What do you think?
Rate this book
Monster Island
The inventive, hilarious and deliciously spooky second book from Mr Spicebag author, Freddie Alexander
First off, let’s get one thing clear. Creatures under the bed are real
Let me repeat.
CREATURES UNDER THE BED ARE REAL…
Eleven-year-old Sam has been shipped off from her city home to the wild and windy Draumur Island, where she lives in an old lighthouse with Grandad and his surly goat, Myrtle.
Not all is as it seems on Draumur Island, and her bonkers grandad keeps telling Sam to put jam on her feet before bedtime to keep the creatures away. But then Sam wakes to hear an odd squelching sound coming from under the bed…
Is it just Myrtle eating another one of Sam’s socks? Or are Grandad’s tales of mysterious creatures on the island true? Better get the jam, just in case!
First off, let’s get one thing clear. Creatures under the bed are real
Let me repeat.
CREATURES UNDER THE BED ARE REAL…
Eleven-year-old Sam has been shipped off from her city home to the wild and windy Draumur Island, where she lives in an old lighthouse with Grandad and his surly goat, Myrtle.
Not all is as it seems on Draumur Island, and her bonkers grandad keeps telling Sam to put jam on her feet before bedtime to keep the creatures away. But then Sam wakes to hear an odd squelching sound coming from under the bed…
Is it just Myrtle eating another one of Sam’s socks? Or are Grandad’s tales of mysterious creatures on the island true? Better get the jam, just in case!
224 pages, Hardcover
Published November 29, 2022
10 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 8, 2025
I bought this book last year at one of my favourite book shops, @greatreadswhitby, and thought it sounded fun, but it was more than that. I loved it! It was great! Spectacular! But enough gushing, let's get into the review.
🐐
So the book is quite dark, for a children's book. It starts off with our main character, Sam, becoming an orphan and meeting her grandfather for the first time. They instantly have a bond, and she moves to Dreymur Isle, very north of Ireland, a very isolated island. Once settled in and befriending her grandfather's goat, Myrtle, her grandfather starts to tell her that monsters under the bed are in fact very real and that they will come after children only.
Soon, Sam, her grandfather, Myrtle, and her new friends will have to defend their home against the monsters, at whatever the cost.
🐐
This book was written so fluidly that within seconds, I was lost in the pages.
I found the narration easy and fun, the characters easy to imagine, and yes, even though it's sat in the sofa reading, not in bed, my feet were tucked under me, just in case!
🐐
For me, this book was a perfect mix of Lemony Snicket, Roald Dahl, and Goosebumps.
Even though this book is aimed at younger readers, I loved it. Like I said, it was easy to get lost in the story, but it was fun, too.
🐐
If you like goats, jam, Wellington boots that are six sizes too big, friends teaming up to defeat monsters, and a teacher that's also a dentist, then go buy this book.
But don't forget, monsters under the bed are real... Don't say I didn't warn you.
🐐
🐐
So the book is quite dark, for a children's book. It starts off with our main character, Sam, becoming an orphan and meeting her grandfather for the first time. They instantly have a bond, and she moves to Dreymur Isle, very north of Ireland, a very isolated island. Once settled in and befriending her grandfather's goat, Myrtle, her grandfather starts to tell her that monsters under the bed are in fact very real and that they will come after children only.
Soon, Sam, her grandfather, Myrtle, and her new friends will have to defend their home against the monsters, at whatever the cost.
🐐
This book was written so fluidly that within seconds, I was lost in the pages.
I found the narration easy and fun, the characters easy to imagine, and yes, even though it's sat in the sofa reading, not in bed, my feet were tucked under me, just in case!
🐐
For me, this book was a perfect mix of Lemony Snicket, Roald Dahl, and Goosebumps.
Even though this book is aimed at younger readers, I loved it. Like I said, it was easy to get lost in the story, but it was fun, too.
🐐
If you like goats, jam, Wellington boots that are six sizes too big, friends teaming up to defeat monsters, and a teacher that's also a dentist, then go buy this book.
But don't forget, monsters under the bed are real... Don't say I didn't warn you.
🐐
October 13, 2025
Such a fun book for kids!
My nine year old really enjoyed this and it kept him captivated with each chapter.
A fun story where monsters under the bed are real and the way to fight them is really bizarre! Grandad is a very odd but lovable character and Myrtle his goat is a funny addition.
The story is not too difficult to grasp but, although the concept of people's surnames being their trade is historically accurate, my son didn't quite get it.
Great fun though, with a boss fight at the end. Plus it regularly breaks the 4th wall which made my son giggle.
My nine year old really enjoyed this and it kept him captivated with each chapter.
A fun story where monsters under the bed are real and the way to fight them is really bizarre! Grandad is a very odd but lovable character and Myrtle his goat is a funny addition.
The story is not too difficult to grasp but, although the concept of people's surnames being their trade is historically accurate, my son didn't quite get it.
Great fun though, with a boss fight at the end. Plus it regularly breaks the 4th wall which made my son giggle.
February 18, 2024
This tale was full of humour monsters and tragedy. I loved how often the author broke the fourth wall.
Absolutely would recommend. Looking forward to the next book from this author.
Absolutely would recommend. Looking forward to the next book from this author.
July 16, 2023
Love this book! It’s so fun to read
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews