Monday, August 20, 2018

Penguin Young Readers presents... MONSTER MAYHEM by Christopher Eliopoulos!

Hello again!
You've found Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.  Yay you!  So, if you're just joining us, WELCOME, and if you've already stopped by for the other tour on the docket today, WELCOME BACK!  Whether you're a first timer or a frequent visitor, fellow readers are welcome, one and all.  Speaking of guests...


Book numero dos on the blog today is ANOTHER blog tour, but this time around, we're hanging out with Penguin Young Readers and checking out a FABULOUS Graphic Novel thanks to Friya (*hi, Friya!*), publicity assistant extraordinaire.  Graphic Novel?  Ah, you caught that part, did you now?  Well, you see from time to time I have been known to delve into the genre; it just takes something extra special to catch my eye.  When I saw the author AND artwork of the one at hand, I KNEW I had to explore between the pages because seriously, I adore his illustrations for Bred Meltzer's  I AM... series and the synopsis of this time simply screamed READ ME.  So, if you're ready to set forth on a grand and yet unexpected adventure, join me as we dive between the pages of...


by
Christopher Eliopoulos
9780735231245
Dial Books

About the book...
In this funny, action-packed graphic novel adventure, a science-obsessed girl finds herself in the middle of one of her favorite monster movies. Can she invent her way out of disaster while also saving the monster who has become her friend?

Zoe's favorite thing to do--besides invent and build robots--is watch classic monster movies. She has never been comfortable with kids her own age, and so she pretends she doesn't need friends while inside she's longing for connection. And then one day, Zoe finds a mysterious ring on her way home from school. She puts it on, gives it a twist, and--FRZAAKK! There's a massive burst of light! The next morning, a familiar monster appears at Zoe's window. He's from one of her favorite kaiju movies, and he likes Zoe--he wants to be her friend. Has her secret wish been fulfilled? But it turns out that Zoe's ring has brought more than just this friendly monster to life. More monsters have arrived, and they are hungry! Now she'll need to reach out to other people to help her save her town from destruction. Good thing she's a robotics genius!



AMAZON  |  BAM  |  B&N  |  INDIEBOUND



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Talk about GIRL POWER!
Here, we have a budding scientific mind trapped in the body of a little girl and while she's ace at robotics, she's striking out at making friends.  That's okay though, right?  I mean, who needs friends?  On your own you can see whatever movies YOU like a hundred times, eat YOUR favorite foods, listen to YOUR favorite music, and persue YOUR beloved hobbies...all without having to compromise for anyone.  Sounds like the perfect world...right?  Yeah, about that...

Zoe is our leading lady and she's MAD SMART at all the techie stuff, I could never be.  Now, I'm not shabby at running programs, and computer work, but building one?  HahahahahaHA!  Yeah, right.  Guess what?  It's child's play for her...quite literally child's play as she IS in fact a child, but the things she accomplishs are SO AMAZING!  I loved her little pal B-4...from nuts to bolts, he was her companion, voice of reason, and snarky sidekick without an actual pulse...although give her the suggestion and she could probably give him one.  Anywho, she and he get pulled into a MONSTER SIZED adventure after a mysterious piece of jewelry winds up on her finger, and that first monsterous surprise is only the beginning!  She'll learn that getting what you wish for doesn't always work out the way you wanted, and that sometimes things happen for a reason much BIGGER than you could ever dream.

Aside from the obvious MONSTEROUSLY fun story, it has SO MUCH HEART!  No, really!  It wasn't just romp-em-stomp-em monsters, robotics, and saving the city....it was also color filled reminder that while we may be able to do it ourselves, we can grow, flourish, and accomplish SO MUCH MORE together.  It broke my heart when our little leading lady stepped outside her box, only to be squashed in such a heartless (even if unintentional) way.  I saw through Zoe's bravado, and though she was gifted, brilliant, and so many leapyears ahead of her classmates, she still needed the humbling yet heartwarming connection that true friendship brings.  No man/woman is an island...an old saying, but oh so true.  We all need someone, and there's no shame in that...it's what makes us human.  We thrive in communities, share our strengths, overcome our weaknesses, and build a better today, while striving for tomorrow.  

Image result for friendship

In the end, it was a FANTASTIC adventure filled with so much action, and monster mayhem (hey, isn't that the title?  *giggle*) that readers won't know what hit them, but there's also that aspect of friendship that comes into play in such a big way that all the feels are there too. Zoe created her own world, in a way, but when push came to shove, even she had to admit that many hands made for a much lighter load...and despite her years of protecting her heart, she still had to learn the lesson of letting go of both hurt feelings and those we care for.  Recommended read for boys and girls alike, and readers of all ages.



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About the author...


Christopher Eliopoulos began his illustration career at Marvel Comics, and has worked on thousands of comics, including Cosmic Commandos, Franklin Richards: Son of a Genius, Pet Avengers, and Cow Boy, all of which he wrote and illustrated. He is also the illustrator of the New York Times bestselling Ordinary People Change the World series. He lives in New Jersey with his wife and their identical twin sons (when they're home from college).


SITE  |  TWITTER



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Special thanks to Friya at Penguin Young Readers for the ARC for review as well as the chance to bring this tour to you.  (THANKS!)  Fo rmore information on this title, the author, the series, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title is set to release August 28th, 2018 via Dial Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House, so mark your calendar or pre-order your copy today!  Be sure to check out the rest of the tour for more bookish fun...

BLOG SCHEDULE
August 21 – Redd’s Reads
August 22 – The Pages In-Between
August 23 – Four Violet Reviews
August 24 – TheReadathon


Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!


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