The Deadly 7: Who Needs Friends When You've Got Monsters?

The Deadly 7 #1

by Garth Jennings

When eleven-year-old Nelson's beloved older sister goes missing, he is devastated. She's his only friend and means the world to him. Then his parents join the search and leave Nelson in the care of his crazy uncle Pogo, a plumber who is working at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. There in a dusty crypt Nelson stumbles across an ancient machine that accidentally extracts the so-called seven deadly sins from his soul. The machine turns them into ugly, cantankerous, and embarrassing creatures who follow him everywhere. But there is more to these monsters than meets the eye, and in this off-the-wall debut novel about making friends and taking courage, Nelson finds that these strange newcomers are just the companions he needs for a quest across the globe to rescue his big sister.

Genres: Fantasy, Adventure, Middle Grade, Monsters, Humor, Childrens, Action

352 pages, Hardcover

First published January 15, 2015

Reviews

[Sarah Churchill · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's nice to read a middlegrade that's not overrun with poo and fart jokes. I mean, there is a fart joke, but just the one. And it actually has a place in the story. So... yeah.

Nelson accidentally extracts the 7 Deadly Sins from his soul with a machine made by Christopher Wren in St Paul's Cathedral. A little history there for the kids. And even though this is about the sins, and of course each one is the epitome of Gluttony, Wrath, Pride and all the rest, they're still friendly, and nice, and fun. It's not about preaching or teaching, it's about a boy going on an adventure with his sins to rescue his missing sister, and them all working together. And it's a heck of an adventure, with a little magic thrown in.

[Abigail H. Leskey · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[Alicea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alright, I'll admit it. I'm often drawn to a book because of its cover. There's nothing wrong with that. Why else would they hire people to make them attractive and spend so much time designing them to be eye-catching? And then there's the blurb on the back of the book. These can range from evocative, cringeworthy, perplexing, or in some cases spoiler-y. Even after reading the back of the book jacket of today's book and seeing the title and looking at the cover image I was still surprised to discover just what this book was about. Maybe you're all smarter than me. Can you guess what Deadly 7 by Garth Jennings is about just from the name? What if I told you that it was about a little boy who had 7 little monsters accompanying him on a rescue mission and each of them had a very separate personality? The main character of Deadly 7 is Nelson who comes across a machine which creates 7 monsters that only he can see. One is always sleeping, one is angry about pretty much everything, one keeps stealing everything in sight...have you figured out what they are yet? I almost hope you haven't because then I won't feel like such a dolt. This is Garth's debut novel but he's no stranger to writing as he was the genius behind the movie Sing. However, this book is pretty much nothing like that movie. This story feels like it could be rooted in our present but with a decided twist. There's an ever-present feeling of dread while flipping the pages of this book which honestly I think that a lot of kids feel at this age. Remember the anxiety and fear when you realized that you were changing and you didn't know into what? Jennings taps into that and uses the monsters as a way to illustrate it which I think is rather brilliant. I have to say that the plot of this is kinda all over the place but the writing is solid so I have hope that further books by him will be tightened up and be even better. Nonetheless, it was a quick read and entertaining and I think it would be a good springboard for conversation. It's a solid 6/10.

[Daisebeeyourself · Rating 4 out of 5]

DNF

Ugh! I didn't get to finish this book I was on like the Chapter where Nelson net Uncle Pogo (Well the book has no chapters.)

This book was in class so One Day, I came into school and realised that it was Quiet Reading Time, so I picked it up and started ready it. There was already a mystery surprise waiting at the start of the book for me.

I came into school one day I was furious to find another student reading my favorite class book.

IDC why I just loved the book ^•^

But I went to my local Library and found a famous book by Holly Black...Yep its The Cruel Prince. I would bring it into school and everyone would want to read the book I always carry around (2019 we be flexing books)

But The 22nd of July July came and stole my book -this is more of a story than review - so I decided to go back to reading this book

But dat school is mean and kicked all of us Year 6's into The Sumner Holidays ready to enter Secondary and the book you ask? Yeah that's long gone

[Claudia Lady Circumference · Rating 4 out of 5]

How do you think your life is going to be if your new best mates are seven monsters?
Nice and quiet is not the answer.
This is an exciting and fast-paced book, funny, a little bit scary but always surprising. It is told in a very lively, visual way, with lots of funny drawings, yucky stuff and plenty of great slap-stick gags. Perfect for fans of David Walliams and Pixar movies.
Buckle-up, you’re in for a wild ride.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great rollicking story! Kids will love this hilarious adventure of a boy and his unpredictable, crazy, weird monster friends. And that's what they are, friends. They begin as a bother, a necessary nuisance for finding his sister, but grow into something more. Since the seven monsters are all part of his soul and miss his sister passionately, they feel a pull towards wherever she is like a compass where his sister is the North. Unfortunately, where she is is halfway around the world! How can an unaccompanied eleven year old with no money and seven invisible, wildcard creatures travel that far and defeat the evil forces who have her? With plenty of close calls and laughs of course! I was thrilled with how inventive this story was. The personalities of the monsters and the way that the author managed to express their sin type in kid-appropriate ways were very unique. Lust (who like the others has another name), for instance, is able to make one woman turn away at a crucial moment because she is seized with a sudden longing to buy some boots she saw online--she just has to have them! Envy is a cactus-like creature whose quills have an amazing power and so on. There are tons of near misses as Nelson races to find his sister and is pursued by a sinister character. The pursuer and the rest of the kidnap team are truly creepy in a way that kids should really get into. The action builds to a fever pitch and the rescue is done in a great fashion. I think that the door is left open for for a sequel (which I would love). This is a perfect family or class read aloud and a good book for reluctant readers.

[Ro Menendez · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of Nelson and how he comes about having his very own seven monsters, The Deadly Seven, feels like something Dan Brown, author of The Da Vinci Code, would write if he wrote a MG novel. Nelson's monsters, are the seven deadly sins mentioned in the Bible, which were accidentally extracted from Nelson's soul when he falls over a contraption created by Sir Christopher Wren in his secret laboratory hidden in St. Paul's Cathedral. These monsters are not as scary as their backstory might have made them, and they are instrumental in helping Nelson find his sister, Celeste, who has been kidnapped and taken to a magical rain forest in Brazil. The story takes place in England, and is heavily peppered with British colloquialisms, foods, and humor, which some times may be lost on the reader (this reader included). The story is entertaining, the magical elements are believable and written logically so as to not create confusion. The monsters are funny and their personalities tailored to the sins they represent.

[Christine Turner]

School Library Journal recommends this book for grades 4-6
Personal note: Not my first choice for a book Hunters reuest, but what we had on the shelf.

When eleven-year-old Nelson's beloved older sister goes missing, he is devastated. She's his only friend and means the world to him. Then his parents join the search and leave Nelson in the care of his crazy uncle Pogo, a plumber who is working at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. There in a dusty crypt Nelson stumbles across an ancient machine that accidentally extracts the so-called seven deadly sins from his soul. The machine turns them into ugly, cantankerous, and embarrassing creatures who follow him everywhere. But there is more to these monsters than meets the eye, and in this off-the-wall debut novel about making friends and taking courage, Nelson finds that these strange newcomers are just the companions he needs for a quest across the globe to rescue his big sister.

[Stacey Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nelson's family is thrown into turmoil when his sister goes missing. Nelson is left with his uncle who is working at St. Paul's Church where they uncover a secret room. By accident Nelson falls on a table that is attached to test tubes that suck his 7 deadly sins out and create monsters with them. Seven monsters who have one desire....to find Nelsons sister. Learning about these monsters has Nelson trying to cover up their mishaps. But he finds out the sins they commit can be beneficial to their search. They head out to find Celeste, have very strange encounters along the way, almost get killed and figure out many ways to deceive people. But their mission is true, to find Celeste and bring her home.

[Alasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The deadly 7 is a good book based on the seven sins coming out of your body.I like the war the author wrote the monsters as sins but didn’t do it in a to religious way.In the book a boy with no friends named Nelson sister disappears in Spain so when Nelson is with his uncle in St.Pauls Cathedral looking for leaks he comes across a machine that extracted his seven sins but the fault was that once extracted they became real life monsters.With these smelly monsters Nelson travels the globe in search for his sister.I would recommend this book to a friend because it’s a very crazy and adventureous book

[Joseph Dodd · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful charity shop treat. The cover drew me in because I am a big child, but putting that aside I thought the writing was brilliant in that kids will dig it (I think) but there's enough for fully grown, grumpy gits like me to enjoy. Would like to have seen a bit more of each Sin doing their thing, but never mind.

Didn't realise there's more of them, will have to seek them out.

[Klára · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nápad sedmi srmtelných hříchů v podobě příšerek je skvělý. Líbí se mi, že začátek není úplně jasný, člověk neví úplně přesně, jak se to vyvrbí, protože hlavní hrdina je v tomto docela svéhlavý. Skvělá oddechovka! A dá se číst i jako stand-alone, což mi přijde o to víc super!

[Ms. Roberson - TMC Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mysterious adventure for intermediate readers! I loved the sketches and lovable monsters.

[Leslie]

The was interesting and mysterious as the main character's (Nelson Brown) sister, Christine disappears in a boat trip and Nelson stumbles across a machine that releases his seven deadly sins. Together, they find his sister and save her from the monster that gets her.

[RachyLou · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I go book shopping, I mostly know what I'm going to buy before I step into the shop. Not because I am a control freak with a tendency to meticulous planning (who, me?), but because I pretty much know what the new releases are already. That's why I like it when my boyfriend comes along. He'll disappear into the children's section for a few minutes and then return brandishing books about evil mastermind cats, pirates that moonlight as ballet dancers, or - as in this case - seven little monsters.

After his parents go to Spain to try to find his big sister who has gone missing during a school trip, Nelson finds helping to fix the plumbing at St. Paul's Cathedral with his rather unusual Uncle Pogo. Whilst attempting to plug the leak, Nelson and Pogo stumble upon a hidden room containing a weird machine that extracts the seven deadly sins from inside Nelson and personifies them as seven individual, but equally hard to handle, little monsters all hell bent on finding Nelson's sister, Celeste. Using their bizarre tracking skills and unusual abilities to help them along the way, Nelson and the monsters set off on a journey around the world that leads to some strange discoveries about Nelson's family, but can they get to Celeste in time?

One of the things that I really love about this book is that Celeste is actually Nelson's older half sister. As a half sister myself with two little brothers, it was nice to see this relationship from their perspective. Obviously, it makes it even more appealing that Nelson worships the ground his sister walks on (as, of course, do my brothers!!), but it did make me appreciate how rare it is for this relationship to be covered in children's books; it feels much less explored than the situation where the main character is the older sibling dealing with their Mum or Dad having more children in a second marriage. Granted, there's a lack of magical amulets, murderous twins, and tiny monsters in my family, but even so, it's always nice to find a premise you can really relate to in a book.

The other major plus point for me is (obviously), the monsters. Who wouldn't want seven smelly, greedy, funny, self serving monsters that only you can see following you around all day? I think a little more could have been done to exaggerate the personality of each monster and tie it into their own deadly sin, particularly to ensure that a child would be able to understand, but even so the characterisation was well done. I found the monsters pretty lovable, even when they were at their most gross!

The story was enjoyable and funny, full of ridiculous happenings in the way that any good sitcom should be. Given that Garth Jennings is a Hollywood movie Director, it isn't surprising that the plot feels very cinematic. The scenes fit nicely into the big screen time frames and descriptions feel akin to a camera panning across the view. The visualisation is helped along by lots of funny illustrations (also done by Garth Jennings).

The only negative I can find is that it felt a little like everything, including the kitchen sink, was thrown at the story. There was just a little bit too much going on, and because of this it felt like there wasn't time to go into some of the key plot points in enough detail and I struggled to keep up with what was going on.

I would totally recommend The Deadly 7 as a funny bedtime read full of heart.

[Tim Roast · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Deadly 7" is a book of two halves. The first half introduces all the characters and ideas that are essential to the very fast-paced, exciting and adventurous second-half of the book.

The ideas in this book are multiple. There is the "lost chamber of St Paul's", a hidden room that main character Nelson Green finds within St Paul's Cathedral where Christopher Wren has stored many of his as-yet-undiscovered inventions, one of which Nelson accidentally ends up using when he creates the Deadly 7 - seven monsters born from his soul, "one for each of the so-called seven deadly sins".

Then there is the River of Life - "the water is the pure source of all life"; Bang Stones - stones made from the Big Bang, "if you swallowed that stone and thought of where you wanted to be - bang - you were there," and a pendant that if "you poured all your love and hope into it could save someone's life." So the book is brimming with ideas (those mentioned and others).

Then there is the adventure element. Nelson Green is "an eleven-year-old boy with shaggy brown hair, wide chocolate-brown eyes and a single brown freckle on the tip of his nose." His sister, the "world's greatest big sister, sixteen-year-old Celeste" goes missing at the story's beginning on a school trip in Spain. Nelson's parents immediately go to Spain leaving Nelson in the care of Uncle Pogo, "a nutcase." Nelson is then roped in to finding a leak at St Paul's Cathedral by his uncle where they find the hidden chamber, and where Nelson falls on to a bed of nails that extracts the Deadly 7 from him, although he doesn't know it at first, only when they later track him down at his uncle's house.

The Deadly 7, monsters that only Nelson can see, are born from his soul so they feel his pain. "This pain... It will not go away for any of us until we find her." Thus the adventure begins with the monsters helping to locate Celeste to Brazil using their special power through "divining of the soul." However a trip to Brazil from England for an 11-year-old is anything but straightforward, even with 7 invisible monsters on your side. It is made even harder because "a very large man" with "bulging, milky eyes" is after him too.

So loads of ideas, lots of adventure and a very good story. Enjoy.

[Mohamed · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really brings back that old-vibe style. The cover is quite what hooks readers into the book, nothing special, just something to entertain yourself while you are in the bathroom or something like that.

[BookzBookzBookz]

[Guest Blogger]
My son, Joshua!!

Hello! My name is Joshua and my mom is the owner of this website. Since I am homeschooled, I have to read a lot. A lot. When she got this book, she said I would like it. She was right but I did not know I would be blogging on it. No pressure.

Everything in this review will come from me. I am even typing it, but Mom, Alyssa Hunt, will be putting in the links and the fancy stuff. I am the brains and she's the back up.

The Deadly 7 is by Garth Jennings (he has a really fun website, by the way) and is about a boy named Nelson. His sister is kidnapped while on a trip in Spain which is pretty scary. His parents leave him with his Uncle Pogo (he has a wooden leg), who lives in London while they search for her. While there, Nelson helps his Uncle and ends up being stabbed in the back when he falls on to a strange machine below St. Paul's Cathedral! The machine removed seven entities (mom said that was a good word), from Nelson. All of them are what are from the seven deadly sins we have inside us! They appear to Nelson as weird looking monsters, but they behave like minions. Each creature has a bad or embarrassing habit and they don't always get along, but they are all there to help Nelson find his sister. They have strange powers that link themselves to Nelson and know when he needs help. So they go off on a mission to bring his big sister back home...
*For the full review: http://tinyurl.com/gpdkrug
**Book provided by Shelf Awareness and MacMillan Children's Publishing Grp., for an honest review..

[Heather Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley. Originally posted here: https://heatherreviews.wordpress.com/...
_________________________________________________________________________
A charming tale about an unlikely group of heroes, strange creatures, and an epic journey to save a sister.

The Deadly 7 is a fun, wacky adventure story that is sure to grip kids tight and take them on a fantastic ride. The illustrations really bring the characters to life and make the story even more fun to read.

When Nelson accidentally creates seven creatures, they turn into unlikely friends as the group travels to save Nelson’s sister, who has gone missing from a school trip.

The story was fast-paced with plenty of action and crazy moments to keep you turning the page. Nelson is a great character, one that many young children can relate to, and his love for his sister shows a great bond between the two.

There were some unexpected twists near the end of the story that made me gasp in surprise, I really didn’t see certain things coming!

With a touch of magic, a colourful cast of characters, and an amazing adventure, The Deadly 7 is sure to capture the imagination of children. This book is one to look out for in the new year for young kids.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this import from Great Britain, eleven-year-old Nelson Green is understandably distraught when his beloved older sister Celeste disappears while on a school field trip. While his parents fly to her last known sighting, Nelson is packed off to stay with his eccentric inventor relative, Uncle Pogo, in London. But while Nelson and his uncle are looking for leaks in St. Paul's Cathedral, he accidentally sets into motion events that result in seven monsters, representing the seven deadly sins, being let loose on the world. Although all of this sounds rather frightening, it turns out to be hilarious in many respects since the monsters all have individual characteristics, quirks, and talents that are rather endearing. They band together to help Nelson save his sister who has been kidnapped by evil forces and a hatred that goes back a generation. The descriptions of the monsters who turn out to be friends and the fight that is unleashed once they reach Brazil are engrossing and will have intermediate readers cheering Nelson and his unlikely allies on to victory. While I still had some questions as the story concluded, I certainly enjoyed it and would read more about this unusual alliance.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jennings, Garth The Deadly 7, 340 pages. Giroux Books for Young Readers 2016.
$13.99. Language: PG (6 swears, 0 "f"); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG.

Nelson Green's life will never be the same. While hiding in a box to avoid performing in his schools theatrical, Nelson overhears the worst news ever. His sister Celeste has gone missing while on a class trip. With authorities scouring the area for clues, Nelson decides to take matters into his own hands. Determined to find his sister and save her at any cost, Nelson enlists the help of seven deadly monsters. From a bed of nails in St. Paul's Cathedral in London, to riding cows through the rainforests of Brazil, Nelson's journey to find his sister is an adventure he will never forget.

This quirky British tale was a blast to read. Nelson's outrageous escapades will have readers laughing out loud. With a young relatable male protagonist and a large dose of humor this book will appeal to a wide range of readers especially boys.

EL, MS -ADVISABLE. Gina, Media Specialist
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2016/...

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Seven Deadly Sins have come to life for Nelson in this story. Through a sad and strange set of circumstances Nelson finds himself working with his uncle in the tombs of a London cathedral. There he finds mysterious vials of ancient liquid. He is injected and his own 7 Deadly manifest and follow him. These monsters can only be seen by Nelson, and they are quite loyal to him. Their mission is to help Nelson find his missing sister. Many wicked plot twists and turns develop as something evil has entered Nelson's life. This book reminded me of the zany characterizations and plot developments that Terry Pratchett made famous in his books. Personally, I found it distracting, but for those who enjoy this style and humor this might be a good book for you. The pace was steady and the plot did make sense from the standpoint of the basic premise.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nelson's older sister Celeste disappears on a class trip to Spain, so Nelson is sent to stay in London with his eccentric Uncle Pogo while his parents go to Spain. Uncle Pogo is a plumber and is working on fixing a leak at St. Paul's cathedral and he enlists Nelson to help him. During their work, Nelson discovers a hidden workshop that had belonged to Christopher Wren and he also inadvertently sets loose his own 7 deadly sins.

While this sounds quite serious so far, this book has a lot of humor, including the illustrations of the 7 sins. No one can see them except Nelson and while they are each a sin, they also are determined to help Nelson find his sister.

Could be useful as a transition book between Wimpy Kid and books with no illustrations. Lots of humor, action and adventure, plus great illustrations.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such an amazing book for young readers. Seriously. I kind of wish I had kids to give this to, because it's perfect. It has monsters. It was a garden of Eden. It has comedy. It has a lot of heart. It has a love of family. So many great aspects all tied together to create a very fun and clever novel.

I love Uncle Pogo. I love that there's a family fairytale. I love that Nelson and Celeste had a great sibling relationship. I love that the seven deadly sins are represented as monsters, because monsters are always the perfect way to win me over. There's cows and sibling rivalry and a mean Hollywood executive. I really truly hope that there is somehow a sequel to this because I would read more about Nelson and his sins any day. BUY THIS FOR YOUR KID

[Paper Clippers]

When eleven-year-old Nelson's beloved older sister goes missing, he is devastated. She's his only friend and means the world to him. Then his parents join the search and leave Nelson in the care of his crazy uncle Pogo, a plumber who is working at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. There in a dusty crypt Nelson stumbles across an ancient machine that accidentally extracts the so-called seven deadly sins from his soul. The machine turns them into ugly, cantankerous, and embarrassing creatures who follow him everywhere. But there is more to these monsters than meets the eye, and in this off-the-wall debut novel about making friends and taking courage, Nelson finds that these strange newcomers are just the companions he needs for a quest across the globe to rescue his big sister.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic children's book full of adventure, quirky happenings and even quirkier characters. This tale follows Nelson and his seven deadly sins as they go in search of his missing (presumed dead) older half sister. It deals sensitively with the feelings of the 11 year old protagonist and the sins are presented in an interesting yet seemingly accurate way (if you can imagine sins being presented as strange little monsters). I originally bought this for my 10 year old nephew but liked the look of it so much that I read it first! I think children and adults will be engaged by this funny yet thought provoking story. An entertaining, well written and thoroughly enjoyable read.

[Kathryn Bigelow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads contest. I thought this was a really cute chapter book. The chapters were an easy length for quick reading and the story as a whole was interesting, fun and sometimes even funny. I feel like the ending was a little open ended so I wonder if there will be a follow up to this book. Even with the open nature of the ending, the story as a whole felt complete and fulfilling to read. I actually can't wait until my kids are old enough to read this story, I feel they will get a kick out of it. Although set in England, I didn't feel anything was out of place or hard to understand.

[Sally Lindsay-briggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a free Good Reads giveaway book that I totally loved. It is intended for young readers but I enjoyed the drawings, the action, the fantasy and like me, an adult can really enjoy this as well. Nelson is a boy without friends, but his sister goes missing and is feared dead on her school trip. Nelson finds a secret chamber in a huge London cathedral, while his crazy Uncle Pogo tries to fix a massive roof leak. After that, weird and wacky monsters appear. They help young Nelson with his quest to find Celeste, his sister. You wrote well and made me laugh Garth. Thanks for this wonderful gift.

[Jackie Rogers · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel is geared to children but enjoyed the read. Like anything that brings laughter. This is Nelson's tale of the abduction of his sister and his hunt to find her. Nelson is only 11 years old and lefy in the care of his nutty uncle. He and uncle come upon an ancient lab in a church and the deadly 7 are unleashed. They are drawn to Nelson as he is the unleasher and proceed to help him find lost sister, Celeste. Of course, these are the 7 deadly sins and come in very handy in Nelson's search. Is appealing and comical book and will read this author again.Mr. Jennings, love your little monsters. Thanks to Goodreads.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are 9-12 years old or young at heart this is a great read. Rapid storyline tumbles and trips you along a great adventure.
Nelson's sister has disappeared abroad and his parents leave him with Uncle Pogo who is ' nuttier than squirrel pop'
Discovering an old machine made by Christopher WREN Nelson unwittingly extracts 7 monsters who are hellbent on finding Celeste, his sister.
Travel with them as they leave a path of mayhem in their search. For fans of The Map To Everywhere and Percy Jackson.