Monster Club: Hunters for Hire

by Gavin Brown

Overview

A trio of friends set out to catch monsters and foil a nefarious plot in this hilarious adventure by Josh Baxter Levels Up author Gavin Brown.

There is only one thing seventh graders Tommy Wainwright, Colleen "Spike" Hernandez, and Karin Khalil want to do -- go on adventures and catch monsters! And in a world where monsters -- big and small -- roam, someone has to keep these creatures in check, right? Luckily, this is the iPhone era, and that means anyone can use the brand-new app, AppVenture ("It's like Uber for monster-slaying!"), to hire their very own adventurer to stop the beasts.So when Tommy, Spike, and Karim find a way to become registered "Independent Adventure Contractors" for the new app, they couldn't be more thrilled. At first, being full-fledged adventurers is a blast. But when the trio embark on their second quest, they stumble upon a secret: It seems AppVenture has been releasing monsters into the wild in order to generate more business. Now the three friends find themselves on the run from a venture-backed startup that will do anything to make sure our heroes don't live to reveal the truth...

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781338318524
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	07/30/2019
Sold by:	Scholastic, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Pages:	256
File size:	40 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Gavin Brown has written stories and designed games for the bestselling Spirit Animals and The 39 Clues series, and is the creator of the highly rated iOS and Android game Blindscape. He lives in a narrow apartment in New York City's East Village.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Josh Baxter Levels Up:* "Smartly paced and emotionally engaging, a book even those who have never held a controller will enjoy." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review"Brown includes countless gaming references that will delight in-the-know readers... It's a light, fun approach to typical middle-school struggles from an author who gets his audience and knows his games." — Publishers Weekly"The gamer theme and the inclusion of various digital diversions add a charge to this upbeat fitting-in story." — Booklist"Readers will be engaged in this likable lead's quest to solidify burgeoning friendships via a school video game decathlon. Secondary peer characters of both genders and diverse backgrounds add texture... VERDICT: Recommended as an enticing addition, especially for middle school gamers and reluctant readers." — School Library Journal"Gamers will appreciate that each chapter ends with a full-page recap of Josh's current experience level, health, lives remaining, and new skills unlocked (clever summaries of major events he successfully navigated). Even non-gamer kids will likely appreciate Josh, however, as he is earnestly interested in but not always adept at navigating the often baffling social flow of middle school." — Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books"Josh Baxter Levels Up is an epic boss battle of a book. Set in a terrain more intense than any video game — middle school — it deploys a triumphant combo of humor, high-stakes, and heart. Read this book: It's a winning move!" — Michael Northrop, New York Times bestselling author of the TombQuest series

From the Publisher

07/01/2019

Gr 3–7—Best friends Tommy, Spike, and Karim are itching for an adventure, and they're about to find one: their town has been overrun by gremlins, basilisks, and other dangerous and pesky monsters. They sign up as monster hunters on an app called AppVenture and quickly begin receiving requests from around town, but their work leads them to uncover a nefarious plot bigger than they could have imagined. The chapters are interspersed with entertaining "Monsterpedia" entries that describe the creatures the trio face. Though the book includes decidedly kid-friendly elements such as famous online streamers, silly and scary creatures, and lots of monster-hunting action, this strikes an odd tone against a plot that requires at least some understanding of freelancing, profit motives, and corporate responsibility. This book succeeds most when it focuses on the very human experiences and emotions of its likable and well-rounded protagonists, and the concept of a monster-hunting app service is a strong one. However, the plot demands an understanding of economics and capitalism that may be beyond its intended audience. VERDICT The humor, while plentiful, may fly over the heads of many young readers. Fans of mythology-inspired books like Rick Riordan's "Percy Jackson" novels or irreverent action series like Gordon Korman's "Spy School" will most enjoy.—Madison Bishop, Plymouth Public Library, MA

School Library Journal