Beetle Boy, Book 1
By Carrie Kingsley,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Fun, engaging mystery about a boy and his helpful beetles.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this book.
Where to Read
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
In BEETLE BOY, the first book in M.G. Leonard's trilogy, Darkus Cuttle's dad mysteriously disappears from a sealed room in the Natural History Museum, leaving Darkus to move in with his eccentric uncle, Max. His quest to find out what happened to his dad takes a mysterious turn when he discovers a beetle infestation in the house across the street. The beetles have almost human abilities to communicate with him, and one rhinoceros beetle (later named Baxter) refuses to leave his side and becomes Darkus' pet. Darkus is befriended by two other smart misfits at school who help him stand up to bullies, and the loyal trio, with their insect friends, take on the terrifying villain who kidnapped his dad for mysterious reasons.
Is It Any Good?
Filled with vibrant characters and a quirky, fast-paced plot, the first book in a bug-based series is a fun mystery with equal parts action and emotion. Beetle Boy brings humanity to bugs that often make people squeamish while delivering a story that reaches younger and older readers alike. Author M.G. Leonard doesn't dwell on Darkus' terrible situation too long, rescuing him from his loneliness with friends both human and beetle, and making sure that Darkus has an adult in his life who understands and supports him. The physical descriptions bring both characters and locations to life, and there's a ton of information about beetles, including an entomologist's dictionary at the end of the book to describe common terms.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what makes Baxter a friend to Darkus in Beetle Boy. Baxter isn't human, but what do they do for each other that makes them friends?
What can we do if we see a friend react the way Novak did to her mom's behavior? Is is understandable? Should we be worried for her?
What other mysteries have non-humans at the center of the plot?
Book Details
- Author: M.G. Leonard
- Genre: Mystery
- Topics: Adventures, Bugs, Friendship
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Chicken House
- Publication date: May 30, 2017
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 8 - 12
- Number of pages: 304
- Available on: Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: April 14, 2020
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Read
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate