In this second book in the Scary School series, the students of Scary School are off to Monster Forest. School may be scary, but the forest has a few frights of its own, including bearodactyls; Captain Pigbeard, fearsome leader of the Monster-Pirates; and his fiancee, Princess Zogette. When Zogette falls in love with Charles and follows him to Scary School, Captain Pigbeard raises his army in pursuit. But what the monster army doesn't realize is that the teachers and students of Scary School are even more frightening than anything in the Monster Forest. Fans of the Intergalactic Bed and Breakfast series and the Bailey School books will love the way the Scary School series for middle-grade readers mixes spooky scares and laughs.
Derek is an eleven-year-old ghost who haunts the classrooms and hallways of Scary School, writing down all the spine-tingling often hilarious things that go on there. Despite his ghostly state, Derek still enjoys reading comic books and hopes to one day become a master ninja. If that doesn’t work out, he will continue to share the fun of this very special, very secret school, so all kids can experience the scariest school on earth. Derek the Ghost communicates through the first-time ghost whisperer Derek Taylor Kent, who is a writer and performer in Los Angeles, California.
MY REVIEW: Scary School #1 was one of my favorite MG reads last year, so I was super stoked to read the next book in the series. And this second installment does not disappoint! It not only captures the spooky-fun essence of the first book, it takes things to a whole new level of whimsy and awesomeness.
The students of Scary School are about to collect their reward for winning the Ghoul Games: a trip to Monster Forest to meet the Monster King, King Zog. And the Monster Forest is exactly how it sounds, a forest full of monsters: bearodactyls, fearsome pirates and a toad face princess. And when Princess Zogette falls for Charles Nukid and follows him back to Scary School, King Zog and Captain Pigbeard (Zogette’s fiancé) are not happy and wage war on Scary School. Back at Scary School the students prepare to fight the monsters while having spooky and kooky adventures of their own and of course, Derek the Ghost is there to write them all down.
Derek the Ghost returns with a spectacular and wild second installment in this tons of fun series. Once again, the author weaves a story that is both laugh-out-loud hilarious and deliciously chilling. Fast paced and packed full of thrills, giggles and awesome gross-outs, this book is never boring! Pitch perfect for its intended audience, the author continues to create an addicting voice that is equal parts whimsical, childlike and acerbically witty.
Old favorites are back (Charles Nukid, Penny the Possum, Principle Headcrusher, Frank whose name is pronounced “Rachel”, etc) while some new delightful and even creepy characters are introduced. Some of my new favorite characters are Mr. Grump, the elephant man teacher; Ms. Hydra, the seven-headed hall monitor; and Tanya Tarantula, a new student I’m equally enthralled with and terrified of (dude, she’s a GIANT spider! Ick, but wicked cool, right?!). No matter how hairy, slimy, smelly or icky any character may be, they’re always charming, relatable and lovable.
The world Derek has created is smart, vivid and endlessly imaginative. Scary School is like a giant fun/haunted house or creepy Hogwarts, and how cool does that sound? You never know what fantastical beasts or wonderment will pop up or out from every corner and door. The exciting adventures of the Scary School students are over the top in the best way possible, full of laughs and have enough thrills to be delightfully scary.
And I must mention the illustrations, which are once again done by the talented Scott M. Fischer. Fischer’s drawings so wonderfully bring Derek’s story to life. He has definitely captured not only the likeness of the characters, but their personalities and essence as well.
MY FINAL THOUGHTS: This series has quickly become one of my favorite MG series and Monsters of the March is an awesome sequel. Readers of all ages will be captivated by the humor, chills and fantastical setting. This book and series is definitely a MUST read, especially a read-aloud!
After winning The Ghoul Games in the first book, the students are preparing to meet the Monster King, a man who is incredibly harsh—but never rude. Along the way, a little mishap causes Charles NuKid to be lost in the Monster Forest where he rescues Princess Zogette, the daughter of the King, and unintentionally sets into motion a war that threatens the fate—both living and undead—of the extraordinary students of Scary School.
I must say upfront that this second installment in the series is my favorite of the two. I found myself more invested with the unique and quirky characters, even the newest ones, who may I say, make fantastic additions to the already fascinating cast. While the repetition of certain things were a bit distracting at times, it is something that was absolutely necessary. When you have more than a handful of characters, it can be a little difficult to remember who is who—or what, so it came in handy. The ominous and quite literal ghostwriter Derek, still chronicles the events in the book using that distinctive POV that is a combination of third and a dash of first every so often.
I absolutely adore the novelty that hides within these books like little gems! (A character named Jason that wears a face mask; or how about Steven Kingsley [Stephen King] and the references to THE SHINING, IT, and MISERY) There are many little jokes that young adults and adults will get while the younger crowd may miss them. This series could easily be made into an animated TV show, and in time, I hope it does become one. The story is just too rich and enthralling to not be explored in both literary and visual circumstances.
This sequel is packed with new characters, humor, adventure, mystery, and action, and will keep readers of all ages entertained from start to finish. Not to mention the beautiful illustrations inside. Funny, creepy, and incredibly imaginative! When it comes to the Scary School series, there is no such thing as a sequel slump!
I would like to extend my greatest thanks to the author for sending me a finished copy of the sequel to review!
Last year I raved over the first book in the Scary School series. It took me back to my days as a young reader, visiting Wayside School and giggling up a storm at the zany antics of the characters. Needless to say, Monsters on the March had a lot to live up to! I was looking forward to more adventures with my favorite students, and definitely looking forward to a wacky read. Luckily this second installment far surpassed what I was hoping for. I couldn't get enough!
Derek the Ghost, our lovable ghost writer, quickly draws the reader right back into day to day life at the scariest school on Earth. If you haven't had a chance to read the first book, never fear! Derek introduces us to the cast of characters once again so, even if you're starting here, you won't be lost. This time the kids face a new adversary, the Monster King. Scary on the outside, but surprisingly pleasant smelling, the Monster King is all about manners. Step out of line? You might be a monster snack. So you can imagine his disbelief when Charles Nukid dares to save his daughter from her pirate fiance! The battle for Scary School is on.
It is so easy to become immersed in this book, no matter what your age. There are ample nods to many things that only an older reader would get. I couldn't help but giggle as I met Jason, a young boy who always wore a hockey mask to school. I was equally delighted when I found out that Steven Kingsley was the best writer in school! This is a book that you'll absolutely want to read along with your kids. Or, you know, read by yourself on the bus. (I highly recommend this, as people will look at you oddly when you crack up laughing!)
This book is perfect for reluctant readers and, in my opinion, easily transcends both age group and gender. No matter whose hands you put this book into, they're bound to love it. The illustrations are wonderful, the writing is perfection, and the plot twists are sure to delight. I'm a fan, tried and true! Add this book to your reading list and join me in the fun!
**Actual, full review** Original is here on my blog. (Note: due to copy-and-paste,formatting and links have been lost. Also, my brother and I reviewed this book together since he is in the recommended age group for this story.)
A hilarious, thrilling ride of a story, Scary School: Monsters on the March proves once again why, despite the "cool stuff that's not real," as my brother Roark would say, the awesomeness of this book is real.
Monsters on the March begins in the school year following the first book in the series, Scary School, which my brother and I have reviewed here. While the first book was entertaining, the second book had Roark flipping through the pages like a madman. We were on vacation, and that was the only book he brought. Thus, he read it at least five times in that one week. And he didn't get tired of it at all! Which, I think, goes to show that this book is truly a great and addicting MG (Middle Grade) series. I'm not a kid anymore, but my brother still is, and his honest laughter as he reads the story is both nailing the point that MG is as much of a scary ride as ever and the portrayal of how kids his age would perceive the book--whooping hysterically, of course.
In general, I think, Monsters on the March is comparable to a joystick. It's sort of got that choose-your-own-adventure style with its many twists and bends, but it's also ultimately a story that crosses mazes, battles monsters, and in the end finds the player--or reader, in this case--both a winner and a loser in a satisfied heap. Although my brain is smeared with YA (Young Adult), this burst of MG is refreshing and captivating to say the least.
Overall, if the movies Paranorman or Hotel Transylvania seem like your type of thing, then this book is sure to become a classical and familial favorite.
Scary School 2 Monsters on the March by Derek the Ghost and illustrated by Scott M. Fischer is the second in a series of hilarious books about a variety of students, some human but most not, who attend Scary School for a variety of reasons. At the end of the first book, the students of Scary School won the Ghoul Competitions and their prize was a trip to meet King Zog, the Monster King in Albania. Now, the students were getting ready for their trip with much anticipation. The new school year also brought an influx of new students; each with their own zany story about their background and life. Meeting the Monster King brings many new problems for the kids of Scary School, starting with the King’s daughter running away to Scary School.
This book is just as crazy and hilarious as the first. All the students at Scary School are unique in their own way and each one teaches a life lesson as we learn more about them. The stories are funny and the characters are zany and this is a great way to teach children the importance of accepting everyone for what they are!
My son has ADHD and HATES reading and we have a hard time finding a book that will grab his attention and hold onto it through the entire book. He LOVES The Scary School books and he looks forward to reading them. He remember everything that happens throughout the book which he has hard time doing with other books, even with us stopping to giggle and laugh throughout the whole book. I'm so happy to have discovered these books.
Definitely a 5 star book for fun-loving readers of all ages.
My Review: In this funny sequel Derek the Ghost returns with new characters, adventure, actions, humor and mystery that will keep you laughing.
Charles Nukid is back with some old favorites and new characters to name a few, Tanya Tarantula and Bryce McCallister are some of the new students, Ms Hydra a giant lizard with nine fearsome head is a hall monitor, new teacher Mr. Grump the Elephant man who was surprised to see that he has hands and King Khufu the mummy.
In the sequel, Principal Headcrusher announce to the students about the grand prize for winning the Ghoul Games last spring, was a trip to meet the Monster King Zog in Albany a town in upstate New York.
Read all about the Monster Princess Zogette falling for Charles Nukid and following him back to Scary School. Her father King Zog and her fiancé Captain Pigbeard are not happy and wage war on Scary School.
I am a fan of Derek the Ghost and can’t wait for the next installment. And let’s not forget the great artwork of Scott M. Fischer that captured the likeness of each character. I highly recommend this book for every young kid not afraid of monsters and adults…lol! A fun book your child will read over and over again. Get your copy from Amazon or Barnes & Noble.
Disclaimer: As per FTC guidelines, I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation. All opinions expressed here are mine and mine alone.
Monsters on the March had some big shoes to fill. I LOVED Scary School and I was looking for just as many, if not more, laughs from book 2. It did not disappoint. Monsters on the March is just as fun, zany, and flat out hilarious as book 1 was. If you have a child that will not read, give them the scary school series. They will be reading and laughing in no time.
This book features your same favorite students and monsters as Scary School had, along with a whole cast of new creatures. Also like scary school, I loved how each chapter was about one specific person but the book still managed to create an over-arc plot line. Which involved the Monster King. Yes King!
Scary School and its sequel, Monsters on the March have the unique quality to appeal to both boys and girls. And trust me that is not easy to do at those young ages. This is one of the most fun middle grade books I have read in a long time. I couldn't stop laughing! And it is not just a kids book, there are tons of pop culture references that will likely go over kids heads but that I really enjoyed reading them. I especially loved the adventures and writings of Steven Kingsley. ;) Kids will love the mixture of scary and silly. It would be such a fun book to read with them. I am a huge fan of Derek the Ghost (my favorite ghost writer) and Scary School.
While reading i loved the book and instead of reading for 30 minutes i read for 50 minutes each day i really loved that book and i am done reading it and i bearly got it on wedsenday and finished itbon saturday. I got it at the san jose libary in the shelf next to the comic books. So if you guys out there want to read it. And trust me i am pushing myself to read more books by this author.
A good second book to the series, probably better than the first. My 9 year old son says pretty much the same thing, “It’s pretty cool, not too scary, good for kids my age!”
This is one of my favorite middle-grade fantasy series. Book one was about introducing us to the characters and the school. In a way, this book is much like the first. We are introduced to more characters and their stories, but this book follows a more stream-lined plot. There is a set "bad guy" with the monsters determined to take down Scary School, and the kids determined to protect it and the epic "romance" between Princess Zogette and Charles Nukid.
Boys will love this series for the action, and girls will love the epic romance part (poor Charles). Plus, there are hints that there might be something between Charles and Penny. What really makes the story, however, is how the students get themselves out of various dangerous situations and grow all the more closer for it. There is so much potential for drama at a scary school, especially when various characters misinterpret different situations.
In this book, Derek introduces us to new monsters, some too scary in their adult forms to be illustrated in the text, and old favorites return. Monster Math takes on new significance, and we learn how monster kingdoms can be taken over. The Scary School books are books that adults and children alike will enjoy. I can easily imagine a family reading the books together. As always, gorgeous illustrations accompany the text. I recommend buying a hardcopy, as it makes it all the better to appreciate the beauty of the illustrations in the context of the story.
A most fabulous, hilarious, and fun filled read! The second in this amazing and addictive series, Derek the Ghost leads you on yet another journey through the first semester at Scary School. This time around, we get to meet more delightfully creepy characters that are fascinatingly haunting and truthfully, I'm really not too sure I would actually want to meet, including a big, hairy tarantula. (UGH) With greatly detailed illustrations, it helps to add to your own imagination as the entire school now has to battle evil pirates all because of a toad Princess named Zogette and her love for Charles Nukid and his un-love for her. We also get to touch base with some of the characters that we fell in love with in the first novel. Penny Possum even braves the nerve to stand bold and speak a word or two to save a great friend from evil-doers. It doesn't go unnoticed how great the school, children, and teachers can come together and fight for what they believe in. I definitely recommend adding this one to your shelves!
f you're looking for a great book to get your kids, this is it! I read the first book, Scary School, with my kids last year. They both loved it! So when the next book, Scary School: Monsters on the March, came out both kids were excited to get back to Scary School and Derek the Ghost. Scary School is not your average school. You'd never get eaten by a dragon, or cursed by a mummy, or go on a field trip to meet the Monster King in public school. However all that and more happens everyday at Scary School. This book centers around Charles Nukid and his unfortunate engagement to Princess Zogette. However, their 'love' threatens to destroy everyone at Scary School and divide a nation. This book is full of interesting and fun characters that children will enjoy. There is never a dull moment or chapter. I love the humor that Derek the Ghost puts into his books. Don't tell your kids, but there's also little educational bits in it as well. All in all this is a fun series to read with your kids, girls and boys alike. Check out http://www.scaryschool.com/ for book extras and games.
I wish that I could go to Scary School! I love these books and in this one, I especially love Derek's play on other literature in the horror/creepy genre. Like Tom Riddle, Stephen King, even Forest Gump. And once again Derek teaches us that you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover and to try and find the good in everyone. Even a huge turantula named Tanya can be your friend. Except maybe for me, I'm and anacrophobiac! (sp?) Anyway, I hate spiders! The next time I find some extra money, I gotta buy these for a couple schools in my town! These are excellent reads for kids from Kindergarten on up! And for adults that like scary things! Like the first book, I read this one out loud to our town's after school program kids, and they loved it! I gave Princess Zogette an English accent, It was fun! An awesomely Goodread!
I am totally PRO-middle grade books where you can pick up the series in the middle and be just fine following along and not lost at all. This happened when I read Invisible Inkling: Dangerous Pumpkins by Emily Jenkins and also when I read Monsters On The March by Derek The Ghost and I just have to say THANK GOODNESS I do not have to take a lot of time out of my schedule to get all caught up on a series. Plus, I imagine that it’s nice for a middle grader to just be able to pick up a book. ANYWAYS, rant aside, I definitely thought Monsters On The March was pretty decent October Readathon material and I think it will also be decent Autumn reading material for actual middle graders. Read the rest of my review here
-Yine illüstrasyonlarıyla birlikte, okuması eğlenceli bir kitap oldu:) -Yazarın Stephen King referansı ("Steven Kingsley" isimli karakter aracılığıyla) ve Stephen King kitaplarına (Shining, It,...) yaptığı göndermeler nedense beni çok etkiledi:) -Harry Potter'da Dumbuledore'un küçük Tom Riddle'ı yetimhanede ziyaret ettiği bir bölüm vardı. Bu kitapta da okul müdürü "Tim Puzzle" (isim benzetmesi çok hoş olmuş bu arada) ismindeki büyücü bir çocuğu yine yetimhanede ziyaret edip okuluna katılmasını istiyor. Ama bu kitapta işler biraz daha farklı gelişiyor. Normalde "çalıntı hikaye" diye eleştirilebilir ilk okunuşta belki ama daha çok "eğlenceli bir parodi" gibi olmuş bence:)
This might appeal to youngish readers who like madcap fantasy with monsters, ghosts, etc. but not much logic. I haven't read the first book, but this seems to stand alone well enough. It's just not my style at all, the humor fell flat for me (and I think some of the references would go over the heads of the intended audience) and it was more a collection of over-the-top anecdotes than a fleshed out story.
It was funny, and clever. I enjoyed reading it to my 5 year old, but it didn't hold her attention as much as Kendra Kandlestar. She liked it, and would listen if I read, but didn't ask for it.
I thought it was clever that it referenced story lines of Stephen King, harry potter and such. It was amusing but not amazing.
I liked this Scary School just as much as I liked the first one - but a bit better with the pit, the monsters and the forgetful Mr. Grump. I really do think Mr. Grump is the Golden Elephant. I wonder how many coconuts the monkey is growing now. I can't wait to read book 3. I really wonder what it's going to be like.