John Kloepfer

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

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

Reader beware: you should not read this book during lunch unless you have a strong stomach. Middle school student Zack, his sister Zoe, and friends visit New York City on a class trip, only to have the entire populace turn into zombies…again. Luckily, the five intrepid kids have previous experience fighting the undead and hack, saw, and shove their way through the brain-hungry hordes on their way to save the world. The plot is fast moving, and though the gross factor is high, all subject show more matter and humor is appropriate for upper elementary and lower middle school students. Simple line drawings throughout add humor, and emphasize the disgustingness that is zombies. The book ends on a to-be-continued ending, and pick up roughly where the last book left off, and though it can be successfully read as a stand-alone, teachers and librarians should be sure to have the whole series (five books thus far, with Empire State of Slime being the fourth.) This might not be a great read-aloud or reading-in-class book, but would get kids reading on their own, particularly boys. show less