Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

In an alternative 19th-century England, monsters both thrill and protect their towns. In Stoker-on-Avon, the townsfolk have been feeling a bit dismayed; their monster, a horned, winged creature named Rayburn, hasn't attacked in nearly seven years, and his lack of ambition serves as a constant embarrassment to his village. A disgraced doctor is asked to help "fix" the melancholic monster, and once he accepts, he discovers that a precocious street urchin has stowed along for the ride. The pair and the bummed-out beast set out to visit one of Rayburn's old creature friends, a savage-looking beast with a heart of gold popularly known as Tentaculor, but affectionately to his friends as Noodles. This leaves Stoker-on-Avon vulnerable and without a monster. Rayburn's absence is intuited by an abominable being known as the Murk, a mixture of mud, hair, and pure, unrefined evil. Faced with the imminent destruction of his town, Rayburn must overcome his dolorous disposition and rediscover his true terrifying powers. More at-home than anomalous, Harrell's world is easily accessible, a place where monsters seamlessly blend into 19th-century England. Touching deftly upon well-trod themes and with a deliciously cinematic sense of both framing and pacing, this indie charmer is both quirky and novel; expect it to appeal to fans of Jeff Smith's Bone series. Just plain monstrous fun. (Graphic fantasy. 9-12)

ALA Booklist (Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2013)

Stoker-on-Avon's town monster, Rayburn, is down in the dumps. Rayburn hasn't given a good scare in years, instead spending his days moping and sighing in his cave on the hill. It's an embarrassment to the people of Stoker-on-Avon, and they send Dr. Wilkie, a disgraced, slightly mad scientist, to shape Rayburn up. Timmy, the precocious town crier, tags along and together they help Rayburn try to overcome his gloomies so he can start monstering again. First, they take Rayburn to visit his old friend Noodles, who is now the revered and terrifying Tentaculor (and who turns out to be a bit of a group-hugging softy), for some lessons in basic monster behavior. But while they're gone, the Murk, a lurking creature who feeds on fear, stalks toward Stoker-on-Avon and wreaks havoc in Rayburn's absence. Rayburn, Noodles, Wilkie, and Timmy have to band together to save the town, and, in the process, they restore Rayburn's confidence and help him understand the importance of friendship. Younger readers will be delighted by Harrell's silly story and cartoony characters.

School Library Journal (Fri Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2013)

Gr 3-5 Families from the town of Stoker-on-Avon are forced to go on vacation to get a decent monster thrill since their own monster inspires very little fear. In an effort to help him get back his confidence, a lovable, scrappy orphan and a mad genius doctor take him on a journey to reunite with other monster friends. Unfortunately this leaves their town open to attack by the dreaded Murk. The three manage to save the day without any real gore or over-the-top violence. This amusing tale set in an 1860s England in which every town has its own monster will please elementary students. Harrell's cartooning style is colorful and approachable. While it is not particularly innovative, it is well suited to the light and humorous story. The dialogue is full of witty quips and an interesting mix of modern British slang and formal old-fashioned phrasing. Harrell is best known for his syndicated comics, and his first stand-alone book will appeal to children looking for a funny adventure. Elizabeth Nicolai, Anchorage Public Library, AK

Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews (Thu Apr 28 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

In an alternative 19th-century England, monsters both thrill and protect their towns. In Stoker-on-Avon, the townsfolk have been feeling a bit dismayed; their monster, a horned, winged creature named Rayburn, hasn't attacked in nearly seven years, and his lack of ambition serves as a constant embarrassment to his village. A disgraced doctor is asked to help "fix" the melancholic monster, and once he accepts, he discovers that a precocious street urchin has stowed along for the ride. The pair and the bummed-out beast set out to visit one of Rayburn's old creature friends, a savage-looking beast with a heart of gold popularly known as Tentaculor, but affectionately to his friends as Noodles. This leaves Stoker-on-Avon vulnerable and without a monster. Rayburn's absence is intuited by an abominable being known as the Murk, a mixture of mud, hair, and pure, unrefined evil. Faced with the imminent destruction of his town, Rayburn must overcome his dolorous disposition and rediscover his true terrifying powers. More at-home than anomalous, Harrell's world is easily accessible, a place where monsters seamlessly blend into 19th-century England. Touching deftly upon well-trod themes and with a deliciously cinematic sense of both framing and pacing, this indie charmer is both quirky and novel; expect it to appeal to fans of Jeff Smith's Bone series. Just plain monstrous fun. (Graphic fantasy. 9-12)