The Monsterjunkies An American family Odyssey

KIRKUS REVIEW From Shein (Gods and Angels, 2013) and Gates comes the YA tale of a family for whom cyptozoology is a way of life. Ninth-grader Cromwell "Crow" Monsterjunkie lives with his family near Foggy Point, Maine. His parents, Talon and Pandora, use their mansion as a sanctuary for rare and endangered creatures, In dealing with the bullies, Herpetologist Shein and co-author Gates wrap a classic tale of conformity in some gorgeously gothic paper. : Warm, smart and educational. We want to stress that this is a work of fiction. We have played with source myths and legends to fold them into a story that, while we hope is entertaining, also contains something in which we believe strongly and hope will resonate with all who read this book. We need to cherish and protect each other as well as our world's other living treasures-- animals and plant life. We have lost so many and so much through ignorance, which is understandable, to a degree, and greed, which is unconscionable. We must do better and eliminate both. We all are Monsterjunkies and wear masks during our daily lives, in school, during work, hanging out with our friends, imitating people we look up to and admire. It is the people who take off their masks and show the real person inside who truly find meaning in their lives. Who are the real monsters? People who wear masks of false goodness and respectability who hide their actual hypocrisy and deep intolerance of others? Or, are the creatures and people who are different because of their appearance, social status, and the choices they make, the real monsters?