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jenbsbooks 's review for:
Stuffed
by Liz Braswell
I'd grabbed this book at a library book sale - it's not one I'd seen or heard about anywhere, but I saw it had good ratings. Perfect for my #middlegradeMay challenge (something I might not get to otherwise). Even though I had the physical book, I borrowed the audio and kindle copy from the library, and went primarily with audio.
Kid book & HORROR don't usually go together (although I know there is some "scary stuff" out there). This wasn't bad, "cute scary" ... or at least "cute protectors". The main character is 10 years old, but still sleeping with his "stuffies" as he can feel there's bad stuff out there, and that they protect him and his family.
It was cute when his mom arranged a playdate, hoping to get him socializing with more athletic/normal kids, and the other kid also happens to be a "stuffie" expert, and that these cute stuffed animals are "rated" with some providing more protection than others. The MC ends up shipped off to camp, where he meets more kids with knowledge of the stuffed animal arts. Unfortunately, this leaves his father (infected by a bad something) back at home and his mom redecorating his room (packing away his stuffed animals).
On the cover - is FOON, a creature hand-created by Grandma. Foon has several one-page "chapters" (not numerically labeled as chapters, just little inserts) throughout the book. In print, the text is in italics, atrocious spelling (and the tense switches from 3rd person to 1st person - Foon's POV) ... in audio, unique voice, which added to the fun feel.
36 chapters, not including some "inset" sections, Foon's jumping in, and two "how to" sections in the text, and one more as the epilogue. They were fun additions! The chapters had "Day/Night" headers ... Kindle table of contents was good, showing everything. Audio TOC was lacking, just the basic numerical chapters (no headers, extra sections). Per usual, the physical book doesn't even deign to provide a TOC.
It was cute ... I'm trying to imagine me at 10 reading it and what I'd think. I was never scared of monsters under the bed, but I did love stuffed animals and had a huge collection.
Kid book & HORROR don't usually go together (although I know there is some "scary stuff" out there). This wasn't bad, "cute scary" ... or at least "cute protectors". The main character is 10 years old, but still sleeping with his "stuffies" as he can feel there's bad stuff out there, and that they protect him and his family.
It was cute when his mom arranged a playdate, hoping to get him socializing with more athletic/normal kids, and the other kid also happens to be a "stuffie" expert, and that these cute stuffed animals are "rated" with some providing more protection than others. The MC ends up shipped off to camp, where he meets more kids with knowledge of the stuffed animal arts. Unfortunately, this leaves his father (infected by a bad something) back at home and his mom redecorating his room (packing away his stuffed animals).
On the cover - is FOON, a creature hand-created by Grandma. Foon has several one-page "chapters" (not numerically labeled as chapters, just little inserts) throughout the book. In print, the text is in italics, atrocious spelling (and the tense switches from 3rd person to 1st person - Foon's POV) ... in audio, unique voice, which added to the fun feel.
36 chapters, not including some "inset" sections, Foon's jumping in, and two "how to" sections in the text, and one more as the epilogue. They were fun additions! The chapters had "Day/Night" headers ... Kindle table of contents was good, showing everything. Audio TOC was lacking, just the basic numerical chapters (no headers, extra sections). Per usual, the physical book doesn't even deign to provide a TOC.
It was cute ... I'm trying to imagine me at 10 reading it and what I'd think. I was never scared of monsters under the bed, but I did love stuffed animals and had a huge collection.