John Kloepfer

Picture it...Middle School art class and you're stuck with all the people you never really want to see face to face because, well...let's face it, they're bullies. Outside the peer pressure cooker, Manny and Freddie were planning on making a monster MOVIE and were REALLY excited about utilizing the teacher's 3D printer to make Freddie's illustrations COME TO LIFE. Thing is they didn't actually expect it to breath life into them, and yet...it did. Yep...and that's only the beginning because show more once MONSTERS are UNLEASHED there's no telling what they'll do next.

I loved the quick nature of the story and how it took you on a fantastical type adventure with bigger meaning undertones. I mean, the monsters were Freddie's way of dealing with the bullying tactics of the aforementioned trio of non-friends...non-violent (at least in reality) and a way to build on his artistic abilities...but when push comes to shove, he's forced to deal with their version of "evil" head on...as are the bullies themselves. It sounds awful but it was great to see them get a taste of their own medicine...I mean, what better way to out a bully than to make them face themselves at gargantuan levels? Am I right?

A great read for Middle Grade Fiction fans and beyond filled with adventure, danger, monsters (both cute and decidedly not), and a dose of reality you weren't expecting.


***copy received for review show less

This is a book that you can get lost in. In a good way. I read it in one sitting. Kevin and the gang were entertaining. Of course, I had Tara's side. She is a strong, smart female. Always glad to see these female types in books. I am big into science and engineering and such. So if there had been a summer camp like Northwest Horizons around when I was younger, I would have wanted to attend. The illustrations in this book just added to the story and helped give me a wonderful visual of the show more camp, Kevin and the gang, and Mim the alien. Speaking of Mim. He was quite the character himself. He kept things fun. My nephews will enjoy reading this book and they can as there were no huge words that they can't read for themselves. I am interested in what happens next in Galaxy's Most Wanted: Into the Dorkness. show less

Monsters unleashed is a fun story about bullies turned friends.

Freddie Liddle and his only friend Manny have a monster problem. After Freddie draws monsters based on the three meanest bullies in class, the boys use the school’s new 3D printer to create models of their monsters. But to their surprise, the monsters come alive. As if live monsters weren’t enough of a shock, things get even more complicated when the monsters get wet and just keep growing to colossal proportions.

Determined show more to stop the monsters, the boys recruit the bullies to help since they are the only ones who really know how the monsters think. While teaming up with his arch nemeses starts out as Freddie’s worst nightmare, before long he discovers they are more than meets the eye. These unlikely friends rally together to save not just their school, but the entire town.

The author, John Kloepfer, did a good job of creating a relatable middle school dynamic while at the same time putting his characters in a fantastical situation. With some fun characters and some silly ideas, this was a fun read. show less

The Zombie Chasers by John Kloepfer, illustrated by Steve Wolfhard is a graphic novel of sorts for kids age 8-12. Zombies are flooding the quiet Arizona neighborhood while parents are at the school with teachers and Zack is being duct-taped to a chair by his big sister, Zoe, and her girlfriends, Madison, and Ryan. Locked in his room, Zack scrambles for a way out and water to wash off the clown makeup his sister put on his face. As he sneaks out into the kitchen to get the last piece of his show more his birthday cake, he spies his crush, Madison, forking bites of the cake into her own mouth. As they argue about the cake, the zombies make their way into the house, forcing the two unlikely companions up into Zack’s room where they formulate an escape.

The illustrations are black and white and accompanying the events in the text as Zack, Madison, and Zack’s best friend, Rice, hack their way through town. Rice thinks of himself as a zombie expert, and like typical kids, there’s arguing about who’s an ugly faced dork, and who’s a snotty brat. There are funny moments, gross moments, and scary moments as the kids try to escape the zombies and find a solution.

Read the full review: http://savvyverseandwit.com/2013/02/the-zombie-chasers-by-john-kloepfer-illustra... show less