a fun spooky middle grade ( )

This is quite a good book for teens who like creepy stuff. It’s about a family of monsters who live in a big house that is under cloak near the village of Rookhaven. The village folk have an agreement with the Family that keeps everyone safe and they have been coexisting like this for many, many years.
One fine day, two outsiders find a crack in the cloak that hides Mirabelle’s home, and step into the monster’s territory. The crack also alerts an evil being of the location of the Family, setting in motion horrifying events that will tear everyone apart, while at the same time, it will bring everyone closer together than ever.
If your kid likes dark and mysterious stories, point them in this direction because they will surely love it. ( )

A complex story for the age group, about a monstrous but loving family and its dealings with the outside world. The "monsters" are in a way a reflection of the town in which they are hidden—the townspeople see their own fears in the family living in Rookhaven, but also their own humanity. A diabolical enemy working to stoke bad feeling in the town, for its own nefarious purposes, adds excitement to the tale. The ending is wrapped up a little too neatly and sweetly, but it's a very good story. ( )

Into a family of monsters come two teens running from the world when the veil between the house and the world breaks, one of the family find that friendship can come from outside. But when an evil appears hunting the monsters the village and the people have to do something about it and create a new future. Set in post-war England this is an interesting read.
When I picked this up I didn't realise that it was a children's book and this is one of those that straddles adult and children. Some of the people and the situations are a little simplified and rushed but I've read less insightful books written for adults. The illustrations add to the book and are fabulous and it was a very satisfying read. ( )