Ian Mark

The hilarious journey of a young boy trying to find his place in the world. This book is like Finding Nemo but with humans and monsters.

Jack has been helicoptered by his widowed father all his life, which is terribly boring when you are a child who loves adventures. “Every hero has to start somewhere . . .Monster Hunting isn’t as easy as it looks. And Jack should know. Because an ogre has just appeared in his garden and tried to EAT HIS AUNT. (She was the winner of the World’s Worst show more Aunt competition, but that’s Not The Point). After (sort of accidentally) defeating the ogre, Jack finds himself apprenticed to a grumpy, 200-year-old monster hunter called Stoop and heading off to Cornwall, where more ogres are causing havoc. All he has are his wits, his catapult and a magical – sometimes unreliable – book called Monster Hunting for Beginners.
Jack’s a bit worried he might not be the hero everyone’s waiting for. But then again, how many terrifying, bloodthirsty monsters can there really be?
(Answer: ABSOLUTELY LOADS. And a bear called Humbert).”

Jack has to make smart decisions to prove to his dad that he isn’t a baby anymore and that life is more than just being safe. But being independent sometimes takes a different kind of courage than just monster hunting. Often, believing in yourself is the first step in succeeding.

This book was so wittingly silly, packed with footnotes that make you giggle out loud. With lots of illustrations and chapter-book-like writing, this book suits young readers who are beyond chapter books but not quite at the novel level yet. The story is sure to keep you entertained for a while. show less