by Karen Foxlee
SYNOPSIS
There are those that hunt monsters to harm them and there are those that hunt monsters to help them. Which one are you?
Dressed in sparkly red shoes and carrying her strawberry-scented notebook, Mary-Kate accompanies her archaeologist mother to the quiet English countryside to investigate some unusual bones found in an old well.
But soon she realises that the village of Woolington is not as peaceful as it seems; the ground trembles beneath them, there are mysterious noises, and the locals are obsessed with a terrifying old legend.
Could there be any truth in the myth of the beast who lives in the ancient well? With the help of a new friend, Mary-Kate starts getting to the bottom of this monstrous mystery.
REVIEW
I'm back with another YA book, this time from the series - Miss Mary-Kate Martin's Guide To Monsters. Mary-Kate is joining her mother, or 'Prof', on a work trip to the village of Woolington. She is an archaeologist and has been asked to look at some bones that were found in a well where Lord Woolington is planning on building a shopping centre.
When they arrive, the pair realise that Woolington is a strange village full of history, stories and traditions - the main story being The Woolington Wyrm, a creature that was said to have terrorised the village and was responsible for six children going missing in 1866. While her mother gets on with her work, Mary-Kate decides to do some investigating to try and answer some of the many bizarre questions she has been collecting about their new surroundings. However, in order to solve the mysteries, Mary-Kate has to conquer the anxieties and emotional issues that are holding her back.
Firstly, in terms of the mystery in this story, I thought that it was perfectly pitched to the target audience but there was enough intrigue to keep my interest when reading too. It's exactly the type of story I would have been obsessed with when I was younger and definitely one that I will keep on the shelf for my daughters when they are a little bit older.
The front cover and the black and white illustrations throughout the book are just stunning. I spent ages just looking through them all and thought that they were spot on based on the descriptions in the story. I always love a map at the beginning of a mystery novel but I think this one is my favourite ever, it's just exquisite. I would frame a copy of it to put up on the wall without hesitation!
Other than the illustrations, what I really loved about the story was they way it touched on mental health issues in younger people which is a tricky thing to get right. Mary-Kate is a little girl struggling to process her father’s disappearance (which happened some time before the start of this story). Her various quirks and rituals are dealt with lightly but as an adult reading the story, it is clear that this is a form of OCD. These are actually obsessive actions and thoughts that she believes will stop any other bad things from happening to her.
They ways Mary-Kate attempts to deal with her anxiety are instigated by her mother who is very good at leaving Mary-Kate to work through her problems rather than forcing things onto her. Some of the techniques and methods here might really help younger readers who are struggling with similar issues.
Mary-Kate and Arabella just two of the lovely characters we are introduced to. They are a great pairing, two complete opposites who work together to solve the unique mystery in Woolington. A heart-warming tale, an interesting mystery and a satisfying conclusion. This is the perfect choice for any young detectives looking for their next investigation!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Karen Foxlee is an Australian writer. She is the author of two young adult novels: "The Anatomy of Wings" and "The Midnight Dress". Her books for children include "Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy", "A Most Magical Girl" and "Lenny's Book of Everything". She lives and writes in Queensland, Australia.
Thanks to Pushkin Press - @PushkinPress and Karen Foxlee for the opportunity to read and review.
Publisher: Pushkin Children's Genre: Mystery / YA / Detective
ISBN: 978-1782694137
Pages: 288pp
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