The Magnificent Monsters of Cedar Street: A Historical Fantasy Adventure About a Girl Who Saves Magical Creatures in 19th-Century Boston for Kids

by Lauren Oliver

From the bestselling author of E.B. White Read-Aloud Honor Book Liesl & Po comes a timely and relevant adventure story about monsters of all kinds—and a girl brave enough to save them.

Cordelia Clay loves the work she and her father do saving and healing the remarkable creatures around Boston at the end of the nineteenth century. Their home on Cedar Street is full to the brim with dragons, squelches, and diggles, and Cordelia loves every one of them. But their work must be kept secret—others aren’t welcoming to outsiders and immigrants, so what would the people of Boston do to the creatures they call “monsters”?

One morning, Cordelia awakens to discover that her father has disappeared—along with nearly all the monsters.

With only a handful of clues and a cryptic note to guide her, Cordelia must set off to find out what happened to her father, with the help of her new friend Gregory, Iggy the farting filch, a baby dragon, and a small zuppy (zombie puppy, that is).

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Adventure, Childrens, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical

384 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 11, 2020

About the author

Lauren Oliver is an author, screenwriter, and media entrepreneur. She is the author of the upcoming novels THE GIRL IN THE LAKE (May 5, 2026) and its sequel, THE SLEEPWALKER (May 5, 2027). Her previous works include multiple New York Times bestselling novels for teens, including Before I Fall (which spent seventeen weeks on the list and was adapted into a feature film released by Open Road), the Delirium trilogy (a two-million-copy-selling dystopian series translated into thirty-five languages), and Panic, which she later adapted into the streaming TV show on Amazon Prime of the same name, for which she wrote every episode and served as Executive Producer. Along the way, Lauren founded the IP company StoryGiants and helped to package and edit nearly one hundred other novels. She is also the co-founder of Incantor AI, a self-scaling digital media engine built on a new and proprietary foundational model of artificial intelligence that respects copyright by providing both IP attribution and royalty shares to contributing sources. Raised in Westchester, New York, Lauren attended the University of Chicago and got her MFA from NYU. She now divides her time between Maryland and Los Angeles. Subscribe to my Substack! laurenoliverbooks.substack.com

Reviews

[Darla · Rating 3 out of 5]

At the heart of this book is a reminder that often the worse monsters in the world are the ones who look normal or even beautiful on the outside. This is a good message and I truly enjoyed many parts of the book. Cordelia is a plucky heroine and her new friend, Gregory, is a delightful counterpart in their adventures. At times there is a whimsical quality about the book. At others it was a dismal, depressing mess. The glossary of monsters at the beginning was too long and almost deterred me before I even started. Perhaps it would be more effective to sprinkle this information throughout -- preferably with illustrations. The bottom line is this -- I can not help but compare this to Liesel & Po and have it come up short.

Thank you to HarperCollins and Edelweiss for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full review here: https://youtu.be/eah7BCGQ0I4
Timestamps in description!

[Lata · Rating 3 out of 5]

At the heart of this adventure-rescue mission is a message about tolerance for difference.
Main character Cordelia enlists orphan Gregory and his zuppie Cabal in her search for her missing father, veterinarian for monsters, and the many monsters they’d been living with.
Oddly, I never really warmed to Cordelia, but liked Gregory, and later Cordelia’s former friend Elizabeth Perkins, as the kids rush from Boston to New York and elsewhere in their search. And though the story takes place around the end of the 1800s, the dialogue was a little too contemporary and kept taking me out of the story,
That said, this was a pleasant enough story to fill some hours.

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

I love this beautiful cover! The back cover is just as beautiful too! Test again, Iacopo Bruno is the artist here!😍😍I finished this beauty yesterday, & I adored this book! Cordelia is such an amazing main character! The “monsters” were all so amazing! I loved them all, especially our 3 main ones. They were all such a creative idea for a story. I loved the back story w/the mom. I really felt for Cordelia. Her whole life was inside that house & w/her dad & their monsters. Her only friend had turned on her. Until Gregory shows up-& man I loved him! He was the best little guy ever! They made such an excellent team. The adventure they go on to find her dad & the missing monsters was exactly that-an adventure! All sorts of things happened. It was a wild ride, & I loved every minute of it. From 52% of the way through until the end it was to the point in the story I couldn’t stop reading. So I read the last 48% in the same day within a few hours. Everything that was revealed shocked me & I loved it. The ending was so perfect & gave me all the good feels too!💜💜 There was a great lesson of course. Monsters aren’t always who we think of when we hear that word. People can be the worst monsters ever. During the time period of this book stores banned immigrants, homeless people, & even put “no Jews”. But yet, just 40-59 years later they hated Nazis...how did that make them any better than them? People hate what they fear or don’t understand. It’s very sad. I highly recommend this book. Soooo good!💜💜








Synopsis:Cordelia Clay loves the work she and her father do together: saving and healing the remarkable creatures around Boston at the end of the nineteenth century. Their home on Cedar Street is full to the brim with dragons, squelches, and diggles, and Cordelia loves every one of them.

But their work must be kept secret—others aren’t welcoming to outsiders and immigrants, so what would the people of Boston do to the creatures they call “monsters”? One morning, Cordelia awakens to discover that her father has disappeared—along with nearly all the monsters.

With only a handful of clues and a cryptic note to guide her, Cordelia must set off to find out what happened to her father, with the help of her new friend Gregory, Iggy the farting filch, a baby dragon, and a small zuppy (zombie puppy, that is).

[Mila · Rating 3 out of 5]

The digital arc of this book was kindly provided by the publisher via Edelweiss+ website in exchange for an honest review.

The premise and setting for this book were very interesting and yet the story itself wasn't nearly as exciting as it could've been. I still liked the messages this book discussed, like friendship, feeling isolated and loss of your loved ones, but I wasn't a fan of the execution which was frankly quite boring.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5 stars

The Magnificent Monsters of Cedar street is a Middle Grade fantasy book set at the end of the 19th century.

I have really enjoyed many of the author's Young Adult books. Fantasy isn't my favorite genre. But I do like this author. So I was excited to get to read this new book.

The narrator is 12 year old Cordelia (3rd person POV). The story starts out in Boston. Cordelia's father is a veterinarian who saves and heals monsters. But something happens that forces Cordelia to leave her home.

The beginning started out a bit slow for me. Although there were parts of the story that I really liked. I thought that the monster part of the book was strong. I especially loved the zombie puppy.

From just reading the story it is not very clear in what time period the story is taking place. It wasn't until partway through the book that Cordelia paid a very low price for something. And it made me wonder. At first I wasn't sure if this was a futuristic world. Eventually at the 2/3 point it is made clear that it is the end of the 19th century. But I feel like this should have been mentioned at the start of the book.

The story felt like it was just going on and on in the middle. But the end of the book was definitely the strongest part. The last part of the book was extremely action packed. And the book was very exciting.

Overall, the monster concept was very strong. Cordelia was an interesting young female character. But I was a bit disappointed with the actual explanation about what happened to her dad and the monsters.




Thanks to edelweiss and HarperCollins for allowing me to read this book.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am an adult that really enjoys middle grade books - they can be so well done, and authors who are good at it tend to have stories that are so inventive and so creative, because they have to keep those with shorter attention spans focused on what they're reading. Such was the case here - a fun, creative story with a lot of heart. A story about family, and friendship, and yes - monsters. How what we often see as "monsters" really aren't, and the true monsters are those who hurt others in the name of superiority. It's a timely tale, and an enjoyable one.

[Samm | Sassenach the Book Wizard · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's just something so cozy about Lauren Oliver's middle grades to me

[Stormi (StormReads) · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is time to throw in the towel and admit that this author is just not  for me. :( I have disliked to many of her books and this one was no exception.

Cordelia lives with her father who is a veterinarian but he closed up his normal shop to take care of monsters that nobody knows about. Their whole house is overrun with monsters and Cordelia enjoys taking  care of them with her father. Cordelia doesn't have any friends after an incident with a goblin ruined the one friend she did have. So she was excited the one day Gregory came looking for someone to help with his puppy that Cordelia realized was not an ordinary puppy but a zuppy (zombie puppy). She helps him out by telling him he needs to give him a dropper of blood as food.

Then the next day she wakes up and her father is gone and so are all the monsters, well not all of them. There was a filch and a baby dragon that were tucked away so they were missed. Cordelia is so worried as she just knows someone has kidnapped her father and the monsters. She must go and find them but has no clue where to go but with Gregory's help they set off to follow what little clues they have.

The adventure takes them through few places, getting chased by a scary dog, flying in a balloon that just so happens to be piloted by Elizabeth, Cordelia's ex-friend and they just so happen to find the one guy who knows about monsters and who they might need to talk too.

I had a hard time getting through this one and probably would have given up or set it aside if it wasn't for the fact I was buddy reading and kind of curious about the ending. The pacing was just to slow and then not much really happened. There was also a lot of things that just didn't add up to me and a few of them have to do with the lack luster ending so I can't mention them, but one was the fact that it seemed very convenient that they get rescued by a balloon that Elizabeth just happened to be in at the time they needed rescuing.

I also was expecting there to be a lot more monsters in it than just the three that go on the adventure with the two kids. What was so magnificent about the monsters on Cedar Street when we don't even get to read about any of them! The beginning of the book had a whole glossary about all the animals and that was about the extent of the monsters. :( I just expected something cooler and this was boring. It has a pretty cool cover though! 

I would say it was just me but my buddy I read this with didn't care for it much either and it has a pretty high rating so take from this what you will but I won't be recommending it. 

[Miss Bookiverse · Rating 2 out of 5]

[2.5 stars]

How is it, that a book entitled "The Magnificent Monsters..." that deals with a father-daughter-team running a shelter for said beings contains so few monsters? Technically they accompany the protagonists throughout their journey and the main conflict of the novel comes down to what makes a monster and how to protect monsters from intolerant humans and yet, none of the creatures stood out to me. They don't have any personality, which is what I look for when I pick up a monster book: animal companions, peculiar lovable creatures, cheeky dragons, and loyal zombie dogs. None of the monsters of Cedar Street (except for the one at the end perhaps) ever comes to life in that way. What we get instead is a generic middle grade adventure that only gains momentum in the last third where it actually managed to surprise and entertain me with a few twists and encounters. Also, the audiobook narrator, Reba Buhr, does an excellent job, especially with the different voices.

[Tim Robinson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my cup of tea. Takes itself rather too seriously.

[Sam Kuntz · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Magnificent Monsters of Cedar Street follows a 12-year old-girl named Cordelia Clay as she attempts to find her father who mysteriously disappeared.

This review I am going to attempt to write less about the plot of the book and more about the things I liked and disliked.

I really enjoyed the little monster key at the beginning of the book. It was fun to go back and look at it as soon as I finished the book. (I also read it fully through before I started the book, because I thought that was what the whole book was.)

One thing that was kind of funny for me, is that all of the monsters that they have remind me of our cats. We have five cats, and at some points, they act worse than the monsters.

I did not like the end of this book, it seemed very rushed. I did like that they gave up taking care of the monsters, because it just seemed right.

I would have liked to know that Elizabeth was actually a nice person/goblin sooner, because I did not have enough time to register that she was nice before the book ended.

I didn't like that the villain of the story, was a monster himself. I would have liked it to be a real person, because one of the messages in this book was that people were the real monsters, not the creatures.

All in all, I enjoyed this book quite a bit and would recommend it to anybody who has some time and their hands and does not want to read anything else. -Sam Kuntz

[Sherry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cordelia Clay’s father is a veterinarian to monsters, and their house is full of them. But their menagerie is a secret, one that has cost Cornelius Clay all of his non-monster clients over the years since his wife passed away in the jungles of South America trying to prove the evolutionary link between monsters and other animals (including humans). On one critical night, Cordelia makes a friend when Gregory stops by for help for his (zombie) puppy and Cornelius disappears with all but two of the monsters. Cordelia sets out to rescue her father and the monsters with Gregory’s help. Along the way, she reconnects with a former friend, Elizabeth, who has secrets of her own. The three young people lose the trail of clues to Cornelius’s disappearance but make an important connection with Dr. Samuel Natter, an expert on human monsters, when their hot air balloon gets blown to Nova Scotia. Back on the trail, they must face off with Byron Newton-Plancke who wants to eliminate all monsters on his quest to become President.

I picked up this book on a whim from the new book shelf at my local public library then realized I had previously read one of Oliver’s books, The Spindlers. I enjoyed that book, so I was interested to read this newest book by Oliver. In The Magnificent Monsters of Cedar Street, Oliver creates a fantasy quest novel that I found a fun enough read, but not particularly memorable and relatively standard. I really disliked the glossary of creatures being located at the beginning of the book - it almost put me off from reading the book, but I slogged through the 24 pages of descriptions in case it mattered for the text. It didn’t, and the glossary would be better placed more traditionally in the back or at least labeled as a reference that readers do not need to read closely before embarking up on the actual text of the novel. There were a few consistency errors that perhaps younger, less attentive readers won’t notice, but they bothered me. For example, when Cordelia meets Gregory on page 36, Oliver notes that he had “a bit of straw-colored hair protruding around a pair of large ears.” Later, on page 231, Oliver references Gregory’s “dense cap of black curls.” Neither matches the depiction of Gregory on the back cover of the book… Cordelia doesn’t match the depiction on the cover either, as the book mentions she has red hair (p. 62). Oliver tries to plant some seeds of future events – for example with the mention of a “man with glittering shark eyes, a sharp beak of a nose, and neatly parted hair … moving through the mist” (p. 8) – but I felt like the allusions were never clearly borne out. I also never understood why Cordelia’s father left her so abruptly without so much as a note, especially given the back story on her mother’s traumatic death. On the whole, the book was enjoyable, but it had too many holes and left too many questions unanswered for me to think it great.

Fans of fantasy will find Cordelia a likeable enough heroine. The story is a standard quest novel with clear “good conquers evil” and “accept others as they are” themes, but it relies heavily on coincidences and is not particularly original. Dedicated fantasy readers may love the monsters included in the book or find them too similar to those created by more popular authors like J.K. Rowling. The book does risk coming across as a toned-down, kiddy-version, steam-punk rip-off of Fantastic Beasts. Readers will also find the three-friends-main-characters set-up very familiar. That said, the plot moves at an engaging pace and is tidily wrapped up, which makes for a quick, fun read.

[Beka · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately this book just did not live up to its promise. I was having so much trouble getting through it that I went on Goodreads to read reviews and see if it was worth finishing. (I was 1/3 through and then just skipped to the last 1/4.) I have to agree with so many of the reviewers that while the premise sounds great the execution was flawed. The author tried to cover too many big, heavy topics in a middle grade book. The internal logic/science is inconsistent, even descriptions of characters are inconsistent (and doubly inconsistent with the cover art which is frustrating). Also there is just WAY too much coincidence and deus ex machina going on. And the whole reason for the big adventure is super flawed too **Possible spoiler alert*** - if Cordelia's father wasn't kidnapped, why on earth did he disappear with all the monsters, but leaving his DAUGHTER behind?!!! I get that he had to appear kidnapped for her to have an adventure, but I can't/don't believe that he would do that. Also, for a book proposing to be about magnificent monsters, we barely interact with any of them, and they really aren't the focal point of the book. Overall, just a disappointment and not worth reading the middle bits.

[Mark Buxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

My name is Cordelia, and I wish I could tell people that my father is a veterinarian for monsters. My mother was a famous author of a book on monsters before she disappeared several years ago. However, most people are either terrified of them or don't believe they exist. It makes life difficult, since I often find myself fighting with classmates. I regret that a monster cost me my best friend. Today, I woke up to discover all of the monsters and my father missing, and a threatening letter in his desk. I don't have any clue as to where they've gone, but a homeless boy named Gregory has offered to help. We make a strange team. I'm trying to hide a baby dragon and a filch, while Gregory has a zombie puppy, a zuppy. I don't know where this adventure will lead, but I have a feeling there's much more to this kidnapping than I know.

The plot didn't provide anything new or novel, but that only made the events easily relatable. The book was set it late 1800's in England. I most enjoyed the three monsters with Cordelia and Gregory, as they were quirky and unpredictable. The zuppy was impulsive, needed a little blood each day, but was Gregory's best friend. The dragon mostly remained hidden until his fire breath was needed. I had some trouble picturing the filch, but he reminded me of a bundled up little chimpanzee. A subplot developed, as Cordelia was forced to face some unresolved issues with her former best friend. This led to the emergence of some additional details about the relationship between monsters and humans. The kids met a gentleman later in the book with interesting views of monsters, the animal kingdom, and humans. Are humans the real monsters? When was the last time you read a middle grade book that discussed Darwin and his theory of evolution? The conflict boiled down to humans' intolerance for things that are different or unexplained. The story's antagonist, revealed late in the book, had a surprising backstory of his own regarding monsters and humans. The plot became an adventure mystery, as the kids tried to locate Cordelia's father and the missing monsters. Overall, I enjoyed the book and can easily recommend it to you. Give it a shot.

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Saved this one for the fall - a veterinary house for monsters! And a plucky young girl on a quest to find her father, accompanied by a baby dragon and a zombie puppy. Sign me up. Loved the premise, and the descriptive writing in the first chapter where Cordelia and her dad, Cornelius (why so similar names?!!) go hunting for an injured dragon in the dead of night.
But the glossary of monsters and their habitats that stretches on for 20+ pages at the intro was exasperating! These should have been woven into the story in a more natural way as the reader encounters each animal. That’s called adept exposition and plotting and pacing and character development - necessary for any good story! Oliver just dumps the glossary in and then expects the reader to flip back and forth with the mention of each new monster to do the homework. Lazy writing!
Also for a book about magnificent monsters… SHOW ME THE MONSTERS!!! We get 25 pages or so at the beginning when Cordelia is giving the reader the lay of the land of her house and where all the creatures live. Right after that… her father disappears with all but two of the monsters! And the zuppy belonging to Gregory, who oh so conveniently becomes Cordelia’s ONLY friend on the SAME DAY her father disappears?
At about 60 pages in, I skipped to the last few chapters because this was already getting very heavy handed with the preachiness. And… Lots of telling and not enough showing. Let’s just the ending was just as heavy handed and did not inspire me to persevere through the whole novel.
This one is a miss for me, sadly.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars

This story was an entertaining adventure!

Cordelia was the perfect character and reminded me of someone who could have been Hagrid's niece. She loves monsters! Her and her father (a veterinarian)care for the monsters and their needs in secret, because people are afraid of things they don't understand! Then her father and the monsters disappear. In the search of her father, Cordelia shows courage, kindness, friendship and smarts! I wanted to 'mother' Gregory. :)

The story really slowed in parts and there are some missing connections in the story, but all in all I enjoyed it and the ending warmed my heart!

Dislikes:
*Cordelia's father's name was Cornelius. I felt that the author could have made it an easier read for junior readers if the names weren't so close in pronunciation. I felt I had to stop and re-read the name on occasion, to verify who it was referring to.

*34 pages of monster's names and their descriptions. Really?! Overdone.

*Too many serious issues were addressed in this book; war, prejudice, evil, cruelty, death/murder, poverty, etc. All of these issues are important and serious, but all in one book for a children's story?! It tended to move the story away from the fantasy/fun factor and s l o w e d it down alot.

[Tisha (IG: Bluestocking629) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and most informative guide to monsters is included before the story begins. I never heard of a Zuppy before 😉! And Diggles smell like gingerbread cookies, yum!

The relationship between Cordelia, 12 years old, and her father reminds me of Beauty and the Beast’s Belle with her father.

Cordelia and her father are basically veterinarians for monsters.

This book also reminds me of Supernatural in the way that Sam and Dean scour the Internet for strange occurrences. Cordelia and her father do the same but with newspapers. A strange occurrence may just be the result of an injured monster that needs their assistance.

Their Boston home is similar to an animal care sanctuary, except it is for monsters.

I loved the book. There was never a dull moment. High energy. The ending however was most rushed. Does that mean a book two is going to be gracing us with its presence? I hope!

This was the perfect Autumn read (monsters) for all ages!

[Clara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gostei muito de como a história aborda o tema das diferenças, e das coisas cruéis que pessoas podem fazer quando se vêem ameaçadas pelo diferente.

Não gostei dos acontecimentos completamente forçados, que me fizeram desacreditar na história. O pior deles foi o grupo entrar em um trem disfarçando os monstros com roupas humanas, sem ninguém ter desconfiado (quem não viu isso em 300 desenhos animados diferentes e achou forçado??). A cena do balão também é completamente improvável: como aquele balão ficou cheio em primeiro lugar? Foi a Elizabeth que encheu ele? E tem mais uma: logo no fim o Gregory vai soltar os monstros das gaiolas, mas a narradora esqueceu de contar que ele mesmo se soltou da gaiola antes. É possível que essas cenas improváveis não incomodem o real público alvo dessa história: o público infantojuvenil. Levaria isso em consideração ao indicar (ou não) o livro para outra pessoa.

[Belle · Rating 4 out of 5]

*sob* This was so heartwarming. A story about a girl who grows up loving and caring for monsters with her father. This book will definitely give you the same feelings as you did watching Newt Scamander in Fantastic Beasts. Plus, this has so many other important themes about acceptance and diversity and not being afraid of things in this world just because they're different. And the friendships! And the sweet little monsters that tag along on their journey! So many moments and characters in this book that will tug at your heartstrings. This book made me smile all the way through.

[Abby Draper · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this at a library book sale and bought it based on the adorable cover. I decided to read it as a little escape from some in my life, and I enjoyed this book even more than I thought I would!

There is a whole world built here with dozens of species of monsters, both already made up and made up for the book.This includes an adorable Zuppy (zombie puppy) named Cabal who I loved.

Even as a middle-grade book, this was so well-written and had such poignant commentary on the world we live in, including how people are treated unfairly and what really constitutes a “monster”.

It was a little slow in the middle, but I definitely recommend pushing past that!

[Elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only negative thing I can say about this book is that it should've been longer

[rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very good

[Virginia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 starts. Slow start, but I liked where it ended.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

love her writing ❤️ it’s so accessible and beautiful and funny. And this story was touching too :)

[Kristen Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastical novel of adventure and lots of creatures that will keep you on your toes. I loved this book and really liked all the different creatures. Quite a fun story and definitely one to check out. I liked the setting - a more alternative history in Boston.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Llyr Heller-Humphreys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful novel and so relevant to today.

[Nick · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is terrible. The story and characters are one thing. This is a book for children, so there is no point in ripping them apart.

However, this is a book for children! The worldview here is ridiculous. Social Justice garbage that is complete lies and misinformation. I'm sitting there banging my head against the table as I read this.

This author is trying to make the point that all humans are the same. Awesome! That is a great point to make. Unfortunately, she is somehow trying to use Darwinian Evolution to make her point. She has to create an entirely new Kingdom of animals (monsters) and then somehow connect them to humans.

She does all this to try to make some point about racism and immigration. Racism and immigration from the turn of the 20th century. 1900's racism and immigration which, for some reason, continues to be the only thing Americans can be known for.

The parts that aren't completely incomprehensible are simply made up. The Economy was booming around this time. The industrial revolution created jobs and wealth like no time before, and what economic recession there was had to do with government overreach as opposed to anything within society.

However, most incomprehensibly is the fact that DARWIN was a huge racist. He didn't believe everyone was created equally, but that other races were inferior to the white man. His book, On the Origin of Species (which never actually explains where a species originates) actually has secondary title The Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life.

You simply cannot use Darwin to prove a point that Darwin himself was against. Eugenics, genocide, slavery, racism, are all natural (if not encouraged) in light of Darwin's view. Even ignoring the fact that Darwin's theory has been completely dismantled, his teachings go completely against the point this author is trying to make. She is literally MAKING STUFF UP about very real ideas and very real worldviews. Ideas have consequences, and when we pump our children full of pro-Darwin nonsense then those ideas have consequences.

The very people claiming to fight racism, are some of the biggest racists America has seen in the past 70 years.

There is really only one worldview that puts all people together, and that is the Judeo-Christian worldview. God made them one blood, we are all made in the image of God, love your neighbor as yourself. The answer to this book's issue was on the other side of the spectrum, and if she wanted a pro-animal, be kind to nature message, that is in there too. We are caretakers of the world, we should care for what God has given us.

This author clearly did no actual thinking about anything she wrote, and then tried to cram this Atheist Religion into the book.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a 2.5 star. I was really into this in the first 20% because of the beautiful writing style BUT I loathed Cordelia. I almost wanted to give this a two stars because of how insufferable she became as the plot crept on. Cordelia enlists the help of Gregory and the two are on the search for her father and the whole thing begins to get repetitive by the 50% mark. All of the major action happens at the 95% mark which I felt like could have happened much earlier and certain plot points could have been cut altogether.

I liked our other two main characters, mainly Gregory. I really shouldn't hate a child in a middle grade book, but here I am. I wonder if I was younger if I would hate her as much though. I am not the target demographic for this, but Cordelia's carelessness, selfishness, and mood shifts were just annoying. I wanted to scream every time she closed her eyes in the face of danger, but then would simultaneously egg on trouble. But, in the end I didn't let Cordelia affect my overall impressions of the book.

I really did love Lauren Oliver's writing. She was so descriptive and knows how to keep a story moving. I think a kid would love all the action scenes that I found repetitious. I liked all the themes she was playing with, which I will include below. I think fans of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and adventure stories will really enjoy this. I have a feeling middle grade readers will not hate Cordelia as much as me and instead will be wrapped up in the wild plot. Overall, not the best middle grade book I have read but it was good.

Themes/Topics:
- Parental Death
- Embracing who you are, no matter how different
- Evolution/Origin of species
- Class and race inequalities