“The Monstrumologist”, by Rick Yancey

Yancey, Richard. The Monstrumologist. New York: Simon & Schuster BFYR, 2009. Print.

I put this on hold at the library after seeing it listed with a starred review (I think) on Booklist’s reviews.  I was researching books for teenage boys and thought it looked interesting.

It’s a mock-real account of a 12-year-old boy who works as an assistant to a monstrumologist – someone who studies monsters.  (This review wouldn’t be complete without the word ‘supernatural’ appearing in it somewhere, and fortunately it’s the monsters that are supernatural).  Set in 18th-century New England, it evokes the classic mood of dark, fog, narrow cramped streets, and dripping wet brick walls.  It’s a decidedly creepy book, that rapidly gets hugely gory as well.  I was surprised, in fact, at the amount of gore – more than I’d expect even in a Stephen King novel.  It seems, though, that that’s what the teen-horror genre expects these days – one reason I’m glad I decided to read this book myself before recommending it to anyone else.

There’s a ripping good adventure about them hunting and killing monsters, and along the way we learn about the stories of both the monstrumologist and his orphaned assistant.  I’m sure there will be other books about these characters, although I’m not sure I’ll bother to read them.  The book was a compelling read, but my stomach is a bit too sensitive to read detailed accounts of shark-toothed monsters grinding the bones and bodies of young children.