Cute story with fun illustrations. Student will really enjoy the hilarious characters. I highly recommend this book for all readers but especially reluctant ones who are looking for something fun to hook their engagement.

This book is perfect for kids who love dark humor! Rex is cursed by a Grim Reaper arcade game, and suddenly his life (and bedroom) are taken over by the ghosts of wrongfully dead animals. In this first book in the series, Rex must solve the mystery behind the deaths of endangered animals at the local zoo, hopefully ending his curse and returning his life to normal.
Rex's lack of self-awareness and overall self-centeredness make him less likable than his long-suffering best friend Darvish, but there is hope for growth in his character, and the two reminded me of Ferris Bueller and his best friend Cameron, from Ferris Bueller's Day Off. The animals are hilarious, especially Rex's short-lived pet rooster, Drumstick.
I wish there had been more compassion and sorrow about the deaths of the animals in this first book - spoiler alert: in subsequent books in the series, I am happy to see Rex reflect more and grow as a person and friend.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

While the subject could be considered dark, dead pets, the author approaches it in a funny way. I loved the character of Dexter. I think this would be a fun read for 4-6 graders.

I didn't end up reading this book. I didn't get to it before COVID changed everything, so I'm just getting around to clearing out my NetGalley shelf.

Rex has been cursed by a video game and is now being followed by the ghosts of murdered/endangered zoo animals.

This one will appeal to kids who like humor. I don’t like to gender books but I would say it may have greater appeal to boys.

This is a very cute funny story about a boy named Rex who desperately wants a pet dog. With a name like Rex, he certainly deserves one, right? But, when his first pet, a goldfish didn't last an hour (flushed down the toilet), and his second pet, a rooster lasted even less time (flattened by a steam roller) it didn't seem likely he was going to get a dog any time soon. Suddenly, Rex starts getting more pets than he ever wanted. The only problem is, they are dead. And he needs to find out who has been killing them.

Leave it to Aaron Reyonds to make something as dark as a dead pet absolutely hilarious. So much fun. Great humor for all ages.

Hilarious, I am recommending this to all of our kids looking for something funny and a little out there to read. I have told coworkers about it too and they want to read it.

This book had me laughing out loud - many, many times! When Rex begins seeing and hearing the ghost of animals that have been killed at the local zoo, will Rex be able to help them or will people think he is crazy? This s a must read!!!

I got a sneak peek at this book (thanks to NetGalley) back in January and immediately fell in love with the main character's voice and personality. I also enjoyed the premise of this quirky, original boy being cursed with dead animals for pets. Unfortunately, that sass & quirk that are so much of Rex's character became a bit too repetitive for me after a while and I slowly lost interest in the book. I recently picked it back up and finished; while it wasn't my cup of tea, I can see several of my fourth-grade kiddos loving it.

This has to be one of the funniest middle grade books I have read in a very long time. It begins on the Rex's birthday, and he has every reason to believe his parents will present him the chocolate lab dog he longs for. The box seemed promising, but rather than a puppy, his parents have gifted him a chicken to prove he can be a responsible pet owner. Not a great start, but Rex and his best bud Darvish go to the pet store for supplies, and along the way on they find an old arcade game called the Grim Reaper. It predicts that Rex will be haunted by dead animals, and the only way to stop the curse is to discover why they died. While Rex is mulling the curse, his new pet chicken stumbles in front of a truck and is killed. The flat dead chicken is the first ghost to arrive in Rex's room, but others arrive as soon as they meet their demise, and each delivers the story of their death in distinctive voice and personality. Voice and tone will have the reader laughing out loud. Great read!

I received an electronic ARC from Disney Book Group through NetGalley.
Rex is obsessed with getting a dog, and not just any dog, a chocolate lab is his main wish. Unfortunately, his track record with pets (one fish - less than an hour) is not working in his favor. For some reason, his parents think getting him a rooster for his birthday will demonstrate how mature he has become. This starts the chain reaction of events that leads to Rex interacting with dead animals, and plenty of them.
Reynolds writes with a light touch and packs in action and humor in this middle grade novel. The various descriptions of the dead animals and their characteristics will appeal to the off beat humor of this age level. Rex narrates this adventure and has a unique way of looking at school and home life. Together with his two best friends - living and dead, they save the day and capture the villain who is killing zoo animals for his own benefit.
Love the hint of another book to come in the last sentence.

Right from the opening page, THE INCREDIBLY DEAD PETS OF REX DEXTER by Aaron Reynolds had me laughing. Reynolds' picture books are a hit in my school library and I read Creepy Carrots and Creepy Pair of Underwear every Fall. Kids love his storytelling and humor. I am certain THE INCREDIBLY DEAD PETS OF REX DEXTER will be a hit. I am looking forward to using Rex Dexter as one of my read alouds when we are back together, even if it's virtually.

A quirky tale about a boy, Rex Dexter, who simply wants, above all things, a pet dog, and instead receives a … chicken. Somehow the author manages to present this wild tale of deceased animals talking to Rex from beyond and requiring his help in figuring out how and why they perished prematurely in a whimsical and funnily entertaining way. A mystery surrounds the suspicious deaths of zoo animals whose ghosts visit Rex so that the truth can be uncovered and a crime solved.

Rex is a sympathetic protagonist that is easy to believe in, even if his circumstances seem unbelievable. This is a fun adventure with a satisfying mystery suitable for upper elementary aged readers and beyond.

Fans of Reynolds’s hilarious picture books will be delighted to find that his sense of humor has transferred perfectly to this longer form. This book made me laugh out loud over and over again. I did not want to put it down! The thing Rex wants most in the world is a chocolate labrador. He’s obsessed. And he’s sure he’s left enough hints for his parents to ensure that he’ll get one for his birthday. Except things don’t go exactly as planned, and after a series of humorous misfortunes, Rex ends up with a very different kind of pet—a very flattened dead chicken. The dead chicken is soon joined by a slew of dead animals from the local zoo. He figures the only way to get rid of them is to help them solve the mystery of their deaths.

I absolutely love the bond between Rex and his best friend Darvish, who’s often the one to come up with the actual good ideas, even though Rex tends to think he’s come up with them all on his own. Rex would very obviously be a mess without him. I’m also a fan of Rex’s crush (which he would deny to the ends of the earth), the incredibly smart and savvy Sami Mulpepper. This little touch of romance is super cute and awkward and relatable. Now, I will say Rex himself might not quite be seen as a role model; he lacks impulse control and makes himself the center of attention at all times. He tends to drive his teacher and his parents just a little bit crazy. But he’s so funny and lovable that it’s hard not to be on his side, even when he’s kind of messing things up. And he does learn a few lessons along the way (and face some consequences for his lack of focus). Role model or not, lots of kids will probably relate to him. What he lacks in good manners, he makes up for in pure positive energy and enthusiasm. And we can all laugh at his exploits along the way.

This is one of the most entertaining books I’ve read in quite a while, and I highly recommend it!!

***Disclosure: I received an ebook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***

Rex wants a pet. More importantly, Rex wants a dog. The pinnacle of pets (I don't disagree). When his birthday comes he gets.....a chicken? A pet chicken. OK

Luckily for Rex, and unluckily for the chicken, he doesn't have this pet long. With the death of his pet he discovers a new ability. He can talk to dead animals. Medium to the pets!

So who else can animals turn to when they have a mystery? Dead pets ask for his help to solve a mystery at the zoo. Rex is a strange child. He's got a sarcastic mouth and he doesn't react perfectly to his "curse." That's why I liked him. It's why I think my students will like him, too. The book is fast paced and amusing.

Thank you to Netgalley, Disney-Hyperion, and Aaron Reynolds for allowing me to read an advanced copy in exchange more my honest review.

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher and netgalley. Thanks! All opinions are my own!

Book: The Incredibly Dead Pets of Rex Dexter

Author: Aaron Reynolds

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 2/5

Publication Date: April 28, 2020

Genre: MG Fantasy

Recommended Age: 12+ (animal deaths, rude comments/attitude to others)

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Pages: 224

Amazon Link

Synopsis: Rex Dexter is itching to have a dog. He was practically born to have one. His name is Rex, for crying out loud. It's a dog's name. Any pooch is preferable, but a chocolate Labrador is the pinnacle. The best of the best. The dream of all dreams.

When Rex's B-Day for Me-Day finally arrives, his parents surprise him with a box. A box with holes. A box with holes and adorable scratchy noises coming from inside. Could it be? Yes! It has to be! A . . . a . . .

Chicken?

Pet poultry?

How clucky.

One hour and fourteen minutes later, the chicken is dead (by a steamroller), Rex is cursed (by the Grim Reaper), and wild animals are haunting Rex's room (hounding him for answers). Even his best friend Darvish is not going to believe this, and that kid believes everything.

Rex's uninvited ghostly guests are a chatty, messy bunch. And they need Rex to solve their mysterious deadly departures from the Middling Falls Zoo before it happens again.

But how?

New York Times best-selling author Aaron Reynolds delivers a wickedly funny debut title in The Incredibly Dead Pets of Rex Dexter series.

Review: So, I liked the book ok. It had great writing, the mystery was well done, and the message about taking care of animals is great! I also liked the pacing of the book.

However, I have a big issue with the book. I thought that the book wasn’t very well suited for younger children. The main character makes many mean spirited comments about friends and family and others. The main character also doesn’t apologize for them. I thought this was an attempt at humor, but you can be funny without being rude and that rudeness shouldn’t be taught to young children. The book also had a lot of older references that young children probably won’t get.

Verdict: It was ok, but can’t recommend to young kids.

This was a goofy, funny, but somewhat dark middle grade novel. Rex Dexter is a blatantly obvious unreliable narrator who is very confident in his abilities to do, well, pretty much everything. He desperately wants a dog, so his parents give him a chicken as a practice pet. That doesn't go well, and all of a sudden he is finding himself a magnet for the ghosts of murdered animals. He sets out to solve the mystery of their killings, along the way producing a lot of laugh-out-loud one-liners and observations of the people (and ghosts) around him.

This is a wacky supernatural mystery. Rex Dexter has always wanted a pet, specifically a dog. He has been unable to convince his parents though. Small wonder considering it has been dangerous to be a pet of Rex Dexter. When a phenomenon that seemed ripped from the movie Big occurs (and to be fair, the book is straight up about the Big coincidence) Rex has even more dead animals coming his way than he can handle. This self-absorbed tween is forced to solve the mystery of why the animals stay with him on their way to an afterlife. If you have readers looking for a light mystery, with silly, comical characters, this is a good one to pick up.