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Monsterville: A Lissa Black Production
Thirteen-year-old aspiring screenwriter/director Lissa Black isn’t thrilled when her parents move the family from NYC to the sticks of Freeburg, PA. At first, it seems like her only entertainment will be playing the twisted version of Candyland called Monsterville found in her basement, and learning Boy Scout knots from her new neighbor Adam. But when a walk in the woods lands Lissa face-to-face with a swamp monster, and then a Sasquatch, she realizes that maybe Freeburg isn’t totally boring.
With Adam’s help, Lissa catches the culprit behind the drama: a shape-shifting goblin who’s escaped from the monster world of Down Below. At first, Lissa has big plans to use Blue as the star in her first real movie, but then monsters snatch her little sister on Halloween. Now Lissa and her new friends must venture Down Below to stage a rescue - and face the real Monsterville, which is anything but a game.
With Adam’s help, Lissa catches the culprit behind the drama: a shape-shifting goblin who’s escaped from the monster world of Down Below. At first, Lissa has big plans to use Blue as the star in her first real movie, but then monsters snatch her little sister on Halloween. Now Lissa and her new friends must venture Down Below to stage a rescue - and face the real Monsterville, which is anything but a game.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published September 20, 2016
4 people are currently reading
305 people want to read
About the author
Sarah S. Reida
2 books26 followersSarah Schauerte Reida is a writer, lawyer, and ugly animal advocate. Growing up in the Midwest (Illinois, to be precise), she read everything she could get her hands on, as well as watched many, many movies during her parents' "camping" trips involving electricity and s'mores in a microwave. A member of The Sweet Sixteens, Sarah's debut middle grade novel, Monstervile: A Lissa Black Production, is slated for release in September of 2016 from Sky Pony Press.
A graduate of Saint Louis University (B.A). and Case Western Reserve University School of Law (J.D.), Sarah makes a living helping veteran business owners compete for federal contracts. She and her husband Scott live in the Atlanta area with their rescue cats. By the time you read this, they will probably have acquired another animal.
A graduate of Saint Louis University (B.A). and Case Western Reserve University School of Law (J.D.), Sarah makes a living helping veteran business owners compete for federal contracts. She and her husband Scott live in the Atlanta area with their rescue cats. By the time you read this, they will probably have acquired another animal.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
September 25, 2016
This is a fun, funny book that follows aspiring movie maker Lissa on a monster-movie adventure that kept me guessing until the end. Very enjoyable middle grade read.
February 28, 2018
I read an Advanced Release Copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Get ready, because you may hear this phrase a lot in relation to this book--Monsterville is monstrous fun. Lissa Black is a funny, relatable fish out of water, navigating life in a new town when her little sister goes missing, and she has to rely on the help of her you've-gotta-love-him boy scout neighbour, Adam, and a real live monster living in her backyard to get her back.
Lissa's personality, which is at once both endearingly snarky, but also quite warm and loving, had me hooked from the gate, and the suspenseful plot kept me turning the pages. As someone who grew up in the 80s and 90s, the tone of Monsterville immediately brought me back to the books and movies I loved when I was a kid--it definitely has that unpredictable, wild, adventurous feel that made Jumanji so much fun. And Lissa's film obsession reminded me so much of how I used to be fascinated by the craft of film and TV at that age, wanting to soak up as much knowledge on the subject as possible. Sarah does an excellent job of taking Lissa's passion and not only weaving it into the story in a way that really elevates the narrative, but also teaches a lot about the film-making process, with plenty of movie trivia to boot!
I highly recommend Monsterville: A Lissa Black Production to anyone looking for a quick, fun, and spooky read. Perfect for Halloween, or anytime you find yourself wondering if there might be a monster lurking in the shadows of your bedroom...
Lissa's personality, which is at once both endearingly snarky, but also quite warm and loving, had me hooked from the gate, and the suspenseful plot kept me turning the pages. As someone who grew up in the 80s and 90s, the tone of Monsterville immediately brought me back to the books and movies I loved when I was a kid--it definitely has that unpredictable, wild, adventurous feel that made Jumanji so much fun. And Lissa's film obsession reminded me so much of how I used to be fascinated by the craft of film and TV at that age, wanting to soak up as much knowledge on the subject as possible. Sarah does an excellent job of taking Lissa's passion and not only weaving it into the story in a way that really elevates the narrative, but also teaches a lot about the film-making process, with plenty of movie trivia to boot!
I highly recommend Monsterville: A Lissa Black Production to anyone looking for a quick, fun, and spooky read. Perfect for Halloween, or anytime you find yourself wondering if there might be a monster lurking in the shadows of your bedroom...
November 21, 2016
4.5 stars. This review is also available on my blog, Read Till Dawn.
Wow. This was . . . very different from what I was expecting it to be. In the best possible sort of way! I'm really regretting not reading it around Halloween time because it would have been gotten me into the perfect spooky mood. It's definitely got a very high creep factor in it, but not in an over-the-top unpleasant sort of way.
The first thing that really made the story for me, right from the first few chapters, was Lissa's narration. She's absolutely obsessed with filmography, so half the time she describes a scene she compares it to some classic film or describes how she would film it if her life were a movie. These extra details add a very creative angle to the novel and provide many instances of picturesque imagery that we wouldn't get otherwise. Besides enjoying Lissa's narration, I also just really connected with her as a character. It's all too rare to find a main character who loves small children and is great at babysitting. For Lissa, though, acting as a "mini mother" seems to come naturally. In fact, especially toward the second half of the novel, she often behaves more like Hailey's mother than her older sister! Lissa's reaction to moving from New York to middle-of-nowhere Pennsylvania is also very realistic: she's mad, and grouchy, and at first refuses to admit that there might be anything good about the entire state of Pennsylvania. Honestly, that's how I usually feel when I move somewhere new. Lissa's evolution of emotions (and the reliable, yet increasingly distant, support she gets from her friends back in New York) ring true to my own moving experiences.
So basically, Lissa is exactly like me with a love for movies swapped out for my obsession with books. Good. That right there guarantees I'll enjoy at least a large part of the book. But did I love it? Yes, absolutely. I adored Adam, Lissa's next-door neighbor who allows himself to get dragged along for the ride in exchange for nothing more than the opportunity to show Lissa reasons why she shouldn't hate Pennsylvania. The cynical part of me says he's a little too perfect to be a real person, but I'm not in the mood to listen to it. He's awesome. Hailey herself is adorable, very realistic (if a tad too cooperative at times–but then, maybe my younger siblings are just wilder than most). The side characters we meet from Lissa's new and old school all ring true in the small roles that they're given.
But now for the monsters. And I have to say, this is one of the more horrific premises for a novel that I've read in a while. The further you get into the story, the worse it gets; by the time the main characters are stumbling through Down Below, facing terrible monsters in their quest to find Hailey, things are pretty hard-core. If you stop and think about the reason Hailey's been kidnapped, they're positively horrific.
At the same time, though, like I said: I really loved reading Monsterville. Maybe it's just the fact that it's a middle-grade novel, but no matter how dark things got I never felt like it was going to end in total tragedy. I'm not usually one for horror, but I actually adored Monsterville. It had just the right mixture of family (including not-dead, emotionally-invested parents!), friendship, love, and tension. It also ended on a sort-of cliffhanger, and I am definitely ready for the sequel. Someone please tell me it will be out in time for next Halloween!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Wow. This was . . . very different from what I was expecting it to be. In the best possible sort of way! I'm really regretting not reading it around Halloween time because it would have been gotten me into the perfect spooky mood. It's definitely got a very high creep factor in it, but not in an over-the-top unpleasant sort of way.
The first thing that really made the story for me, right from the first few chapters, was Lissa's narration. She's absolutely obsessed with filmography, so half the time she describes a scene she compares it to some classic film or describes how she would film it if her life were a movie. These extra details add a very creative angle to the novel and provide many instances of picturesque imagery that we wouldn't get otherwise. Besides enjoying Lissa's narration, I also just really connected with her as a character. It's all too rare to find a main character who loves small children and is great at babysitting. For Lissa, though, acting as a "mini mother" seems to come naturally. In fact, especially toward the second half of the novel, she often behaves more like Hailey's mother than her older sister! Lissa's reaction to moving from New York to middle-of-nowhere Pennsylvania is also very realistic: she's mad, and grouchy, and at first refuses to admit that there might be anything good about the entire state of Pennsylvania. Honestly, that's how I usually feel when I move somewhere new. Lissa's evolution of emotions (and the reliable, yet increasingly distant, support she gets from her friends back in New York) ring true to my own moving experiences.
So basically, Lissa is exactly like me with a love for movies swapped out for my obsession with books. Good. That right there guarantees I'll enjoy at least a large part of the book. But did I love it? Yes, absolutely. I adored Adam, Lissa's next-door neighbor who allows himself to get dragged along for the ride in exchange for nothing more than the opportunity to show Lissa reasons why she shouldn't hate Pennsylvania. The cynical part of me says he's a little too perfect to be a real person, but I'm not in the mood to listen to it. He's awesome. Hailey herself is adorable, very realistic (if a tad too cooperative at times–but then, maybe my younger siblings are just wilder than most). The side characters we meet from Lissa's new and old school all ring true in the small roles that they're given.
But now for the monsters. And I have to say, this is one of the more horrific premises for a novel that I've read in a while. The further you get into the story, the worse it gets; by the time the main characters are stumbling through Down Below, facing terrible monsters in their quest to find Hailey, things are pretty hard-core. If you stop and think about the reason Hailey's been kidnapped, they're positively horrific.
At the same time, though, like I said: I really loved reading Monsterville. Maybe it's just the fact that it's a middle-grade novel, but no matter how dark things got I never felt like it was going to end in total tragedy. I'm not usually one for horror, but I actually adored Monsterville. It had just the right mixture of family (including not-dead, emotionally-invested parents!), friendship, love, and tension. It also ended on a sort-of cliffhanger, and I am definitely ready for the sequel. Someone please tell me it will be out in time for next Halloween!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
October 20, 2016
My name is Lissa, and there's a goblin living behind my new home in the country. He seemed harmless enough when Adam and I first found him, but we've since discovered the terrible truth of Down Below. This goblin used to be a little boy who disappeared last year, and he escaped from the monster world under the earth. The goblin is terrified of a creature called Atticus, and more kids around the world are kidnapped by him every Halloween. They have all become monsters. I'm afraid my little sister is in danger, and Halloween is coming soon. I have a strange feeling that Monsterville, a board game I found in the basement, is the key to stopping these creatures.
I was very surprised at how much I enjoyed this book! On the surface, my review may not seem overly impressive, but the author managed to creatively develop an entertaining plot. It never seemed to settle into a rut with uneventful moments. Lissa didn't like the move to a new house, she found a cutish goblin in the woods, she learned the truth about monsters and Blue's secret, then had to work to save her sister. I felt sympathy for a goblin. What I didn't like? I don't like that this book begins a new series. I don't know what's going to come in the sequel, but I would have been very satisfied to have had this conflict resolved and ended the story. Now, I'm curious about the sequel and will probably check it out! This book is not a classic, but Monsterville is entertaining and fun to read.
I was very surprised at how much I enjoyed this book! On the surface, my review may not seem overly impressive, but the author managed to creatively develop an entertaining plot. It never seemed to settle into a rut with uneventful moments. Lissa didn't like the move to a new house, she found a cutish goblin in the woods, she learned the truth about monsters and Blue's secret, then had to work to save her sister. I felt sympathy for a goblin. What I didn't like? I don't like that this book begins a new series. I don't know what's going to come in the sequel, but I would have been very satisfied to have had this conflict resolved and ended the story. Now, I'm curious about the sequel and will probably check it out! This book is not a classic, but Monsterville is entertaining and fun to read.
March 9, 2016
I read an Advanced Release Copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
If I could describe this book in one word it would be FUNTASTIC! It’s a fast paced and entertaining read, with just the right touch of friendship/romance, but not the overwhelming melodramas of pre-teen and teen life.
In addition to the charismatic characters, there were so many moments where I found myself laughing at Lisssa’s witty comments. You know you have a great book when you find yourself smiling while reading and walking away with that warm fuzzy feeling only a good book can bring.
I also want to point out if you like Halloween or movies – this is the book for you. It creates a great fun, scary atmosphere like the Goonies or Boxtrolls (you know when the suspense has you jumping up and down and you can’t stop reading, but you’re not afraid to go to sleep).
Speaking of movies – I LOVE all the movie references and the way the character sees everything like a movie. It makes it fun and relatable.
Overall, just a cute, wonderful story that I would let my kids read and would recommend to older readers looking for that fun, quick read like a Harry Potter book.
If I could describe this book in one word it would be FUNTASTIC! It’s a fast paced and entertaining read, with just the right touch of friendship/romance, but not the overwhelming melodramas of pre-teen and teen life.
In addition to the charismatic characters, there were so many moments where I found myself laughing at Lisssa’s witty comments. You know you have a great book when you find yourself smiling while reading and walking away with that warm fuzzy feeling only a good book can bring.
I also want to point out if you like Halloween or movies – this is the book for you. It creates a great fun, scary atmosphere like the Goonies or Boxtrolls (you know when the suspense has you jumping up and down and you can’t stop reading, but you’re not afraid to go to sleep).
Speaking of movies – I LOVE all the movie references and the way the character sees everything like a movie. It makes it fun and relatable.
Overall, just a cute, wonderful story that I would let my kids read and would recommend to older readers looking for that fun, quick read like a Harry Potter book.
March 19, 2016
A snarky city girl transplanted to the country, a cute geeky boy with mad boy scout skills, a darling baby sister and seriously confused monsters. What's not to like? Monsterville is a cute, fun read that has it all. When Lissa Black is forced to move from the high life of New York, New York, to the Hicksville, USA, she's less than pleased. Soon after meeting Adam, the awkward, yet adorable boy-next-door, Lissa stumbles on Swamp monster looking for brains in the woods. When Adam and Lissa investigate, they discover not only a mooing Sasquatch, but a whole different world of monsters. Film obsessed Lissa, wants to make a monster movie with a citizen of Down Under. But when Lissa's baby sister is threatened things turn serious. Now Lissa has to unravel the world of Down Under. Filled with quirky fun and exciting adventure, Monsterville: A Lissa Black Production, reminds me of a combination of Jumanji, Labyrinth and Little Monsters. It's not to be missed. I'm hoping there will be a book two, and Monsterville would make a great movie! This review is based on an advance reader's copy.
March 14, 2016
What do you do when you find a shape-shifting monster in the woods behind your home? You recruit him to star in a home-made monster movie, of course. That's what Lissa Black does, anyway. Having just been forced by her parents to move from fabulous New York to boring Freeburg, she'll do anything for entertainment. Of course, she soon starts asking questions about who the monster is and where he came from, and then she's in a whole heap of trouble.
This book is the best fun, overflowing with humour. Lissa and her friend Adam make a great team and the little monster is simply adorable. I loves the way the story overturns so many movie cliches and the multitude of movie references all add to the humour. The plot develops at a good pace and, while adults are chuckling at the jokes, kids love puzzling over the chain of clues that lead to Monsterville.
I was given an advance copy of Monsterville in exchange for an honest review.
This book is the best fun, overflowing with humour. Lissa and her friend Adam make a great team and the little monster is simply adorable. I loves the way the story overturns so many movie cliches and the multitude of movie references all add to the humour. The plot develops at a good pace and, while adults are chuckling at the jokes, kids love puzzling over the chain of clues that lead to Monsterville.
I was given an advance copy of Monsterville in exchange for an honest review.
June 30, 2016
When seventh-grader Lissa moves with her family from New York City to rural Freeberg, she’s not happy. She’s left behind her friends and the place she loves. Lissa’s snarky voice rings true as a middle-schooler trying on a whole new world. Quickly, though things take a spooky turn when she encounters much more than she bargained for in the woods behind her house. Teaming up with her neighbor, Adam, she discovers an unbelievable secret lurks very near. Halloween night brings the story to its exciting climax with adventure and thrills and, of course, monsters! Lissa is on a mission to save her little sister and others before the night ends. The author does a great job combining the contemporary world with the fantasy world, which makes this book all the more thrilling and scary. The endearing characters certainly add to the mix. You’ll be rooting them on—and you’ll want to keep the lights on too! A fun read for upper middle grade.
October 31, 2016
Monsterville is an adorable and fun read. Perfect for Halloween. It has your fair share of goblins, trolls, mummies, zombies, you name it. Meet Lissa Black an aspiring movie director/screen writer who just moved from the big city to farm life. Yeah Lissa isn't too happy with that. But things starts to changed once she discover there are real monsters.
With snarky dialogue and fun moments, Monsterville is pure entertainment that is sure to become one of your favorite reads of the year. Well written and a definite page-turner I highly recommend this book for all the ages.
P.S. Can we get Monsterville the game please.
*Thanks to Sky Pony Press for the finished copy in exchange for a honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
With snarky dialogue and fun moments, Monsterville is pure entertainment that is sure to become one of your favorite reads of the year. Well written and a definite page-turner I highly recommend this book for all the ages.
P.S. Can we get Monsterville the game please.
*Thanks to Sky Pony Press for the finished copy in exchange for a honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 3, 2017
Aspiring film-maker Lissa has moved from New York to tiny, boring Freeburg, PA. Her new town has a lot more brewing below the surface though - specifically, the monster world of Down Below. What starts out with plans to make the best monster movie ever, ends with Lissa's little sister being kidnapped by the monsters on Halloween. Lissa, her neighbour, Adam, and delightful little hobgoblin named Blue have to race against the clock to rescue her sister in time. Full of fun, adventure, thrills, and humour - MONSTERVILLE was a great read. Highly recommended for any middle grade fan (especially those who love the movie LABYRINTH as well!)
October 16, 2016
Monsters that grab you by your ankles while you're sleeping, a kid film-maker, and a secret underground society? Oh yes! I couldn't wait to get my hands on MONSTERVILLE, and I was hooked right away by Lissa Black, the thirteen-year-old New York City screen writer who is transplanted to the backwoods of Pennsylvania. Cue the banjo twang. Lissa is about to discover that those woods contain something even she, with her artistic eye for movie-making, never could have imagined: a shape-shifting swamp monster that is after her brains. It's no longer fun and games when Lissa's little sister goes missing. It's up to Lissa and her new friend, Adam, to go Down Below for the ultimate rescue.
March 10, 2016
I read an advance copy of this book and enjoyed it immensely. It was a witty, well-written, and entertaining page-turner. The story is engaging for adults and children alike with likable characters, interesting plot twists, and just the right amount of spooky fun. I'm hoping a sequel will be forthcoming!
February 7, 2017
Monsterville by Sarah S. Reida is an amazing book! I recommend it for 10-13 year olds. Monsterville is a story about a girl named Lissa who lives in New York City. Lissa’s aunt has died and suddenly, without discussion, her family is packing up and moving to “the sticks” of Freeburg, Pennsylvania. At first, Freesburg seems like a peaceful little town…. even sleepier than Sleepy Hollow! But just wait…
Lissa’s little sister, Haylie, finds a board game in their aunt’s attic called “Monsterville.” Haylie finds that she loves the game and always wins on the werewolf or, as she calls it, the “doggy’s” path. Then, Lissa finds her aunt’s hidden notebook, which gives her some clues that some people … and some things... are not what they seem. For example, the seemingly harmless board game Monsterville just might lead to real trouble for Lissa and her sister. On Halloween night, Haylie goes missing and it's up to Lissa, her new neighbor, Adam, and a mysterious friend with unusual features to find Haylie before it’s too late.
Can Lissa rescue Haylie or will all be lost and the monsters reign forever? Read this spooky and exciting book to find out. You won't regret it - I loved it!
Lissa’s little sister, Haylie, finds a board game in their aunt’s attic called “Monsterville.” Haylie finds that she loves the game and always wins on the werewolf or, as she calls it, the “doggy’s” path. Then, Lissa finds her aunt’s hidden notebook, which gives her some clues that some people … and some things... are not what they seem. For example, the seemingly harmless board game Monsterville just might lead to real trouble for Lissa and her sister. On Halloween night, Haylie goes missing and it's up to Lissa, her new neighbor, Adam, and a mysterious friend with unusual features to find Haylie before it’s too late.
Can Lissa rescue Haylie or will all be lost and the monsters reign forever? Read this spooky and exciting book to find out. You won't regret it - I loved it!
January 13, 2023
This was a surprisingly good read! You fall for the fun and sassy characters right away, and though pieces were predictable... it was still fun and kept me guessing. The banter was so good, and the plot was solid. My favorite favorite part was the end, it had me saying WAIT THAT CAN'T BE THE END. Definitely a great read and would be so fun for kids, especially around spooky season!
January 25, 2018
I received a copy of this for free through Goodreads First Reads
This was such a fun middle grade novel. It reminded me alot of the movie "Little Monsters". I started off really wanting to dislike Lissa, but she really surprised me by the end of the book.
This was such a fun middle grade novel. It reminded me alot of the movie "Little Monsters". I started off really wanting to dislike Lissa, but she really surprised me by the end of the book.
October 21, 2018
Monsterville is a mild horror adventure story that feels both contemporary and unconventional in a refreshing way. Some aspects of the story came off as repetitive or awfully convenient. But overall, it held my interest. I loved the relationship between Lissa and her younger sister.
September 16, 2020
Really fun story
Really fun story. Hoping for a sequel. Id s love to read more about Adam and lissa. I'm so glad about the ending.
Really fun story. Hoping for a sequel. Id s love to read more about Adam and lissa. I'm so glad about the ending.
June 23, 2024
Friggin monsters!
March 1, 2017
Jumanji meets Goosebumps in this fun and unexpectedly touching novel. Lissa Black is not happy with her family's decision to move out of their Manhattan apartment to a house in Freeburg, Pennsylvania, inherited when her great-aunt passes away. She's away from her friends, her school, and the conveniences of living in New York City; she's only got the neighbor kid, Adam, who's set on making her appreciate life outside of the city, and this weird game, Monsterville, that she found in her aunt's basement. Just as Lissa is set on languishing in the wilds of PA, she discovers a sad, shape-shifting goblin she calls Blue, who's escaped from Down Under. Blue's so sad that Lissa and Adam feed him and check in on him, but when Lissa discovers he can shape-shift, she decides to make a documentary starring Blue. But an interview with the goblin uncovers secrets that put Lissa's family at risk. When her little sister is kidnapped and taken Down Under on Halloween, Lissa and Adam have to go in after her, and the Monsterville game is their only hope of making it back.
Lissa is hard to like at first: she's a great older sister, but largely self-centered and snobbish at the novel's outset. As the story progresses, and the urgency not only of Blue's situation, but her sister's, hits home, though, Lissa rises to the occasion and grows into a strong female character that I was rooting for. I liked her supportive, loving family and I really liked the glimpse we got of her mysterious aunt. I think a Monsterville prequel is in order, to tell her story! There was great world-building Up Above and Down Below, with Adam acting as Lissa's - and the reader's - guide to rural life, and the Monsterville game laying out Down Below for us before we even get there. I ended up loving this book and can't wait to booktalk this. A film glossary at the end introduces readers to film terms, most of which show up in Monsterville - Lissa is a filmmaker, after all.
Challenge your readers to make up their own version of Monsterville! What monsters would inhabit their Down Under? What would counteract the monsters and help humans escape? This could be a great summer reading group program, just saying...
Monsterville is Sarah S. Reida's debut novel. Find teacher resources at LissaBlackProductions.com, which also links to Sarah's author blog and appearances.
Lissa is hard to like at first: she's a great older sister, but largely self-centered and snobbish at the novel's outset. As the story progresses, and the urgency not only of Blue's situation, but her sister's, hits home, though, Lissa rises to the occasion and grows into a strong female character that I was rooting for. I liked her supportive, loving family and I really liked the glimpse we got of her mysterious aunt. I think a Monsterville prequel is in order, to tell her story! There was great world-building Up Above and Down Below, with Adam acting as Lissa's - and the reader's - guide to rural life, and the Monsterville game laying out Down Below for us before we even get there. I ended up loving this book and can't wait to booktalk this. A film glossary at the end introduces readers to film terms, most of which show up in Monsterville - Lissa is a filmmaker, after all.
Challenge your readers to make up their own version of Monsterville! What monsters would inhabit their Down Under? What would counteract the monsters and help humans escape? This could be a great summer reading group program, just saying...
Monsterville is Sarah S. Reida's debut novel. Find teacher resources at LissaBlackProductions.com, which also links to Sarah's author blog and appearances.
January 31, 2017
I borrowed this book from my 10 y/o sister because the summary and reviews caught my attention--things about board games come to life, monsters, and a young girl who wants to make films. I was a little apprehensive about "Down Below" because I wasn't sure if it meant Hell and would be genuinely scary or gory, but I was relieved to find the book more fun.
Other people have already given a great summary, so let me just give my reasons for rating this highly. The author did a wonderful job of setting up a fictitious world where there are rules and imaginary creatures, and she doesn't deviate from that world. So it's a fun, easy read with really interesting twists and turns, like a completely new board game brought to life, without bringing the reader out of the book because of plot holes or breaking the rules like other books often do. The author knows her world and sticks to it. It's funny and has great characters (Adam is my fave!) that you root for, even though they each have their little flaws (Blue with his insatiable appetite, Lissa with her young woman sarcasm and snark, etc). And finally, though it's made for younger readers, I enjoyed all the nods to movies and games from my generation. Kind of like when you watch "Shrek" with a kid and there are a bunch of jokes that only adults get. In fact, my husband stole it from ME and read it right after I did, so it was a little while before my sister got it back. I think it should be on library shelves right along with other fantastical books for young adults. Good work, Sarah!
Other people have already given a great summary, so let me just give my reasons for rating this highly. The author did a wonderful job of setting up a fictitious world where there are rules and imaginary creatures, and she doesn't deviate from that world. So it's a fun, easy read with really interesting twists and turns, like a completely new board game brought to life, without bringing the reader out of the book because of plot holes or breaking the rules like other books often do. The author knows her world and sticks to it. It's funny and has great characters (Adam is my fave!) that you root for, even though they each have their little flaws (Blue with his insatiable appetite, Lissa with her young woman sarcasm and snark, etc). And finally, though it's made for younger readers, I enjoyed all the nods to movies and games from my generation. Kind of like when you watch "Shrek" with a kid and there are a bunch of jokes that only adults get. In fact, my husband stole it from ME and read it right after I did, so it was a little while before my sister got it back. I think it should be on library shelves right along with other fantastical books for young adults. Good work, Sarah!
February 4, 2017
This was a really fun read. I thought Lissa was a great main character, with a ton of personality. She was funny and caring and I love the mixing of the monsters in. Definitely recommend.
November 3, 2019
The. best. book. ever. I have re-read it so many times, and that is saying enough. Every year I read it again, and ever year I get a year older, but the book just doesn't get old. It always amazes me with all the awesomeness crammed into 368 pages. You should read it! Hopefully you like it...
May 20, 2019
Lissa moves to a town that has monsters that take her sister on Halloween and Lissa and her new friend have to save her.
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