Carnevil: MonsterStreet #3
The third installment of the MonsterStreet series by J.H. Reynolds has been the best one yet. It gave off vibes reminiscent of Are You Afraid of the Dark? and Halloweentown, which are some of my favorite things to watch when October comes around. Plus, I absolutely love stories that involve evil carnivals, so this did not disappoint.
The story follows brothers Ren and Kip who are sent to visit their Aunt Winnie for the week leading up to Halloween. Aunt Winnie works and lives in a Nursing Home called Old Manor, and has Ren and Kip help out a bit with the old folks there. Ren ends up learning some dark secrets about a carnival that has suddenly appeared in town, and Kip has never been to a carnival, so he insists on Ren taking him to see it. Aunt Winnie agrees to let them go off on their own as long as they take care of each other. When they arrive, things are not as they seem and Kip’s desire to check out all the rides ends in him coming home a changed boy. Ren races against time to figure out what is behind this sinister Carnival that put his brother and many others under its spooky spell.
As always, J.H. Reynolds presents tidbits of important life lessons in his work, which are wonderful for children. In this story, my favorite line was when Aunt Winnie expressed her interest and appreciation of working/living at Old Manor to Ren and Kip, “It’s like living in a library, only the books can talk to you.”
The whole story serves as a reminder that our time here on Earth is short. It encourages us to make the most of it and treasure and learn from our loved ones while we can. Definitely recommend this one.
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