A thrilling story well told. This book follows the adventures of Cat, the youngest in a class of monster-slaying Scots. I can see younger readers getting very into this, especially if the series expands. There's quite a bit of violence and gore, which may put off some parents and teachers, although it is never gratuitious. Less confident and EAL/D readers may struggle with the colloquialisms which appear frequently (like scart for scared), but this could also be a good teaching opportunity to guide readers on how accents and localities are revealed through text.

The concept of location specific monsters is a fun one and I can’t wait to see how this idea developed through the series. As it is set in 1800’s Scotland, there are some words and terms that younger readers may have to look up or get help with. Overall, a fun read perfect for middle grade readers who are fans of fantasy and The Spiderwick Chronicles.

This was so cute! I enjoyed this story and all the characters. Cat is a great main character, brand new to the R&A (Royal and Ancient), and an official monster hunter. This was a fast read, geared for younger readers. The story moves fast enough to make it hard to put down for readers of all ages, but the gore and jump scares are tame and sufficient for the younger eyes. It's a happy ending all around and I can't see what to see what kind of monsters the R&A will battle in book two! Lastly, I liked how this book was illustrated, almost like a comic book inside a book with panels showing the R&A members and the sea dragon! I thought that was a lot of fun and a great way to engage the younger readers!

This book rules. Cat Douglas is a monster hunter in 1880s Scotland, which is already cool, but then you throw in sea dragons, a secret society, and a possibly very bad plan involving Cat as bait?? Absolute chaos, and I loved every second of it.

The mix of action, mystery, and historical fantasy makes this feel like a wild adventure from start to finish. Plus, the graphic novel panels are so fun and bring the story to life in the best way. If you love monsters, history, and kids who are way braver than they have any right to be, this book is 100% for you.

Many thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to access an advance copy of this book for review.
To me, the "pinnacle of authordom" exists among those writers who are very readable, whatever the genre, reading age, setting, and/or time period... As with the works of Graham Greene, I want to read everything Jane Yolen has ever written because whatever the book, I know it's going to be well-done and always worth a re-read. Although she is a prolific writer, the quantity of her work is consistently of amazing quality and I find myself scanning library and secondhand bookstore shelves in search of her YA novels.
Until I saw the title on NetGalley, I did not realize that "Monsters of Fife: Sea Dragons" was her newest work.
Recommend for lovers of all things YA, fantastical, quirky and creative. I'll still be forever purchasing her YA novels if I can locate them all.

I received an electronic ARC from Charlesbridge through NetGalley.
Yolen captures the suspense and danger of hunting monsters in 1890's Scotland. She offers a brief history to start the story so readers understand how they got there. We then meet the Royal & Ancient Monster Hunters team who have just added their newest member. Cat lives here with her mother and grandmother after her father was lost at sea. She is in training and gets experience with killing a monster early on. From here, they face bigger dragons and finally the massive mother sea dragon.
I appreciate Yolen's pace as she builds the tension and keeps the focus on the reality and danger involved. Her characters slowly reveal more of themselves and the team bonds continue to forge. A shorter read that will pull readers in so they feel they are part of the adventures.

We thoroughly enjoyed this book. The children have found a new favourite series. The occasional Scottish word delighted them and they all walked around with fake Scottish accents (we do spend a lot of time in Scotland). Exciting and interesting ,waiting eagerly for the next installment.