A Home for Unusual Monsters

The Kairos Files #2

by Shaun David Hutchinson

A girl who has spent her life in disguise tackles a mission that uncovers lies and surprises around every corner. Nothing is as it seems in the next cozily creepy monster mystery from acclaimed author Shaun David Hutchinson.

Sam Osborne may have helped her new friend Hector Griggs save St. Lawrence’s Catholic School for Boys from a terrifying monster, but she is still trying to prove herself as a member of Kairos, the secretive and shadowy government agency devoted to investigating the strange and unusual. And her unique ability to control how others see her makes her the perfect agent…if she can learn to play by Kairos’ rules.

Her next mission? Use her powers of disguise to infiltrate the family of a former agent to find top secret information about monsters hiding in plain sight. But even though Sam is well versed in deception, she may not be prepared for the web of secrets she uncovers. Especially since she may not be the only one pretending to be someone—or something—she’s not. And once the clues are unraveled and the truth is revealed, the monsters she’s searching for might just be closer to home…

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Fiction, Mystery, LGBT, Audiobook, Childrens

276 pages, Hardcover

First published February 11, 2025

About the author

Shaun is a major geek and all about nerdy shenanigans. He is the author of many queer books for young adults. Find out more information at shaundavidhutchinson.com. He currently lives in Seattle and watches way too much Doctor Who.

Reviews

[Haleigh Gravgaard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Home for Unusual Monsters delivers an exciting blend of supernatural intrigue, secret organizations, and shape-shifting deception. Shaun David Hutchinson crafts a fast-paced, engaging story that builds on the world introduced in Howl while adding new layers of mystery and suspense.

Sam is a compelling protagonist, balancing her desire to prove herself within Kairos with the moral dilemmas of deception and trust. Her ability to manipulate how others perceive her makes for some thrilling moments, especially as she infiltrates a former agent’s family. The story weaves together action, mystery, and unexpected twists, keeping readers invested as Sam uncovers shocking secrets.

While the pacing occasionally slows to focus on worldbuilding, the unique concept and engaging characters more than make up for it. Fans of monster-hunting adventures and secret organizations will love this clever and immersive read. With its mix of heart, humor, and suspense, A Home for Unusual Monsters is a worthy addition to the genre.

[Cristy (Quinnbook) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing sequel, I loved that we picked up almost immediately after the first book. This time around we are following Samantha, who in the first book formed a friendship with Hector and other classmates from the first book. Samantha has a strong will to prove herself to the organization she works for, named Kairos.

They are responsible for tracking and capturing dangerous monsters that could be a potential threat to humans. So when she is given an assignment and had to fly solo, she takes it very seriously. Sam will have to pose as a long forgotten family member of Griffin’s. Which one of its members worked for Kairos and has many secrets that the organization would like to decode. As time passes, Sam becomes fast friends with her “cousins “ and together will find what really happened to their father. This time around we are hit with even more secrets and twists than before. Absolutely loved this sequel and now I’ll be patiently waiting for the third book.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

a very cute sequel to the first book where we get to follow Sam this time. she is just a kid but she wants to be an agent for Kairos, a mysterious monster hunting secret agency. after her parents died she has been in the care of Kairos because she has some magical abilities to disguise herself which we saw in the first book. In this book she sent on a mission to prove herself to find a list from a deceased Kairos agent of various monsters and where they're living.

as Sam goes on this mission she gets some hard truths about Kairos and learns that everything is not what it seems.

I thought this was very fun and I loved all of the characters except for the director. he can choke on a bag of rocks. I love that Sam is aspec and we got some cameos from the past characters. I really hope there is more in the series cuz I'd love to keep reading.

4.5

[Susan Belman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't realize this was the 2nd book in a series when I started, but it didn’t really take away from my enjoyment. That said, I'd recommend starting with the first book to get the full experience. I found this to be a fun, suspenseful read that kept me guessing at every turn. Sam, our MC, and her ability to disguise herself, leaps head-first into a mission filled with secrets, surprises, and monsters! If you enjoy middle-grade mysteries with a creepy twist, this one’s a great pick. Sam’s quest to prove herself as a top agent (while uncovering hidden truths) makes the story both exciting and relatable. It's a perfect fit for younger readers who love a mix of mystery, fantasy, and unexpected twists.

[Wendi Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very easy to read for a middle school student. Its well written and keeps the reader engaged. I definitely felt it was hard to put down. I wish I would have read the first book to have a little more back story but I felt it was required. I was able to pick up the book and jump in. I feel the sensitive topics (bullying, violence, death in family) are all handled well. It almost gives me a bit of Miss Peregrine's book vibe. Great addition for any library or young readers collection. Appreciate the opportunity to be a part of this review.

[Eesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm liking how the series is going. It was fun to focus on Sam this time. We got to know so much more about Kairos, got to meet new characters, and were introduced to the potential series-wide arc. Getting to know about more different creatures was definitely the best part. And I also liked that we didn't completely leave Hector behind.

I'm looking forward to where the series is heading next.

[YSBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this next installment of the Kairos Files series, Hutchinson turns his attention to Sam Osborne, who was a supporting character in The School for Invisible Boys (2024). An aspiring agent in Kairos, a secret monster-fighting organization, Sam can make people believe she’s someone else. In this case, she’s sent undercover as cousin Sunny, a distant member of the Griffin family, following the death of their grandfather Lionel Frobisher. Lionel may have hidden away a secret list of all the monsters he’d ever encountered and the Director wants Sam to find it, trusting no one else, not even Uncle Archie, her fellow agent and trusted guardian. But the longer Sam spends with the Griffin kids, Graham and Jess, the more questions she has about the integrity of the Kairos mission. Sam does try to follow Lionel’s puzzling clues to find the list, but she’s also caught up in uncovering the secrets of the Dravens, the new and strange family who’ve moved in next door. Through the exciting and genuinely surprising plot, Sam must confront the rot at the heart of Kairos and decide how she can best fight injustice: from the inside or by leaving. The themes from the first book (Hutchinson favorites) are back: the importance of found and chosen family, tolerance for “monsters”, and the need to always question authority. But mindful of the fun quotient, Hutchinson throws in facsimile Field Guide pages that humorously describe mythical monsters, jokey banter between friends and siblings, and nimble pacing that will keep readers turning the pages. In SFIB, the story gained resonance from Hector’s struggles with his queer identity (he’s an invisible boy in more ways than one); here, the author floats Sam as potentially ace, not that interested in kissing and a bit uncomfortable with how others look at and react to her body. I appreciated the way Hutchinson places these character elements into the story; they're not the main focus, instead they're organically part of who the kids are. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Toni Morales-Awobokun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sam Osborne, a budding agent of the secretive Kairos agency, is eager to prove herself after helping save St. Lawrence’s Catholic School from a terrifying monster. Gifted with the power to control how others see her, Sam is perfect for her next mission: infiltrating the family of a former agent to uncover hidden information about monsters living among humans.

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My ten-year-old daughter read this book and absolutely loved it! She was captivated by the suspense and found it to be a real page-turner. One aspect she particularly appreciated was the author’s use of foreshadowing and the first-person perspective, which made the story feel more immersive.

She also found the field guide to the monsters incredibly helpful for visualizing and understanding the creatures described in the book—it added a fun and creative dimension to the reading experience.

However, one thing she didn’t enjoy was the repetitive use of the word “said” in dialogue. She felt that a greater variety of dialogue tags could have made the writing more dynamic and engaging.

Overall, she thoroughly enjoyed the book and was excited to share her thoughts about it!

[Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good. Much less explicitly LGBT-themed than the first book (though we do get a little time with Hector) and it burns through a surprising amount of Kairos plot for what I assumed Hutchinson intended as an open-ended series, but it's a fun little story. I appreciate that it plays fair with the clues and doesn't make the characters artificially stupid to drag the mystery out.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Netgalley