Starred Review ALA Booklist (Thu Oct 31 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Starred Review In Pensmouth, a disturbing bedtime story warns children of flesh-takers, monsters who will steal them if they are caught out when they should be in bed. This problem is of only minor concern to Vivian Vance, an amateur detective determined to win one of the town's coveted Pensmouth Medals of Excellence, which she is certain will launch her career. Working a case in the run-down neighborhood of The Pillars, Vivian comes across three street-smart boys and a very real flesh-taker. Clearly, her best chance of winning that medal is getting photographic proof of the monsters' existence, so she enlists the help of Leon, Jacob, and Zack. As the foursome get closer to the source of the magic and mayhem, Vivian's goals seem within reach, but secrets unearthed bring everything into question. Colorful, shadow-heavy artwork is a great fit for this dark, occasionally gruesome tale. Vivian and her sidekicks are spunky characters; their quirky, offbeat humor lifts the Lovecraftian horror. Independent-minded, emotionally mature Vivian has a complicated relationship with her father, creating a nice contrast with the startling repulsiveness in human and nonhuman forms. A creepily captivating story that will satisfy a wide range of readers.

Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews

A young would-be sleuth faces supposedly mythical monsters who turn out to be not just real, but shockingly familiarVivian has long dismissed the tales she and other Pensmouth kids have always heard from their parents about shape-shifting Flesh-Takers roaming the streets at night. Then she actually witnesses one eating a man who's down on his luck in a seedy neighborhood. As an ambitious high school sophomore, she seizes on the chance of qualifying for the town's Greater Achiever Program by finding the creature's lair. Ulrich pitches his intrepid protagonist into situations of extreme peril as well as developing friendships with street orphans Leon, Zack, and Jacob, whom she initially strongarms into helping out. He spins an investigative yarn as thrilling as it is edifying, complete with clever sleuthing, shocking revelations, and a disquieting closing twist. Along with having a knack for crafting fantastically nightmarish monsters, the author/illustrator also shows a rare talent for artfully using reaction shots, wordless sequences, page turns, and changes of body language and facial expression both to ratchet up the suspense and to fill in his characters' nuances and backstories. Fans of gory horror in general (and the Buffy the Vampire Slayer aesthetic in particular) will be well pleased by the violent plot and acerbic teen banter. Leon and Jacob have brown skin; the other major cast members, including Vivian and her disabled single dad, present white.A fizzy mix of courageous exploits and really creepy creatures.(Graphic fantasy horror. 12-14)

School Library Journal Starred Review (Mon Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Gr 7 Up— Urban legends and nightmarish creatures will know the name of the fearless Vivian Vance! Raised on fairy tales and stories much like any other kid, Vivian wants to turn the tales her father read to her as a child into a career as a detective investigating the supernatural. Honing her skills by doing small jobs for the kids at school, Vivian is known for always being able to solve the case. While tracking a stolen baseball into The Pillars, a dark neighborhood located under the highway, she comes across her first story-made-flesh—a skin-taker—but is thankfully rescued by a group of kids. This case goes deeper than she ever thought possible, and her new friends will stop at nothing to help expose the horrible creature. Ulrich has the beginnings of a series that could follow the paths set by previous young female sleuths like Nancy Drew or Veronica Mars. The art style is easy to follow, but also allows for shocking scenes reminiscent of the horror genre. Modern mystery fans have a new heroine to save them from the creatures that go bump in the night. VERDICT Perfect for anyone who loves mystery and monsters, Vivian Vance will fly off the shelves in any library.— Adam Fisher

Kirkus Reviews

A young would-be sleuth faces supposedly mythical monsters who turn out to be not just real, but shockingly familiarVivian has long dismissed the tales she and other Pensmouth kids have always heard from their parents about shape-shifting Flesh-Takers roaming the streets at night. Then she actually witnesses one eating a man who's down on his luck in a seedy neighborhood. As an ambitious high school sophomore, she seizes on the chance of qualifying for the town's Greater Achiever Program by finding the creature's lair. Ulrich pitches his intrepid protagonist into situations of extreme peril as well as developing friendships with street orphans Leon, Zack, and Jacob, whom she initially strongarms into helping out. He spins an investigative yarn as thrilling as it is edifying, complete with clever sleuthing, shocking revelations, and a disquieting closing twist. Along with having a knack for crafting fantastically nightmarish monsters, the author/illustrator also shows a rare talent for artfully using reaction shots, wordless sequences, page turns, and changes of body language and facial expression both to ratchet up the suspense and to fill in his characters' nuances and backstories. Fans of gory horror in general (and the Buffy the Vampire Slayer aesthetic in particular) will be well pleased by the violent plot and acerbic teen banter. Leon and Jacob have brown skin; the other major cast members, including Vivian and her disabled single dad, present white.A fizzy mix of courageous exploits and really creepy creatures.(Graphic fantasy horror. 12-14)