I was on a search for a good scary middle grade fiction. I'm sad to say that I feel like that this wasn't the book for me. The writing was subpar and I thought the plot was okay.

Monsters and lighthouses, mists and fog? The perfect ingredients of a spooky middle-grade horror if you ask me! While I do definitely enjoyed the eerie atmosphere along with the ghosts entwined in this book, I found it difficult to immerse fully partly because I could not connect with the motivations of some of the characters. Nonetheless, I think this would be a great spooky read and intro to middle-grade level horror

There's something inherently spooky about a lighthouse...and it's the perfect location for this adventure.

Well, this was infinitely more terrifying than I'd expected.

I love, love, love a middle grade horror that isn't afraid to terrify the socks off its readers. I've read and loved Juliana Brandt's previous books, and although she's always been a wizard with atmosphere, if MONSTERS IN THE MIST is anything to go by, we're witnessing a major new power emerge in the horror genre.

Welcome to an island in the middle of Lake Superior that isn't quite *right.* Welcome to a world of strange lights & sounds, and the unsettling feeling that something ... something is VERY VERY WRONG. Filled with characters you'll ache for and twists that will stop your heart, this is the perfect book for readers of all ages to slip into autumn with.

Glennon McCue has moved into his Uncle's lighthouse on a mysterious island in the middle of Lake Superior. An island that cannot be found on any maps. An island that is cursed. Then a storm causes a ship to wreck on the island and there are survivors. But where there is the living, there is also the dead.

A spooky, ghost story, this might be a little much for some readers. It's a slow burn horror that intensifies over the course of the book and blends paranormal horror with real life horrible experiences. There is PTSD, trauma, and abuse all mentioned so this could be especially triggering for some kids. The author tackles the pain of emotional and verbal abuse that many kids experience but often gets overlooked since it isn't physically harmful. The author acknowledges this abuse in a letter at the end, encouraging children who may have experienced any of these actions to seek a trusted adults help, whether a trusted teacher or counselor. Parents may need to be ready to answer questions or handle any strong emotions that may come up during and after reading.

There is no gore but plenty of creepy, with weird animals and the undead. There is plenty of family dynamic and a highlight is the family relationships between the siblings and Glennon's mom, who is also experiencing the abuse as well. A good one, but might not be for all readers.

"Monsters in the Mist" is a spooky thrill ride that would make a great read for middle grade and young high school readers.

I loved this spooky story so much that we added it to October's Tween Lit Circle Class. From the map (the sign of any good adventure) to the super-intelligent cat living in a lighthouse on Lake Superior with maybe a monster? was a total delight

An odd story to be certain. Personally, I didn't find the final reveals especially surprising. The clues are there at the start. Maybe not for the full reality but certainly for large elements. The characters are limited in depth in a way that makes them not especially believable. I give Brandt credit for addressing the things that haunt us, the affects of trauma on our lives in a middle grade audience. I just don't think that's enough to carry it.

It wasn't a bad book. I just didn't adore it as much as the other books I've gotten netgallys for before. There were a few well written and tense moments. The characters were unique and interesting. But as an adult (and a writer and someone who reads a lot), I saw every single twist coming. Now that happens to me a lot but sometimes I enjoy the journey so much I don't mind that it was obvious. That was sadly not the case here. 3.5 stars.

Unfortunately this story just wasn't for me, I'm not a fan of ghost stories. It did hold my interest to finish it, but it was a little too creepy for being a middle grade book. *trigger warnings for subject matter on ptsd and verbal abuse.

Glennon and his mom and sister arrive at an island to visit his uncle, what follows is mysterious creatures, scary situations and they need to figure out what is going on before they aren't able to leave the island....ever!

Thank you to #netgalley for the copy.

The premise of Monsters in the Mist is an interesting one. I had a hard time finishing it though because it seemed very slow to me.

Hello! I loved this book so so much. It was the perfect mix of funny and scary! I couldn't put it down

Monsters in the Mist, by Juliana Brandt, is an interesting ghost story that will entertain middle schoolers and adults alike.  It is about kids and their mom that are somewhere that is not as it seems and things are changing so that if they don't escape soon, they may be trapped forever. I would definitely recommend this book to middle school students. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC ebook in exchange for my honest opinion.

I read this with my teen grandchild and was very pleased that I did not read it with the younger children. There was no gory scenes but the horror was psychological and would have led to many discussions I am not yet ready to have with the younger ones. As it was, we really enjoyed it and led to to very interesting conversations.

I accessed this book for the purpose of an interview with the author, published in the Duluth News Tribune — link below. Thanks!

I was in a mood for something creepy when I received a review request for Monster's in the Mist, and this certainly hit the spot. The story is one that slowly burns, we get to know Glennon, Lee and what brought them to Isle Philippeaux, but from there it grows in intensity. Glennon begins to unravel the mystery of the island and what he finds, well he has every reason to be scared of. Even I was scared for him and Lee. And the monsters of this story, well let's just say that the phantom ghosts and the real-life monster that is present in Glennon's life was equally frightening. This story really does build in the horror department and has a lot of depth, delving into some pretty deep subjects, like PTSD, panic attacks and the overall pain of abuse. For Glennon and Lee it is the verbal abuse and raging anger that their dad displays toward them that is also present toward their mom. Glennon, Lee and their mom have each found their own ways to exist amongst this terrible emotional and verbally abusive situation. I really appreciated the author's letter to the reader at the end of the book explaining how not all abuse is physical, that the words Glennon's father used in the story were forms of verbal and emotionally abuse. I also especially liked the encouragement that Brandt offers for children who may recognize any of these actions to seek a trusted adults help, whether a trusted teacher or counselor. Finally, I felt the love that exists between these siblings, the way that they support each other and understand each other's needs. I'd recommend this to the readers who enjoyed A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, it had that same sort of feeling of confusion and sadness with the greater theme of finding the truth of what haunts them. Overall, the story left me optimistic about Glennon and Lee's future and I really wanted them to be free from the pain that was being inflicted on them. **A huge thank you to Sourcebooks for the E-ARC**

In a Nutshell: A middle-grade horror story that works on two levels – supernatural horror as well as real-life horror I loved how seamlessly the author interwove these distinct elements.

Story:
1989. Thirteen year old Glennon McCue’s father has taken an overseas position and his mother doesn’t want to stay in an empty house. Thus Glennon finds himself temporarily relocated, along with his mother and his fourteen year old sister Lee, to his Uncle Job’s house, which is on Isle Philippeaux, right in the middle of Lake Superior. Glennon gets an eerie sense from the island and its surroundings and even from some of its denizens, but he isn’t able to pinpoint what’s wrong. When a storm rocks the island and a ship wrecks near the lighthouse where Job works, the survivors either act strange or are terrified of having reached this island. What is the secret of Isle Philippeaux? Why isn’t anyone answering Glennon’s queries about the island? Will his family and he be safe? Read and find out.

Where the book worked for me:
👻 I can’t read adult-level paranormal horror. So this book fit in with my requirements perfectly. It has a scrumptious mix of paranormal elements, right from creepy animals to eerie forests to spooky graveyards to “unhuman humans”. There was no gore too, which I had expected as this is aimed at kids. The writing is very atmospheric.

👻 As I said, the book balances paranormal components with real-life horror. There is an underlying thread throughout the story that talks of mental abuse. This is just brilliantly done. It is so subtle that I was wondering how kids will even understand what lies behind Lee’s panic attacks and Glennon’s low self-esteem and their mom’s seeming aloofness. But the author’s note at the end will help children to understand the issue better. The entire story works on this dual level – defeating the paranormal haunting and defeating whatever is haunting from within.

👻 I loved the message the author sent across in her author’s note.

👻 There are so many wonderful characters in the story. Glennon and Lee obviously take the lead in being well-crafted and layered characters, but some of the people around them too are created well enough to make an impact within a few pages.

👻 The book casts a wonderful light on the role of adults and children and the interconnection between these. The point it makes – that it is not the child’s duty to protect the adult but vice versa – is so relevant. A lot of the untold elements made me feel sad.

👻 So many books romanticise lighthouses. But this book shows the reality of living around them. I liked this look into life on on island and especially the importance of a lighthouse.

👻 There is a really smart cat in the story. His name is Seamus. Give me a book with a cat or a dog in a good role and the story will automatically get bonus points.

👻 There’s a wonderful map at the start.


Where the book could have worked better for me:
☠ It is a bit repetitive and too descriptive, especially when it comes to Glennon’s feelings and the events occurring around him. The book could have easily been trimmed by a few pages without losing its impact. The wordy writing style might bore some of its readers.

☠ There are a few things that remain unexplained. This isn’t related to closure or the ending but with some minor plot points that don’t make sense after the big reveal.

The story is too dark for a children’s book, and I don’t just mean the paranormal elements. Then again, I was always a child who never picked up a horror book, and even now, I rarely touch one. So there will certainly be little readers out there looking for a quaint ghost story. This is the book for them. I relished it more for the familial issues and how Glennon overcomes his deepest fears.

Definitely recommended to middle-grade readers of paranormal horror.

4.25 stars.

My thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Kids and NetGalley for the DRC of “Monsters in the Mist”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

For the past few months, thirteen year old Glennon McCue has been living with his sister and mother on the mysterious Isle Philippeaux in the middle of Lake Superior. His dad is teaching overseas, and because their grandmother has passed away, Glennon’s Uncle Job has offered to host his family through the semester. As the day of their departure grows closer, though, strange events begin taking place on the island, leading Glennon and his family to meet unusual characters even as a general feeling of wrongness settles over the isle itself. Ominous messages cause Glennon to investigate his surroundings more closely, and when it looks like the mysterious Waning may take place before they are able to depart the island, Glennon bravely seeks answers to his most pressing questions.

Due to the complexity and depth of the storytelling, this book is best suited to more confident upper middle grade and young adult readers, especially those who enjoy tales that examine layers of the human mental condition. From the very beginning of this book, beautifully descriptive writing makes each moment in the narrative tangible, especially as myriad inanimate objects are personified. The story begins slowly, much like the placidity of a lake in the calm before a storm hits. As more details come to light, the intensity of the narrative increases, buffeting readers in the gales existing both outside the isle and inside Glennon’s own mind. Readers are carried along for the ride, and they will be compelled to determine what is really going on and where the boundary between reality and fiction truly lies. Clues emerge from unusual circumstances within the novel that provide some insight into how the story will play out, but readers are primarily working alongside Glennon to discover the truth of his situation.

The stakes are high in this suspenseful upper middle grade novel. On its face, it is a spooky ghost story that incorporates ongoing feelings of danger and mystery throughout. Beneath this, though, is a sense of foreboding not just for the characters in Glennon’s immediate vicinity, but also for real players in Glennon’s life outside the isle. An author’s note at the end of the book speaks to the emotional abuse referenced throughout the novel, encouraging readers to seek support if they find themselves in a similar situation. The multifaceted approach taken in this novel transforms the story into one that can be interpreted at several levels and can, under the right circumstances, help guide readers toward healing. This is a powerful and thought-provoking novel for confident upper middle grade readers who enjoy novels with high-intensity storytelling.

Thank you so much to Sourcebooks and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.

Glennon, his mom and sister Lee have moved to stay with their uncle on a really tiny island but as a shipwreck happens Glennon starts seeing things and the island becomes creepier add in his intrusive thoughts of all the detrimental things his father has told him and he feels he’s going insane.

This was really not what I thought it was going to be at all, i didn’t enjoy this book at all. I’m sad to say that because it sounded really good to me, it has three elements I love a small island, lighthouses and horror/creepiness. It just wasn’t a story for me which is okay as someone else is going to love this book.

I found I didn’t like any of the characters and that is literally the thing that makes it hard for me to sink into a story. They all sounded so very immature in comparison to ages they they were depicted as within the story. She did include some character progression in the story though as Glennon eventually figures out what was really happening behind the closed doors with his family.

I also personally found the writing style to be really hard to get into and it was really not easy for me to wrap my head around, not sure why but it’s just how it was for me.

I will say that the author has done a good job, she did create this really creepy small haunting island atmosphere, came up with a really creative storyline that I hadn’t really seen be done before. I can definitely see others reading this and being on the edge of their seats and wanting desperately to know more and having such a thrill reading this book.

So just because this was not a book I personally could sink into and enjoy, really doesn’t mean that you won’t. That’s the greatest thing about books, there will always be people out there that will love them and some that don’t.

This book was so fun! I think this is a perfect "intro to horror" type story for young readers who love spooky or supernatural elements in stories. Juliana Brandt perfectly balances the darker sides of the thriller/horror genre with the fun and entertaining elements often found in middle grade novels. Horror is all about introducing deeper themes in a new and exciting and adventurous way, and I think she did that wonderfully with Monsters in the Mist. There's a lot of heavier elements: sickness, loneliness, death, grief, parental abuse, panic attacks, and fear, that are approached in a way that is really special and creative. I think this is a great way to help young readers talk about some of these bigger topics they might be experiencing in their own lives or see their friends experiencing.

This would be a great October read!