Mark H. Newhouse

The Case of the Disastrous Dragon by Mark H. Newhouse is the sequel to Welcome to Monstrovia!, which I did not read, but you can read these books as stand-alones. It's a story about Brodie Adkins and his uncle Jasper Doofinch. Jasper is a lawyer, and with the help of his nephew Brodie they take on cases to help the residents of Monstrovia. This story didn't grab my attention as well as I had hoped. I usually love middle school stories, but this one just missed the mark for me. It was whimsical and very imaginative, but the dialogue lacked when it came to convincing me of the characters' conversations. Though this story fell short for me, I think children that are inspiring to become lawyers will appreciate this story. I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.… (més)

I received a KINDLE copy of this book through a giveaway the author had on LibraryThing and the following is my honest opinion.

After reading this delightfully, captivating book chuck full of monsters and other mythical creatures set in a who-dunnit storyline I doubt it has been written by someone who’s an adult. Instead, I believe it had actually been written by an inner child who’s free of any inhibitions of being an adult.

Image if you will, you’re in Brodie’s shoes, and discover you’re the only person getting off a plane after it lands and see a sign which reads,"WELCOME TO MONSTROVIA SPECIAL SECTOR! KEEP OUT! UNLESS YOU ARE SPECIAL!” what would you begin to think about the place you’re now in. If this isn’t enough you find out you find out that your uncle, the person you’ve come to stay with is an attorney whose clients are monsters, fictional characters and the like. What thoughts would begin to race through your imaginative mind other than a possible marvelous fun experience, rather than the reason you’ve been sent here by your mother – misbehaving in school.

Mark Newhouse’s writing is quite imaginative which is why I’ve mentioned the inner child; it brings you right into the story as you continue to turn the pages to find out what happens next.

For letting his readers, as well as the inner child of his adult readers, have their imaginations run wild; I’m happy to give this book 5 STARS.… (més)

What can one really say about a book written by an award winning teacher turned award winning author, especially for middle schoolers than, "Wicked!!!!!" Truth be known that Mark Newhouse didn't actually write this entirely alone. It was actually taken from a 12 year old boy's diary, after his mom sent him to Key West, Florida (ya, right) to be with his uncle for the summer as punishment for causing trouble in school. She would have taken him with her on a business trip to China, had he behaved.

Anyway, when the plane touches down in Key West, this should've been the first indication that something was not right. And, it kind of was when Brody Adkins first realized no one else was getting off the plane but him. Seeing a neon sign saying, "WELCOME TO MONSTROVIA SPECIAL SECTOR! KEEP OUT! UNLESS YOU ARE SPECIAL!!!" and a plate on the wall of his Uncle Jasper's house stating, "J.D. Doofinch, Esq. Defender of Monsters, Fictional Folk, Etc." solidified it.

Intrigued yet? You ought to be. What other book has monsters, mythical and storybook characters in a who-dunnit for kids, complete with a murder trial for a boy who supposedly kills a giant on a beanstalk? Ah-ha! I knew that would get your attention!

So why should you take it from me? You don't have to. But would you let that deter you from allowing your kids, let alone you, to read this hilarious legal thriller to see who all are doing what within these hallowed pages? I can tell you this. It is one of the funniest, most action filled, full of surprises, twists and turns book that your kids will be begging to read "just one more page before bed?". And more of it, they are going to get: in future books in the "Monstrovia" series. Being a prior teacher as well as a brilliant author, allows Mr. Newhouse to cleverly throw in some valuable learning lessons within the great stories without the kids being aware of it. It is a win win all the way around.

I'd tell you it is just for kids, but we know better. Tell us adults not to do something and we HAVE all compulsion to have to do it. So, go ahead and read the book, too. You just may get addicted, and that will force Mr. Newhouse to have to keep writing more. Too bad we hadn't had done that with the Harry Potter books!

Thank you to AimHi Press and NetGalley for giving me a free advance copy of the book to read and give my honest review.… (més)

I really enjoyed reading this book with my children. My girls, thirteen and eleven, took turns with me reading the book outloud to my son, age seven. It held his attention very well.

In this story we meet Brodie who is visiting Monstrovia for the first time. He is staying with his uncle who is a defense attorney. Monstrovia is a fantasy land where fictional characters from books and movies live. Jack, Jan and the Beanstalk, has been accused of murdering the giant from the same story. It is up to Brodie and his uncle to prove his innocence. This is no easy task considering then case is being heard in a Giant Courthouse, the judge is a giant, and the Jack keeps saying things that make him look guilty. Jack's sister also make things difficult by saying and doing things without thinking of how they effect the murder case.

This story is fast paced. There isn't a single dull moment. Each and every page has something interesting going on. On top of all the action and exploring, the author also makes this educational. He explains legal systems in a way that is easy for choldren to understand. My kids now know what the basic duties of a defence attorney are, and court procedures. I loved that they were learning and didn't even realize it.

This is meant for middle grade readers. I think that is an appropriate label, but this book is also great as a read outloud book for younger readers.

I am so excited that this book is the first book in what will be a series featuring Brodie, his uncle, and Monstrovia. I will definitely read the next book in this series when it comes out.

Recommendations:

I recommend this to middle grade readers. It would make a great addition to any public, school, private, or personal library. This would make a great book to read outloud to group or individual younger readers.

I received a ebook copy of this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.… (més)