Hickey of the Beast

Jun 02, 2011 Between the Covers rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery, paranormal, young-adult

Reviewed by Christin for Between the Covers

Hickey of the Beast is a quick, enjoyable read that redefines freshman year. Sure, there are the typical classes to deal with and cute boys to admire, but there's also something more, something...sinister.

As the head's kid, Connie has grown up at Springden, so starting high school there feels fairly natural. Even still, it's a new experience; so when the first nightmare happens, Connie doesn't think too much of it. But her brother is having nightmares a...more Reviewed by Christin for Between the Covers

Hickey of the Beast is a quick, enjoyable read that redefines freshman year. Sure, there are the typical classes to deal with and cute boys to admire, but there's also something more, something...sinister.

As the head's kid, Connie has grown up at Springden, so starting high school there feels fairly natural. Even still, it's a new experience; so when the first nightmare happens, Connie doesn't think too much of it. But her brother is having nightmares as well. And each time Connie has the dream, she is able to experience more, to learn more about this...force. There are other signs this isn't a typical year at Springden as well. Various girls start becoming ill - even ill enough to leave - and nobody seems to know why. With the help of her friends, Connie realizes these two things may be related. And if they are, she has to stop them - but how? In the midst of soccer practice, trying to pass classes, and worrying if someone will ask her to the Red and White dance, Connie suddenly finds it her job to protect her school from this unknown predator. After all...nobody ever said freshman year was easy.

This story is told as letter from Connie to her friend Amanda (originally released by Candlemark & Gleam as a serial story). Because of this, the novel has a much more conversational, friendly feel than a typical book, and that definitely worked for this story. The reader almost takes the place of Amanda as one of Connie's good friends, and through Connie's asides and recollections the reader learns more about her. Connie has a strong personality, by turns funny and insightful, and she makes for a great narrator. I enjoyed the different dynamics in this book - there was an emphasis on family and friendships rather than romance, which was refreshing. Also, the mystery and requisite building clues kept the plot from becoming stagnant.

However, there were a few elements of the mystery that were a bit predictable. While the original premise and the "mysterious evil" were certainly not traditional, the descriptions left something to be desired. I felt as though Connie didn't truly understand everything, even in the end, and therefore the final revelation and explanation wasn't as full as it could have been. Despite this, though, the book was still enjoyable.

Overall, Hickey of the Beast is a fast, entertaining read, and one with a new and interesting premise. I will look forward to reading more from this author!(less)

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Apr 13, 2011 Lisa at Adventures of 2.0 rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

What a fun book! Hickey of the Beast is an interesting look into a young freshman’s life: boys, homework, evil monsters… Huh? In this super fresh and cute young adult book Kunkle pulls off a combination that could have easily fallen flat. Luckily, everything here works perfectly! We have our bright and determined protagonist, Connie, who was beautifully written. Her personality really came alive and I would have loved to have a friend like her! And every bad ass monster killing teen needs side k...more

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Mar 27, 2011 Lexie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-type-e-book, genre-paranormal, genre-young-adult, review-blog

Well I know I said I couldn't say anything about the serial format, but I think I can safely say it would have made for an interesting reading experience. Each chapter is about 10-15pages long and told in a friendly conversational way. It felt almost like receiving letters from a friend, which is rather what Kunkel was going for. It can make things feel a little limited, we're getting everything from Connie's perspective and view. Obviously in First Person POV this is always the case, but due to...more

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Feb 23, 2012 Traci rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: library-thing-wins

I would love to give this book a rating of 3.5 out of 5 instead of just a three. Sadly, we don't have that ability.

Anyway, I admit, I think the title of this book is really, really cheesy. However, the title really makes sense and is a perfectly fitting title for the book, so it's pretty easy to look past that really. Even if it is a little cheesy.

We follow Connie, daughter of a boarding school headmistress and a few of her friends on campus. Connie is writing a very, long letter to her friend...more

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Apr 12, 2011 Christie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Connie Perez is the daughter of Springden Academy’s headmistress. She is excited and nervous about making the transition from a faculty kid to an actual student. As the new school year progresses she finds herself plagued with nightmares involving a swarm of angry mosquitos. Coincidently her little brother is also having bad dreams. As the dreams evolve and students fall sick, Connie sets out to find answers with two of her closest friends.

Hickey of the Beast is told in the format of a letter fr...more

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Oct 05, 2012 Jasmyn9 rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, young-adult, urban-fantasy

Connie seems like just another boarding school girl and life is normal until one night she has a dream about a bunch of insects attacking a girl. She thinks it's just another nightmare until the same girl turns up very sick and has to leave for the hospital. As the dreams continue, Connie realizes that something is very wrong, something is hunting her fellow students. Since she is the only one that seems to be having the dreams she decides to track it down and try to stop it.

I really liked Conni...more

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Apr 04, 2011 Kai (Amaterasu Reads) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: teens, 2011-tbr-pile, arc, for-review

Originally posted at Amaterasu Reads

Hickey of the Beast is written as a sort of a letter to Connie's friend, Amanda. And boy was that a long letter.

Though I don't think that freshmen girls should be speaking like Connie does, I couldn't help but liking the fact that the entire story was written through her POV. She's got a very interesting life, if you ask me, filled with interesting opinions about anything and everything. I do think she's a fun character to read about! The way Connie has writt...more

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Apr 29, 2011 Gmr rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: mid to older teens through adults

Recommended to Gmr by: Candlemark & Gleam

Consuela Perez, Connie for short, is about to embark on a grand adventure. She's standing at the precipice of what could be the start of a brand new life or a fall into the pits of utter despair for TONIGHT is the night before....her first day of ninth grade. O_O A time filled with excitement and those first steps into teen-dom for certain, but for Connie and the crew at Springden Academy, it's not as awkward as it could be. You see, Connie's Mom is the "head of the school" so she's been a "scho...more Consuela Perez, Connie for short, is about to embark on a grand adventure. She's standing at the precipice of what could be the start of a brand new life or a fall into the pits of utter despair for TONIGHT is the night before....her first day of ninth grade. O_O A time filled with excitement and those first steps into teen-dom for certain, but for Connie and the crew at Springden Academy, it's not as awkward as it could be. You see, Connie's Mom is the "head of the school" so she's been a "school brat" for most of her life. She knows the kids she'll be with for better or worse from her years growing up on the school grounds and that takes a bit of the edge off....until the dream.

Now it's normal to have nightmares before big, stressful events but Connie's is a bit out there even for that. In her dream, she and her younger brother Julio are walking into their "forbidden" living room (forbidden because of the decor and heirlooms adorning it) when all of a sudden he takes out a baseball and smashes an antique vase...or rather attempts to as all that happens is a crack appears through which bugs begin to spill out at a rapid pace. Chalking it up to day one jitters, she thinks nothing more of it...until a few nights pass and BOOM, another dream...but this time around, things are much different and much more dire for the one in the starring role.

When events in real life begin to mirror things Connie is seeing in her dreams, she can't help but wonder what in the world is going on...and if she could be responsible for them. As things begin to take a sinister edge, with the help of her friends, she sets out to unravel this peculiar mystery; what she discovers is well beyond anything she could have imagined. Will she be able to stop the coming events before it's too late? Or will Springden Academy fall victim to the unseen foe reeking havoc this semester? One things for certain, this is turning out to be an INTERESTING first year of high school.

First things first, the cover....though it made me curious about the book, I wasn't really a fan. It almost gave it a hokey feel and I'm afraid it might be one of those that potential readers (that aren't brilliant enough like yourselves to read more about it) brush to the side based off that alone. Trust me....you DON'T want to ignore this one. Beneath the outer shell is a story that is well worth it's electronic pages. The voices of the characters are so pure and vivid....so real. It makes you feel like you are talking with your best friend, not reading a story. The use of parenthesises is rampant as well, which just adds to the real quality of their speech/writing patterns (...and if you're like me and LOVE using them in your own writing...like now....hehe).

Now, I don't want to spoil it for you guys especially since it's being released bit by bit, but I will make a few points that sprang up along my reading journey. The book is written as a letter to Connie's friend Amanda, whom we never actually meet (which leads me to wonder if a sequel might be in order and perhaps it will be written by Amanda? Something to ponder....). Sounds disconcerting? It's not actually. It plays rather well with the story while the reason for the extended letter is explained by books end. For those that dislike pop culture references, sorry guys....there are a few in here but might I be so bold as to say that they only add to the fun instead of merely "dating" the story because to me, that's exactly what was accomplished. The story itself has a supernatural aspect to it that was unique due to the twists added to the typical details we usually see in a novel like this (boarding school, students out to get one another, teachers you'd like to avoid, etc) and it definitely had the creepy part down pat yet it doesn't dwell on them so much that it creates that overkill effect. The eventual "big reveal" that comes further down the line is certainly unexpected in its actual content but I love how the author ties it into some hidden histories which she shares with readers in lieu of us having to make a lot of assumptions.

In short, a novel idea for a novel that is well worth a few, nay weeks of your attention as you unravel the mysteries of Springden Academy one well written chapter at a time. Recommended for young adult readers of the young-mid teen variety through adults. There are a few choice words within the book but they aren't anything that one can't hear walking down the street in a GOOD neighborhood so they shouldn't give you too much pause. Happy reading indeed....(less)

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Feb 16, 2012 Ron rated it 4 of 5 stars

I’d been looking forward to this ARC for a while, and when I got it in my e-mail I went positively crazy with excitement. Of course, I squeezed it in my TBR as soon as I could and... it was such fun!

There are two things that are very unique in this book. The one that will jump out at you first is the tone, the voice. The whole novel is written as a super long letter from Connie to a friend, and that’s exactly the way it felt when I read it.

The story follows a good pace, is well structured, tells...more I’d been looking forward to this ARC for a while, and when I got it in my e-mail I went positively crazy with excitement. Of course, I squeezed it in my TBR as soon as I could and... it was such fun!

There are two things that are very unique in this book. The one that will jump out at you first is the tone, the voice. The whole novel is written as a super long letter from Connie to a friend, and that’s exactly the way it felt when I read it.

The story follows a good pace, is well structured, tells us what we need to know when we need to know it and builds all twists and revelations upon previous remarks – can you say solid? And yet, Connie’s tone is colloquial, light, full of “youngster speech” that suit her age to a tee.

I think Hickey of the Beast might have been such a quick read because it truly felt like I was reading something from a friend, and that’s the kind of stuff you never put down until you’ve gleaned the last bit of juicy gossip, right?

More things I loved: it was not a romance. Don’t get me wrong: I love romances, I really do. Even when there are no obvious elements, I tend to find something to focus my inner squealing fangirl... But this wasn’t necessary with Hickey of the Beast. Connie is a really well developed character, and a refreshing one. I already said that. What does that mean, in the romance context? Well, there’s something about not finding the love of your life at fourteen that some of today’s YA writers (and readers) have forgotten, though. There’s something about reading a the thoughts of a girl with an appreciative eye for boys who just knows that there’s more stuff out there – like her friends, her family, and, oh, I don’t know, saving people.

Last but not least: an original take on myth and paranormal creatures. Can’t say much about this without destroying the whole mystery for you, but Isabel Kunkle has mixed up some very interesting stories from all around the world to shape an enemy that’s both familiar and unique.

Is this a recommended read? Yes, in capitals. For everyone, and specially for real YA readers, and specially for people who want a break from the same old story with different wrappings. There are so many things to like about Hickey!

I kind of hope that there’s a sequel to this one in the makings. The ending leaves the plot wrapped up, but there’s stuff I’d like to know more about. Possibilities I’d like to see further explored.

And oh, how I’d love to see Connie growing up. That’d be a real treat!

What do you think? How do you feel about the letter format? The lack of world-shattering romance in favour of family and friend relationships?(less)

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Jun 02, 2011 Christin (Portrait of a Book) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 100in2011, btc-review, paranormal, mystery, young-adult

Hickey of the Beast is a quick, enjoyable read that redefines freshman year. Sure, there are the typical classes to deal with and cute boys to admire, but there's also something more, something...sinister.

As the head's kid, Connie has grown up at Springden, so starting high school there feels fairly natural. Even still, it's a new experience; so when the first nightmare happens, Connie doesn't think too much of it. But her brother is having nightmares as well. And each time Connie has the dream,...more Hickey of the Beast is a quick, enjoyable read that redefines freshman year. Sure, there are the typical classes to deal with and cute boys to admire, but there's also something more, something...sinister.

As the head's kid, Connie has grown up at Springden, so starting high school there feels fairly natural. Even still, it's a new experience; so when the first nightmare happens, Connie doesn't think too much of it. But her brother is having nightmares as well. And each time Connie has the dream, she is able to experience more, to learn more about this...force. There are other signs this isn't a typical year at Springden as well. Various girls start becoming ill - even ill enough to leave - and nobody seems to know why. With the help of her friends, Connie realizes these two things may be related. And if they are, she has to stop them - but how? In the midst of soccer practice, trying to pass classes, and worrying if someone will ask her to the Red and White dance, Connie suddenly finds it her job to protect her school from this unknown predator. After all...nobody ever said freshman year was easy.

This story is told as letter from Connie to her friend Amanda (originally released by Candlemark & Gleam as a serial story). Because of this, the novel has a much more conversational, friendly feel than a typical book, and that definitely worked for this story. The reader almost takes the place of Amanda as one of Connie's good friends, and through Connie's asides and recollections the reader learns more about her. Connie has a strong personality, by turns funny and insightful, and she makes for a great narrator. I enjoyed the different dynamics in this book - there was an emphasis on family and friendships rather than romance, which was refreshing. Also, the mystery and requisite building clues kept the plot from becoming stagnant.

However, there were a few elements of the mystery that were a bit predictable. While the original premise and the "mysterious evil" were certainly not traditional, the descriptions left something to be desired. I felt as though Connie didn't truly understand everything, even in the end, and therefore the final revelation and explanation wasn't as full as it could have been. Despite this, though, the book was still enjoyable.

Overall, Hickey of the Beast is a fast, entertaining read, and one with a new and interesting premise. I will look forward to reading more from this author!(less)

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Mar 30, 2012 Shanon (Escaping With Fiction) rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc

My reviews can also be found at: http://escapingwithfiction.blogspot.com/

I need to go ahead and start off this review by saying that I probably would have given this book a higher rating had it been around for me to read when I was about 13 or 14 years of age. I can totally see my younger self liking this book just fine, but unfortunately I'm in my mid-twenties now and just couldn't quite get into Hickey of the Beast.

The premise of the book is actually pretty cool, but the execution of the plot...more My reviews can also be found at: http://escapingwithfiction.blogspot.com/

I need to go ahead and start off this review by saying that I probably would have given this book a higher rating had it been around for me to read when I was about 13 or 14 years of age. I can totally see my younger self liking this book just fine, but unfortunately I'm in my mid-twenties now and just couldn't quite get into Hickey of the Beast.

The premise of the book is actually pretty cool, but the execution of the plot was not what I was expecting. For one, the entire book is basically written like a letter; with Connie (the main character) telling the entire events of this story to her friend Amanda. Although sometimes I forgot this, I'm still not too crazy about this format, but it wasn't exactly a deal-breaker. Unfortunately, I had a hard time actually finishing this book because for the most part, I found it to be boring. But I am glad I pushed through it because the ending was a bit interesting--even though it was pretty obvious who was responsible for all of the sinister activity in the book.

Connie is the main character, and she basically plays the role of detective in this paranormal/mystery themed book. She's a freshman with some unique and previously untapped abilities who, with the help of her friends, has to solve the mystery of who and what are behind some very bizarre and dangerous incidents at school. While I feel like her character wasn't always believable as a 14-year-old, she was decent and likable, and as a plus she did provide me with a few chuckles. There were also a couple of moments where I had to hold my breath because some of the situations Connie got herself into were dangerous and just plain creepy. I do wish Connie's abilities had been elaborated on, though.

Again, let me say that this book wasn't terrible, it just would have been better received by a much younger me. So if you're looking for a paranormal/who-done-it sort of book with a younger vibe to it, then give this one a shot.(less)

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Dec 15, 2012 Shanella rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: librarything-early-reviewers

When I picked up Hickey of the Beast by Isabel Kunkle, I was surprised at just how engaging it was. Isabel Kunkle’s protagonist, Connie, is spunky and lovable and I found myself rooting for her through the entire story.

Connie is the headmistress’s daughter and has a lot to live up to. Knowing that most of the staff and the upperclassmen knew her in her young and awkward days was the biggest of her worries until the strange dreams started; dreams that seem to come true.

While a fun read, the wri...more

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Sep 19, 2012 Robin Tidwell rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

“Connie thought freshman year might suck. She never thought it'd be literal.

“Bad dreams? No big deal. After all, Connie Perez is starting her first year in the prep school her mom runs. Anyone would be a little stressed, right? When she starts dreaming about strange creatures and places that don't make sense, she doesn't think much about it: there's other stuff on her mind. Then she starts noticing that the people she dreams about get sick right afterwards.

“Then everything gets weird.”

Wow! This...more

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Apr 05, 2012 Anna (Gatsby's Girl) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Connie has been looking forward to her freshman year and dreading it at the same time. After all, having her Mom as the principal of the prep school she'll be attending automatically singles her out as a faculty brat, not trustworthy. Then Connie starts having what seem to be psychic dreams. She sees girls getting sick and then next thing you know, in real life they're having breakdowns and leaving school. Connie doesn't take it seriously at first, but then she realizes that she might be the onl...more

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Oct 06, 2011 Rebecca rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, ya

Disclosure: I know both the author and the publisher of this book.

I read this book as a serial, which I suspect was not an ideal format for me personally, mostly because of my reading speed. I'm used to getting through books in a matter of days if not hours--it's weird and a little frustrating to have a book drag on for months. This, however, was a personal problem and not actually the book's fault.

The really delightful thing about this book is the voice. Connie is bright and funny, sarcastic b...more Disclosure: I know both the author and the publisher of this book.

I read this book as a serial, which I suspect was not an ideal format for me personally, mostly because of my reading speed. I'm used to getting through books in a matter of days if not hours--it's weird and a little frustrating to have a book drag on for months. This, however, was a personal problem and not actually the book's fault.

The really delightful thing about this book is the voice. Connie is bright and funny, sarcastic but still a little vulnerable. She's a good kid--no rebelling for the sake of rebelling, no intent to hurt people--so her sharp observations are good natured. It's been awhile since I was a teenager, but I really bought that this is how a smart, mature but still not grown up young woman would think. She has crushes but doesn't lose her head, has enemies but doesn't over-angst, and steers clear of any sparkly vampires whatsoever. No one's playing with the idiot ball here--Connie and her friends are sensible, her parents are competent, her reasons for not going to adults are legitimate. So a lot of the wall-banger traps of YA are neatly avoided here. I liked that, while she's not a brown-nosing goody-two-shoes, Connie's essentially a well-behaved kid. She has a head that's pleasant to be inside, which is really important when a book's in first person.

I'm not 100% sure that I felt the reason for Connie developing extrasensory powers was fully developed. There's an explanation given, but I didn't feel it was fully fleshed out. I kept expecting to get a confirmation and more details later, but they never quite materialized. It made the ending feel a little bit rushed to me. I was also never quite sure why her little brother appeared in her dreams at first--I kept expecting more meaning from the beginning form of the dream, but I'm not sure I'm totally satisfied with that explanation, either.

The pacing overall hums right along, and the setting is nicely sketched in. The combination of having involved parents and still being at a boarding school is a nice little twist. The title is a good indicator of the overall nature of this book--playful and clever. (less)

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May 08, 2011 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars

Let me say, this book was a blast to read! A little bit teen life, a little bit monster killing, really who could ask for more? Add in a fantastic protagonist and her butt kicking friends, and you have a story that is sure to keep you reading! You might even giggle a bit.

Going in to Hickey of the Beast I wasn't really sure what to expect. This is a serial novel, which means that it is meant to be released in parts. However I got to read the whole thing straight through. Truth be told? I loved it...more

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Mar 29, 2012 Emily Smith rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-read

That should be 3.5 stars for this book. :)
When I saw the title of this book, I giggled. I thought that this would be a quick read, and for some readers it will be. Early on, I had a hard time getting past the stream-of-consciousness of the main character Connie. Thankfully this seemed to diminish as the book progressed. I have mixed emotions about this book. I enjoyed some of the humor in the book and the plot was a new twist for paranormal stories, but I can't say that I loved it. It will be in...more

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Oct 18, 2011 Stevie Carroll rated it 4 of 5 stars

So far I've only read this in its serialised form, and that had me anxiously waiting for midday on Tuesday each week. Told in the form of one long letter from Connie to her friend Amanda, this was just delightful for the sheer sense of teenagerness that it encapsulated. I had an idea what the solution would be from early on, and I was partially proved right, but the jouney was the thing with this story. I just wish it could have been longer.

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Dec 10, 2012 Lauren (Lauren Reads YA) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: for-review, read-but-dont-own, netgalley, ebooks

Review to come.

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May 13, 2013 Gabrielle ~ Bhlack Benehvolence ~ marked it as to-read

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Shelves: daddy-dark-s-baby-warrior-list

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Apr 01, 2013 Library_jewel rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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Shelves: free-for-review

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