Review: Monster High by Lisi Harrison

Monster High by Lisi Harrison

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Published: September 1, 2010

Pages: 255

Received: borrowed from my niece

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They prefer to call themselves RAD (Regular Attribute Dodgers), but some call them monsters. So far, the "monster" community has kept a low profile in Salem, but this year two new girls enroll at Master High School, and the town will never be the same.

Created just fifteen days ago, Frankie Stein is psyched to trade her father's formaldehyde-smelling basement lab for parties and cheerleading. But with a student body totally freaked out by rumors of monsters who might be stalking the halls, Frankie finds that life in the "normie" world can be rough for a chic freak like her.

She thinks she finds a friend in fellow new student Melody Carver--but can a normie be trusted with her big secret?

I've been eyeing this book for a while, especially since I bought this and a Monster High doll for my niece  for Christmas. The idea of teenage monsters in high school seemed fun and different from everything else I've been reading. And it was also a book I can read and chat about with my niece. 

The book itself alternates chapters between Melody and Frankie, allowing the reader to see two different stories happening during the same timeline. I loved the little drawings at the top of the chapters (they are little outlines of the girls themselves). Each character in the book is based on a monster: Frankie (Frankenstein), Cleo (Cleopatra's Mummy), Lala aka Draculaura (Dracula), etc. There are some pretty fun monsters to be seen going to normie high school.

The idea of monsters going to high school, hidden among the normal kids aka normies, was interesting. They pretty much are hiding in plain sight as people are terrified of monsters. If only they could get to know them, they are actually more honest, sweet and thoughtful (well most are) than the humans seem to be. 

As for the plot of the book, I loved how it was introducing Frankie (who is newly made - she is only 15 days old) into real life, though she thinks she is the only different student out there. Her parents kind of leave her in the dark about there being other non-humans in her area. She is so endearing - she has such a positive energy, is full of confidence and wants to make the world a better place. I would have to say that I was more captivated by Frankie's chapters than Melody's, but that's probably because I was so intrigued by the all the monster happenings and revealings. You should see what happens when Frankie sets her mind to attending the September Semi with the Monster Mash theme.

Melody is a new normie to the area, just recently moved to Salem from Beverly Hills and is trying to figure out how she fits into this new High School hierarchy. Her chapters were interesting as they helped develop the story in others ways that Frankie's would not have been able to. Melody somehow stumbles into the knowledge that there are monsters attending her new high school, but can she deal with the new info and keep her cool? I am pretty excited to pick up book two to see what happens next to this group of ghouls, the story was left with a cliffhanger ending... thank goodness the next two books area available now for me to read, with the fourth book coming out this May.

Favourite Characters: Frankie | Lala aka Drauclaura | Ghoulia

Favourite Sayings: "Freaky just got Fabulous" and "VOLTAGE!"

More fun Monster High places around the web: Website | YouTube 

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About the author:

Lisi Harrison is the author of the #1 New York Times best-selling series "The Clique". Lisi was born in Canada, and lived in NYC for a while at MTV. She now lives in Laguna Beach, CA. (Who knew she was Canadian? I love it!)

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