220. Monster on the Hill by Rob Harrell.

Monster on the Hill by Rob Harrell.

Rating: (5/5)

(Kindle) - (US) - (Canada) - (UK)

Aug. 6, 2013, Top Shelf, 192 pgs

Age: 12+ (8+ if you don't mind mild swearing)

"In a fantastical 1860s England, every quiet little township is terrorized by a ferocious monster -- much to the townsfolk’s delight! Each town’s unique monster is a source of local pride, not to mention tourism.
Each town, that is... except for one. Unfortunately for the people of Stoker-on-Avon, their monster isn’t quite as impressive. In fact, he’s a little down in the dumps. Can the morose Rayburn get a monstrous makeover and become a proper horror? It’s up to the eccentric Dr. Charles Wilkie and plucky street urchin Timothy to get him up to snuff, before a greater threat turns the whole town to kindling.
Monsters of all ages are sure to enjoy this tale about life’s challenges, the power of friendship, and creative redemption, packed with epic battles and plenty of wild beasts!"

Received an egalley from the publisher through Netgalley.

This has got to be one of the funniest stories I've come across lately.  Simply hilarious!  Written in "British", I was flummoxed to find the author's biography professes him to be a pure bred American!  A delightful simply silly story that will have you laughing and chuckling with a smile on your face for the whole read.  You can't help but love all the characters: the depressed, self-pitying, over-dramatic Rayburn the monster, Timothy the Cockney street urchin with more pluck than is good for him, and the disgraced Dr. Wilkie, inventor with revoked licence to practice who has been sent out to get Rayburn to act more monster-like.  But while they are all at it little do they know that a terror worse than the average town monster quickly sees his opportunity to destroy Rayburn's town.  Excitement enters the story when they race against time to reach the city to fight this fiend and wonder whether Rayburn will be up to the challenge.  A note some parents may want to take into consideration:  My only quip with this book, is that it is obviously for kids as low in age as 8 years-old, but I have a problem with the much often repeated use of the words "bloody, bleeding, and bloody Hell".  It is British swearing and as an ex-pat. Brit, I'm not comfortable with anyone using that language in my home let alone young children, however if you are comfortable with it you won't have that problem.

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