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

Starred Review Sunny is eager to finally have a human friend on the outside, after Milo rang the doorbell to her seemingly haunted house. But when Sunny learns that Milo and the rest of the residents are leaving to avoid the scary things happening in town (possibly due to her family's experiments), Sunny teams up with Milo to make things right. Alexovich's experience working on the cult cartoon show Invader Zim is easily noticeable in his distinctive style: monsters are equally cuddly and terrifying, as his character designs effortlessly combine the grotesque and the adorable. The sharp colorization and outlining makes every detail pop, and that attention to detail also helps with the jokes, like small, easily overlooked store signs for "Mom's Torpedos" and "Clown Defense." Just as the artwork balances perfectly between dark and silly, so too does the comedy and overall tone of the story. Alexovich's quantity and quality of jokes always deliver, feeling fresh, never corny, and often macabre: when Milo needs a disguise to fit in with some zombies, for instance, Sunny eagerly offers to help by killing him. Alexovich has created an offbeat, original world sure to appeal to middle-grade fans of horror-lite monster stories.

Kirkus Reviews (Mon Oct 07 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

A human boy and a monster girl form an unlikely duo to save their cityGreen-skinned, purple-eyed Sunny Von Shock is thrilled to have a visitor, even if anxious Milo, who has light brown skin and wavy black hair, only rang her doorbell on a dare from classmates. The lonely monster immediately embraces Milo as a friend and is devastated when he announces a few weeks later that his family is leaving Shock City; his parents believe it has a lot of "not fixable" problems. Hilariously upbeat Sunny, who loves to tinker with machines, is determined that she and Milo actually can fix everything, so Milo can stay and (crucially) come to her birthday party. As they work to rid the city of threats such as Frost Clowns, radioactive gas leaks, and undead children, Milo tries to explain to Sunny precisely why Shock City is in such a poor state. When he finally reveals that her late grandfather, Great Darkness Von Shock, wasn't "the greatest science wizard of all time" as she believes, but rather, a corrupt and "famously evil" tyrant, Sunny is determined to set things right and make humans change their minds about her family. Milo must brave his greatest fears to help the one friend who unconditionally embraces him. The vibrant colors and varied panels elevate the fast-paced reading experience. Against a backdrop of imaginative thrills and chills, Alexovich explores themes of friendship and perseverance in genuinely touching ways.A heartwarming and nail-biting adventure.(Graphic adventure. 8-12)

School Library Journal (Mon Oct 07 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Gr 3–6— Comic artist Alexovich's madcap illustration style perfectly suits this graphic novel about a boy, a girl, and a city on the brink. Milo is a kid from Shock City, where a coming-of-age dare to ring the creepy Von Shock doorbell brings unexpected results: Sunny, a young Von Shock monster, answers and delights at the prospect of a new friend. When Milo returns to tell Sunny that his family, and the rest of the town, are leaving the dilapidated city, Sunny refuses to accept it. Instead, Sunny sets on convincing Milo that she can fix all the problems—until she discovers that her grandfather is the source of everything bad happening to Shock City. Readers will enjoy the frenetic pace and witty dialogue as Sunny and Milo's plan to save Shock City plays out. Their determination is highlighted, and if Milo can overcome being fearful and Sunny can improve her family's reputation, even better. The artwork throughout is eye-catching and bold. VERDICT This hilarious, action-packed tale of friendship hits the middle grade sweet spot. A recommended first purchase.— Rosemary Kiladitis