Nightmare Academy #2: Monster Madness

Charlie Benjamin and his friends are back in Dean Lorey's MONSTER MADNESS, the second book in the NIGHTMARE ACADEMY series. Unfortunately, so also are Level 5 Nethercreatures Verminion and Barakkas, as they continue their quest to bring the remaining named (Slagguron and Tyrannus) out of the Nether and into the human world by weakening (and ultimately killing) the Guardian to a gateway between worlds. It's up to newly upgraded Addeys Charlie, Theodore, Violet, Leet Facilitator Brooke, and Professor Pinch to venture inside the fourth ring of the Nether in search of a cure. Enemies don't always come in giant, scary packages, though. Sometimes, they work inside the very agencies for which we fight - and sometimes an enemy is the person standing right by your side... MONSTER MADNESS is a great book for younger readers suffering Harry Potter withdrawals. While the characters might not be quite complex enough for older teens, Charlie and company are an engaging trio full of bravery and gusto. Lorey's background in screenwriting translates to steady pacing and key descriptions that allow you to easily picture scenes as they unfold in novel form. So grab your hot chocolate, a warm blanket, settle into a cozy chair, and enjoy an afternoon or two in Charlie's world. Reviewed by: Cat

Reviewed by Madeline McElroy (age 8.5) for Reader Views (12/09) This is a story about Charlie Benjamin and his friends Violet and Theodore whose nightmares become reality. They train to be monster hunters and to kill them in the Nether world. The Guardian is the one whom protects Charlie and his friends, but soon he will die. Charlie goes on a mission to get some special milk from a female creature, a mother Hydra. He goes in by getting a baby Hydra and telling him to take him to his mom. Charlie grabs an empty chapstick bottle and gets the milk. He returns to the Guardian and a man named Edward Pinch drank the milk. Theodore says "What have you done!" But Edward says, "There is still some left see." Charlie gives the Guardian the milk and restores his health. This is just the beginning. Violet was my favorite character; she was a good fighter, cutting off three heads in one fight! She had a blue, glowing ax to kill monsters. I thought the book was boring at first, but when I got about halfway through it was really exciting. This adventure through space and back is filled with creatures from other planets, slimy goo and lots of battling. The ending was a big surprise and leaves some questions unanswered. In my opinion, I think boys would enjoy "Nightmare Academy #2: Monster Madness" by Dean Lorey better than girls.

I bought this book for my teenage son, who is NOT a reader. He finished it in two days! The story was interesting enough to make him want to know what happened next. He can't wait for the third book to come out!

My son, Tristan, eleven years old, says: It's a great book. It has very weird and crazy creatures that want to kill all of humanity. You never want to stop reading this book. It has a lot of action and the characters are very interesting. I would reccommend it to anybody who likes mystery and action books and monsters, too. I say: My son has absolutely loved this series so far, staying up late into the night to read and even (gasp!) foregoing video games to finish a chapter or two. I recommend this series for boys, reluctant readers and those who have graduated beyond GooseBumps but aren't yet ready for Stephen King!

Nightmare Academy Monster Madness (book2) was so fast paced and hard to put down. I finished it within a week and I'm really looking forward to reading book 3 when it comes out. I highly recommend this title to anyone that likes their books filled with monsters, action, magic, and twists and turns that keep you guessing what's next. This belongs on every kid's (young and old) holiday wish list.