Monstrous: The Lore, Gore, and Science Behind Your Favorite Monsters

Beccia explores the historical, scientific, and psychological origins of eight notorious monster characters, including Frankenstein's monster, Dracula, zombies, Bigfoot, and others. Beccia illustrates in a ghoulish cartoon style, while infographics explore the monsters' anatomical features and primary characteristics. Additional sections offer "How to" tips on surviving creature attacks ("If you spot a baby Bigfoot, you might be tempted to play with it, especially if it is cute and furry. Don't"). Beccia explores the circumstances that contributed to the lore behind each being while bringing a scientific dimension to the playful concept. Alongside the text's logical explanations (Could the Kraken really be a giant squid?), there is fun to be had, and readers will savor details about how history, superstition, and human perception have inspired some of the most feared and beloved monster legends. Ages 9-14. (Sept.)

Gr 7 Up-Beccia delivers an interwoven tale of science, history, and the fictional monsters we love and fear. The mixed-media illustrations are macabre and quirky when fictionalized, while frighteningly accurate when depicting scientific and historical infographics. Balancing darker backgrounds with colorful contrasting text, each monster biography has a mix of paragraphs, diagrams, and time lines/scales. Each monster (perhaps) becomes a little less scary as readers start to understand the science behind each one. From the electricity that seemingly awoke Frankenstein's monster to the radiation that evidently created Godzilla, the science is systematically broken down. Although some of the information may be disturbing for younger readers, the connections to history and science also make the text fascinating and, at times, laugh-out-loud funny. VERDICT Avid fans of dinosaurs, animals, science, history, scary stories, or, more specifically, R.L. Stine's "Goosebumps" and the "Hotel Transylvania" series will enjoy these monsters' origin stories.-Hilary Tufo, Columbus Metropolitan Library-Reynoldsburg