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Monster of the Year: Monster of the Year
Michael and his friend Steve decide to launch a "Monster of the Year" contest, setting the stage for one of the creepiest beauty pageants ever.
135 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 17, 2020
This was another of one my favorite books as a kid that my boys picked to read out at bedtime. Overall, they were a bit young for the story (3 and 5) though not because of anything monster or scary related. Quite the contrary. My kids were really into the book whenever it was about Dracula, Wolfman, or the Creature from the Yucky Lagoon. There were a few monsters they weren’t familiar with, Igor, Quasimodo, and the concept of a miniature Godzilla type character (Gadzinga), but with funny voices they got a kick out of them too. The parts they seemed the most interested in were Frankenstein’s arrival at the airport, the monsters all arriving at the kid’s house, and the food fight at the fancy restaurant.
The stuff that was too old for them were concepts we had to explain that was beyond their frame of reference. The first few chapters in the book we learn about a billboard company. To keep my kids interested we had to explain what billboards were for, then we had discuss the concept of advertising. The bad guy in the book, a woman named Myrna Smud, is against billboards, monsters, and kids using their imaginations. Maybe it’s a good thing, but my kids just didn’t understand this character at all. Concepts like acronyms (“Billboards are Monstrous”), riots, and protests needed to be explained. Other parts that are jokes flew way over their heads, like disgust at writers, agents and lawyers. I remember loving this book when I was a kid, so I think it would read a lot better with a 7 to 9 year old range.
As an adult reading the book, it’s pretty silly. I enjoyed the inside jokes about bad sequels, miniatures lizards, and being replaced by Freddy and Jason. The character of Myrna Smud didn’t really work for me either. While I can suspend disbelief that monsters are real and that one woman would make this her crusade to stop children from using their imagination, I can’t believe there would be a mob of people eager to follow her. Also, unfortunately our city recently had a lot of protests and riots, and the method for stopping the riot used here (playing the Star Spangled Banner and revealing a flag) made me sad that seemed possible when I was a kid but would now result in something more violent probably happening. It was fun to reread, but I suspect as we go through and read more of these it won’t be the one I get the most out of as an adult.
The stuff that was too old for them were concepts we had to explain that was beyond their frame of reference. The first few chapters in the book we learn about a billboard company. To keep my kids interested we had to explain what billboards were for, then we had discuss the concept of advertising. The bad guy in the book, a woman named Myrna Smud, is against billboards, monsters, and kids using their imaginations. Maybe it’s a good thing, but my kids just didn’t understand this character at all. Concepts like acronyms (“Billboards are Monstrous”), riots, and protests needed to be explained. Other parts that are jokes flew way over their heads, like disgust at writers, agents and lawyers. I remember loving this book when I was a kid, so I think it would read a lot better with a 7 to 9 year old range.
As an adult reading the book, it’s pretty silly. I enjoyed the inside jokes about bad sequels, miniatures lizards, and being replaced by Freddy and Jason. The character of Myrna Smud didn’t really work for me either. While I can suspend disbelief that monsters are real and that one woman would make this her crusade to stop children from using their imagination, I can’t believe there would be a mob of people eager to follow her. Also, unfortunately our city recently had a lot of protests and riots, and the method for stopping the riot used here (playing the Star Spangled Banner and revealing a flag) made me sad that seemed possible when I was a kid but would now result in something more violent probably happening. It was fun to reread, but I suspect as we go through and read more of these it won’t be the one I get the most out of as an adult.
September 12, 2023
Classic Bruce Coville.
October 23, 2024
A goofy, fun little monster story with an unfortunately still relevant commentary on censorship & book banning.
February 21, 2021
Mike and his friend Kevver ask to design a billboard for their birthday, and, to annoy a local activist who hates imagination, they use it to make an advertisement for a fake contest: Monster of the Year. The billboard gets famous, and actual monsters show up from all over the world to try to win back the glory they had back in the days of classic monster movies.
Fun premise, cute execution, really quick to get through. Had lots of fun with this one.
Fun premise, cute execution, really quick to get through. Had lots of fun with this one.
March 6, 2012
Mike and Kevver talk their way into becoming go-fers at McPhee Outdoor and Billboard Advertising Company. When a client cancels his billboard, Mike's mom (and the owner of the billboard company) agrees to let the two friends make a billboard advertising a "Monster of the Year" contest, which they made up. Soon, monsters from around the world start to show up for the fictional contest!
I read and loved this book when I was in grade school, so it was nice to pull it off the shelf and give it the once-over all these years later. I STILL enjoyed the story... not like I did then because I still remembered the ending. The story is entertaining and well structured. The characters are love-able and three-dimensional. No wonder I loved Bruce Coville's writing. His stories are engaging and full. I wish more modern literature could have such depth in story and character as this book has in so few pages.
I don't want to go into depth because I don't want to spoil the story... but you do wonder if Mike and Kevver will ever get away unscathed and without wounding any monstery egos before the book is finished. The ending is delightfully written.
I read and loved this book when I was in grade school, so it was nice to pull it off the shelf and give it the once-over all these years later. I STILL enjoyed the story... not like I did then because I still remembered the ending. The story is entertaining and well structured. The characters are love-able and three-dimensional. No wonder I loved Bruce Coville's writing. His stories are engaging and full. I wish more modern literature could have such depth in story and character as this book has in so few pages.
I don't want to go into depth because I don't want to spoil the story... but you do wonder if Mike and Kevver will ever get away unscathed and without wounding any monstery egos before the book is finished. The ending is delightfully written.
November 29, 2012
I always thought of beauty pagents as being a great way to get an award... how about an ugly award for being the ugliest monster? Put on your scariest ugliest face .. and compete with the classic likes of Count Dracula, Wolf man, Creature from the black lagoon, and Frankenstein. Even at Bram Stoker Elementary not many are into Monsters attending. Good relaxing fun.
May 1, 2015
great monster book for kids like my 5-year old nephew!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews