Tag Archives: Monsters

MG – Deepwater Creek

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Regina, Michael. Deepwater Creek. G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2025. 978-0-593-11739-2. $13.99. 248 p. Grades 6-9.

This story follows brothers Wade and Andrew, who set out on a fishing trip with their father and friends Camilla and Tommy after Hurricane Howard disturbs the waters of the Enoch River. Hoping for a better catch, the group travels farther downriver than usual, entering a dense fog where they encounter a strange river creature that pulls Andrew into the water. Although Wade rescues him, Andrew returns changed—quiet, withdrawn, and reluctant to go near the river again. As Wade tries to help his brother confront what happened, the friends join together to track down the mysterious creature, leading them into discoveries that challenge their understanding of nature, science, and the world beneath the river’s surface.

THOUGHTS: This graphic novel blends monster‑driven suspense with emotional depth, using the brothers’ frightening river encounter to explore fear, obsession, and recovery. Wade’s push to face the creature heightens the tension, while Andrew’s connection to the monster adds a thoughtful metaphor for mental and emotional struggle. Supported by expressive watercolor art and a tight pace, the story offers middle‑grade readers a mix of genuine scares and heartfelt moments.

Graphic Novel
Mystery (Horror)

Elem. – The Night Giant

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Coltellacci, Lorenzo. The Night Giant. Illustrated by Lorenzo Sangió. Kids Can Press, 2025. 978-1-525-31403-2. 32 p. $21.99. Grades Pre K-2. 

A mischievous giant who only comes out at night to play tricks on a sleeping town. His presence is sensed in the morning when benches are piled high and roofs have been switched from house to house. Is the giant real? Where could it possibly go when night turns to day? 

THOUGHTS: The Night Giant offers young readers a clever encounter with a book that stirs the minds of the very imaginative. The giant is a trickster with a young heart and a wild imagination of its own–much like that of children. This book also would work well when introducing the simplest concepts of folklore and/or tall tales or in conjunction with a nonfiction book about nocturnal animals. 

Picture Book 

YA – The Last Tiger

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Riew, Julia, and Brad Riew. The Last Tiger. Kokila, 2025. 979-8-217-00204-7. 395 p.$21.99. Grades 8-10.

This beautifully decorated young adult novel by two siblings blends history and fantasy. The story takes place in Korea in what can be perceived as the years preceding and during World War II, though all conflict is confined to within the borders of Korea. Japan has invaded Korea and suppressed all signs of Korean culture. Class lines break into two camps: the wealthy who ally themselves with the Japanese leaders and the poor who are extorted and treated inhumanely. It is the Dragon Empire vs. the Tiger Empire, and just to prove their dominance, the Japanese are intent on killing all the tigers. In fact, it is at one such slaying that the house cleaner Lee Seung  meets the rich Eunji Choi. She’s in disguise, yearning for adventure; he is in the marketplace trying to bargain for just a bit more rice for his starving family. To assure his silence, Eunji  makes a deal with Seung: she will tutor him for the exam that gives him a chance to attend the prestigious Adachi Training Academy, a military school where students become experts in the mystical, powerful Dragon Ki. As each chapter progresses with the two main characters voicing their perspectives, the reader sees a fated friendship develop. Seung does not pass his exam, and after his father dies, he meets up with Jin, a jaded, passionate leader of the Resistance, who helps Seung activate his Tiger Ki. Eunji, on the other hand, excels at the Adachi, graduating first in her class, but is destined to marry the arrogant son of the Japanese general, Kenzo Kobayashi, as an outward sign of the alliance between Japan and Korea. The strong-willed Eunji carries a torch for Seung and detests Kenzo, so she leaves him at the altar and goes on the run. The key to freedom is either slaying or saving the last tiger. All the players meet up in pursuit of their goals as love and self preservation hang in the balance. The action-packed fight scenes will keep readers spellbound, and the love triangle will keep them guessing. Relatable dialogue laced with wit will hold their interest. The historical background of this novel gives gravity to the magical elements of a story that will appeal to fantasy lovers.

THOUGHTS: The foreword and afterword of this book informs the reader that the inspiration for the story came from their grandparents, who came from two different classes during the Japanese occupation of Korea, but fell in love, married, and emigrated to the United States. The grandfather kept a notebook of his memories from that time. Hand this book to readers who like a lot of action mixed with fantasy. The writing is elevated; the story is compelling. Those who love fantasy will like this book. For me, the historical aspect and the uneven relationship between the two main characters was a more interesting draw.

Fantasy 

This story follows two “star crossed” teens, Lee Seung and Choi Eunji, who are both members of the oppressed Tiger Colonies. Seung is a poor servant boy, and Eunji is a noble girl from a wealthy family who has ingratiated themselves with the ruling Dragon Empire. When Seung catches Eunji out in public during a Tiger Slaying ceremony, Eunji agrees to tutor him for the upcoming entrance exam to the prestigious training academy in exchange for his silence about her secret exploration. When Seung fails the exam, he starts working in the coal mines while Eunji attends the academy and develops her dragon ki (powers). Despite their feelings for each other, they go their separate ways. Seung becomes fed up with his poor, difficult life and teams up with Jin, a leader in the resistance. Together they try to gain freedom for the oppressed people in the Tiger colony. At the same time, Eunji escapes from her arranged marriage and soon she and Seung find themselves on opposite sides of a battle over the last tiger. Will they come together for the sake of the Tiger people, or will their individual quests drive them further apart? 

THOUGHTS: This fantasy novel was inspired by the authors’ (brother and sister team Julia Riew and Brad Riew) grandparents’ lives during the Japanese occupation of Korea in the early 1900’s.  With the Dragon Empire representing Japan and the Tiger Colony representing Korea, they have successfully created a novel that incorporates historical context and relevant folklore.

Fantasy

Elem. – The Monster in the Lake

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Timmers, Leo. The Monster in the Lake. Gecko Press, 2025. 979-8-765-67050-7. 32 p. $19.99. Grades K-2.

Translated from Dutch, this story follows 4 duck friends who are taking a swim in the lake. But Eric is convinced that there is a monster in the lake! As they swim, Eric’s friends assure him that there is nothing to worry about;there is no monster. Eric soon discovers that there is something that lives at the bottom of the lake, but it’s not exactly a monster. 

THOUGHTS: This cute little book would be a great read aloud for K and 1. The illustrations are vibrant and really are what drives the story.  

Picture Book

YA – They Bloom at Night

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Tran, Trang Thanh. They Bloom at Night. Bloomsbury. 2025. 978-1-547-61111-9. $20.00. 262 p. Grades 9-12.

On the Gulf Coast of Louisiana climate change and a hurricane have led a mysterious red algae bloom to infect the ecosystem and threaten to suffocate an already dying town. Noon, a Vietnamese-American teen, and her mother eke out a living with their family shrimp boat, while languishing with trauma and grief over lost loved ones. However, their living is threatened by being in debt to Jimmy, an unsavory man who has an iron grip on trade and supplies in the area. He offers them a chance to get out of debt by finding the monster that’s rumored to be disappearing people. He sends his daughter, Covey, to both help and surveil them in their search. Answers are elusive, but Noon and Covey’s friendship grows as mysterious forces bring about a reckoning with nature and monsters of all kinds.

THOUGHTS: Tran’s evocative language paints the sea and sky in soft impressions of beauty that contrast with the horror and gore of a town that is perhaps in the process of being reclaimed by nature. This story, told by Noon, allows readers a deep look at her psyche. Readers get an unflinching look at her emotions surrounding her grief for the dead, strained relationships with the living, and a recent violation of her sense of self. However, healing is possible through transformation and change, and the story ends on a hopeful note of rebirth.

Fantasy (Magical Realism)
Horror

YA – We’re Not Safe Here

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Chupeco, Rin. We’re Not Safe Here. Sourcebooks Fire, 2025.978-1728255965. $12.99. 352 p. Grades 8-12.

The small town of Wispy Falls is quiet, peaceful, and safe—or so the residents believe. Most work for the powerful Penumbra Institution, send their kids to school, and avoid the woods, where people have a habit of disappearing. Everyone knows the woods aren’t safe. Creatures live there. Cryptids, they call them. And then there’s the Backward Lady, who always seems to appear just before someone vanishes. Internet vlogger Storymancer and their devoted follower JellyBeanFish begin an investigation that peels back the layers of illusion around Wispy Falls. Is this town really the last place left on Earth? What’s behind the disappearances, the rituals, and the eerie bloodmoons? The answers may lie in a web of secrets no one was meant to uncover.

THOUGHTS: We’re Not Safe Here is a chaotic, creepy thrill ride set in a dystopian future where big pharma controls more than just medicine—it shapes reality itself. Told entirely through digital media forms like emails, video transcripts, and message board posts, this novel is uniquely immersive and deeply unsettling. A perfect pick for fans of experimental horror, sci-fi dystopia, and stories that blur the line between reality and conspiracy. 

Science Fiction
Mystery (Horror)

The town of Wispy Falls is supposed to be idyllic. It is self-sufficient, but isolated. Surrounded by dense woods after some unnamed disaster, they’re not really sure if there are other towns out there. No worries, however. Residents have only a 30-hour workweek allowing plenty of time to post to Reddit-like message boards, or upload videos to something like Instagram or TikTok. Storymancer is an “influencer” posting interesting videos of himself exploring interesting places around Wispy Falls. He has a small following when he sets out to find his missing brother. In fact, many of the townspeople have gone missing recently and none are ever found, until now. Someone took video that shows what appears to be a dead body in the woods and Storymancer has decided it’s time to get to the bottom of these mysteries. He connects with another poster, JellyBeanFish, who has inside access to some of the workings of Penumbra, the shadowy corporation that runs the town and seems to be researching the populations of cryptids, monster-like creatures that live in the woods. Storymancer and JellyBeanFish work together to figure out which posters have real information and which ones are really loony conspiracy theorists.

THOUGHTS: The story is told through reproductions of posts to message boards and vivid descriptions of shaky cell phone videos. This keeps the plot moving fast and while not all of our questions are answered, the mystery comes to a satisfying conclusion. Readers who like to dabble in YouTube rabbit holes or do escape rooms for fun will feel like they’re part of the action along with the online detectives.

Science Fiction
Mystery (Horror)

YA – Old Wounds

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Kisner, Logan-Ashley. Old Wounds. Delacorte Press, 2024. 978-0-593-81475-8. 326 p. $19.99. Grades 9-12.

Two transgender teens, Erin and Max, leave their homes in Ohio and journey to California hoping to start new lives. Max dreams of finalizing his transition, and Erin is going to fulfill a promise she made to Max long ago when they were a couple. Erin doesn’t understand why Max still wants her to join him on the trip two years after they broke up. During that time, they barely spoke to each other. But she doesn’t have much time to find out what his reasons are; early in their journey, a towering beast-like figure suddenly emerges in the road, forcing them to swerve to avoid it. Suddenly, Max and Erin are stranded in a remote Kentucky town. Unbeknownst to them, the town has a terrifying secret: there is an ancient monster that lives in the woods, and the sun will not rise again until it feasts. According to the locals they meet while attempting to find help, the beast only eats females. Twice a year, they must sacrifice a girl to the beast, so the night can move on. The locals decide that Erin is the best candidate. However, Erin isn’t exactly a girl, and revealing this could put them in even more danger. As Erin and Max battle both human and supernatural dangers, they must rely on the faith in their identities (and each other) to survive.

THOUGHTS: In Kisner’s debut novel, alternating chapters delve into each character’s perspective, gradually revealing their backstories. Gruesome violence and fast-paced action will keep readers on the edge of their seats. But at its heart, the novel is a celebration of trans youth and the battles they fight every day just to survive. This should be purchased for young adult libraries.

Fantasy (Supernatural)
Mystery (Thriller)

MG – The Serpent Rider

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Dino, Yxavel Magno. The Serpent Rider. Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2024. 978-1-547-61513-1. 263 p. $17.74. Grades 5-8.

Tani wants to be a serpent rider, just like her father and the rest of her village. She also wants to protect her sister, Ligaya, as she is responsible for remembering all the village’s stories and history. After a horrible monster attack, Tani is ready for her elemental serpent to hatch, but it just is not happening. She makes a deal with someone who maybe doesn’t have the best of intentions. What follows is an epic adventure that leads Tani to find out what is really important and shows her that maybe saving her family isn’t as impossible as she thinks it is.

THOUGHTS: This is a quick fantasy stand alone that would be great for readers wanting to get into the fantasy genre.

Fantasy

YA – A Drop of Venom

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Patel, Sajni. A Drop of Venom. Hyperion, 2024. 978-1-368-09268-5. 416 p. $18.67. Grades 9-12.

Manisha is a 16 year old naga in hiding who lives in the floating priestess temples trying to survive like her mother and sisters wanted. However, the temple isn’t as safe as it appears as Manisha tries to hide who she really is. Pratyush is famous for slaying monsters, and every time he visits the temple he is drawn to Manisha and he doesn’t know why. He decides he no longer wants to slay monsters; instead he wants a simple life with Manisha. However, Manisha has made some enemies at the temple and one day is assaulted and thrown off the ledge into a pit of vipers. Fast forward, the King sends Pratyush off to murder one last monster before he will grant him his freedom. He must kill a naga who is turning to men and then he can live the simple life he has dreamed of. What Pratyush doesn’t know is that Manisha survived being thrown off the ledge and is the naga monster he has to kill.

THOUGHTS: This is told in alternating perspectives, it might take the reader a little while to get settled into the story. However, once that happens this book takes off and will definitely make you want to keep reading to find out what is going to happen. A very interesting take on the legend of Medusa woven with Indian mythology, A Drop of Venom will delight fantasy readers who will anticipate book 2 which publishes in February 2025!

Fantasy

Elem./MG – The Pumpkin Princess and the Forever Night

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Banbury, Steven. The Pumpkin Princess and the Forever Night. Little Brown Books for Young Readers, 2024. 978-0-316-57298-9. 322 p. $18.99. Grades 4-6.

The story opens with a runaway orphan girl lost in the woods on Halloween. She crosses paths with The Pumpkin King, who offers to adopt her and make her The Pumpkin Princess of Hallowell Valley. She agrees to go with him, is given the name Eve, and follows her new father to a magical world where werewolves, ghosts, and vampires are all real. She befriends Vlad, a vampire, and a witch named Lyla and meets all sorts of other characters in town. Unfortunately, some of the Hallowell Valley residents are not pleased with having a “living” among them. There also is a plot to overthrow The Pumpkin King as ruler. Eve and her new friends must find a way to convince everyone to let her stay as well as save her new-found father. 

THOUGHTS: This was one of my favorite middle grade books that I read in 2024. I absolutely loved the found family and character growth depicted in the book. Give this to students who love Halloween, found families, and magic. 

Fantasy