Let the Monster Out
An equal parts heart-pounding and heartfelt middle-grade mystery about facing--and accepting--your fears, perfect for fans of Stranger Things and The Parker Inheritance Bones Malone feels like he can't do anything right in his new small town: He almost punched the son of the woman who babysits him and his brothers, he's one of the only Black kids in Langille, and now his baseball team (the one place where he really feels like he shines) just lost their first game. To make matters worse, things in town are getting weird. His mom isn't acting like herself at all-she's totally spaced out, almost like a zombie. And then he and his brothers have the same dream-one where they're running from some of their deepest fears, like a bear and an eerie cracked mirror that Bones would rather soon forget. Kyle Specks feels like he can never say the right thing at the right time. He thinks he might be neurodivergent, but he hasn't gotten an official diagnosis yet. His parents worry that the world might be too hard for him and try to protect him, but Kyle knows they can't do that forever. Even though he's scared, he can't just stand by and do nothing while things in this town get stranger and stranger, especially not after he and Bones find a mysterious scientist's journal that might hold answers about what's going on. But when faced with seemingly impossible situations, a shady corporation, and their own worst nightmares, will Kyle and Bones be brave enough to admit they're scared? Or will the fear totally consume and control them?
1139963082
Let the Monster Out
An equal parts heart-pounding and heartfelt middle-grade mystery about facing--and accepting--your fears, perfect for fans of Stranger Things and The Parker Inheritance Bones Malone feels like he can't do anything right in his new small town: He almost punched the son of the woman who babysits him and his brothers, he's one of the only Black kids in Langille, and now his baseball team (the one place where he really feels like he shines) just lost their first game. To make matters worse, things in town are getting weird. His mom isn't acting like herself at all-she's totally spaced out, almost like a zombie. And then he and his brothers have the same dream-one where they're running from some of their deepest fears, like a bear and an eerie cracked mirror that Bones would rather soon forget. Kyle Specks feels like he can never say the right thing at the right time. He thinks he might be neurodivergent, but he hasn't gotten an official diagnosis yet. His parents worry that the world might be too hard for him and try to protect him, but Kyle knows they can't do that forever. Even though he's scared, he can't just stand by and do nothing while things in this town get stranger and stranger, especially not after he and Bones find a mysterious scientist's journal that might hold answers about what's going on. But when faced with seemingly impossible situations, a shady corporation, and their own worst nightmares, will Kyle and Bones be brave enough to admit they're scared? Or will the fear totally consume and control them?
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Let the Monster Out

Let the Monster Out

by Chad Lucas

Narrated by Ruffin Prentiss

Unabridged — 8 hours, 7 minutes

Let the Monster Out

Let the Monster Out

by Chad Lucas

Narrated by Ruffin Prentiss

Unabridged — 8 hours, 7 minutes

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Overview

An equal parts heart-pounding and heartfelt middle-grade mystery about facing--and accepting--your fears, perfect for fans of Stranger Things and The Parker Inheritance Bones Malone feels like he can't do anything right in his new small town: He almost punched the son of the woman who babysits him and his brothers, he's one of the only Black kids in Langille, and now his baseball team (the one place where he really feels like he shines) just lost their first game. To make matters worse, things in town are getting weird. His mom isn't acting like herself at all-she's totally spaced out, almost like a zombie. And then he and his brothers have the same dream-one where they're running from some of their deepest fears, like a bear and an eerie cracked mirror that Bones would rather soon forget. Kyle Specks feels like he can never say the right thing at the right time. He thinks he might be neurodivergent, but he hasn't gotten an official diagnosis yet. His parents worry that the world might be too hard for him and try to protect him, but Kyle knows they can't do that forever. Even though he's scared, he can't just stand by and do nothing while things in this town get stranger and stranger, especially not after he and Bones find a mysterious scientist's journal that might hold answers about what's going on. But when faced with seemingly impossible situations, a shady corporation, and their own worst nightmares, will Kyle and Bones be brave enough to admit they're scared? Or will the fear totally consume and control them?

Editorial Reviews

The Horn Book Magazine


"Blending mystery, horror, and science fiction to explore concepts of fear, belonging, and forgiveness, this is highly accomplished middle-grade speculative fiction."

The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books


"Lucas executes the mystery and sci-fi elements well here, tying the cool phenomenon of multiple people experiencing the same dream to tech companies exploiting fear for profit. The thoughtful commentary on feeling othered takes multiple forms."

Booklist


"[Lucas] delivers memorable portraits of two strong-minded young characters probing each other’s needs and boundaries on the way to creating firm bonds."

From the Publisher

"[Lucas] delivers memorable portraits of two strong-minded young characters probing each other’s needs and boundaries on the way to creating firm bonds." —Booklist

"Through thoughtful and gripping omniscient narration, the author seamlessly weaves in clue after clue, leaving readers eager to reach this mystery’s heart-pounding end. . .A thrilling journey about acceptance and facing your deepest fears." —Kirkus Reviews

"Lucas executes the mystery and sci-fi elements well here, tying the cool phenomenon of multiple people experiencing the same dream to tech companies exploiting fear for profit. The thoughtful commentary on feeling othered takes multiple forms." —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Lucas crafts an enjoyable science fiction mystery with characters who travel into different dream dimensions based on their greatest fears. . .Perfect for fans of Stranger Things." —School Library Journal

"Blending mystery, horror, and science fiction to explore concepts of fear, belonging, and forgiveness, this is highly accomplished middle-grade speculative fiction." —The Horn Book Magazine

School Library Journal

05/01/2022

Gr 5 Up—Twelve-year-old Bones Malone and his family move to Langille, a quiet Canadian town, for a fresh start after facing domestic issues in their old town. Coping with being one of the only Black kids there, Bones finds a place for himself on the baseball team. When Langille announces free Wi-Fi for the entire community, people around town quickly begin to transition into a zombielike state. After Bones's mom is infected, he teams up with Kyle, the baseball team's homeschooled genius, to get to the bottom of the Wi-Fi's effect on the community. Lucas crafts an enjoyable science fiction mystery with characters who travel into different dream dimensions based on their greatest fears. Bones struggles to control his temper while Kyle desires to understand his neurodivergent brain, and the dream-traveling allows the friends to take a walk in each other's footsteps. As the team works together to conquer the evil forces controlling the town, they learn the value of community and friendship. While this text offers a light, humorous tone, some scenes are juxtaposed with heavier content, including descriptions of the parental abuse that shapes Bones's fears. VERDICT Perfect for fans of Stranger Things, this science fiction novel should be on school and public library shelves.—Angie Jameson

Kirkus Reviews

2022-03-02
Two boys and their friends face off against a shady corporation that threatens to overtake their small town.

Bones Malone, a fiercely protective and daring 12-year-old with a Black mom and absent White father, is new to the mostly White town of Langille, Nova Scotia. Kyle Specks, a wickedly smart White 13-year-old, has always had a hard time fitting in; he suspects he’s neurodivergent. The two boys’ paths cross through their passion for baseball. Each notices mysterious changes in the town’s adults’ behavior, and after saving a missing scientist from drowning, they develop suspicions about a dastardly plot. It’s no coincidence that Fluxcor, a virtual reality tech company, has established an increased presence in Langille. The boys enlist the help of teammates Marcus Robeson (son of their coach, a retired Black professional baseball player) and Chinese Canadian Albert Chen to shut down Fluxcor and its evil CEO. Throughout their adventures they each have to face their worst nightmares, but they find strength in knowing they don’t need to shoulder their burdens alone. Through thoughtful and gripping omniscient narration, the author seamlessly weaves in clue after clue, leaving readers eager to reach this mystery’s heart-pounding end. Bones and Kyle are well-rounded, engaging protagonists; the author uses the concept of fear and how we handle it to give depth to secondary characters.

A thrilling journey about acceptance and facing your deepest fears. (Mystery. 10-14)

Product Details

BN ID: 2940175456548
Publisher: Recorded Books, LLC
Publication date: 05/24/2022
Edition description: Unabridged
Age Range: 10 - 13 Years
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