Twist

Starred review from November 25, 2019
In this horror-tinged adventure set in 1983 Oklahoma, three classmates in a gifted program band together when their town is invaded by fanciful creatures that adults cannot see. Indian-American artist Neha Presad, 12, has been creating a sketchbook town, Forest Creeks, that is populated by the refugee seeds of unfinished stories. When it is menaced by monsters, Neha’s classmate Court Castle, who is white and an “argues-on-the-bus” kind of kid, realizes that the monsters have come from African-American aspiring horror writer Eli Goodman’s tales, one of which Goodman recently read to the class. A desperate attempt to save the beings in Neha’s drawings, including purple weasel-otter Sleekit and dapper stick bug Swiz, instead brings them into the real world, and Eli’s own terrors soon follow. Now, the trio and their new allies must defeat Eli’s scariest creations. Cannon (Oddity) weaves a sense of 1980s Spielbergian wonder and danger into the cinematic narrative: while handling an array of bizarre creatures produced from the imagination, the kids forge an easy friendship based on creativity over logic. A playful, wry humor tempers the more frightening moments, while Cannon maintains a feeling of urgency and high stakes well suited to middle grade readers. Ages 9–13. Agent: Brooks Sherman, Janklow & Nesbit Assoc.

January 24, 2020

Gr 4-7-Eli, Neha, and Court have never really had much in common. They're in the same gifted class, but have different interests. Eli is a writer, Neha has her drawing, and Court feels like she doesn't quite belong among the gifted kids. That all changes when mysterious things surrounding Neha's drawings start to happen. Neha's drawings aren't just regular pictures of houses, gardens, and shops; her art is inhabited by special creatures come to life, called Creeps, who rely on Neha for their safety. When monsters invade her sketchbook with Court and Eli watching, Neha makes the drastic move to set the Creeps free in the human world to keep them safe. Realizing that the monsters are ones Eli created in his stories, the three friends must figure out how to set the world of the Creeps right and free them from danger. With more monsters breaking through to the human world, the young trio, along with the Creeps, prepare for the ultimate battle against Eli's most vicious monster: The Howler. Featuring a diverse group of characters that readers will engage with and a story that is nonstop action, this is a kooky and fun read with tons of imagination. VERDICT A fast-paced fantasy adventure appropriate for readers looking for creative alternate worlds and monster-fighting antics.-Jayna Ramsey, Douglas County Libraries, Parker, CO

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