Brass Monkeys

by Terry Caszatt

Bumbling, cowardly Eugene is forced to transfer to a new school in northern Michigan—in the middle of the year, and in the middle of a blizzard. Eugene is used to weird things happening in his life, but this new place feels really bad. He has no idea how bad it’s going to get until he meets his new English teacher, "Ming the Merciless." To save his classmates from a fatal graduation from Ming’s School of the Brass Monkeys, Eugene must deliver an unfinished book to a legendary teacher named McGinty, who is hiding in the underworld. With the help of some renegade teachers and his new friends, he begins an epic journey to find McGinty. Will Eugene survive the Cliffs of Notes and the Sea of Hot Lunches? Will he reach McGinty in time to expose Ming’s plot? A great choice for the reluctant reader, BRASS MONKEYS is action-packed and full of twists and turns. It’s sure to keep readers guessing until the very end.

Genres: Young Adult

352 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Terry Caszatt is a writer and teacher from Northern Michigan. A veteran instructor from the creative writing staff at Interlochen Center for the Arts, he's also a graduate of the University of Iowa, where he worked in the famous Writers Workshop.

Reviews

[Mark Buxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

My name is Eugene Wise, and you must admit I look nothing like a hero. I'll spare you the details, but my new friends think I'm the savior of all school kids across the country. A crazy woman named Ming has taken kids down to Monkeyopolis where she's going to suck out their Amberlight, stealing their hopes and dreams. A strange man said I can stop her by giving a red book to McGinty. However, I don't know where he is, and Ming has all of her Stormies searching for me! I need to save Harriet and my other friends who've already been changed into monkey drones. The only plan I can think of is to sneak into Ming's fortress, sneak through the sewer pipes, and sneak into a secret cave where McGinty might be hiding. Sounds crazy, but "C'mon, me, don't give up now!"

If you don't have a tolerance for silliness, you won't enjoy this book, as kids traveling to the underground world become monkeys once they arrive. There are many references to items and ideas found in schools that are used in strange, new ways. Ming's guards use weapons that fire old tests and erasers. The tests will cause you to become terribly depressed, while the erasers will wipe out all of your memories. Buildings and vehicles are made from old desks and chalkboards. Despite the unusual plot, the book describes an entertaining adventure with an unassuming protagonist. Eugene doesn't think he's anything special, yet he's constantly talking himself into performing brave deeds. He won't leave his friends and allies in danger, which sometimes created bigger problems. The story includes many references to classic middle grade literature, and music plays a very important role in the plot. Eugene thinks he's carrying a dinged-up trumpet for courage, but it becomes an "instrumental" weapon used to save the day.

[Finn Gonzalez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brass Monkeys is one of the books that i believe define who I am. I first read Brass Monkeys in 5th grade and now as an 11th grader i’m reading it for the second time. Everything i loved about my first time reading it has been heightened with age and time. Eugene and his friends are some of the most brilliantly executed characters in a story that i have read yet. A diverse group of people who are handed together despite the odds to defeat great evil screams volumes. Cassatt leaves you wanting even more as you read and he never fails to deliver throughout this entire story.

I’ve always looked fondly on my vague remembrance of the ending. However reading it now just leaves me with so much joy and happiness. While yes there is much left to be desired at the end of the book, I am perfectly fine with the way Eugene’s journey ends. “Sleep if you must, but the battle rages on” captures what Brass Monkeys stands for me. The battle is never over in life or in Brass Monkeys and it is up to us all to continue this mindset.

I would absolutely recommend Brass Monkeys to anyone, It’s an extremely special book to me and I hope it can be for you.

[James Simons · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book at the beginning had no action that had you into the book. Further I got into it the more I was stuck in the book. I felt like I was super glued to the book, which led me with the question, what gave the author the idea to make this book? There is this one part that stuck out to me that showed how smart the character was based on what he did. The way he thought about what he did to stop the lady by understand the brass monkeys power. That is what stuck out to me in this book and why I give it 5 stars.

[Heidi Babkirk · Rating 2 out of 5]

Young teen book. Easy read but meh. To much fantasy for an adult read.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Here's the big caveat: as an adult, I wasn't that impressed but if I were a middle school-age boy, this would be one of my favorite new reads. Why? Eugene's life is pretty awful (he gets expelled for pushing his former school principal off a stage... except he really didn't and if people would just listen to the truth they'd know he didn't do it) and his mother takes them to the wilds of Minnesota, just as a blizzard hits. When school starts, it's even worse than he thinks, and there's something definitely off about the teachers (the whole "monkeymind" thing, for example).

Soon he's reluctantly playing hero in an underworld Worst School Ever land, complete with eraser guns and mournful music class. His mission is to take a book ("Brass Monkeys") to the mysterious McGinty, who might be in the Blue Grotto... or perhaps he's moved on. The place names and language are inventive, and it's all right up a boy's alley!

For me, however, the ending got a bit confusing and there was a sense that too much had been tossed into the blender. However, as I'm not the target audience, I'm sure that's ok.

Copy provided by publisher.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is hilarious and is definitely written for kids. Eugene and his mom have to move to Grindsville, Michigan (the name describes the town perfectly). The school has been taken over by the evil Ming the Merciless and her stormies. Their mission is to drug the children and lead them to the underworld to Ming's school where they will become mindless zombies, and then they will be returned to their old school with no memory left of what happened. The description of the characters is great, and the use of school supplies to build everything in the underworld is really funny. It is up to Eugene to save them all from becoming zombies, and he learns a lot about himself. There is an interesting sub-plot here of how music can influence us for good or bad. Friendship, loyalty, and courage to stand up for the right are themes of the book, and the story is suspenseful and funny at the same time.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that kidnap you into its story world capturing both your attention and your spirit. You do not need to be middle reader age to love this book (target audience) -- the adventure, the humor, the suspense. As an adult you will find the layers of this book irresistible -- the invitation to delve into the weather of your adolescent memories of magic and mystery and possibility. This is a unique book not easily grouped into a genre or category -- it is a bit of fantasy, a bit of mystery, a bit of horror, even a bit of realism as Eugene rides into his new small town with his mother in the family car in the middle of a snowstorm -- delightful in every way. It belongs on the shelf next to The Wizard of Oz and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Treasure Island. Read it. You will love it and in the process discover a talented author!

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eugene is a kid as nebbishy as his name. He transfers to a new school in a new town, a terrible school. The town is whatever, a little snowy, but not nearly as nightmarish as this school. A few kids at his new school seem to know who he is, and to expect him to be some kind of agent for change, perhaps involving kung fu (which he does not know), and while he is sure that they've got the wrong guy, weird things keep happening to him... until the whole school literally goes to hell on a rollercoaster and it's up to him to quest their asses out of there and vanquish the (really atrocious) evildoers.

Full review on Pink Me: http://pinkme.typepad.com/pink-me/201...

[Anne · Rating 1 out of 5]

Eugene is moving with his mom to a new town and is about to start at a new school mid-year. He meets a few kids his age and they warn him about how awful their school is. He thinks it is just an exaggeration, but finds out that it is actually an under-statement. He and his friends then journey to an alternate universe in an effort to save their school from being taken over by the evil teachers.

While there are occasional clever word plays and a few creative features such as buildings made out of discarded school supplies, they do not compensate for the dull writing overall. Plot drags and is too predictable. None of the characters are all that appealing either.

[Doris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an interesting and different tale of a young boy who unwillingly moves with his mother from a familiar locale to a small town in a faraway place. Immediately he makes friends, and is thrust into a strange situation at school, a gloomy oppressive place which highlights every child’s nightmare images of school (without the accidentally forgetting to get dressed dream).

Although this tale is ostensibly written for the younger crowd, I am not sure it really is. It seems to deal with more adult themes, although with a younger mindset. Music plays an important role throughout, and the ending was cute and funny.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that works on so many levels it makes a great read for adults as well as kids. As a teacher, I often put this book in than hands of reluctant readers -- they love the humor and adventure. I have also found it a great challenge for advanced readers who can peel back the layers of metaphor and allegory to get at the hidden story that can be found in these pages. A YA book of high literary quality, I lose myself in these pages -- I find myself in these pages -- This book should take its place alongside Oz and Wonderland on any high powered literary bookshelf. Read it for yourself and see what I mean!

[Joan Oegema · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning of Brass Monkeys was a little slow as the author laid the foundation for the rest of the story. As I continued to read, I found several times throughout the book where I could not put the book down, waiting for the next event to happen. I loved how the author intertwined some of the slang from the 60's and 70's into the modern day story.

Fantasy fiction is not my favorite genre but this book was fun to read. The ending was a little strange and leaves the reader with a feeling there is more..... does this mean there is a sequel in the future?

[Bri · Rating 1 out of 5]

There were a few interesting ideas in this book, a very different kind of adventure. I like that in the time warp place everything is made of discarded school supplied--I would love to see a mountain of books! But the voices of the characters, especially the kids, felt really forced and unnatural. It read like the author thought he was really clever and trying to hard to show us he is clever, to the point that it was very distracting.

[Lisa Bain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brass Monkeys was an amazing book. The characters were all completely different from each other and their traits were really creative. I loved how the main character would see really wierd things in the begining of the book and at the end everything that had been wierd seemed almost normal. Brass Monkeys is a great book for someone who likes adventure. I read it when I was 11 and recomended it to my friend. She said that she loved it too.

[50miler2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brass Monkeys by Terry Caszatt is a great read for the young reader. I enjoyed the adventure, the imagination and some magic too. As a Mom, Grandmother and Great-grandmother, I've turned a lot of kids onto reading. This will be going on my Christmas and birthday lists. A great gift. A great read. The landscape is ingenious. This would make a great movie!

[Skylar Pemberton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked when they went to a place called "School of the Brass Monkeys" where Billy, aka Eugene, and his friend, Harriet, were turned into monkeys. Billy had a magical resistance to the monkey fur so he was the only one who didn't turn into a monkey. The evil teacher wants to drain their minds and turn them into boring dull minded and useless people. This book has a hilarious twist.

[Sam Joffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am the first one to rate this book. I read the ARC version. Great book, read when it comes out. :) Definitely read this you guys!!!