Who hasn’t felt like they were a monster once or twice in their lives? I mean, most likely we all have had “fitting in issues” and body issues (as most of us went through puberty), but the boy in Monster Support Group: The Werewolf’s Tale by Laura Suárez realizes it is hard being twelve and not just because of all of his siblings or having issues fitting in at school so he is bullied. He is “changing” (getting hairier, deeper voice and moody). But this is normal puberty, right? But when the full moon signals a really big change, Lowell realizes that things are not what they seem, and he needs help. Fast! He and his twin sister, Lys, find the Monster support group and hope they will be about to help Lowell become “normal” again. But then again, what is normal for the spider, is chaos to the fly. And sometimes standing out can be a lot of fun.

The overall idea of this graphic novel (that is currently out but I read via an online reader copy) is the first in a (so far) two book series. While I have not had a chance to read Monster Support Group: The Mummy’s Curse, I am assuming it would help to read book one, but you might not need to. I liked this book enough to write a review, but not OMG LOVED! This is a book that is good for the younger child who is about aged eight to about 10 or 11 (a younger 12 could read, but it might be more “childish looking” than most want). It could be read aloud, but not sure if a group setting would work as I do not know the final dimensions of the book. 

The cover gives you ideas of the internal illustrations format and look. While they were not my favorite, I appreciate how they set the tone of the story. Things are light, goofy, maybe a bit naive, but fun and sweet. There is a serious idea, but presented in a manner that is not “too heavy.” Sometimes things might be a bit “heavy handed” but my adult-half overlooked it as my kid-half was having too much fun with things. And this is not a Halloween tail, um tale, but a year round treat.
