The Monster Variations

By Kraus, Daniel T.

Publishers Summary:
This fast-paced read will keep readers on the edge of their seats!Someone is killing boys in a small town. The murder weapon is a truck, and the only protection is a curfew enacted to keep kids off the streets. But it’s summer—and that alone is worth the risk of staying out late for James, Willie, and Reggie. Willie, who lost his arm in the first hit-and-run attack, finds it hard to keep up with his two best friends as they leave childhood behind. All of them are changing, hounded by their parents, hunted by the killer, and haunted by the “monster,” a dead thing that guards the dangerous gateway between youth and manhood. But that’s not all: shadowing the boys everywhere is Mel Herman, the mysterious and brilliant bully whose dark secrets may hold the key to their survival. As the summer burns away, these forces collide, and it will take compassion, brains, and guts for the boys to overcome their demons—and not become monsters themselves. In this chilling and poignant debut novel, Daniel Kraus deftly explores the choices boys grapple with and the revelations that occur as they become men.

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ISBN
978-0-38573-733-3
Publisher
Delacorte Books for Young Readers


REVIEWS

School Library Journal

Reviewed on November 1, 2009

Gr 9-Up During the summer that James and Reggie are 12 years old, someone hits two boys with a pickup truck, killing one and maiming the other. Willie, also 12 and friends with the boys, loses his arm when the truck driver leaves him for dead. Willie is small and nerdy, overly sheltered by his parents. Reggie is a tough guy being raised by a single mom. James's parents are grooming him for success, always reminding him to stay focused and...Log In or Sign Up to Read More

Horn Book Guide

Reviewed on January 1, 2009

A hit-and-run results in the amputation of Willie's arm. Summer only gets more frightening after another boy is killed. Hounde...Log In or Sign Up to Read More

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