Review by Booklist Review
The eclectic Wild Oaks apartments are home to a group of friends who call themselves "the Wild Ones." The foursome spends the majority of their free time discussing all things monster-related, especially the monster they suspect is lurking nearby in a cave deep in the Steelburg forest. Only, they can't decide on what type of monster it might be: A banshee, hungry for Andy's Irish boxty? La Tunda, who hails from Colombia, like Valentina? Xander's favorite, a Haitian loogoroo? Or a batlike vetal, which Jasmine is sure is a Bollywood fan? When Wild Oaks is threatened with being torn down, the friends seek out the monster living in the forest for help; will it answer their call and come to the aid of the distressed children? This brief but exciting story (simultaneously published in Spanish) features dynamic artwork nicely in sync with the energetic story. The short page count and quick narrative arc make it a good pick for early elementary-schoolers. Playful monster fun with a satisfying amount of heart.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Wild Oaks residents Valentina and her friends Andy, Jasmine, and Xander bond over their love of macabre, eerie, and hopefully friendly creepy-crawly creatures, particularly the kind found in their local library's cryptozoology section. Legend says there's a monster living in the woods outside of town, though no one has ever seen it. But when a property development group arrives and threatens their neighborhood, Valentina and company seek to recruit the mysterious monster, hoping that it will defend them and put a stop to the gentrifying newcomers. Educational without being didactic and reminiscent of 1980s ensemble adventure films, this amusing graphic novel by the creators of Zombies Don't Eat Veggies! covers serious topics via a breezy, upbeat narrative. Lacera's dynamic, retro-style art renders the group's tween antics and their palpable rapport, as well as four monsters from different cultures around the world, including the Banshee, La Tunda, the Loogaroo, and the Vetal, each of which hails from the characters' respective ethnic backgrounds ("I'm positive the monster is La Tunda! She's Colombian. Just like me!" Valentina says.) Ages 5--10. Agent: John Cusick, Folio Literary. (Apr.)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A monster surprise emerges from the forest just when a group of friends need it the most. Valentina and her best friends, Jasmine, Andy, and Xander, live in an apartment complex at risk of being torn down by developers to make way for "businesses that all look the same." Certain that there's a monster hiding in a nearby forest, the kids decide to find the creature and use it to scare away the developers. Each believes the monster hails from their own country of origin. Valentina thinks it's La Tunda, a Colombian creature with a leg made from a wooden kitchen utensil. Xander thinks the creature is Loogaroo, a Haitian vampire witch, while Andy believes that it's the Irish banshee, and Jasmine is convinced they're after the Indian Vetal. Though other kids in the neighborhood mock the protagonists, telling them to go back to where they came from, the quartet stick together and go in search of the creature. Full-color panels of charming digital illustrations make this an accessible graphic novel, and the main characters' enthusiasm results in a lighthearted tale interspersed with details about folklore. Despite the monstrous subject matter, the creatures aren't all that creepy, and in the end, the community is pleasantly surprised when the friends solve their mystery. Wild monsters from diverse cultures lurk (and smirk) in this not-so-scary story of fighting for home. (information about the monsters) (Graphic fantasy. 6-10) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
