My vampire vs. your werewolf

Tobin (the Plants vs. Zombies series) crafts a creature feature delight in this uproarious series launch. When monsters are banned from contemporary society, the Crafters Guild is born. Led by a witch, the Guild aims to maintain monster culture--and creature morale--by seeking out cryptids and arranging sanctioned fights between them. Finally allowed to seek out their first monster, budding Guild Trainers and nine-year-old best friends Gabe and Hayden break into the legendary vampire Count Durstan's Welsh castle and invite him to fight a werewolf. Meanwhile, in Detroit, Trainers Joon and Tradd track werewolf Redd to his warehouse lair and offer him an opportunity to battle a vampire. Meeting at Camp Falsehood in Washington State, the Trainers are preparing their monsters for battle when a storm leaves the children alone with the creatures and no Guild Wardens or Crafters to safeguard them from the assumed-bloodthirsty fiends. Tobin delivers a richly imagined world brimming with self-sufficient characters and monsters that break the mold. It's an amusing take on how one's differences can be their strength--even the ones that can kill. The book's cover depicts the human cast with varying skin tones. Ages 8--12. (Sept.)