Monster High

MONSTER HIGH

By: Lisi Harrison

Release Date September 7, 2010 

FIRST SENTENCE

“The fourteen-hour drive from Beverly Hills, California, to Salem, Oregon, had been total Gitmo.”

SUMMARY

from goodreads

They prefer to call themselves RADs, but some call them monsters.  So far, the “monster” community as kept a low profile in Salem, Oregon, but this year two new girls enroll at Merston High School, and the town will never be the same.

Created just fifteen days ago, Frankie Stein is psyched to trade her father’s lonely formaldehyde-smelling basement lab for parties and friends.  But with a student body totally freaked out by rumors of monsters stalking the halls, Frankie finds that life in the “normie” world can be rough for a chic freak like her.

She thinks she finds a friend in fellow new student Melody Carver – but can a normi be trusted with her big secret?

REVIEW

What a clever idea!  A story set at a high school where the children of monsters (aka RADs) are part of the student body.  Add to that, the non-monster students (aka normies) are starting to suspect that something is up with some of their classmates.  The main character RAD is even named Frankie Stein.  I told you it was clever.

Monster High is a nice mix of spooky, mystery, high school drama, action, and even a little romance.  There’s just enough of everything.  I liked that the action kept moving and the characters were all very unique.  Picture this – Frankie has green skin that she tries to hide with foundation.  Lisi Harrison has an amazing imagination.

One of my favorite parts of the book is the explanation of how the RADs ended up in Salem, Oregon in the first place.  Let’s just say that their monster parents should have done a little better research on where and when the Salem Witch Trials took place.  Just another clever little twist.

Could these monsters be the next vampires and werewolves?  Maybe.  I hear that Monster High is taking over with a line of Justice accessories and toys by Mattel.  I really enjoyed this book and think it would appeal to a wide range of readers.  Now, go out there and get yourself a copy of this clever book.

Thank you to Little, Brown, and Company for sending this book for me to review.

RATING

5        Plot

5        Characters

5        Attention Grabbing

4        Girlie Meter

5        Ending

24      TOTAL

5        STARS