaredy cat kid whose friends are the only ones who can help him get out of his shell of fear and anxiety. When a rich popular kid invites Ethan and his friends to a party at his house where he will screen a copy of a movie so legendarily scary that almost all traces of it have been erased, Ethan balks at the invitation despite his friends invoking their unbreakable vow to stick together no matter how scary something might be. A video message from one of his friends at the party convinces him to sneak out, but Ethan is completely unprepared for what has been unleashed by this thought-to-be-lost VHS tape.
This book describes pretty harrowing events, but there is still a lightness to it that should help more sensitive readers get through it. You may want to preview the book first. As an adult, I also appreciated the references to other films as well as the tribute to those who are out there trying to make their films despite the naysayers.
Dan Bittner captures just the right tone and makes the story come through like a great campfire tale. He adeptly voices the various characters and keeps a vibe of playful peril going throughout the entire book.
Many thanks to Hachette Audio, Little, Brown Young Readers, and Netgalley for providing a copy for review purposes.
This book describes pretty harrowing events, but there is still a lightness to it that should help more sensitive readers get through it. You may want to preview the book first. As an adult, I also appreciated the references to other films as well as the tribute to those who are out there trying to make their films despite the naysayers.
Dan Bittner captures just the right tone and makes the story come through like a great campfire tale. He adeptly voices the various characters and keeps a vibe of playful peril going throughout the entire book.
Many thanks to Hachette Audio, Little, Brown Young Readers, and Netgalley for providing a copy for review purposes.
November 12, 2024
Ethan (12) is a budding artist, which his parents don't support, and prone to panic attacks and gets scared easily. His best friends, Olivia and Harley, beg him to join him to watch the "scariest movie ever made" - Demon Fingers. He puts off going, in true Ethan fashion, but shows up in time to witness the tv morph into a monster, bite the heads off all his classmates (it's ok - they're still alive), and takes off to get the parents and everyone else in town. Though Ethan wants to run and hide, he can't leave his besties and his parents in their current conditions so he sets off to find out how to stop TV Head. This book is filled with Wendig's wry humor and pays homage to horror movies, encouraging parents to let kids watch those that are appropriate for their age. A little heavy handed on the message, but that gets layered into the action scenes, the sci-fi twist toward the end, and Ethan learning to stand up for himself and others. This is a step up from Goosebumps, but not up there with Small Spaces or The Clackity. Great to hand to readers wanting to step up, but not too far just yet.
August 15, 2024
I think was a very successful book in terms of its appeal to the target age group of young readers, but less appealing than Wendig’s previous kids’ book Dust and Grim for an adult audience.
This has a touch of insipidness to it that didn’t bother my kids at all, but felt a bit grating to this adult reader. And the premise of it, which is essentially “fine,” just felt less original and more common to this genre of kids’ books.
The pacing is good and it’s entirely age-appropriate in terms of how scary it is, though it’s not without moments that might be a bit creepy for those on the younger end of the middle reader age group.
I’m not shot with the trend of making the “kid who is afraid of everything” the hero of every kids book. I liked Ethan fine and of course he acquits himself well in the end, but I can’t help but think that this would have been a better book had Olivia been the central character and primary voice of the story.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
This has a touch of insipidness to it that didn’t bother my kids at all, but felt a bit grating to this adult reader. And the premise of it, which is essentially “fine,” just felt less original and more common to this genre of kids’ books.
The pacing is good and it’s entirely age-appropriate in terms of how scary it is, though it’s not without moments that might be a bit creepy for those on the younger end of the middle reader age group.
I’m not shot with the trend of making the “kid who is afraid of everything” the hero of every kids book. I liked Ethan fine and of course he acquits himself well in the end, but I can’t help but think that this would have been a better book had Olivia been the central character and primary voice of the story.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
October 9, 2024
A great mix of bad dreams and self-discovery.
Sixth-grader Ethan Pitowski, the only child of very cautious parents, has taken on their anxiety and fearfulness (about everything), overthinking each and every daily movement and decision until he’s almost paralyzed from actually living. When his two best friends run into trouble at a clandestine house party thrown by the most popular kid in class, he must overcome his fears to save them. Readers will enjoy his lively inner monologue and pep talks in which he convinces himself to forge on as everyone else around him is losing their heads.
Monster Movie! by Chuck Wendig, a new upper middle-grade horror story, is a great mix of bad dreams and self-discovery. While eluding a horrifying TV-headed monster, the product of a cursed videotape of the “SCARIEST MOVIE EVER MADE,” the main character’s greater challenge is overcoming his fears to be himself (and save his friends and family in the meantime.) This unusual monster tale was mesmerizing, hitting many universal fears, some from daily life and others from the horror film genre, and I could easily relate to the young protagonist’s struggles easily relatable.The monster of the story is a large, older-model television set that moves about on spindly, insectile legs. The television’s screen changes from a blue screen to white crackly static to an enormous eye to a maw that bloodlessly removes the heads of its hypnotized victims: nightmarish images, perhaps, for more sensitive younger readers. Besides the frighteningly unstoppable monster, there is a villainous movie theater manager behind the monster’s release into Ethan’s community to best. The plot includes exciting rescues and escapes, movie-making action, and facing and overcoming one’s fears, and while scary, the story is easy and engaging to read. Thumbs up as a possible choice to entice reluctant readers.
I recommend MONSTER MOVIE! to upper middle-grade readers who enjoy scary stories.I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy through TBR and Beyond Book Tours.
October 27, 2024
This book was so much fun. Monsters and mayhem may very well be my favorite combination. In this book we follow scaredy-cat Ethan- who is scared of, well...everything as he digs deep and summons up his bravery and courage to save his friends from a monster that escapes from a cursed film. The characters in this were unique and diverse and I loved the character development for Ethan. I like the lessons of acceptance, chasing your dreams and standing up for oneself.
I do want to mention that the slang thrown in- "no cap" "sus" etc was at times cringy and I think will prematurely age this story. It never feels natural when an adult writes kids slang.
The audiobook was fantastic the narrator really put in so much effort with the voices and characters- I was quickly sucked into the story and finished it in two listing sessions. This was a perfect Middle Grade horror. A gentle, but creepy intro into the genre. I would have loved books like this when I was younger.
I do want to mention that the slang thrown in- "no cap" "sus" etc was at times cringy and I think will prematurely age this story. It never feels natural when an adult writes kids slang.
The audiobook was fantastic the narrator really put in so much effort with the voices and characters- I was quickly sucked into the story and finished it in two listing sessions. This was a perfect Middle Grade horror. A gentle, but creepy intro into the genre. I would have loved books like this when I was younger.
September 3, 2024
This was a good one!! I loved all the spooky goodness I thought Ethan was a great lead in this he is an artist who is also afraid of pretty much everything. He has never seen a monster movie but when everyone is invited to watch one what else is he supposed to do? Unfortunately things go awry during the movie and Ethan has to rescue everyone and figure out what is happening.
I think Wendig did a great job at adapting his adult horror sensibilities to this middle grade book.
Dan Bittner's narration was well done as always he brings the emotion!
Highly recommend this one and will be buying it for our library.
4 stars
I received this audiobook from the publisher Hachette Audio | Little, Brown Young Readers and NetGalley for a fair and honest review.
I think Wendig did a great job at adapting his adult horror sensibilities to this middle grade book.
Dan Bittner's narration was well done as always he brings the emotion!
Highly recommend this one and will be buying it for our library.
4 stars
I received this audiobook from the publisher Hachette Audio | Little, Brown Young Readers and NetGalley for a fair and honest review.
September 13, 2024
So creative! I loved the concept of this story and how Ethan uses his artwork to his advantage. This book introduces us to a monster that comes out of a movie when you watch it, which, in and of itself, is pretty frightening, but tangled up in the whole horror movie thing, the book cleverly gives examples on how to handle peer pressure, light bullying, and living up to the expectations of your parents while being true to yourself. There is a lot of time spent in Ethan’s head so you get to see his thought processes and his anxiety but I felt it was well done and helped to show coping mechanisms. An enjoyable and somewhat creepy read.
I received a copy from #NetGalley and #hachetteaudio for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley and #hachetteaudio for an honest review.
September 14, 2024
A fast-paced, creepy middle grade horror story! Fans of RL Stine and Matt McMann will love Monster Movie!
Ethan is absolutely terrified of EVERYTHING. So of course he refuses to go to a party where the 'scariest movie ever made' is going to be shown. That would be ridiculous, wouldn't it? But when a massive case of FOMO hits him, he heads to the party. Only he doesn't find his friends having the time of their lives when he arrives. Instead, everyone seems to be under some kind of trance. When a monster enters the picture and begins attacking, Ethan knows he needs to do something to save his friends, but he isn't THAT guy. He's the scared of everything, never takes any risks guy, NOT the save the world guy. Will Ethan find his spine before he loses his head?
Ethan is absolutely terrified of EVERYTHING. So of course he refuses to go to a party where the 'scariest movie ever made' is going to be shown. That would be ridiculous, wouldn't it? But when a massive case of FOMO hits him, he heads to the party. Only he doesn't find his friends having the time of their lives when he arrives. Instead, everyone seems to be under some kind of trance. When a monster enters the picture and begins attacking, Ethan knows he needs to do something to save his friends, but he isn't THAT guy. He's the scared of everything, never takes any risks guy, NOT the save the world guy. Will Ethan find his spine before he loses his head?
September 20, 2024
Hilarious and anxious, always catastrophizing MC, who usually goes into a spiral with intrusive thoughts will have an amazing character arc, growing into a hero (basically because there is no one else to save the day, haha) and learning to stand up for his passions and beliefs.
A monster TV has stolen everyone's heads. The event has no gore, no blood; the heads are just gone, but everyone is alive (somewhere). The MC will have to find a way to not have a panic attack and save his friends and everyone else.
It is a very creative and out-of-the-box fun spooky story with great elements to pay homage to a time when we appreciated the art of movies more than reels. Has some great insights and life lessons towards the end. Very satisfying and fun read. I am glad it supports a career in arts.
A monster TV has stolen everyone's heads. The event has no gore, no blood; the heads are just gone, but everyone is alive (somewhere). The MC will have to find a way to not have a panic attack and save his friends and everyone else.
It is a very creative and out-of-the-box fun spooky story with great elements to pay homage to a time when we appreciated the art of movies more than reels. Has some great insights and life lessons towards the end. Very satisfying and fun read. I am glad it supports a career in arts.
September 28, 2024
Oh my days when i saw the email that Chuck Wendig had written another Middle Grade Horror I was excited as I thoroughly enjoyed Dust & Grim.
This time Chuck uses this story to show that anyone can be a hero even if you are scared about a lot of things and I absolutely loved that. I also think that Chuck handled the topic of Anxiety really well and that is coming from a person who suffers from it.
I'm not going to say anymore as I do not do spoilers but what I will say this if you looking for a book with laughs and scares this is the perfect book for you.
For all the above reasons Monster Movie receives 5 stars.
This time Chuck uses this story to show that anyone can be a hero even if you are scared about a lot of things and I absolutely loved that. I also think that Chuck handled the topic of Anxiety really well and that is coming from a person who suffers from it.
I'm not going to say anymore as I do not do spoilers but what I will say this if you looking for a book with laughs and scares this is the perfect book for you.
For all the above reasons Monster Movie receives 5 stars.
September 18, 2025
It's very difficult to write good horror books for kids; it has to have legitimate scares without being too scary, it can't lean too far into how monstrous humans can be, and it needs to have a good ending. The premise of this book is solid, and there are some good scares. However, the plot is completely lost in the second half, and I found it difficult to track (and I'm not a child). The narration also isn't great; it will date itself VERY quickly, and kids will likely find the use of slang kind of cringe.
This is a Reader Selector for the Mark Twain Award in Missouri. I love when a scary book makes the list, but I don't think this should be on it for the reasons stated above.
This is a Reader Selector for the Mark Twain Award in Missouri. I love when a scary book makes the list, but I don't think this should be on it for the reasons stated above.
July 25, 2024
Monster Movie by Wendig was a fun romp in a town where watching TV may result in you losing your head….
Ethan Pitowski is your average worry wart and scaredy cat who is forced to find a way to overcome his fears of well, everything, while trying to find and save his friends.
Whether is juvenile fiction or adult fiction, Wendig proves he’s a masterful writer who will leave you wanting more!
Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for allowing me the chance to read this ARC!
Ethan Pitowski is your average worry wart and scaredy cat who is forced to find a way to overcome his fears of well, everything, while trying to find and save his friends.
Whether is juvenile fiction or adult fiction, Wendig proves he’s a masterful writer who will leave you wanting more!
Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for allowing me the chance to read this ARC!
August 21, 2024
(4.0 Stars)
I am not the target demographic for this book. At least, not anymore. I'm about 40 years past the prime audience. With that being said, I *was* the target audience for this book. I grew up on horror books. And I really like this author, so when I saw it...I knew I needed to read it.
This was a very well written book. Chuck Wendig is a great storyteller and it translates to a relatable monster story tailored towards a younger audience.
The Audiobook narrator does an excellent job and makes the experience enjoyable.
I am not the target demographic for this book. At least, not anymore. I'm about 40 years past the prime audience. With that being said, I *was* the target audience for this book. I grew up on horror books. And I really like this author, so when I saw it...I knew I needed to read it.
This was a very well written book. Chuck Wendig is a great storyteller and it translates to a relatable monster story tailored towards a younger audience.
The Audiobook narrator does an excellent job and makes the experience enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews