A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting

Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting #1

by Joe Ballarini, Vivienne To (Illustrator)

The Last Kids on Earth meets Goosebumps in this hilarious new series about a secret society of babysitters who protect kids from the monsters that really do live under their beds!

When middle schooler Kelly Ferguson’s Halloween plans switch from party-going to babysitting, she thinks the scariest part of her night will be the death of her social life. But then Baby Jacob gets kidnapped by the Boogeyman’s minions and Kelly learns there’s a whole lot more to childcare than free snacks and Netflix. Like chasing shadow monsters, drop-kicking Toadies, and mastering monster-fighting moves like the Naptime Headlock and Playground Punch.

Now, with the help of an ancient handbook and a secret society of butt-kicking babysitters, Kelly sets out to destroy the Boogeyman before he brings Jacob’s nightmares to life. But when the monsters’ trail leads to her school’s big Halloween bash, Kelly will have to prove she can save the world—without totally embarrassing herself in front of her friends.

Packed with black-and-white illustrations and insider secrets from the world of monster hunting, A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting is full of tricks, treats, and terrifying twists!

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Horror, Fiction, Adventure, Young Adult, Supernatural

352 pages, Hardcover

First published June 20, 2017

Reviews

[HorrorBabe911 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really entertaining, great kids books love the movie that’s what made me read the book. It’s pretty close to the movie- the details. would love to continue the series later on. I believe it’s a trilogy but right now I’m just gonna leave it at book 1.
Would highly recommend for elementary and middle grade. Super fun adventure book.

[Zoraida]

Not for me. The Netflix adaption was fun.

[Wybredna Maruda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nadeszła już ta pora roku, kiedy młodsi odbiorcy kultury coraz częściej przypominają o zbliżającym się i niezwykle ekscytującym w ich mniemaniu Halloween – tym bardziej, że zewsząd zasypywani są zębiastymi dyniami i duchami z prześcieradeł. Nie znaczy to wcale, że mamy do wyboru albo posadzić ich przed ekranem z horrorem, w którym leje się krew albo całkowicie odciąć dziecko czy młodego nastolatka od popkultury. Właśnie dla tej grupy powstała historia, która z jednej strony gwarantuje mnóstwo akcji i dreszczyku emocji, z drugiej, mimo w pełni halloweenowego klimatu, nie będzie pojawiała się w ich koszmarach. I nawiązanie do koszmarów nie jest tu przypadkowe: na tym właśnie temacie skupia się Joe Ballarini, autor książki Polowanie na Potwory. Poradnik dla babysitterek (oryg. A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting) oraz ekranizacja tej powieści, Poradnik Łowczyni Potworów, dostępny już na Netflixie.



Główna bohaterka książki, trzynastoletnia Kelly (która w ekranizacji standardowo musi być nieco starsza) chce uzbierać pieniądze na obóz, dzięki któremu stanie się lepszą wersją siebie i pójdzie do liceum jako ktoś cool. Dziewczyna łapie się więc dorywczych prac, aż natrafia się okazja, by zostać babysitterką – pech chciał, że akurat w halloweenowy wieczór, gdy można iść na imprezę i ukradkiem spoglądać na najfajniejszego chłopaka w szkole. Dość szybko okazuje się, że w tej rzeczywistości bycie niańką wiąże się nie tylko z opieką nad dzieckiem, ale i z ochroną go przed koszmarami. Prawdziwymi. Dziecko bez rodzica jest dzieckiem narażonym: to idealny moment, by wszystkie potwory, które do tej pory czaiły się pod łóżkiem lub w szafie, wyszły ze swoich kryjówek. Całe szczęście, że mamy jeszcze Profesjonalne Babysitterki, dziewczyny wyszkolone do walki ze stworami oraz z Boboludem, który zamierza ożywić wszelkie dziecięce koszmary i z ich pomocą zapanować nad światem...

Zacznę od zgrzytu czysto organizacyjnego, translatorskiego, który jednak dość znacząco wpływał na moje nastawienie zarówno do książki, jak i do filmu. Mianowicie: tłumaczenie tytułu. Oczywiście nie zawsze ekranizacja dostaje ten sam tytuł, co jego papierowy pierwowzór, ale twórcy raczej starają się to ujednolicić, ewentualnie wydają powieść z okładką filmową i z tytułem dopasowanym do wersji ekranowej. Nie jest to oczywiście konieczność, ale ze względów czysto promocyjnych zabieg taki sprawia, że produkt lepiej się sprzedaje. I, mówiąc kolokwialnie, lepiej gugla. Nawet nie chcecie wiedzieć, ile czasu zajęło mi znalezienie ekranizacji na Netflix: bo przecież wiem, że jest, bo przecież zaznaczono to na okładce powieści, ale ni w ząb filmu znaleźć się nie da, bo pod tym tytułem nic nie istnieje. Nie wnikam tu, od czego i kogo tłumaczenie i taka decyzja zależy, jednak dla leniwego widza chcącego po prostu włączyć ekranizację przekopywanie się przez listę tytułów dla młodzieży będzie dość nużącym zajęciem.

Co do samej fabuły Polowania na Potwory – nie jest to historia zbyt realistyczna, nie tylko dlatego, że czytamy o tytułowych potworach, ale także ze względu na dość mdłą charakterystykę niewyróżniających się między sobą postaci. Relacje między nimi wydają się mało logiczne, dialogi brzmią sztucznie, a zaufanie obcej osobie, która rzuci "potwory istnieją" przychodzi bohaterce ot tak, bez krzyku przerażenia. Na plus dla książki wypada fakt, że poszczególne postacie wydają się pojawiać w fabule znaczniej częściej niż w ekranizacji, po której w zasadzie nie pamiętałam ich imion. Nie zmienia to jednak faktu, że w obu wersjach bohaterowie poboczni, inne babysitterki pracujące w organizacji, nie mają kompletnie żadnej przeszłości czy osobowości i zlewają się w jedno. Być może to za sprawą debiutu autora, który musi się jeszcze rozkręcić i będzie miał na to szansę w kolejnych tomach serii. Było też jednak sporo całkiem udanych fragmentów, scen, czy decyzji, gdy zachowanie jednej z postaci nabiera z czasem nowego sensu (mini spoiler: Kelly hobbystycznie robi latarki. Dziwne zajęcie. Jednak zaczynamy je rozumieć, gdy okazuje się, że jako dziecko widziała, że właśnie czymś świecącym można walczyć z potworami).

Warto także zaznaczyć, że książka ma o wiele więcej wątków i postaci, które film decyduje się wyciąć na rzecz dopracowania tych już istniejących i by nie wprowadzać jeszcze większego chaosu w produkcję i tak już wypełnioną akcją: całkiem możliwe, że zdecydują się po te pomięte elementy sięgnąć w kontynuacji, którą zakończenie ewidentnie obiecuje. To także sprawia, że część wydarzeń na ekranie została rozwiązana w inny sposób (np. w książce Liz znika na jakiś czas, jej miejsce zastępuje Mama Vee, która w filmie zostaje jedynie wspomniana. Zadania Mamy Vee w ekranizacji spadają więc na Liz, która staje się jedną z głównych postaci). W obu wersjach wypada to całkiem zgrabnie i młodszy odbiorca powinien być całkiem zadowolony z rozwoju wypadków. Przede wszystkim: nie będzie się nudził, ponieważ w całej historii znalazło się miejsce dla walk, pościgów, magicznych artefaktów i potwornych, czarnych charakterów.

Wróćmy na chwilę do tematu Halloween, do którego nawiązałam na początku. Bowiem i film i książka stanowią idealną reprezentację tytułów publikowanych właśnie z końcem października i chociaż są tą samą historią i film jest stosunkowo wierną adaptacją powieści, to nieco inaczej interpretują tematykę potworów odmiennie przemawiając do poczucia strachu odbiorców, tym samym kierując swój wytwór do innych grup. Bowiem, wbrew pozorom i chyba przeciwnie do tego, co dzieje się zazwyczaj – to książka wypada na straszniejszą. Oczywiście, obie wersje zostają skierowane do młodej publiki, 8-, 10-, maksymalnie 12-latków, jednak nawet w tym przedziale wiekowym można bać się mniej lub bardziej. Kiedy czytamy o potworach, ich mackach, pazurach i zębach, możemy wyobrazić sobie te istoty tak, jak chcemy. W zależności od tego, czego czytelnik się boi i jak bardzo przyzwyczaiły go media do przerażających obrazów, jego wyobraźnia podpowie nieco inny wytwór. Film natomiast narzuca nam swoją wizję, prezentuje kolorowe i zabawne stworki bardziej przypominające te z animacji Potwory i Spółka, niż z horrorów czy filmów fantasy (Kocia Peggy jest w papierowym pierwowzorze o wiele... mniej smaczna). Dodatkowo często na nasz strach i emocje nami targające wpływają lustrzanie emocji innych. Gdy więc czytamy o strachu poszczególnych postaci, zagłębiamy się w opisy – to i nam się to udziela. W ekranizacji, w Poradniku Łowczyni Potworów, nie mamy szansy zajrzeć w głowę bohaterki: widzimy tylko aktorkę, która stwierdzi "będę z tym walczyć" – nie czujemy, jak bardzo może być to ryzykowne. W ten sposób o szybsze bicie serca może nas przyprawić jedynie wyskakujący zza rogu potwór: który w tym wypadku będzie uroczym i lekko gapciowatym glutem z zamiłowaniem do dramatyzowania.

Oczywiście ciężko mi całkowicie zapomnieć o swoim wieku i spojrzeć na każdą produkcję skierowaną do dzieci z ich perspektywy. Mam jednak podejrzenia, że Polowanie na Potwory powinno przypaść im do gustu. Książki to pełna przygód seria, która dorosłemu może wydać się nieco zbyt infantylna, prosta, niedopracowana, jednak dla młodej osoby, która chce zasmakować świata pełnego potworów i horroru, a po podsunięciu pod nos Potwory i Spółka rzuca "jestem za duży na bajki", może stanowić idealne wejście w ten gatunek. Wciągnie się, przekona do czytania, poczuje dreszcz emocji, a jednocześnie nie będzie się bał zasnąć. Nie jest to jednak dzieło sztuki. Mimo wszystko warto sprawdzić, chociażby dla śpiewającego Toma Feltona i możliwości porównania go z papierowym pierwowzorem.

https://www.wybrednamaruda.pl/2020/10...

[Mehsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Watch out monsters, watch out Grand Guignol, these babysitters won't let you get away with your evil, vile plans!

Babysitters, just like cheerleaders, are often found in horror books and movies. Generally though they just die by the dozen in screams and blood. But not these babysitters. Oh no, these babysitters kick some serious butt and aren't afraid to face creepy monsters. Not if it means saving the kids they are babysitting (and some other kids if needed).

Our main girl is Kelly. She wants to go to some special camp but is out of ideas for how to earn money. She tried a lot of jobs, earned quite a bit of money, but the last stretches are the hardest. Thanks to a friend's suggestion she ends up as babysitter, and her first job... is with the son of her mother's boss. And if you think this is just going to be an easy night, think again. Not only do monsters have a party in this night of nights (Halloween, yay!), but the kid is also a tiny bit of a terror, well especially at first. :P
She quickly finds out that the monsters that Jacob draws... are real. And they are coming for him.
I just adored Kelly, she didn't go into (instant) superhero mode when she found out what was going on, she didn't totally give up when Liz kept being a bitch towards her. She just stayed the same, and that was cause for some hilarity as she kept thinking about her crush. Oh hey, I am in the middle of a chase after some great creepy dude, but OMG my crush. And she also keeps thinking about the camp. I loved how quickly Kelly picked up the pace, how she tried to learn and help Liz, help the tiny kids who were being terrorised by scary monsters from down below. Even later she becomes even more awesome, and I also have a feeling, thanks to certain things happening in the later chapters + the ending, that there is much more to Kelly than meets the eye. And I can't wait for the next book and to hopefully see things happening.

Liz. Ah, Liz. The character I just kept hoping would just get eaten or kidnapped or something else. We do get a background story on her, and why she is so utterly terrible towards people, but really? It didn't lessen my frustration and my dislike. She kept being dismissive of Kelly, she keeps being a total bitch just because Kelly acts like a normal girl, even in the most scariest of moments. Every time Kelly is crushing or thinking about the camp she gets shot down by Liz immediately in the most bitchiest way. Geez Louis, girl, get your head out of your butt. Kelly is doing her best, but hey, just a few hours ago she was a normal girl, just doing her normal day to day things. You can't expect everyone to just jump in line and act the way you want them to.
There were a few moments were I did like her, but mostly? Mostly, I just wished she would get eaten.

I loved that this book took place during one day, one night. It really made everything more exciting, they had a time limit, they had to race to make sure everything was going to be OK.

There are also parts about the monsters with pictures and stories (from the guide), and I quite liked that those were added. Plus the monsters also got a POV a few times, and since I quite like the monsters I was happy to see them pop up.

Yep, I have a confession. The Grand Guignol is a creature of nightmares, a creature you don't want to meet in a dark alley. But really? The guy was just too awesome. I had a laugh at how he acted, how silly he was. He was a villain, so I couldn't just root for him, but I just couldn't resist. The guy was just too fabulous. Too grand.

We also have other characters and I quite liked them. Of course it is a little early for me to say more, because we only see them a few times, but I have a feeling that they will become favourites. :)

The illustrations are a nice touch, and I love the style and how well it fits with the feeling this book gives. The cat lady was positively scary as hell (I could already envision her with the descriptions given but the image really completed it).

All in all, I can't wait for the next book. If they are going to do a book per Boogeyman I guess we are in for a ride. There are 7 of them in total (at least from what the babysitters found so far). The next book will be about Serena.

I would highly recommend this fun book. It has some hilarious moments, it is creepy, it has a bit of romance (which fits like a glove), great characters, a fun villain (I know, I know, I shouldn't like the villains, but I can't help it).

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

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kelly Ferguson takes a babysitting job to raise money to go to Summer camp Miskatonic. When the boy she is babysitting gets kidnapped by the boogeyman known as The Grand Guignol, she calls for the assistance of babysitter Liz Lerue for help in saving little Jacob from the boogeyman's clutches. Can they save him before midnight on Halloween? Read on and find out for yourself.


This was a pretty good horror middle grade read that is perfect to read during All Hallow's read. If you enjoy scary stories, definitely check this book out for yourself. It is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.

[Belles Middle Grade Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Y’all I finished this in less than a day! I read about 40% in the 1st sitting, & the rest of it in another. It was soooo good!! This is the perfect spooky season read! So excited to watch the Netflix film that just came out based on the book! With the sassy, feisty characters, & the snarky dialogue lol..this gave me Buffy the Vampire Slayer (the tv show & early seasons when they were in HS)vibes-but in MG form & w/babysitters & monsters, instead of slayers & vampires. That is one of my favorite shows of all time, so of course anything that gives me those feels-total win for me. This takes place mainly the day before Halloween & Kelly gets her 1st babysitting job. She enters a whole other babysitter world than she planned though. I loved her & her rag tag group of babysitter friends. I loved watching Kelly grow as a character, & how her & Liz helped each other. This has mystery, adventure, humor, monsters, suspense, & even.. the Boogeyman! Lol This blends snarky, smart humor with action and drama. Gorgeous cover & illustrations throughout the book also!!😍😍Highly recommend! Reading the 2nd book now, & loving it so far!💜💜





Synopsis of 1st book in series: When middle schooler Kelly Ferguson’s Halloween plans switch from party-going to babysitting, she thinks the scariest part of her night will be the death of her social life. But then Baby Jacob gets kidnapped by the Boogeyman’s minions and Kelly learns there’s a whole lot more to childcare than free snacks and Netflix. Like chasing shadow monsters, drop-kicking Toadies, and mastering monster-fighting moves like the Naptime Headlock and Playground Punch.

Now, with the help of an ancient handbook and a secret society of butt-kicking babysitters, Kelly sets out to destroy the Boogeyman before he brings Jacob’s nightmares to life. But when the monsters’ trail leads to her school’s big Halloween bash, Kelly will have to prove she can save the world—without totally embarrassing herself in front of her friends.

[Kerri Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book, and the entire premise, utterly delightful. It's like The Babysitter's Club BUT WHAT IF MONSTERS and I'm 100% here for it. Had this book existed when I was first reading The Babysitter's Club, I would have been way more into The Babysitter's Club and probably less into R.L. Stine.

(Though let's be real, I still would have been reading scarier stories than I ever should have been; I was reading Stephen King in the 6th grade. Spoiler alert: The scariest part about Stephen King stories is the blatant and perpetual misogny!)

Were elements of the story a bit derivative? Sure.
Does the the world (and MG/YA literary canon) need another boy-crazy girl who has monster-fighting super powers but is easily distracted by her crush on said boy? No, thanks.
Would I have altogether preferred Kelly be attracted to Liz vs. Victor? Of course.
Is the movie almost too terrible to watch? Yes, save for the part where I loved Tamara Smart and Oona Laurence. [Think: What happened to the first Percy Jackson movie, oof.]

Still, this book is FUN, and Halloween-themed, and also features awesome(ly creepy) illustrations from a literal guide to monster-hunting. So yeah, there's just no way I wasn't going to be into this.

[Four stars for being a story I wish would have existed when I was a kid, and one that highly amused me as a (reluctant) grown-up.]

[Dayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

This was fun! I love the message of being true to yourself and not just following the crowd. There were some creepy bits that were pretty great.

I'll definitely be recommending this one to my younger customers!

[Mark Buxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

My name is Kelly, and I've lost a little boy on my first babysitting job. He was taken by one of his nightmare monsters (yeah, I didn't believe in them either), so I called his regular sitter Liz. She's a babysitting, ninja monster hunter! It's all my fault Jacob was taken, but I don't know how to help. Liz keeps telling me to read the handbook, but I know she really thinks I'm a whiny loser. Our search for Jacob leads us to the huge, eighth-grade Halloween party. OMG, Victor's there, and he's looking sooooo cute! Liz and I find a Shadow Monster in the basement, and we rescue another little girl. Monsters don't usually kidnap this many kids at once. What do the monsters want with Jacob and the others? Jacob's last drawing looked like a monster I once saw in my dreams, but that's impossible. And, now? You'll need to read my babysitting handbook to find out the other unbelievable secrets I discovered.

I was expecting a cutesy story of teenage girls watching little kids, however this book describes a fast-paced, adventure. Kelly's character only wants to make money for summer camp, but she feels morally responsible for Jacob. She wants to be a cool eight-grader, but the cool kids at school mock her. The book doesn't provide any super-imaginative ideas, but it's written with a blend of humor, action, and suspense. The conflict even has a 1:00 am deadline, since that's when Jacob's parents will be home. As a parent and former teacher, I wasn't excited with toddlers being terrified, but it was necessary to develop the conflict. I can't think of any part of the plot where it seemed to slow down. The monsters were introduced early, and Kelly spent the rest of the time awkwardly trying to find Jacob. I'm still not totally clear about her abilities and the little voice she hears in her head. The author indicates there's something special about Kelly, but it's never spelled out for readers. Did she just become really brave and resourceful, or is there more to it? Either way, I was pleasantly surprised with this book, and I can easily recommend it to young lovers of monsters.

[Liza]

DNFed at page 140.

Why am I reviewing a book I didn't even make it to the halfway point? Well maybe because I'm still riding the salty way of my dislike of P5 even after putting in 40 hours(I know, I'm in the minority). Also my salt with how Minako is considered non-canon and she gets nothing.

ANYWAY.

So this book suffers from:

1. Kelly loses a kid and her first thought was about getting paid(sure but..MONSTERS)
2. She HAS to join in on the quest to save the kid. These other kids are experts right?
3. The experts, besides Liz, sound very incompetent.
4. What 13 year old talks like that(I have a 13 year old sister).

[Matt]

How do you diplomatically say something reads like it was ghostwritten?

I mean, not that that's a bad thing. I've ghostwritten similarly derivative works for clients. Some of them have sold just fine. It's just...there's something missing? And hey, maybe he really did write it himself, and there's no shame in using ghostwriters—honestly, it's way easier to write a book for someone else than it is for yourself, and ghostwriters have their place—I just...yeah, see, there's no diplomatic way to say something read like it was ghostwritten, is there?

Enjoyable enough, though, and a nice distraction when one was needed, so there's that.

[Sarah Hay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kelly wants nothing more than to make enough money to send herself to summer camp. To meet her goal she has taken many odd jobs and for this reason decides to take a babysitting job for her moms boss even though Kelly dislikes kids and taking the job means missing a big party. When monsters kidnap Kelly's charge she gets into much more than she bargained for and meets a secret society of babysitters who fight monsters.
Great for kids looking for creepy/scary books.
Good for ages 10 and up

[Mia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorbable book I read to my daughters who love monsters and mystery with their teddy bears. Tons of Buffy overtones. Definitely loaded with strong female characters, but the author could have laid off the puppy dog love. Though expected from a male author. They always think we base our lives off of men. (Guess what, we don't.) Granted, I skipped those parts when reading to my kids. I recommend, and here's to hoping Kelly leaves Victor, (and her phone) in the dust for the next book!

[Avila E.D · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Note: this book is a 3.5)
This was an entertaining book to read. It basically just felt like a crazy fever dream that you would have after watching too many scary movies and reading too many romance novels. It was a little cringey at certain parts, but that was expected. The whole 'I'm an invisible' thing felt very pick-me ish. I did enjoy the depth of the characters though. Especially the Grand Guignol. Overall, it was good plot, and I enjoyed it.

[Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a FANTASTICALLY entertaining book! I cannot wait to share this with a girl I know who is just getting into the ‘Goosebumps’ books, she will love this!

Main character Kelly Ferguson is in middle school and has been working hard at earning money to go to camp, which is high dollar. Kelly’s life changes in flash one Halloween, when she is asked to babysit instead of going to a Halloween Party with a friend. Disappointment and a tug between earning money for camp or hanging out with her crush is all Kelly was worried about. Little did she know, she was about to experience babysitting at a whole new level!

Baby Jacob was easiest enough for Kelly to handle, but then once she put him to bed, the night took a turn for the worse when Jacob is kidnapped by the Boogyman’s minions called Toadies! Now, with the help of the Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting and a secret society of Monster Hunting babysitters, Kelly’s new mission is to get Baby Jacob back safe and sound before his parents come home!

This book puts a fun twist on the babysitting gig! Readers will love the fast paced amusing story. Hop into the story and grab a flash light…….you’re going to need it!

[Kris Ivy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A creepy opening chapter that gets you ready for some babysitting action.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is too much fun.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. The last 3/4 dragged a little bit. Otherwise, I absolutely loved this. Full review to come.

[Kari]

A silly adventure. Fun enough for middle schoolers.

[Liz Hoffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book to read with my 9-year-old. Just enough humor to keep my attention & enough action to hold my son captivated!

[Rosemary Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joe Ballarini, the author of "A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting," does not want his readers to be monster food. In the dedication, he writes, "Just so you know, hiding under the covers can't stop monsters from eating you. In fact, that just makes you look like a delicious, tasty burrito. Didn't know that, did you? See? This book is for you."

This bit of sage advice was not part of the uncorrected proof that I won through Goodreads Giveaways. (I checked out the final version from the library to get a peek at the artwork, which hadn't been added yet in my version.) So, I read most of the book as a spooked burrito. And there was plenty to be spooked about. These are not the chipper Scarers from "Monsters, Inc." The Boogeyman in particular (who goes by the name Grand Guignol, the same name as the famous Parisian theater, which featured horror) is sarcastic, cunning and nasty, and not just because he has bad breath. He has a wrinkled skull, hooves, and a tail which are revealed in the playfully eerie drawings by Vivienne To. (My favorite illustration, though, is of a Toadie, one of the Grand Guignol's, crude, garbage-loving trolls, who serve as his well...toadies.)

But he meets his match in Kelly Ferguson, a protagonist I can relate to. Like Kelly, I was a babysitter and like her, I am a redhead. But unlike Ms. Ferguson, I never became entangled with "a secret society of professional babysitters," while looking after my three young charges. These babysitters and Kelly dare to attempt to thwart the Grand Guignol's evil plans, which involve kidnapping an innocent little boy named Jacob, whose safekeeping Kelly was entrusted with for the evening. She and the band of brave caregivers soon discover that other young children are being taken too, so that this Boogeyman can unleash a truly frightening Halloween that will last forever.

This all puts a wrinkle in Kelly's original plans, which include going to a party to mingle with her crush, gorgeous Victor from Guatemala. The restless eight grader just takes the babysitting gig to earn enough money to go to Camp Miskatonic, an idyllic camp of evergreen trees and lakes that would provide the perfect cocoon from which to emerge as a sophisticated ninth grader.

But instead she is forced to grow up on one crazy Halloween night, when she not only makes unexpected friendships, which include kids that she had considered outcasts at school, but she also learns about her own strengths and purpose. The fears in this story are not only about the monsters under the bed, but also the self-doubts within the preteen and teenage soul. Mr. Ballarini manages both effectively here. Some of his most inspired writing is in his descriptions of each teen's individual personalities, for instance, in Kelly's description of her best friend, Tammy. "Everyone thinks Tammy whispers because she's too shy, but really, it's because she's saying something hilarious and doesn't want to offend anyone. So while everyone else thinks she's this discreet, coy creature, she's actually a raging comedian in the body of a thirteen-year-old mouse," (p.12 in both versions).

Mr. Ballarini also finds a nice balance between chills and humor. There is a woman whose love of cats takes a macabre turn and the Grand Guignol is the coachman of a black carriage with skeletal horses, which reminds me of "Dracula," by Bram Stoker. But the evil characters also have a tendency for pompous whining and silliness, which makes them amusing as well.

For example, despite his menacing nature, the Grand Guignol comes off as a bit lonely, feeling underappreciated for his acerbic wit and grand visions. One of my favorite sections is when he's walking through a neighborhood of adorable trick-or-treaters, whom he feels have diminished the true gory spirit of the holiday. He speaks with an injured pride. "Look at this disgrace," he complains to a Toadie. "Halloween used to be a night of demons running wild, monsters feasting on the souls of the innocent. Now what is it?" (p. 134). His yearning parallels Kelly's. She wants her ideal summer camp and freshman year experience and he wants his perfect, ghastly forever Halloween. At one point, the Grand Guignol even mockingly teases that they're kindred spirits. Their adversarial relationship is interesting to read about because their passions are brought to the surface, but I'm not sure this Boogeyman will be returning.

The book is the first in a series and the Grand Guignol is but one of seven Boogeymen. Yes, there are seven, but I'm assuming that most of the characters will be returning, save for the ones that have been squished or reduced to sand, but you never know. Anything is possible on Halloween.

[Josh Newhouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic debut from the chuckle-worthy dedication to the final confrontation! Buffy just got a worthy successor!

[emilka · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 ⭐️

[kerrycat · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Babysitter's Club meets Goosebumps (with a much greater word count) - should be a good fit for readers in the target group who enjoy age-appropriate horror with a dose of humor.

[Love is in the books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cari lettori voi ci credete all'uomo nero?
Si esatto, all'uomo nero! Lo so che ora starete pensando che queste sono credenze da bambini e che i mostri sotto il letto o nell'armadio non esistono...ma sono sicura che dopo la mia recensione cambierete idea, Kelly lo ha fatto!
Kelly Page Ferguson è una giovane adolescente con un grande sogno: passare l'estate al magico Campo Miskatonic. Il costo del campo però è molto alto e così Kelly si ritrova a fare i più disparati lavori per racimolare i 4000 dollari dell'iscrizione.

 

Comunque io, Kelly Page Ferguson, ho lavorato e risparmiato un totale di 3000,32 dollari, che ora sono chiusi al sicuro nel salvadanaio Life Savers dentro l'armadio. Mi mancano ancora 999,68 dollari, e avevo già fatto tutti i lavori che un adolescente può fare prima che vengano coinvolti i servizi sociali.

Kelly frequenta la scuola media e come tutti i giovani della sua età si ritrova a vivere i drammi tipici dell'adolescenza: le prime cotte, le antipatie a scuola e il desiderio di indipendenza.
Per lei andare al campo è importantissimo perché vede quel posto come un luogo di rinascita, un luogo dove spezzare le catene dell'oscurità della scuola media per poter approdare alle superiori come una ragazza nuova e molto più in gamba. Kelly è disposta a fare di tutto per poter guadagnare i soldi rimanenti così, su suggerimento della sua migliore amica Tammy, mette un annuncio come babysitter.
La sera di Halloween le capita un'occasione irripetibile per guadagnare dei soldi: fare la babysitter al figlio del capo di sua mamma. Kelly vorrebbe tanto non accettare l'incarico perché accettarlo significherebbe rinunciare alla festa più cool di quella magica serata insieme alla sua migliore amica Tammy, e di conseguenza non poter nemmeno vedere Victor, il ragazzo per cui ha una cotta.
Ma purtroppo il campo ha la precedenza su tutto e così Kelly si ritrova a dover badare a Jacob, un bambino che sembra una polpetta, la cui madre è davvero esigente e severa (non a caso è stata rinominata la Donna di Ghiaccio).

Attraversando velocemente un corridoio arredato con oggetti di arte moderna pieni di spuntoni, mi schiaffò in faccia un foglio stampato.
<>. Mi disse.
I NO-NO DEL PICCOLO JACOB: no al gelato, no al glutine, no alla cioccolata, no ai latticini, no alle arachidi, no alle corse, no alle grida, non più di 30 minuti davanti allo schermo: questo include tv, ipad, videogiochi, no alle discussioni su catastrofi o eventi di attualità.

Fare la babysitter si rivela molto più difficile di quanto Kelly potesse immaginare perché Jacob non ne vuole saperne di dormire; il bambino teme che una volta spenta la luce i mostri lo verranno a prendere. Quando finalmente Kelly riesce a far addormentare Jacob dei rumori strani la fanno precipitare immediatamente nella stanza del bambino e arrivata al piano superiore non riesce davvero a credere ai sui occhi: delle creature mostruose stanno rapendo Jacob.

A questo punto il panico inizia a impossessarsi di Kelly perché non sa davvero come poter spiegare ai genitori di Jacob tutta quell'assurda situazione,  ed è proprio nel momento di maggior sconforto che  una strana ragazza con i capelli blu in sella ad una motocicletta arriva in suo soccorso.
È Liz Lerue, la vecchia babysitter di Jacob. Da questo momento Kelly vivrà la più assurda ed emozionante notte della sua vita.

Ebbi un conato di vomito, mentre gli occhi si adattavano al buio. Quelli che sembravano tre mucchietti di stracci e sacchi della spazzatura erano chini sopra il letto di Jacob. Occhi pieni di rabbia baluginavano dietro gli strappi nelle buste di plastica. Ciascun demone aveva un grosso becco e piccoli artigli coriacei con cui immobilizzare le braccia e le gambe di Jacob. Rimasi paralizzata dall'orrore.

Guida per babysitter a caccia di mostri è il primo volume di una nuova serie di libri che io non vedo assolutamente l'ora di leggere perché questo  primo volume l'ho amato dalla prima all'ultima pagina. La storia è davvero coinvolgente e ricca di colpi di scena e suspense. 

Benché sia un libro indirizzato a partire da un target di età molto giovane, il linguaggio non è per nulla banale e semplificato e questo lo rende davvero una lettura adatta ad ogni genere di età.

L'autore è stato davvero bravo a far mantenere l'attenzione e la curiosità viva per tutto il libro, le descrizioni sono davvero pazzesche e vi danno l'impressione di poter percepire visivamente ogni dettagli della storia.

Ho apprezzato moltissimo la descrizione in prima persona perché questo mi ha permesso di entrare fin da subito in sintonia con Kelly e di poter vivere io stessa le rocambolesche avventure del team delle babysitter.

All'interno del libro ci sono anche delle bellissime illustrazioni raffiguranti alcune scene narrate e le schede dei mostri presenti all'interno della mitica guida per babysitter.

Un libro che, a mio avviso, vuole inviare un messaggio molto importante e cioè che anche le paure più  profonde  e apparentemente insormontabili possono essere affrontate e superate.

Dopo questa lettura sono sicura che apprezzerete ancora di più il lenzuolo salva-mostri che, vi ricordo, non va tolto neanche nelle serate più calde d'estate! Consiglio questo libro a chiunque abbia voglia di vivere un'avventura fuori dal comune.

P.S. Ho guardato il film su Netflix basato sul libro ma sono rimasta molto delusa, alla bellezza del libro non ci si avvicina neanche con il binocolo! 

I mostri sono reali. Ma anche noi lo siamo. E bambino dopo bambino, cambieremo il mondo in meglio. Quindi siate prudenti. Siate coraggiosi. Il lavoro ne vale la pena. Fidatevi di me.
Kelly, la babysitter

 

[Sue Poduska · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vivid descriptions and imaginative scenarios are highlighted in this exciting tale. With strong characters and strong themes of fighting your fears, this story is great for middle grades, but maybe not for the very young or very nervous. It certainly is a lot of fun.

[C. L. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bailed 1/3rd of the way through. That rarely happens for me, but man, life is too short for a protagonist whose first thought when the toddler she's watching gets kidnapped is how she's not gonna get paid. And, no, that's not a one-off. Not recommended.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

What I wanted from A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting was babysitting Buffy. What I got instead was pure Dawn.

Kelly Ferguson, whose main ambition in life is to spend her summer at WASP-paradise Camp Miskatonic - which, by the way, would probably end up a lot more non-Euclidean geometry and and a lot less horseback riding that she expects based on that name. Unfortunately, Kelly may never find out what indescribable horrors or rousing campfire ditties lurk at Camp M, as she's nearly a thousand dollars short of the fee. Cue a well-timed suggestion from a friend that she tries babysitting, despite her utter lack of qualifications and a strong dislike of children, and suddenly she's spending the evening 'sitting for her Mom's boss's son, which isn't going terribly well even before the kid's kidnapped by monsters. Suddenly Kelly - whose first thought is for her paycheck rather than the boy's safety - is finding out that there's a lot more to babysitting than meets the eye. Like being part of an ages old secret society that fights the Bogeyman.

That Ballarini's background is in scripts is readily apparent from his writing here, which relies heavily on visual gags and supposedly-witty repartee. The world-building is fairly decent, with an edge of actual horror, if not quite enough to overcome the fact that the main character is a complete and utter pill. Still, there's one shining, glorious moment when the author slides in a nearly-invisible political joke which caused me to spit-take on the elliptical. For that, sir, I salute you. For everything else, I hope that your next Tuesday night in Sunnydale channels the less-obnoxious Summers sister.

[Tracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Should be a hit with the target audience.

[Ben dupan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting was an exciting,thrilling and mysterious book. From the beginning to the end it kept me on my toes! With the adventures of kelly and liz on their journey to find jacob and battle toadies, clowns and ghostly shadow monster.

while kelly is helping liz and the secret society of babysitters she is wanting to go to the best halloween party ever and to see her crush. But she knows if she does the boogie man will take over the world.