Monstrous Devices

Product Information

Mysterious and frightening...a well-crafted adventure that's filled with desperate chases, narrow escapes, fight scenes, and twists.' * Publishers Weekly, starred review * Many supernatural books show a kid plunged into extreme and dangerous circumstances. What would you do in situations like these? Run home or face the scary stuff? Why do you think this type of story is so popular?

Monstrous Devices: THE TIMES CHILDREN’S BOOK OF THE WEEK

When twelve-year-old Alex receives an old tin robot in the post, the note from his grandfather simply reads: 'This one is special'. But as strange events start occurring around him, it doesn't take Alex long to suspect that the small toy is more than special; it might also be deadly. Damien Love was born in Scotland and lives in Glasgow, where, even as you read these words, it is raining. He is the author of several books on film and filmmakers, and is the TV critic for Scotland's broadsheet, The Sunday Herald. He has the ability to talk to cats, but there is no evidence that they understand him. Monstrous Devices is his first novel.It is hard to believe that this fantastic, mega-original novel is Love's first book. The author speeds through his thrillingly ingenious tale with the confidence and creativity of a seasoned storyteller." -- South China Morning Post When Alex’s grandpa shows up suddenly and whisks him on an adventure, Alex is desperately trying to figure out why. He learns gradually about robots that have taken on human characteristics and one in particular that has enough power to control an entire population. His grandpa is reluctant with information, especially information involving Alex’s father, leaving Alex to figure out the clues himself. This debut novel exhibits a canny ability to conjure just the right word, the picture-perfect metaphor, the witty one-liner to bring a story to life. This grandad and grandson adventure has all the hallmarks of a whopping kids' thriller; a mysterious quest, a dream-like flight across snowy lands, a sinister magic, a throng of foes, and, most important of all, a huge heart.' Families can talk about why "monsters" scare us, whether we're kids who think something is under the bed or we're watching a movie with a clearly fictional creature. What monster movies have you seen?

Monstrous Devices – Blue Wolf Reviews Monstrous Devices – Blue Wolf Reviews

Damien Love’s vivid descriptions drew us into each scene and kept us fully immersed in the story as it twisted and turned towards its dramatic ending. We were so emotionally involved in the drama and the danger that accompanied it that we couldn’t read fast enough! The description of a chase across Paris rooftops is particularly thrilling (but we won’t reveal what happens after they see the Eiffel Tower as we don’t want to spoil it for you)… This book is a fabulous choice for teachers! It serves as the springboard for numerous lesson ideas. A science unit in which students learn about the five simple machines then employ that knowledge by designing and constructing their own robots. Mathematical concepts obviously will be needed in conjunction with the construction as well as in determining the distance traveled by the novel's young protagonist, Alex, and his grandfather as they trek across Europe. That adventure easily lends itself to a unit on geography. History comes into play by studying the invention and different applications of robots over the years. (You could even debate the merits of automation of jobs.) Language arts lessons are seemingly endless; rewriting the ending, writing the story from one of the robots' points of view, changing the setting, etc. Vocabulary, spelling, you name it, this book is a gold mine! Damien Love was born in Scotland and lives in Glasgow, where, even as you read these words, it is raining. He is the author of several books on film and filmmakers, and is the TV critic for Scotland’s broadsheet, the Sunday Herald. He has the ability to talk to cats, but there is no evidence that they understand him. Another assured debut that takes its protagonist somewhere unexpected... Fans of Anthony Horowitz will love Monstrous Devices.' * Irish Times * Thanks so much for your lovely message and for everything that you do with Book Wagon. Yourself and Bob are much cherished in our booky world and I personally really appreciate everything that you do.Prague has a rich, beautiful, and fearful history at times. This is hinted at and could be employed fully to really explore why the Golem is there, what role the Charles Bridge plays, along with the other important (and perhaps magical) buildings and locations.