Book Review: Here Be Monsters

If anyone has seen the movie The Boxtrolls, congratulations! That movie rocks.  However, like most movies, it was a book first.  When I found that out and figured out the title, I read it immediately, so here is my review!

For Fans of:

Roald Dahl

Goblins by Phillip Reeve

Here Be Monsters

Alan Snow

 

Ratbridge--a city unlike any other.  Young Arthur, living with his foster father underground must escape above to collect food and materials.  But one night, Arthur is trapped as the appalling Snatcher seals all sewer drains making escape impossible.

With the help of Willbury Nibble, some boxtrolls, cabbageheads, Marjorie the inventor, and the rats and pirates of Ratbridge Nautical Laundry, Arthur must find a way to save his father before he starves, find out Snatcher's evil plan and save the town before it's too late!

There are quite a few connections between this book and the movie, The Boxtrolls, but it's obvious the screenwriters took quite a bit of creative control.  Nonetheless, the movie was incredible, and the book was even more entertaining!

Snatcher is a most odious man, who you can help but hate throughout the entire story.  This whole story kind of reminds me of a fantasy story by Road Dahl.  A young boy must band together with his remarkable friends to save the day--and saving the day involved stopping a massive rat being fed an exorbitant amount of cheese on a daily basis.

This book also has some incredible illustrations that show up on every other page, if not more often.  The illustrations definitely add to the story and help develop the pictures of the fantastical creatures.  At a whopping 500 pages, this book seems daunting, but due to the illustrations and incredible story line, it will not take you long to finish it.