Monster Movie!

by Chuck Wendig Narrated by Dan Bittner

Overview

In this hair-raising and hilarious novel by New York Times bestselling author Chuck Wendig, a boy must face his many fears to save his town from a cursed videotape-before “The Scariest Movie Ever Made” devours his friends and family.

Ethan Pitowski is afraid of everything. Luckily, his best friends don't mind, and when their entire class gets invited to watch a long-buried horror movie at the most popular boy in school's house, Ethan's friends encourage him to join in the fun. But when the “scariest movie ever made” reveals itself to be not just a movie about a monster, but a movie that is a monster, only a terrified Ethan escapes its clutches. Now he must find a way to stop the monster and save his friends (and also, um, get their heads back).

With his signature balance of kid-friendly horror and humor, Chuck Wendig crafts a spookily heartfelt novel about anxiety, friendship, and finding your unique voice and inner strength.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"In this gleefully off-kilter ode to late-night B movies and classic kids’ horror tales like Goosebumps, Wendig (Dust & Grim) skillfully tempers terrifying events with a tint of absurdity, playing them against Ethan’s all-too-relatable worries. It’s a fast-paced and intense adventure that never loses sight of its human elements."—Publishers Weekly

"Suspenseful and engaging, with a truly terrifying monster—but also full of funny, exaggerated characters and descriptions that keep the tone light.... This funny, fast-paced celebration of horror movies will appeal to fans of Goosebumps and similar series."—School Library Journal

"Wendig expertly ratchets up the terror and suspense to a feverish pitch.... Top of the class when it comes to frights."—Kirkus Reviews

"While this horror novel glows with enough gruesome detail to rival the best B-rated monster flicks, it’s the sci-fi twist at the end that will keep readers up at night. Recommended for the Goosebumps crowd and fans of classic horror."—Booklist

Praise for Dust & Grim:

A New York Times Bestseller
An Amazon Best Children’s Book
A TXLA 2023 Lone Star Reading List Selection

* "Playing to strengths demonstrated in his many comics and tales for older audiences, not only is Wendig a dab hand at concocting extremely creepy critters, but here he also pulls together a secondary cast of quarrelsome but supportive allies for the beleaguered teens."—Kirkus, starred review

* "Wendig charges onto the middle-grade scene with a monstrously fun tale of family and funerary arts.... [The] easy writing style is a perfect vehicle for the humor and rapidly paced shenanigans that propel the narrative.... Monstrously fun.... A sure pick for those enamored by Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book and Tahereh Mafi’s Whichwood."—Booklist, starred review

* "Wendig thrills, enchants, and amuses in equal measure.... Peppered with nail-biting action scenes, the well-paced storytelling is as heart-felt as it is heart-racing, and readers who appreciate word play will love the snark-filled banter and witty narrative voice.... The ideal read-next for fans of Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book, this is also perfect for readers who embrace the weirdness of family."—BCCB, starred review

* "A spooky, heartfelt, darkly funny adventure.... The importance of relationships, regardless of blood relation, runs deep and gives an endearing core to this perfect Halloween read."—Shelf Awareness, starred review

Kirkus Reviews

2024-06-15
A timorous sixth grader is the only one who keeps his head, literally, after a private viewing of the scariest movie ever made.

This work is more allegory than unvarnished shockfest—but along with creating a monster creepy enough to squick even hardened readers out, Wendig expertly ratchets up the terror and suspense to a feverish pitch. Already subject to panic attacks, Ethan reluctantly bows to heavy pressure from best friends Harley and Olivia to take a quick peek at a classmate’s showing of the legendary, impossible-to-getDemons of Death 4: Death Fingers. He arrives at Kevin’s house just in time to see the TV sprout limbs and, horribly, a mouth to nip off the heads of his whole sixth grade, leaving their still-breathing bodies otherwise intact beneath necks covered in “smooth Silly Putty skin patches.” TV Head next gets to all the adults who are at school for parents’ night and then everyone else in town. Summoning the courage to tackle the eerie, seemingly irresistible monster head on and rescue its victims proves so life-changing for Ethan that he’s even able, afterward, to persuade his parents to stop discouraging his interest in art. The book includes a pitch to let kids watch (developmentally appropriate) horror films as part of their preparation for real life: “It’s like a vaccine.” Olivia is Black; other major characters present white.

A bit message-heavy, but top of the class when it comes to frights.(Horror. 9-12)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940160483900
Publisher:	Hachette Audio
Publication date:	09/24/2024
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	8 - 11 Years

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