What do you think?
Rate this book
The Incredibly Dead Pets of Rex Dexter #1
The Incredibly Dead Pets of Rex Dexter
New York Times best-selling author Aaron Reynolds delivers an " entertainingly spooky romp" ( Publishers Weekly , starred review) about Rex Dexter, who is itching to have a dog . . . but ends up with a pet chicken.
One hour and fourteen minutes later, the chicken is dead (by a steamroller), Rex is cursed (by the Grim Reaper), and wild animals are haunting Rex's room (hounding him for answers). Even his best friend Darvish is not going to believe this, and that kid believes everything!
Rex's uninvited ghostly guests are a chatty, messy bunch. And they need Rex to solve their mysterious deadly departures from the Middling Falls Zoo before it happens again. But how?
One hour and fourteen minutes later, the chicken is dead (by a steamroller), Rex is cursed (by the Grim Reaper), and wild animals are haunting Rex's room (hounding him for answers). Even his best friend Darvish is not going to believe this, and that kid believes everything!
Rex's uninvited ghostly guests are a chatty, messy bunch. And they need Rex to solve their mysterious deadly departures from the Middling Falls Zoo before it happens again. But how?
240 pages, Paperback
Published March 8, 2022
120 people are currently reading
753 people want to read
About the author
Aaron Reynolds
98 books235 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Aaron Reynolds is a New York Times Bestselling Author of many highly acclaimed books for kids, including Dude!, Creepy Carrots!, Creepy Pair of Underwear!, Nerdy Birdy, and tons more. He frequently visits schools and his highly participatory presentations are a blast for kids and teachers alike. He lives in the Chicago area with his wife, two kids, four cats, and between three and ten fish, depending on the day.
(source: Amazon)
Aaron Reynolds is a New York Times Bestselling Author of many highly acclaimed books for kids, including Dude!, Creepy Carrots!, Creepy Pair of Underwear!, Nerdy Birdy, and tons more. He frequently visits schools and his highly participatory presentations are a blast for kids and teachers alike. He lives in the Chicago area with his wife, two kids, four cats, and between three and ten fish, depending on the day.
(source: Amazon)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 353 reviews
May 5, 2020
This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Fans of Reynolds’s hilarious picture books will be delighted to find that his sense of humor has transferred perfectly to this longer form. This book made me laugh out loud over and over again. I did not want to put it down! The thing Rex wants most in the world is a chocolate labrador. He’s obsessed. And he’s sure he’s left enough hints for his parents to ensure that he’ll get one for his birthday. Except things don’t go exactly as planned, and after a series of humorous misfortunes, Rex ends up with a very different kind of pet—a very flattened dead chicken. The dead chicken is soon joined by a slew of dead animals from the local zoo. He figures the only way to get rid of them is to help them solve the mystery of their deaths.
I absolutely love the bond between Rex and his best friend Darvish, who’s often the one to come up with the actual good ideas, even though Rex tends to think he’s come up with them all on his own. Rex would very obviously be a mess without him. I’m also a fan of Rex’s crush (which he would deny to the ends of the earth), the incredibly smart and savvy Sami Mulpepper. This little touch of romance is super cute and awkward and relatable. Now, I will say Rex himself might not quite be seen as a role model; he lacks impulse control and makes himself the center of attention at all times. He tends to drive his teacher and his parents just a little bit crazy. But he’s so funny and lovable that it’s hard not to be on his side, even when he’s kind of messing things up. And he does learn a few lessons along the way (and face some consequences for his lack of focus). Role model or not, lots of kids will probably relate to him. What he lacks in good manners, he makes up for in pure positive energy and enthusiasm. And we can all laugh at his exploits along the way.
This is one of the most entertaining books I’ve read in quite a while, and I highly recommend it!!
***Disclosure: I received an ebook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
Fans of Reynolds’s hilarious picture books will be delighted to find that his sense of humor has transferred perfectly to this longer form. This book made me laugh out loud over and over again. I did not want to put it down! The thing Rex wants most in the world is a chocolate labrador. He’s obsessed. And he’s sure he’s left enough hints for his parents to ensure that he’ll get one for his birthday. Except things don’t go exactly as planned, and after a series of humorous misfortunes, Rex ends up with a very different kind of pet—a very flattened dead chicken. The dead chicken is soon joined by a slew of dead animals from the local zoo. He figures the only way to get rid of them is to help them solve the mystery of their deaths.
I absolutely love the bond between Rex and his best friend Darvish, who’s often the one to come up with the actual good ideas, even though Rex tends to think he’s come up with them all on his own. Rex would very obviously be a mess without him. I’m also a fan of Rex’s crush (which he would deny to the ends of the earth), the incredibly smart and savvy Sami Mulpepper. This little touch of romance is super cute and awkward and relatable. Now, I will say Rex himself might not quite be seen as a role model; he lacks impulse control and makes himself the center of attention at all times. He tends to drive his teacher and his parents just a little bit crazy. But he’s so funny and lovable that it’s hard not to be on his side, even when he’s kind of messing things up. And he does learn a few lessons along the way (and face some consequences for his lack of focus). Role model or not, lots of kids will probably relate to him. What he lacks in good manners, he makes up for in pure positive energy and enthusiasm. And we can all laugh at his exploits along the way.
This is one of the most entertaining books I’ve read in quite a while, and I highly recommend it!!
***Disclosure: I received an ebook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
March 12, 2021
Kuudesluokkalaisen Rex Dexterin lemmikkikana jää katujyrän alle ja palaa sitten kummittelemaan pojalle - tosin vähän turhankin ystävällisessä hengessä. Ei kestä aikaakaan, kun Rexin pakeille hakeutuu muitakin henkensä heittäneitä eläimiä, joita kukaan muu ei ole nähnyt ja jotka ovat kuolleet toinen toistaan ikävämmillä tavoilla. Mistä ihmeestä mahtaa oikein olla kysymys?
Vaikka aineksia olisi ollut huimempaankin suoritukseen, niin amerikkalaisen Aaron Reynoldsin "Rex Dexter ja älyttömän kuolleet eläimet" (Jalava, 2021) osoittautui ihan viihdyttäväksi lastenkirjaksi, joka nostatti vähän makaaberista aiheestaan huolimatta hymyn huulille. Lasten dekkaristakin tämä menisi, sillä lukija joutuu keskelle eräänlaista murhamysteeriä.
Hugo Cuellarin kuvitus toi kirjaan mukavaa lisäväriä. Luulenpa, että tätä voisi ryhtyä vinkkaamaan vaikkapa nelos-kuutosluokkalaisille.
Jos pidit tästä, niin kokeilepa myös myös Philip Reeven Elävien kasvien yötä ja Sam Copelandin Sami muuttuu kanaksi -romaania.
Vaikka aineksia olisi ollut huimempaankin suoritukseen, niin amerikkalaisen Aaron Reynoldsin "Rex Dexter ja älyttömän kuolleet eläimet" (Jalava, 2021) osoittautui ihan viihdyttäväksi lastenkirjaksi, joka nostatti vähän makaaberista aiheestaan huolimatta hymyn huulille. Lasten dekkaristakin tämä menisi, sillä lukija joutuu keskelle eräänlaista murhamysteeriä.
Hugo Cuellarin kuvitus toi kirjaan mukavaa lisäväriä. Luulenpa, että tätä voisi ryhtyä vinkkaamaan vaikkapa nelos-kuutosluokkalaisille.
Jos pidit tästä, niin kokeilepa myös myös Philip Reeven Elävien kasvien yötä ja Sam Copelandin Sami muuttuu kanaksi -romaania.
May 11, 2020
Disclaimer: I received this ARC courtesy of Couchfest from Little Brown for Young Readers. I am grateful for the opportunity to review an ARC for my readers, but this will not influence my final rating. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and based solely on the book.
It's been a while since I went on a rant - I'm trying out a new positive, lightful Mandy that brings the cheer - but I had to unleash myself for this one. Again, these are just what I thought and how I reacted when reading this novel, which I thought severely lacked in bringing proper seriousness and compassion to subject material that included murdered animal and animal abuse.
on writing
The writing was close to being a winner, but it definitely had a fatal flaw. The writing had the making of a lot of great humor middle grade novels. There was a decent amount of wit to it. There was a lot of lines - while nothing ever made me laugh out loud - it was clever, and I could appreciate. However, to me, the story was so concerned with the humor and making this book funny that it never brought an emotional connection.
And that was one of the biggest issues that I had with the book - there was no emotional connection. The subject matter is something that should be treated with a lot of sensitivity and should be bringing a major emotional connection. It's a story about murdered animals, and yet, the story never pauses for a second to have one single emotional moment. In one breath, we're introduced to graphically murdered animals and instead of taking a second to mourn their breaths, we're throwing in another funny comment. I love a good humor novel; however, I was overloaded. I wanted to breathe, but I was thrown more and more humor that never stopped.
This is a very short novel, and at times, it would go pretty fast. However, at times, it did feel surprisingly long? I'm not sure if I just got tired from the above issue, but it did move pretty swift. I finally managed to recreate the full binge in one read moment that I've only ever done once before!!
📌 on plot
When I first saw this book, I got excited because GHOSTS. And middle grade!! And then GHOST PETS. However, as I got more and more into the book, I struggled to really fully comprehend the entire subject matter that was being presented. I guess when I walked into the novel, I had thought maybe it was ghost pets that had died long ago - however, the subject matter turned a lot darker than that.
Our story follows Rex Dexter, and all he wants is a dog. However, on his birthday, his parents decide to give him a chicken instead. When he luck runs out in a game, he is cursed to see undead animals. As he sees more and more, he discovers that zoo animals are being murdered, and it's up to him to save the day and uncover who is behind it.
I guess for me, the more I dug deeper into the story, the more concerned I was with the subject material. I mean, animals are being murdered. When I was the middle grade age range, I was banned from playing the Sims because one of my Sims died in a fire and I had a full existential crisis, couldn't sleep at all, and had nightmares. I couldn't even read a ghost story, since I did once and had to sleep with the lights on and The Temptations going at full blast. Reading about animals being murdered continuously is horrifying - especially to someone that thought it might be drawn in by their love of pets.
This is dark, and it's certainly not treated as such especially with the increasing graphic murders of the pets. I had a hard time reading about it (so things that made me sick to my stomach), and I'm worried about what it would do to the middle grade reader's psyche. Everything is treated in a cavalier manner as well, which really got me frustrated. These aren't things to be made light of, yet we are never given a true discussion and focus on just how terrible any of the loss of life is.
It was fast paced, and there is a lot of action in. Things popped up a lot, and the rationale at the end of the novel didn't even make that much sense to me.
📌 on characters
Ugh, the characters. I was not a fan of Rex Dexter. I think I would have been had I had a chance to connect with him. However, we were so focused on the humor and moving the plot along that any chance I had a second to find myself connecting with him, I got another witty comment. He is an irresponsible friend and especially pet owner. Some may say it might be because of age, but I've read a lot more mature and complicated kids and characters in this age range. I had so many issues with a lot of the decisions that he made.
WARNING FOR ANIMAL ABUSE TRIGGER We start off with Dex getting a chicken for his birthday. He decides that he needs to get chicken pet supplies, and he wants to take the chicken to the store, since that's what other pet owners get to do. However, he doesn't have a leash, which he would pick up at the pet store. He decides to improvise with a piece of rope. The chicken panics when he sees it coming around its throat. Rex doesn't care at all and forces it around his throat. After, the chicken is still uneasy with this, so he doesn't want to move. Instead of realizing this is a horrible mistake, Rex drags the chicken on the leash to the pet supply store. I was horrified by this. This is animal abuse, and neither of our young heroes of the story see any problem with this. It's turned into another joke.
While at the store, Dex and his friend find this game that they decide to play - which enacts the curse that allows him to see the dead pets. However, while he is playing that, he loses track of his pet chicken, which gets run over by a steamroller. Right after this, instead of mourning the loss of his pet or animal life period, he complains about how his parents will never let him have a dog now. He makes about 3 comments about how he's sad, but he moves on so quickly. Sure, you can make a comment about lacking in emotional maturity for the age range, but I was certainly more than enough mature to realize that an animal's life is something to not be disregarded as Rex does.
END WARNING FOR ANIMAL ABUSE TRIGGER He doesn't handle the murdered animals with any more regard and maturity either. It's horrifying the lack of emotion he shows with the animals. He even jokingly nicknames a burned rhino, "Tater Tot." Yes, he does actively goes to find who is murdering them, but there is no real passion or injustice than a few odd comments here or there. With how much we don't see or hear, I'm super concerned with young readers looking to him as a hero.
The other side characters were okay, but to me, I wanted more from them. The animals brought a little bit of that middle grade whimsy, but there was no standout character that I enjoyed.
overall
I definitely struggled with this one. It had some promise with the writing, but in between the dark subject matter and more, I found this story to be more than lacking. I sadly can't recommend this one for middle grade audiences.
rating: Merida
representation: Pakistani side character rep
content warnings: animal abuse, animal murder
It's been a while since I went on a rant - I'm trying out a new positive, lightful Mandy that brings the cheer - but I had to unleash myself for this one. Again, these are just what I thought and how I reacted when reading this novel, which I thought severely lacked in bringing proper seriousness and compassion to subject material that included murdered animal and animal abuse.
on writing
The writing was close to being a winner, but it definitely had a fatal flaw. The writing had the making of a lot of great humor middle grade novels. There was a decent amount of wit to it. There was a lot of lines - while nothing ever made me laugh out loud - it was clever, and I could appreciate. However, to me, the story was so concerned with the humor and making this book funny that it never brought an emotional connection.
And that was one of the biggest issues that I had with the book - there was no emotional connection. The subject matter is something that should be treated with a lot of sensitivity and should be bringing a major emotional connection. It's a story about murdered animals, and yet, the story never pauses for a second to have one single emotional moment. In one breath, we're introduced to graphically murdered animals and instead of taking a second to mourn their breaths, we're throwing in another funny comment. I love a good humor novel; however, I was overloaded. I wanted to breathe, but I was thrown more and more humor that never stopped.
This is a very short novel, and at times, it would go pretty fast. However, at times, it did feel surprisingly long? I'm not sure if I just got tired from the above issue, but it did move pretty swift. I finally managed to recreate the full binge in one read moment that I've only ever done once before!!
📌 on plot
When I first saw this book, I got excited because GHOSTS. And middle grade!! And then GHOST PETS. However, as I got more and more into the book, I struggled to really fully comprehend the entire subject matter that was being presented. I guess when I walked into the novel, I had thought maybe it was ghost pets that had died long ago - however, the subject matter turned a lot darker than that.
Our story follows Rex Dexter, and all he wants is a dog. However, on his birthday, his parents decide to give him a chicken instead. When he luck runs out in a game, he is cursed to see undead animals. As he sees more and more, he discovers that zoo animals are being murdered, and it's up to him to save the day and uncover who is behind it.
I guess for me, the more I dug deeper into the story, the more concerned I was with the subject material. I mean, animals are being murdered. When I was the middle grade age range, I was banned from playing the Sims because one of my Sims died in a fire and I had a full existential crisis, couldn't sleep at all, and had nightmares. I couldn't even read a ghost story, since I did once and had to sleep with the lights on and The Temptations going at full blast. Reading about animals being murdered continuously is horrifying - especially to someone that thought it might be drawn in by their love of pets.
This is dark, and it's certainly not treated as such especially with the increasing graphic murders of the pets. I had a hard time reading about it (so things that made me sick to my stomach), and I'm worried about what it would do to the middle grade reader's psyche. Everything is treated in a cavalier manner as well, which really got me frustrated. These aren't things to be made light of, yet we are never given a true discussion and focus on just how terrible any of the loss of life is.
It was fast paced, and there is a lot of action in. Things popped up a lot, and the rationale at the end of the novel didn't even make that much sense to me.
📌 on characters
Ugh, the characters. I was not a fan of Rex Dexter. I think I would have been had I had a chance to connect with him. However, we were so focused on the humor and moving the plot along that any chance I had a second to find myself connecting with him, I got another witty comment. He is an irresponsible friend and especially pet owner. Some may say it might be because of age, but I've read a lot more mature and complicated kids and characters in this age range. I had so many issues with a lot of the decisions that he made.
WARNING FOR ANIMAL ABUSE TRIGGER We start off with Dex getting a chicken for his birthday. He decides that he needs to get chicken pet supplies, and he wants to take the chicken to the store, since that's what other pet owners get to do. However, he doesn't have a leash, which he would pick up at the pet store. He decides to improvise with a piece of rope. The chicken panics when he sees it coming around its throat. Rex doesn't care at all and forces it around his throat. After, the chicken is still uneasy with this, so he doesn't want to move. Instead of realizing this is a horrible mistake, Rex drags the chicken on the leash to the pet supply store. I was horrified by this. This is animal abuse, and neither of our young heroes of the story see any problem with this. It's turned into another joke.
While at the store, Dex and his friend find this game that they decide to play - which enacts the curse that allows him to see the dead pets. However, while he is playing that, he loses track of his pet chicken, which gets run over by a steamroller. Right after this, instead of mourning the loss of his pet or animal life period, he complains about how his parents will never let him have a dog now. He makes about 3 comments about how he's sad, but he moves on so quickly. Sure, you can make a comment about lacking in emotional maturity for the age range, but I was certainly more than enough mature to realize that an animal's life is something to not be disregarded as Rex does.
END WARNING FOR ANIMAL ABUSE TRIGGER He doesn't handle the murdered animals with any more regard and maturity either. It's horrifying the lack of emotion he shows with the animals. He even jokingly nicknames a burned rhino, "Tater Tot." Yes, he does actively goes to find who is murdering them, but there is no real passion or injustice than a few odd comments here or there. With how much we don't see or hear, I'm super concerned with young readers looking to him as a hero.
The other side characters were okay, but to me, I wanted more from them. The animals brought a little bit of that middle grade whimsy, but there was no standout character that I enjoyed.
overall
I definitely struggled with this one. It had some promise with the writing, but in between the dark subject matter and more, I found this story to be more than lacking. I sadly can't recommend this one for middle grade audiences.
rating: Merida
representation: Pakistani side character rep
content warnings: animal abuse, animal murder
October 21, 2022
Yup. Dead pets. Incredible dead pets. The title and the description that includes information on a middle grade student, Rex Dexter, who gains the ability to talk and see animals who have died with unresolved issues raises thoughts of eerie and potentially creepy. Nope. Aaron Reynolds’ book is a terrific mix of the fantasy of the afterlife, the drama of best friends, strict teachers and a very pretty and distracting girl, plus the mysterious deaths of several animals at the nearby zoo. And just why is Rex being visited by the specters of murdered creatures? Because he made a wish for a dog via a carnival type game and it backfired on him. (Yes, this is shades of Tom Hanks’ “Big” movie which best friend Darvish does point out.) Funny scenarios, including a spa day follow, and by the end, readers will want more adventures with Rex. Fortunately, book 2, Narwhal I’m Around is also available now! Great characterization, cause/effect and problem resolution lessons possible with this book and no concern about things such as profanity or sexual content. All the animals are killed in rather gruesome ways, but the details are stated in such a way that most MG readers will not be disturbed. Great choice for humor-seeking students in grades 4-6.
A 2021-2022 Texas Bluebonnet Award nominee
A 2021-2022 Texas Bluebonnet Award nominee
February 7, 2020
Many thanks to Net galley for an ARC. This is such a fun story and had me laughing out loud on several occasions. Perfect for young readers. Rex and Darvish are good friends and share a lot of adventures. Rex receives The Grim Reaper curse. Throughout the book, various dead animals flock to him.
The book is well written and has a good storyline. The characters are realistic and fun to be with.
The book is well written and has a good storyline. The characters are realistic and fun to be with.
June 1, 2023
Funny paranormal fantasy tale aimed at middle grade readers featuring a mystery about dead zoo animals and the "cursed" boy, Rex Dexter, who attempts to discover the cause.
March 10, 2020
What a blast! Aaron Reynolds takes on chapter books... and ROCKS IT. Kids will laugh hysterically... so if you loved Creepy Carrots & Creepy Pair of Underwear, get ready for more weird and more FUN!
September 24, 2021
No niin.
Hei, olen Reetta ja palannut lastenkirjastotyöhön.
Luen lanua mielelläni ja ymmärrän mielestäni kohtuudella mukuloiden mieltä. Osaan olla kiltti tai pahis tarpeen mukaan.
Tällainen huumori uppoaa luettuna hampaat kirskuen mutta vinkkaan hymy huulilla. Kunpa tämä anglokohellus menisi kohta pois muodista.
ps. Olen mielestäni huumorintajuinen. Tosi huumorintajuinen. Nih.
Hei, olen Reetta ja palannut lastenkirjastotyöhön.
Luen lanua mielelläni ja ymmärrän mielestäni kohtuudella mukuloiden mieltä. Osaan olla kiltti tai pahis tarpeen mukaan.
Tällainen huumori uppoaa luettuna hampaat kirskuen mutta vinkkaan hymy huulilla. Kunpa tämä anglokohellus menisi kohta pois muodista.
ps. Olen mielestäni huumorintajuinen. Tosi huumorintajuinen. Nih.
October 24, 2024
What a snickering joy! Rex is an egocentric, opinionated, disrespectful, loud mouth who really deserves everything that comes to him, even if it's the ghost of a charred rhino. When Rex is cursed by the Grim Reaper and starts being visited by the souls of recently departed mammals (except for the shark that really doesn't count), he has to broaden his perspective and learn to take an interest in someone, or something besides himself, a change which will bring a small amount of relief to his exasperated parents, much put upon teacher, and manipulated school mates. This middle grade novel is sure to be a hit with rambunctious tweens and those who take an interest in them whatever the age!
Thanks to NetGalley and Disney-Hyperion for making an advance copy of this title available for an honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley and Disney-Hyperion for making an advance copy of this title available for an honest review.
January 30, 2023
This book was amazing, I love the way that Rex Dexter named his dead pets. The front cover was not lying when it said that this book is incredibly dead and incredibly funny, this is partly because Darvish
has no self consciousness. Finally, this was an amazing book because of how detailed the writing was and obviously how funny the book was.
has no self consciousness. Finally, this was an amazing book because of how detailed the writing was and obviously how funny the book was.
August 14, 2023
Rex Dexter is basically Timmy Failure, but just a little bit smarter (not difficult).
Rex's cynicism gets to be draining after a while. I'd like to see Darvesh narrate for a bit.
Did not finish.
Rex's cynicism gets to be draining after a while. I'd like to see Darvesh narrate for a bit.
Did not finish.
April 19, 2020
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher and netgalley. Thanks! All opinions are my own!
Book: The Incredibly Dead Pets of Rex Dexter
Author: Aaron Reynolds
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 2/5
Publication Date: April 28, 2020
Genre: MG Fantasy
Recommended Age: 12+ (animal deaths, rude comments/attitude to others)
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 224
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Rex Dexter is itching to have a dog. He was practically born to have one. His name is Rex, for crying out loud. It's a dog's name. Any pooch is preferable, but a chocolate Labrador is the pinnacle. The best of the best. The dream of all dreams.
When Rex's B-Day for Me-Day finally arrives, his parents surprise him with a box. A box with holes. A box with holes and adorable scratchy noises coming from inside. Could it be? Yes! It has to be! A . . . a . . .
Chicken?
Pet poultry?
How clucky.
One hour and fourteen minutes later, the chicken is dead (by a steamroller), Rex is cursed (by the Grim Reaper), and wild animals are haunting Rex's room (hounding him for answers). Even his best friend Darvish is not going to believe this, and that kid believes everything.
Rex's uninvited ghostly guests are a chatty, messy bunch. And they need Rex to solve their mysterious deadly departures from the Middling Falls Zoo before it happens again.
But how?
New York Times best-selling author Aaron Reynolds delivers a wickedly funny debut title in The Incredibly Dead Pets of Rex Dexter series.
Review: So, I liked the book ok. It had great writing, the mystery was well done, and the message about taking care of animals is great! I also liked the pacing of the book.
However, I have a big issue with the book. I thought that the book wasn’t very well suited for younger children. The main character makes many mean spirited comments about friends and family and others. The main character also doesn’t apologize for them. I thought this was an attempt at humor, but you can be funny without being rude and that rudeness shouldn’t be taught to young children. The book also had a lot of older references that young children probably won’t get.
Verdict: It was ok, but can’t recommend to young kids.
Book: The Incredibly Dead Pets of Rex Dexter
Author: Aaron Reynolds
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 2/5
Publication Date: April 28, 2020
Genre: MG Fantasy
Recommended Age: 12+ (animal deaths, rude comments/attitude to others)
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 224
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Rex Dexter is itching to have a dog. He was practically born to have one. His name is Rex, for crying out loud. It's a dog's name. Any pooch is preferable, but a chocolate Labrador is the pinnacle. The best of the best. The dream of all dreams.
When Rex's B-Day for Me-Day finally arrives, his parents surprise him with a box. A box with holes. A box with holes and adorable scratchy noises coming from inside. Could it be? Yes! It has to be! A . . . a . . .
Chicken?
Pet poultry?
How clucky.
One hour and fourteen minutes later, the chicken is dead (by a steamroller), Rex is cursed (by the Grim Reaper), and wild animals are haunting Rex's room (hounding him for answers). Even his best friend Darvish is not going to believe this, and that kid believes everything.
Rex's uninvited ghostly guests are a chatty, messy bunch. And they need Rex to solve their mysterious deadly departures from the Middling Falls Zoo before it happens again.
But how?
New York Times best-selling author Aaron Reynolds delivers a wickedly funny debut title in The Incredibly Dead Pets of Rex Dexter series.
Review: So, I liked the book ok. It had great writing, the mystery was well done, and the message about taking care of animals is great! I also liked the pacing of the book.
However, I have a big issue with the book. I thought that the book wasn’t very well suited for younger children. The main character makes many mean spirited comments about friends and family and others. The main character also doesn’t apologize for them. I thought this was an attempt at humor, but you can be funny without being rude and that rudeness shouldn’t be taught to young children. The book also had a lot of older references that young children probably won’t get.
Verdict: It was ok, but can’t recommend to young kids.
February 3, 2020
As a mother, a teacher, and even a friend you think about the worst possibilities of people. As a mother you are terrified of that kid in your child's class that you are silently begging them not to be friends with. As a teacher you dread the student that never heard the concept of raising their hand, let alone learned it. That one student that loves power struggles in front of the rest of the class in hopes that you will be wrong. As a kid you think of the perfect BFF and quickly chase away thoughts of the "bully" that slowly creep in.
Somehow when you start reading "The Incredibly Dead Pets of Rex Dexter" (it's a mouthful but worth every syllable) you forget all about those fears.
Rex Dexter is everything described above and maybe even more. He is self absorbed, egotistical, manipulative, and always right. At one point he steals his loyal best friend's extra credit. No apology, no thank you, just a conversation about how he could no way be at fault. In case you didn't know, extra credit lives in a free playing field apparently. Yep that's Rex.
The only new addition to the "Rex Show" is that he can now see dead zoo animals. They may be ghosts but somehow they still take up room in his bed. These highly animated and sometimes disfigured animals won't be going anywhere until Rex can help solve their deaths. This is an extremely hilarious even at times baffling story that would make a great read aloud for any classroom. If, you can handle stopping every couple of pages for a roar of laughter.
Somehow when you start reading "The Incredibly Dead Pets of Rex Dexter" (it's a mouthful but worth every syllable) you forget all about those fears.
Rex Dexter is everything described above and maybe even more. He is self absorbed, egotistical, manipulative, and always right. At one point he steals his loyal best friend's extra credit. No apology, no thank you, just a conversation about how he could no way be at fault. In case you didn't know, extra credit lives in a free playing field apparently. Yep that's Rex.
The only new addition to the "Rex Show" is that he can now see dead zoo animals. They may be ghosts but somehow they still take up room in his bed. These highly animated and sometimes disfigured animals won't be going anywhere until Rex can help solve their deaths. This is an extremely hilarious even at times baffling story that would make a great read aloud for any classroom. If, you can handle stopping every couple of pages for a roar of laughter.
November 9, 2019
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a DRC of this title for review. All opinions are my own.
This is a funny, laugh-out-loud type of book perfect for readers in grades 4-7. Rex Dexter wants nothing more than a dog. A chocolate Labrador to be exact. His parents aren't so sure he is ready for this type of pet (his first pet, a fish, was flushed inadvertently-while still alive-less than a half hour after being brought home), so they give him a chicken for his birthday. When Rex takes his chicken to the pet store to get supplies, he stumbles across an old carnival game. When he loses his game, he is cursed, which doesn't seem too bad, until he realizes his pet chicken has been steamrolled while standing there waiting at the game. And that gets even worse when said dead chicken comes back to haunt him the next day. Because his curse at the game? To be a conduit for dead animals. And with the recent rash of exotic animal deaths at the local zoo, Rex's room is getting downright crowded (and dirty). It's up to Rex to solve the crime so the animals can pass on from this life. He thinks he's up to it, as long as his best friend and sidekick Darvish helps him out.
Like I said, this is a funny book. Middle grade readers will definitely enjoy it. I am going to add it to my spring book order and know that I will have many readers who will find Rex funny and will like the quick paced action of the story. Highly recommend.
This is a funny, laugh-out-loud type of book perfect for readers in grades 4-7. Rex Dexter wants nothing more than a dog. A chocolate Labrador to be exact. His parents aren't so sure he is ready for this type of pet (his first pet, a fish, was flushed inadvertently-while still alive-less than a half hour after being brought home), so they give him a chicken for his birthday. When Rex takes his chicken to the pet store to get supplies, he stumbles across an old carnival game. When he loses his game, he is cursed, which doesn't seem too bad, until he realizes his pet chicken has been steamrolled while standing there waiting at the game. And that gets even worse when said dead chicken comes back to haunt him the next day. Because his curse at the game? To be a conduit for dead animals. And with the recent rash of exotic animal deaths at the local zoo, Rex's room is getting downright crowded (and dirty). It's up to Rex to solve the crime so the animals can pass on from this life. He thinks he's up to it, as long as his best friend and sidekick Darvish helps him out.
Like I said, this is a funny book. Middle grade readers will definitely enjoy it. I am going to add it to my spring book order and know that I will have many readers who will find Rex funny and will like the quick paced action of the story. Highly recommend.
March 31, 2021
As I was reading, I was rating and reviewing in my head, and it went wildly up and down. Some parts I'd give a solid 4 and think it would make a brilliant grade 3 class read-aloud, and in other parts I'd give a 1 and not want anyone to read it.
These parts include the arrogance and narcissism of the main character, the total lack of respect for authority (parents and teachers), the mocking belittlement of that authority (the scene where he flushed the pillow down the toilet and blames the dad made me fume), and his rudeness and lack of interpersonal relationship skills when dealing with his friend (stealing his presentation and his total lack of being able to see things from his friends point of view and acting as though his friend was stupid).
This is a character who needed to learn some manners and how to be a decent human being without your head up your own butt back when he was a toddler. This character is not one we'd want for our child's friend. This is NOT a character we want to give to readers.
The 1-star parts vastly outweigh the 4-star parts, so it gets a 2.
I thought the premise was great and I went into it expecting to love it, so I'm really disappointed that I can't recommend it. I had mentioned it to a few people pre-publication as a suggestion for what their sons might like, and now I wish I hadn't.
These parts include the arrogance and narcissism of the main character, the total lack of respect for authority (parents and teachers), the mocking belittlement of that authority (the scene where he flushed the pillow down the toilet and blames the dad made me fume), and his rudeness and lack of interpersonal relationship skills when dealing with his friend (stealing his presentation and his total lack of being able to see things from his friends point of view and acting as though his friend was stupid).
This is a character who needed to learn some manners and how to be a decent human being without your head up your own butt back when he was a toddler. This character is not one we'd want for our child's friend. This is NOT a character we want to give to readers.
The 1-star parts vastly outweigh the 4-star parts, so it gets a 2.
I thought the premise was great and I went into it expecting to love it, so I'm really disappointed that I can't recommend it. I had mentioned it to a few people pre-publication as a suggestion for what their sons might like, and now I wish I hadn't.
December 1, 2020
Rex wants a dog more than anything. He keeps hinting about how he would like a chocolate lab, but because of a goldfish mishap his parents don't think he is responsible enough. So when his birthday comes around instead of a dog he gets a chicken, yes I said chicken...lol.
They are calling the chicken his practice pet, but who on earth has a pet chicken? When he realizes he doesn't know how to take care of one him and his friend go to the pet store with the chicken on a leash. Rex gets distracted by a game that looks a bit like the game from BIG, but with a grim reaper and he gets cursed because he doesn't win. He doesn't think much about it but he has wished for a pet but the curse is the exact opposite, dead pets. Before you know it his bedroom is getting filled up with dead animals from the local zoo.
They are pretty sure there deaths were not an accident so Rex and his friend do some investigating to try and figure out who is killing the zoo animals and why.
Super fun read! Rex was a little bit annoying but the dead pets make up for it! I am not sure I could pick a favorite dead pet they were all pretty cool! Totally recommend! Illustrations are great too!
They are calling the chicken his practice pet, but who on earth has a pet chicken? When he realizes he doesn't know how to take care of one him and his friend go to the pet store with the chicken on a leash. Rex gets distracted by a game that looks a bit like the game from BIG, but with a grim reaper and he gets cursed because he doesn't win. He doesn't think much about it but he has wished for a pet but the curse is the exact opposite, dead pets. Before you know it his bedroom is getting filled up with dead animals from the local zoo.
They are pretty sure there deaths were not an accident so Rex and his friend do some investigating to try and figure out who is killing the zoo animals and why.
Super fun read! Rex was a little bit annoying but the dead pets make up for it! I am not sure I could pick a favorite dead pet they were all pretty cool! Totally recommend! Illustrations are great too!
July 16, 2020
L.O.L. I chuckled quite a bit in this one. Would be a fun one to read along with your kids or to watch them laugh while they read. It has this weird little dark undertone of animal death (that semi-come back to life) but you see some semblance of justice in the end. Regardless, hilarious comedic timing for the win.
February 21, 2020
Rex Dexter is like any kid. He wants a pet of his own. Problem is his parents don’t believe he is responsible enough for a pet. (He kept his goldfish alive for mere minutes after it got home.). When his parents present Rex with a pet chicken for his birthday, it meets an unfortunate end a little over an hour later. Tragic right? Rex thinks not, he kept it alive so much longer than the goldfish.
When Rex is cursed with the ability to see dead animals, his pet chicken is the first. Then more dead animals start showing up and it is up to Rex, and his best friend Darvish, to figure out how they died so the animals can pass on to the great beyond.
This children’s novel is hilarious! I found myself laughing at multiple places throughout the book. Rex is not so smart but makes up for it in ego. Darvish, who has more brains, makes a great “sidekick.” The friendship between those two keep the momentum of the story going. There is a good amount of sub plots to keep the story interesting. I think that Mr. Reynolds has a winner on his hands. I can certainly see this being the next Wimpy Kid series.if you have elementary kids, you’ll want to pick this one up for them.
Thank you netgalley.com for providing me an ARC of this book.
When Rex is cursed with the ability to see dead animals, his pet chicken is the first. Then more dead animals start showing up and it is up to Rex, and his best friend Darvish, to figure out how they died so the animals can pass on to the great beyond.
This children’s novel is hilarious! I found myself laughing at multiple places throughout the book. Rex is not so smart but makes up for it in ego. Darvish, who has more brains, makes a great “sidekick.” The friendship between those two keep the momentum of the story going. There is a good amount of sub plots to keep the story interesting. I think that Mr. Reynolds has a winner on his hands. I can certainly see this being the next Wimpy Kid series.if you have elementary kids, you’ll want to pick this one up for them.
Thank you netgalley.com for providing me an ARC of this book.
August 31, 2021
Rex Dexter is an unreliable narrator of the delusional variety, fooling himself into thinking he is much more capable and reasonable than he really is. His personality displays the same lame rationalizations, so he is regularly dismissed by those he deals with; something he blithely ignores. So when people don't believe that he can suddenly see the ghosts of dead animals, he charges ahead as though everything is business as usual. The animals--flattened, charred, or otherwise displaying the marks of their untimely demises--demand he solve the mysteries of their deaths, a task Rex jumps into with enthusiasm and glee. This is fun, sarcastic, and dark humor that many young readers are sure to love.
June 3, 2024
I would recommend this book to fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid . The main character, Rex Dexter runs along the same pattern as Greg Heffley-snarky, narcissistic, and blessed to have a friend who is smarter than he is.
After messing with an old fortune-telling machine, Rex is cursed with the ability to see and communicate with recently deceased animals, such as his pet chicken whom he accidently allowed to get run over with a steamroller. After a number of murdered zoo animals join the chicken in haunting Rex, the boy must figure out who is behind the killings...and why no one appreciates his genius.
The humor is silly, which is appealing, but I think I prefer some of Daniel Pinkwater's books, such as The Hoboken Chicken Emergency and Looking for Bobowicz which are off-the-wall silly, but with less snark. Mr. Chickee's Funny Money by Christopher Paul Curtis is another good example of less-abrasive silly humor.
After messing with an old fortune-telling machine, Rex is cursed with the ability to see and communicate with recently deceased animals, such as his pet chicken whom he accidently allowed to get run over with a steamroller. After a number of murdered zoo animals join the chicken in haunting Rex, the boy must figure out who is behind the killings...and why no one appreciates his genius.
The humor is silly, which is appealing, but I think I prefer some of Daniel Pinkwater's books, such as The Hoboken Chicken Emergency and Looking for Bobowicz which are off-the-wall silly, but with less snark. Mr. Chickee's Funny Money by Christopher Paul Curtis is another good example of less-abrasive silly humor.
July 5, 2021
Rex Dexter is unique in that dead animals seek him out when they have trouble moving to the next stage of existence. He is the only one who can see or hear them, and he usually solves the mystery of what happened to them, thus freeing them to move on. Rex jumps to conclusions and operates in a pretty self-absorbed bubble through much of the book. He takes his best friend for granted and makes ridiculous assumptions about the feelings of a girl in his class towards him, and it wasn’t clear to me why any child would want to befriend him! But I’m not the target audience and I think 9-11 year old boys might find him more appealing. I will look for #2 in the series!
January 25, 2023
Kuuntelin tämän englanniksi. Ihan ok, mutta henk koht mua tökkii tämä Neropatti-tyylinen mukahauska poikapäähenkilöstereotypia. Itsekäs, ilkeä ja omahyväinen tyyppi joka luulee tietävänsä kaiken ja kohtelee ympärillä olevia huonosti. Mielestäni se ei ole hauskaa, eikä myöskään vastaa todellisuutta. Samaa sarjaa mainoksissa koheltavien mies-idioottien kanssa.
Ajatus kummittelevista lemmikeistä on kyllä sinänsä ihan hauska ja aika vähän käytetty.
Ajatus kummittelevista lemmikeistä on kyllä sinänsä ihan hauska ja aika vähän käytetty.
February 6, 2024
10/10 would recommend as a family read-a-loud, especially if you like to use voices 🤣
A: 4 stars, it’s not the funniest book ever, except that one joke I made you say a million times. Chickens don’t pee or poop, they peep! (We found this so hilarious and I think it was requested I say some Drumstick quote every night!)
O:5 stars- I liked that there was a rhino named Tater Tot and he stopped the bad guy.
A: 4 stars, it’s not the funniest book ever, except that one joke I made you say a million times. Chickens don’t pee or poop, they peep! (We found this so hilarious and I think it was requested I say some Drumstick quote every night!)
O:5 stars- I liked that there was a rhino named Tater Tot and he stopped the bad guy.
February 10, 2022
Laugh out loud funny! I love all of Aaron Reynolds' picture books, so I was thrilled when I saw he had written a new chapter book series! Quick, fun read. Between Reynolds' writing and the illustrations, it reads like you're watching a Nickelodeon or Disney Channel show so it's an easy sell for kiddos.
- Reviewed by Roxie I.
- Reviewed by Roxie I.
February 2, 2021
I read lots of easy novels seeing I work in an elementary school library. This book was hilarious, like laugh out loud funny. Rex has a dry sense of humor that I think kids and adults will enjoy. I really liked the extensive vocabulary. I can't wait for the next one to come out!
April 1, 2021
En tykänny yhtään. Olen virallisesti kypsyny näihin omahyväisiin, rikkiviisaisiin mäntteihin, joihin poikien pitäisi ilmeisesti sitten samaistua ja innostua lukemaan. Tylsää, teennäistä toikkarointia, jonka tiimellyksessä paiskotaan muutama pläskivitsi ja tölvitään tuttuun tapaan menossa mukana roikkuvaa kaveria, koska eihän niistä saa kelpo miehenalkuna pahemmin välittää.
January 29, 2025
This book was a very strange read to add to my Goodreads, but I’m trying to read more of a variety and this kids book was one I needed to proof before adding to my classroom library. The 4 stars does not mean I would recommend to my friends, but as far as a kids novel, it was quite funny and an interesting concept. Definitely going to be adding to my library as the writing style reminds me a lot of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and the vocabulary used is challenging!
April 25, 2020
Fun fun fun! Exactly what I expected from Aaron Reynolds
July 29, 2020
Thanks Morgan, you were right it was so funny!
August 12, 2021
I thought this was so cute and couldn't stop giggling at the goofy artwork. Obviously written for kids, but also enjoyable for people with a kid's sense of humor.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 353 reviews