The Mallow Marsh Monster

The Goolz Next Door #2

by Gary Ghislain

In this second book in the comic-horror The Goolz Next Door series, twelve-year-old Harold and his quirky neighbors contend with a legendary monster that lives in the nearby Mallow Marsh.

Immediately picking up where A Bad Night for Bullies left off, Harold is now an official member of the Goolz team, comprised of eccentric horror author Frank Goolz and his daughters Suzie and Ilona (who is also Harold's kinda-sorta girlfriend). A set of twins has come to the Goolz for help in finding their missing mother, whom they believe has been taken by the monster rumored to live in the Mallow Marsh. When the (very real) monster bites Harold, his bizarre symptoms cause him to fear he is transforming into a monster himself. Then Suzie is taken, and it's up to Harold and Ilona to save her, prevent the formation of future marsh monsters, and stop Harold's own frightening transformation.

Genres: Middle Grade

160 pages, Hardcover

First published May 5, 2020

About the author

Gary Ghislain is a French author of Franco-Spanish origin. He specializes in fantasy and horror literature for young readers.

Among his works are the series "The Goolz Next Door" (Astra Young Readers) and the novel "How I Stole Johnny Depp's Alien Girlfriend" (Chronicle Books, 2012).

Living in Antibes, Gary continues writing "The Goolz Next Door" and is launching a new series, "The Horrible Adventures of Horrific Jolie," with the first book released in October 2024.

Alongside his work as an author, Gary Ghislain is committed to promoting reading and writing among young people. He regularly organizes writing workshops in high schools and middle schools. These workshops have led to the publication of two short story collections: "Il faut enfin que je te dise" (2024) and "Cher.e Moi" (2023), both published by Éditions du Seuil in France.

Literary Awards

- Readers Choice Award - Festival du livre Jeunesse de Grimaud 2023
- Livre Jeunesse Paris Aéroports Award 2023
- L'Echappée Lecture Award 2019
- Crok'Livre Award 2019
- Littérado Award 2019
- Dimoitou Award 2018
- Talents Cultura Jeunesse Award 2018
- Selected for the 2012 Tayshas reading list
- Nominated by the American Library Association for the 2012 Best Fiction for Young Adults
- Nominated by Teen Vogue as one of the 25 must-read novels of 2011

Reviews

[Clarabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fait suite à Sale nuit pour les terreurs et confirme tout son potentiel. On retrouve en effet le mélange savamment équilibré entre extravagance et sensations fortes. Parce que c'est drôle et loufoque d'un côté, carrément flippant et glauque de l'autre. Au départ, ça peut surprendre mais c'est très intelligent et super distrayant à lire.
Très chouette série.

[Calinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have a young reader who likes horror stories, this is a good book for them. The horror genre seems to have very slim pickings between campy offerings like Goosebumps and hardcore gore-fests (with language and sex thrown in) like Stephen King. This book splits the difference in a PG-type way. Better story than Goosebumps, spookier and (a little) gorier, but not over-the top.
See my full review at Compass Book Ratings:
http://www.compassbookratings.com/rev...

Note: A copy of this book was sent to me from Boyds Mills Press for review.

[Christy · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a disappointment! This sequel to A Bad Night for Bulliesjust doesn’t have the magic of the first book. Sure, there’s madness and mayhem, but the tension isn’t there. I didn’t care what happened to anybody, so I closed the book half way through.

[Gary Ghislain · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second adventure of the Goolz, The Mallow Marsh Monster, now available in Persian. What a nice surprise for the writer. I hope the young readers in Iran will appreciate this thrilling monster hunt set in the scary marsh surrounding Bay Harbor. Enjoy.

[TheFrenchBookDreamer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,6 stars