Mob School Survivor: The Creeper Diaries, An Unofficial Minecrafter's Novel

The Creeper Diaries #1

by Greyson Mann

This sketchbook from best-selling author Christopher Hart’s Manga Mania series is perfect for any shoujo fan or budding artist interested in learning how to draw in this popular manga and anime style. Of all the forms of manga, shoujo is the one directed almost entirely at girls. Many—though by no means all—of these stories focus on romance, have flowing, very pretty art, and highlight characters with youthful charm and huge, glistening eyes. This sketchbook will attract a huge audience eager to find out how to draw key elements of the style and it will give these fans a place to practice their newfound skills. The first part of the book gives step-by-step instruction and teaches readers how to draw a “pretty girl” head, a Shoujo boy figure, beautiful Shoujo eyes, the most popular manga hairstyles, stylish outfits, and Magical Girl characters complete with monster mascots. Artists can then use the high quality paper in the second part of the book to put these lessons to use and hone their craft, making it the perfect gift for beginners and shoujo fans alike.

Genres: Fiction, School, Middle Grade

Hardcover

Published January 1, 2017

Reviews

[TheBookWorm🐛 🐛 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book to read if you want to take a break from reading a big book and if you like Minecraft. It’s cool because some people that are first going into Middle School can relate to this book (not in the game sort of way, but more of in the middle school bully/best friend moving away/new school type deal). I myself didn’t have to go through bullies (yet), and I just don’t really relate to this book. It is still good though! Also, I may look around and see if I can find the second book in this series.

[mtnmilk · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow. outstanding

[Oscar Ziells]

It was really good. Nice and funny. 10/10

[Jenifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid meets the world of Minecraft.

This book reads exactly like a Wimpy Kid book, even with same type of illustrations and notebook type pages. It's all about Minecraft characters and middle school and all the pitfalls & characters you would encounter in both of those worlds.
My 5th grader is currently reading this. He's enjoying it. I'm fine with it because it has a good finding yourself and dealing with bullies message.

[Daniel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 2.0 of 5

Ummmm...

I read a lot of children's books and books for all reading levels but I will admit that since my own children are now adults I am not as familiar with children's entertainment (television, video games, etc) as I once was. This book appears to take off on the popular 'Minecraft' gaming series. It's a game I've seen played (briefly) but know nothing about it.

However...a good book should have certain qualities no matter what the themes and story-lines and this one just doesn't have what it takes.

I'll start with humor.... This is intended to be funny - to appeal to the same reader that would laugh uproariously over a fart or belch - but I found nothing here that even had me crack a smile (I admit...I'm a tough audience). The book starts with our central character introducing himself (Gerald Creeper, Jr.) and complaining that his mom makes him eat brussels sprouts and then he and his mother do a rap song. And then there are the 'laugh out loud passages' such as:

Dad says I'm a "pacifist." The first time he said it, Chloe laughed. "Gerald sucks a pacifier," she said, pointing at the rubbery thing Cammy sucks on.

Despite being a Creeper, Gerald has many of the same problems that our average fifth grader might experience - bullies, being given awful nicknames ("Itchy"), and having to deal with affectionate cows.

Bottom line - I was bored and not amused. I can't recommend this. I give it as much as two stars because I'll consider that there's something important I am missing by not being familiar with Minecraft.

Looking for a good book? Mob School Survivor by Greyson Mann is targeted toward elementary school readers who enjoy computer gaming, but doesn't reach up to their level of interest.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Edelwiess, in exchange for an honest review.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

(We didn't actually read this series for school, but as a little enjoyable evening reading.)

My Minecraft-obsessed 6-year-old and I have now read everything "Minecraft" themed on the market, I think, and while most of the literary tie-ins to the game are insipid and tedious to read, this series was actually a lot of fun for both of us.

Designed in journal fashion, complete with ruled pages and a typeface that looks like hand printing, these diaries detail Gerald's many 30-day plans to accomplish some goal (usually impeded several times by bullies at school or his evil twin sister.) The majority of the conflicts are related to middle school, but even my little guy could appreciate Gerald wanting to be the "cool kid" at school and finding his "coolness" offset by his own anxieties and his complex relationships with his parents and other school kids.

What's cool about the books is that while the characters and situations come out of Minecraft, the stories are straight out of any middle school kid's life. There are no crazy battles with enchanted swords. Just kids having the kinds of troubles kids have -- and eventually figuring out the right ways to solve their problems. The books don't preach. They're written well. The characters are believable and interesting. Don't let all the "media tie-in" hype fool you. These books are simply good childrens' literature disguised as Minecraft fiction.

BTW: "Creeper" is a Minecraft character, not any kind of weird stalker -- I'm adding this to the review because Grandma started to read these with us and was confused.

[Valerie McEnroe · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn't my favorite reluctant reader book, but fans of Minecraft will love it. It's full of the Minecraft characters. The story is told from a Creeper's point of view. Creepers blow up when they get mad. Gerald is a pacifist creeper, which is unusual, but he's proud of it, because his grandfather was a pacifist. Gerald is starting middle school and he wants to get things off to a good start, so he makes a list of things he needs to do to make it happen. One by one he's failing at his list and middle school is not looking good.

Other Minecraft characters in the book are zombies, skeletons, slimes and witches. I could care less about Minecraft, which may be influencing my opinion, but I don't think this book would stand a chance without its association with Minecraft. It's a typical storyline and the whole diary thing is starting to get annoying. But I'm a grown-up. What do I know?

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a big fan of zombies and Minecraft but this was a good children's book. Gerald,the main character has to deal with a new school, making new friends and putting up with his evil twin sister as he likes to refer to her. Sam gets a crush on Willow who is a witch and his sister Chloe has a crush on a human named Steve. Just everyday life for Gerald.

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a really cool book for upper elementary and middle school boys. All minecrafters are likely to love this book, but it does have some components that go against what really happens in Minecraft, so that is why I am rating this four stars instead of five stars.

[Raven Clawlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such a goofy read. I guess I didn’t like it much just because there wasn’t much happening. Or maybe there was too much happening. Maybe I would’ve liked it more if I was into Minecraft still. Also if I was younger.

[Mompop · Rating 2 out of 5]

Recommend for fans of Herobrine series

[Leenah · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was so funny. I never read anything in minecraft that has so much drama and action. Also it has most of the mobs that are really in minecraft.

[Ashley Olson- lovestoread08 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book for my 10 year old from his schools book fair and he read it within the first day. He loves this book and is looking forward to reading the rest in this series.

[The Brothers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dexter (9yo) read.

[Ajay Kishin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The creeper diaries

Blah blah stuff and more stuff this is an awesome book so yeah...
so funny.... Ed do rv Dvorak fav fav fav fav film from fav

[River · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got the book as a joke but I never really got that interested in it.

[Jack Annan · Rating 5 out of 5]

i think itchy the creeper and his freind sam make a perfect team together but along the way ithchy and sam disconect from one a nother so itchy becomes freinds with ziggy zombie

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book to love simply because my son enjoyed it so much.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read-aloud. The minecraft theme is secondary to the story, but it made my 7-year-old stay very invested. We will probably read the next one in the series.

[The Reading Master2189 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the book comical. The writing was ok, but it still ended out funny. I had a good laugh over it.

[Peter M · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty good book, I wish it was longer because it pulls you in. It felt like I finished it in no time at all.

[BubblesTheKat77 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best Minecraft book I have ever read! It's about a kinda dorky Creeper named Gerald with a wacky family who is just surviving Mob Middle School. . . Things got a little crazy!

[Sulaiman Planet]

I liked it a lot, especially when you play Minecraft you know what each mob (Minecraft monsters) does, he explains the mob jobs in other ways instead of saying it directly, a very good book.

[Elliot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, interesting and exciting. As a Minecraft fan, I appreciate this book and would recommend it to my friends.

[Saralyn]

I think M really likes diary books

[Fernando Lucero · Rating 4 out of 5]

English is not my mother tongue and this was a perfect book to start my reading journey in my second language! Perfect to slang and vocabulary 🙌

[Gail Lynch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won my copy from a Goodreads sweepstakes. I am always on the lookout for books for my students. Although I wasn't sure I would like the book, it did impress me on the lessons taught. It is written like a Diary of a Wimpy Kids book with illustrations on most pages. Gerald Creeper, the main character, is starting middle school along with all the other monsters, like slime, skeletons, witches, zombies, etc. Gerald has a plan how to survive the first thirty days. Things don't go exactly as planned. This book is Gerald's diary.

[Rachel Kline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I personally did not read this book, but it is the first time my eight year old son has enjoyed reading a book and read it cover to cover, so it's a win for me!

[Austin Beno]

Not as bad as I thought it would be... excellent story.