By Jack Meggitt-Phillips
Illustrated by Isabelle Follath
4Rbooks: 4/6, grades 4-8
Amazon rating: 4.7/5, grades 4-8
Good Reads: 3.92/5
Common Sense Media: Not Reviewed
Pages 232
Synopsis:
A beast lives in the attic.
Ebenezer Tweezer is 512 years old. He has been alive that long because the beast provides Ebenezer with a potion that prolongs his life. The beast also provides Ebenezer with money and fancy things for his home. To get the potion, and other things, Ebenezer feeds the beast whatever it wants. It’s latest request though, is unusual, challenging, and not very nice.
Bethany is an orphan, a rather unpleasant one. She is always playing pranks on people and finds it easier to be mean than to be good and do the right thing. Nobody has wanted to take Bethany home, until Ebenezer shows up at the orphanage one day and wants to adopt Bethany. Why would he want such a difficult child?
The beast, Ebenezer, and Bethany all under one roof. What could possibly go wrong?
Parental Guidance: medium high - high
Ebenezer has been feeding the beast animals. Now the beast wants to eat
a child.
Ebenezer first tries to find a child at the zoo by trying to convince them to
jump in a sack and come with him. The scene ends with the parents threatening
him and the zoo banning him for life, but it’s an uncomfortable read for an adult.
Bethany tries to stuff worms up another child’s nose.
When Bethany first moves into Ebenezer’s house she trashes much of it.
The beast eats Mrs. Fizzlewick, the headmaster of the orphanage.
Ebenezer dies.
There is a violent confrontation between the beast and Bethany.
Recommendation:
A mash up of fairy tales, Roald Dahl, and Little Shop of Horrors would be a great way to look at this book. If one doesn’t take it seriously it is an interesting enough read with enough funny and gross moments to keep children entertained. There are also positive themes that could initiate good classroom discussion in a teacher directed read. Bethany and Ebenezer become friends and learn to care about each other. Bethany begins to realize that she can do good and it’s a good thing. Ebenezer and Bethany fight to save each other. Still, it is a dark plot and there are scenes that are difficult to grapple with. Children might actually have an easier time with this book than adults, but sensitive children could struggle with many of the darker concepts. This is the first of a two-book series. I will be reviewing the second book next.
I think many children will enjoy this novel, but parent guidance is recommended.
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