I love a good mystery! But I also love a book that gets me thinking about things like good versus evil and selfishness and is fun to read. Today we are sharing a new middle grade novel that combines all of this. The book is the second in The Uncrackables series. It is Cracking Monsters by David Meyer. It is recommended for ages 8 to 14.
Publisher's Summary:
Andy Wagner is afraid he’s already peaked—and he’s only thirteen. Months ago, he and his friends solved one of Infinity Point’s greatest mysteries and became local heroes. Now life is ordinary again … until his tour boat lurches, flinging him into Lake Grimton. Something shoots beneath him.
Something far too big to be a fish.
Grimmy, the town’s legendary lake monster, hasn’t been seen in over a century. He’s celebrated as a gentle giant whose song brings inner peace. But as Andy and his friends investigate his return, the old stories stop adding up.
Grimmy is no gentle giant.
He’s dangerous. So is his gift.
Someone else wants that gift. If he gets it, countless lives could be ruined. To stop him, Andy must unravel a mystery that has fooled generations … and survive a monster that should have never been set free.
Andy wanted a bigger adventure. Now he’s in way over his head.
Packed with humor, puzzles, supernatural danger, and unexpected twists, Cracking Monsters continues The Uncrackables, a fast-paced middle-grade mystery-adventure series for fans of Gordon Korman’s Masterminds, James Ponti’s The Sherlock Society, and The 39 Clues.
From Me:
At first this book seems like just a mystery. Everyone is wondering if the legendary monster is real. The brave group of kids from the first book are heavily involved since one of them was on the boat that got "attacked" and when he climbed onto the nearest boat the villain from the previous boat was on it. However, you do not have to have read the first book to get the full story in this one. The book does a great job of catching up a new reader and all the characters are so well developed it won't matter if you haven't read it. Andy and his friends want to stop Mr. Pitts again and want to figure out if Grimmy is real.
The book is written with each chapter being one of the character's points of view. The main characters are Andy, Trish, Felix and Dora. Each have their own personality but are best friends. Andy is the leader of the group and worries they reached their peak in the last story. Trish wants to be like Gabberific, an internet star from the town who has her own clothing line. Felix is the geeky smart one who doesn't always want to do the dangerous stuff. Dora is a detail person to an extreme. She sometimes gets distracted by the details and forgets where she is or what she is doing. It is a group of relatable tweens with someone for everyone. Each character is struggling with their own fears and life choices.
Mr. Pitts is the villain who tried to take over the town in the previous book and somehow managed to not be in jail. He desperately wants the gift of Grimmy. Legend says if you sing the song to Grimmy he will give you inner peace. Mr. Pitts feels guilty about a lot and wants the peace to calm himself. He will do anything to get it. The problem is the tune of the song is unknown and died a century ago the last time anyone has seen Grimmy.
Throughout the story the ideas of good versus evil are played with. It is discussed how the line can blur. The kids also deal with their own behavior and whether it is selfishness or trying to help others. Trish is religious and brings her church and Bible into the story, but it is not pushed upon anyone. It is more her own thoughts and using the teachings of her church to help her think through everything.
This book has you wanting to know what will happen next and it had me thinking about some everyday sayings and how they can lead to the selfishness we encounter. It also has the reader questioning their own behaviors and their own thoughts on good versus evil. It is an interesting read and keeps readers engaged. Honestly, it made me want to go read the first book. The second book was that good! It is the perfect book for the middle grade reader who loves mysteries and fantasy. It is also a great book for a group read and discuss, because there is so much in it to discuss that would help middle grade children with their own life and growing up. I could see it read in a classroom, book club or even a youth group.
