Common Sense Media Review
By Michael Berry
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Mutant mayhem gets a little repetitive in fast-paced sci-fi.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
Set four years after the removal of the mysterious invisible dome over Perdido Beach, Monster presents a new collection of teen mutants and monsters. Virus-laden meteorites are falling to Earth, and those teens who encounter them are physically changed beyond recognition. Shade Darby gains super speed, while her friend Cruz develops a kind of invisibility. They are on a collision course with other, less benevolent mutants -- ones bloodthirsty and indifferent to human suffering.
Is It Any Good?
Offering more than just punch-ups between teen superheroes and giant monsters, this fast-paced sci-fi tale has an exuberant X-Men-meet-Godzilla vibe. Although not completely self-contained, Monster is a reasonable jumping-on point for the Gone series. The multidimensional cast of heroes and villains is suitably diverse, with cisgender, transgender, and lesbian characters at the fore.
Unfortunately, the climactic battle goes on a bit too long and does not resolve much of anything. Nevertheless, fans of the series are likely to enjoy this installment, as are readers seeking a new series of sci-fi thrillers.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Monster presents a battle between good and evil. Are people only one or the other?
Raised as a boy, Cruz now identifies as transgender. What kinds of issues do transgender kids face in real life?
How do people learn to feel empathy for each other? What traits do all humans share?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Topics : Superheroes , Friendship , Fantasy
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Katherine Tegen Books
- Publication date : October 17, 2017
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 18
- Number of pages : 432
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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