Description
What does a 10-year-old boy desperate for new friends do when he sees an ad for mail-order monsters in the back of a comic book? He orders them, naturally.
Ten-year-old Marco Torres needs a new bestie. Or a few. He’s on the outs with his EX-best friend and needs someone to talk to, confide in. So he takes a chance on an ad in the back of an old comic book promising something big: MAIL-ORDER MONSTERS. Marco hopes they’ll make amazing new besties and scare off his bully, who in a mean twist of fate happens to be the twin of his crush. When the monsters arrive, Marco unleashes their magic and draws the reaction he’d hoped for from his classmates—until the monsters’ hilarious, uncontrolled escape through the school’s ceilings makes it nearly impossible to hide them from adults. And when Marco’s ex-bestie challenges him to a grudge match to finally settle their score, it’s Marco’s monsters against an enemy robot in a race on remote control trucks through the neighborhood junk yard. But through it all, Marco begins to wonder who should really be fighting his battles? And what exactly is he fighting for?
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REVIEWS:
Readers’ Favorite, in bestowing its highest ranking of FIVE STARS:
“Mail-Order Monsters: Crash Course by Silvia Acevedo is a whimsical story about 10-year-old Marco Torres, who, feeling lonely after a fight with his best friend Tinker, impulsively orders monsters from an advertisement in an old comic book. To his surprise, the monsters arrive and come to life, turning out to be friendly and eager for adventure. As Marco explores his new friendships, faces school challenges, and tries to keep his monsters hidden from adults, he learns important lessons about trust, friendship, and being true to oneself. The story leads to a daring schoolyard race between Marco’s monsters and Tinker’s robot, testing their skills and friendship, revealing that genuine connection matters more than competition.
Silvia Acevedo’s storytelling is energetic and engaging, and I enjoyed how the blend of humor, emotion, and vivid imagery brings Marco’s world to life. The characters are relatable, especially Marco, whose feelings of loneliness, jealousy, and hope mirror those of many children. The monsters are imaginative and expressive, providing the escape that Marco needs from his dull existence. The narrative shifts between Marco’s internal thoughts, captivating dialogue, and descriptive scenes, and kept me utterly hooked. The use of colorful language, sensory details—like the smell of bubbles and the feel of soil—and humor makes the story entertaining. Mail-Order Monsters features well-developed themes of friendship, bravery, and honesty, and invites children to think about these realities. This is a well-plotted story that will entice young readers with its lovable characters and exciting adventures.”
Wisconsin Readers Association, in HIGHLY RECOMMENDING:
“The middle-grade fantasy Mail Order Monsters from Silvia Acevedo launches readers into the life of young Marco Torres as he’s embroiled in a standoff with his best friend Tinker. They traded harsh words and created a rift in their relationship … The author sets up a number of sub-plots appropriate for the target readership: school lunch dynamics, bullying, puppy love. Interspersed throughout are surprisingly deft sentences such as: ‘He felt his heart pinch, like it was making itself small, folding up to protect itself.’
Mail Order Monsters fosters … use of Spanish language phrases and sentences. Acevedo sometimes provides an italicized translation, other times she uses a character response to provide context. It’s a nice touch …
Overall, Acevedo’s Mail Order Monsters is a fun and fast-paced story for middle grade readers. The themes of friendship and reconciliation are woven securely into the plot, and action in the final chapters just rockets the reader forward. Highly recommend this book for young boys in particular.”
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