Helpful Score: 1
I really had high hopes for this book, and honestly, I was a little let down. It just wasn't as good as I expected it to be. I loved the plot, monsters exist in this town, hiding in plain sight, dressing as "normies". Frankie (the granddaughter of the Frankenstein monster himself) is newly made, and wants to make some changes. She doesn't think that monsters should have to hide who they are.
Melody is also a new girl in school, recently transplanted from LA, she's hoping for a new start in this new town. Melody is a great character, she really believes that we should get to know the person inside, not just what we see on the surface. She finally makes a few friends in this new town (but only after making a few enemies) and also finds a possible love interest in Jackson. But Jackson acts very strange sometimes, and she's not sure what to think of him.
My problems with this book started with the over done teen speak. I understand that a teen book should try to speak like a teen should, but after finding these cheesy made up words spattered over every page I started to get really annoyed with it. There were times that the "teen-speak" was so thick that I couldn't even understand the dialogue. I hang out with a few teens, and the ones I know definitely don't talk like this on a regular basis.
My other problem was that the book would drag on in places, and once it got to the big finale it ended with way too many loose threads. I understand wanting to leave it open for a sequel, but some of the plot lines really should have been wrapped up in this book.
Overall, this book was a quick fluffy read, with an underlying message to except people for who they really are. While I wish I had enjoyed it more than I did, I ended up coming away from this one feeling lukewarm. Hopefully the next book in the series will work out a little better for me when it comes out.
Melody is also a new girl in school, recently transplanted from LA, she's hoping for a new start in this new town. Melody is a great character, she really believes that we should get to know the person inside, not just what we see on the surface. She finally makes a few friends in this new town (but only after making a few enemies) and also finds a possible love interest in Jackson. But Jackson acts very strange sometimes, and she's not sure what to think of him.
My problems with this book started with the over done teen speak. I understand that a teen book should try to speak like a teen should, but after finding these cheesy made up words spattered over every page I started to get really annoyed with it. There were times that the "teen-speak" was so thick that I couldn't even understand the dialogue. I hang out with a few teens, and the ones I know definitely don't talk like this on a regular basis.
My other problem was that the book would drag on in places, and once it got to the big finale it ended with way too many loose threads. I understand wanting to leave it open for a sequel, but some of the plot lines really should have been wrapped up in this book.
Overall, this book was a quick fluffy read, with an underlying message to except people for who they really are. While I wish I had enjoyed it more than I did, I ended up coming away from this one feeling lukewarm. Hopefully the next book in the series will work out a little better for me when it comes out.
ugh...very boring book
I was thinking this would be a book for younger readers, but it reads more like Stephenie Meyer meets Sophie Kinsella. The surface message is, "Be comfortable being your Real self!" But with all the couture brand-name dropping, the message falls rather flat. Harrison goes into excruciating detail about the color and label of every piece of clothing or drop of makeup the girls are wearing. More like a very long Teen Vogue advertisement insert... complete with high fashion, teen angst,secret lives, and oh-- did I mention monsters? There are some pretty cool monsters.
Reviewed by Jennifer Rummel for TeensReadToo.com
Merston High - aka Monster High - lives up to its nickname. The students aren't all normal.
Frankie Stein awoke for the first time - as a teenager. She's done her research on how to fit in, what clothes to wear, how to wear make-up, and has immersed herself in pop culture. She's ready to take on the world. Unfortunately, Frankie isn't normal. She comes from the Frankenstein family, complete with neck volts. In order to mask her identity, she'll have to blend into the normie world. However, Frankie's not happy with blending. She loves herself and is sure everyone else will, too - once they get past her mint green skin.
Melody and her family just moved to Salem, Oregon. After years of being a social outcast, she's ready to reinvent herself. She's approached by one of the popular girls and offered friendship in the pack. Before she can join, she must sign a contract stating that she will not go out or flirt with a certain boy, and she must always put her girlfriends first. As Melody doesn't have any interest in Brett, she signs the documents, happy for friendship. Besides, she already has her eye on the guy next door. He's cute, but there's something strange about him.
Frankie and Melody don't have much in common. They don't travel in the same social circles. But they are both new to the school. Both of them are trying to figure everything out. Only Frankie knows the truth about the monsters in the high school. Will Melody uncover her secret and ruin everything?
MONSTER HIGH is the first book in a new series where being different means something VERY different, and navigating high school becomes much harder.
Merston High - aka Monster High - lives up to its nickname. The students aren't all normal.
Frankie Stein awoke for the first time - as a teenager. She's done her research on how to fit in, what clothes to wear, how to wear make-up, and has immersed herself in pop culture. She's ready to take on the world. Unfortunately, Frankie isn't normal. She comes from the Frankenstein family, complete with neck volts. In order to mask her identity, she'll have to blend into the normie world. However, Frankie's not happy with blending. She loves herself and is sure everyone else will, too - once they get past her mint green skin.
Melody and her family just moved to Salem, Oregon. After years of being a social outcast, she's ready to reinvent herself. She's approached by one of the popular girls and offered friendship in the pack. Before she can join, she must sign a contract stating that she will not go out or flirt with a certain boy, and she must always put her girlfriends first. As Melody doesn't have any interest in Brett, she signs the documents, happy for friendship. Besides, she already has her eye on the guy next door. He's cute, but there's something strange about him.
Frankie and Melody don't have much in common. They don't travel in the same social circles. But they are both new to the school. Both of them are trying to figure everything out. Only Frankie knows the truth about the monsters in the high school. Will Melody uncover her secret and ruin everything?
MONSTER HIGH is the first book in a new series where being different means something VERY different, and navigating high school becomes much harder.
Monster High is different than most monster books, not only because of the sheer number of monsters, but because of how the monsters act. Here the monsters are much more something straight out of Gossip Girl or Harrisons other series, The A-List, than Dracula or Frankenstein. The girls of this book are concerned with what they call the three Ss-sunning, spa-ing, and shopping.
Read my full review at http://bourg.info/2012/08/12/monster-high-lisi-harrison/
Read my full review at http://bourg.info/2012/08/12/monster-high-lisi-harrison/
