✰ 4 stars ✰
“You have to swing, Kyle. Even if you’re going down, at least go down swinging.”
With steady pacing, well-fleshed out characters, an intriguing plot, and strong cohesive writing, Let the Monster Out is another wonderful testament of Chad Lucas' writing. It's a heart-felt read that explores the challenges of our personal mental struggles and how they can manifest into something out of our hands, if we don't have the time to take a look at ourselves. It is actually truly commendable that Mr. Lucas was able to incorporate science fiction/horror elements into a story that addresses some heavy issues concerning domestic violence, parental abuse, racism, and mental health - and still do it with a very poignant and caring touch that made all the concerns expressed so much more valid. 😟😟
The story revolves around two very distinctive and different protagonists - Bones - a Black, bold and brave boy, whose family has recently moved into a mostly White neighborhood and Kyle - a young boy on the autism spectrum, who sees things in a different way than others. Somehow, their friendship works - they are so vastly different, but they become friends - the best of friends - on unsteady footing, but transcend into a bond that the other would there to help in the blink of an eye, despite the ups and downs that plague their newly-found friendship.
“Friends don’t abandon each other when it’s tough.”
The friendship theme was really strong for me in this one - it just captured their dynamic so well that it felt real and tangible. Built on the reassurance and steady strength - for both of them, for whatever problems they were dealing with personally or at home - through baseball references or white boards analysis - there was this general comfort that prevailed from their dynamic - that warmed my heart - that there is someone looking out for you - believes in you and will reach out a hand to pull you of the darkness, be it in the real world or a dream. 🥺🥺
“Kyle was still watching him. “You are definitely the most interesting person I know,” he said.”
Bones is bold and brave and bound to reveal the cause behind the mysterious actions that is affecting his family and friends. The responsibility of being a big brother and support to his mother weighs heavily on him - my heart ached for him - he's the product of some really bad parenting - so shockingly grim and disturbingly so that it hurt me - that I recoiled in pain for what he's had to endure - at times, an inner war raged within me over the monstrosity. 😢 One can only commend the author for his play on the title - the double entendre, one that applies to so much more than just the literal sense. The build-up to the climax heightened so very much the reveal - how it wasn't best for him to carry the burden on his own for so long - all the guilt over the trauma his family has faced. It just really captured so much - and the writing shined in how it brought everything together. ❤️🩹❤️🩹
“Are you kidding?” Bones blurted. “You’re the best friend I’ve ever had.”
Kyle was a sweetheart - a boy who was always determined to be better than he was - to fit into the crowd - to let others see that he's more than the awkward boy they see. Chad Lucas portrayed that feeling of not fitting in - the odd ball out so very well - but he rose to defeat each challenge so strongly and proudly. I loved his defiance, I loved that he was so resolute and determined not to change who he is, but bring who he is and his talents to the team. He and Bones made such a great sleuthing team and some of their tender confessions of just being so open about their feelings warmed my heart so - no hidden agenda, just raw open feelings of caring. 🥹 🥹
“People are most vulnerable when they wish they’d made a different choice in life. It’s still fear, in a way—fear they’ve made a mistake they can never undo, something that will haunt them forever.”
I really appreciated the creative way in which he tackled some very heavy sensitive issues - in a unique scientific, yet honest approach. It was meaningful and impactful and well-done - the villains didn't feel like cardboard cut-outs. They had a motive and a plan with a purpose; children who do resonate with Stranger Things-esque vibe and who may also be struggling with issues like Bones and Kyle will really connect with this. It is a dark story, rather painful and traumatic, but through the power of friendship, the kindness and good was able to outweigh the bad thoughts - to defeat the demons that lie dormant within us. There is also an excellent balance in the humor and dramatic moments provided by the levity the young kids, who are struggling, but surviving. 👍🏻 👍🏻
“Parents were supposed to take care of their kids, and people were supposed to take care of one another—and the planet too—but it didn’t always work that way.
Everything was always in flux. Some people were willing to break everything for money, or power, or because they were broken too.”
And I may have already stated this before, but I feel the need to reiterate myself. It's funny when I see someone say that a Middle Grade book is targeted only for the audience of this age group - I disagree. I'm in my thirties, and I still feel that, parents can even benefit from reading middle grade books. it should really read - ages this and above - because, you never know how much you can learn from a book that is written for a younger audience - what kind of stories can be told in their voices that still speak to us today. 😔 😔 It is truly commendable for an author to portray; and, especially, if you know the genre that you're about to read - I think, it would appeal to readers a lot more, before dismissing it and not taking a chance on something that can really leave an impact on you.