I enjoyed this book, but I haven't found a student who loves it yet. "Scary" books are always in demand in our PK-12 school library, but so far students aren't clamoring for the next book in this series.

I love the artwork of these books. I also love the creepy stories and how earnest the characters are.

Charles and Margo have been spending a lot of time together on assignments and he's encountered all manner of weird creatures. Charles is wanting to make a book (which you get to see some drafts of at the back of the book) and we get more backstory about Margo's life and the history of Echo City and its monsters.

The first part of the book involves Margo and Charles investigating some pranks happening in an abandoned house and discover a little imp who has been displaced due to the increasing human population in Echo City. Next, Margo and Charles try to protect the hip teenage vampires who lurk in an abandoned mall from nosy human teenagers.

I enjoyed this book slightly less than the first one, but the first one was phenomenal. Weing does a beautiful job of world-building and character development for a middle-grade graphic novel. We are also starting to get deeper themes surrounding displacement/gentrification, coexistence with those different from us, and even some environmental morals. These themes do not feel heavy handed at all, and I feel like kids could read this story without having to have any background knowledge on these issues. I recently got approved for an ARC of the third book so I figured I'd finally get around to reviewing this since I read it a while ago. I do hope that little imp finds his home!

Note: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated in any other fashion for the review and the opinions reflected below are entirely my own. Special thanks to the publisher and author for providing the copy.

This is as wonderful as the first volume. The series is pitch perfect for kids, a great pick for those wanting something maybe a little spooky but not enough to give them nightmares while also being funny. I loved getting to see Margo's house and seeing Thompson come into his own a little more. I'm hopeful for more volumes from this series.

This series has an interesting contrast between harsh edges and softer lines, paralleling the narrator's softer personality and Margo's sharpness. This volume is a bit stronger than the first one, likely because we don't have to spend so much time world building. We're playing in an established world, and building off previous plot lines. Interesting secrets are beginning to reveal themselves.

I really liked this book. It was so fun! This was the second book in this series, however it was very easy to get into the book and enjoy it. The premise is that Echo City is loaded with monsters and the monsters are required to stay hidden, however kids can still see them. Margo is respected by the monsters and she does her best to protect them and keep them in line. This was a very fun and enjoyable book.

What a fun story! I didn't realize this is a second book of a series. But I quickly settle into the storyline and characters. I think it's really fun and captivating, it's not what I expected, and I really enjoyed reading it.

I don't know what happened in the previous books between Charles and Margo and how they met, but in this book, they got back together to investigate paranormal activities. They are trying to prevent the supernatural from being discovered by pesky humans and keep themselves. The art is perfect for this weirdly supernatural world, and I can't wait to see the next adventure of Margo and Charles!

The intrepid duo of Margo Maloo and Charles Thompson is back in their second adventure! Margo Maloo is on a new case, and she needs Charles and his journalistic talents to help. The situation in Echo City is getting tougher on monsters. Humans are encroaching on their environment, and the Monster Code states that NO monster can let themself be seen by a human. Thank goodness, kids don't count, but teenagers do, and there's a group of teens hanging out at an abandoned mall. Some monsters are sick of hiding, and want to fight. Other monsters just want to be left alone. Tensions are running high, and it's up to Margo and Charles to help keep the monster community in status quo!

The Monster Mall is a great follow-up to 2016's The Creepy Case Files of Margo Maloo. The dynamic between Margo and Charles is fun and light, with smart dialogue and loads of humor. Margo has some wise insights, like one of my favorite lines, "...the older people get, the less they can be trusted"; Charles believes that kids and monsters can learn to trust one another. After all, Marcus and Kevin, Charles' monster buddy in the basement and his friend, play Battlebeenz together, right? An epilogue teases the future of human-monster relations, and I can't wait for the next installment. Cartoony monster art, witty dialogue and a diverse cast of characters that bring up some smart questions about diversity make this a book you want in your graphic novel collections.

Creepy Case Files of Margo Maloo: The Monster Mall by Drew Weing is a children's graphic novel currently scheduled for release on September 11 2018. It is the second book in a series, but I have not read the first. I feel like I caught on to the story pretty quickly, and think that while those that are reading in order will get more out of the series, newcomers will be able to enjoy the story as well.

Charles Thompson meets a lot of monsters in his line of work. While assisting Margo Maloo on her assignments, he’s had close encounters with trolls, ghosts, imps, and ogres. And lately, they’re all saying the same thing: living in Echo City is getting harder. As the human population of the city is grows, monsters are being forced to abandon their homes. Teenagers are creeping into their territory, smartphones in hand, eager to photograph paranormal activity. Some monsters are tired of hiding and ready to fight. How can Margo and Charles keep Echo City’s monster community a secret, when it’s teetering in the brink of war?

The Monster Mall is a monster story with a twist. The monsters' very existence is in danger as teenagers, modern world of technology, and progress creeps into all the places they used to live and hide. Margo teams up with Thompson to inform kids about monsters and to save both people and monsters from a war that would impact everyone negatively.

The Monster Mall is not quite all I hoped for. I liked the concept, kid trying to solve the monster and human issues and keep everyone safe in her own creepy and mysterious ways. Almost goofy, a little naive friend trying to do his part and still a little excited by the whole thing. While that was good, and the introductions to imps, vampires, and some of the other monsters hidden almost in plain sight, with impending crisis, is well done I was hoping for more. No part of this story really gets a conclusion, it is all just building towards something bigger. While I get that this is part of a series, there should still be some small resolutions to make the reader feel like the issue has a complete story, even with larger story arches still looming. I really liked what was here- but I want more rather than just teasers about what will come in later issues.

So happy to have Margo back. I love the sneaky peeks into her life and backstory. Another fun riff on monster culture with some good stereotype shaking up. Equal parts eerie, endearing, and funny.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

First up, I want to squeal again that I got accepted for this book. This is my first First Second book to be accepted for, and I am so so excited! Eep!

Next, I hadn't expected this one to be the second book in the series. Since on Netgalley you can't see all the blurb unless you open the book page, I generally just read a few sentences of what I can read, see if I love the cover, and then request it. :P But I have to say that it wasn't at all that confusing to read this one even if one hasn't read the first book. You get some explanation on Margo Maloo, on the monsters, and on the previous case.

In this one Charles is getting a deal with Margo, he will make some kind of monsterpedia, and Margo will give all the details, or at least the details that should be known, not everything, just the important things. The only thing, no adult can ever see it. And what better way to make such a guide/monsterpedia then by going outside and go on cases with Margo? Oh my goodness. I just adored that she did this. It is also my favourite way of showing people something, but also my way of learning something. By seeing it with my own eyes. Not getting a whole text and get bored.

We see them pick up some coffee (information) and a newspaper (more information). Dang Margo certainly has her network. I loved it. That she tries to help people (or at least kids) with monster problems, but also keeps in contact with monsters. Quite often it is one or the other.

The abandoned house, the first case, I first thought, just like Charles, that these kids were just pranksters, as these were pretty much pranks any kid would do to anyone. I was happy to see what was the actual conclusion to it. Plus I actually felt sorry for the creature. I can imagine that he wasn't happy. I had quite a laugh at the reaction of the kids living in the home (they were so impressed).

The next case, which also brought Charles' name for the website/organisation, took place in a creepy mall. With vampires! And a new character, Olivia, a girl I quite loved from the moment she showed up. I just adored her design. Also can I say that I just adore the vampires? They FLOAT. Like I never expected vampires to just float. I know they can fly, and also change into bats, but just float as if they don't know how to walk? Wow! And their designs are just all so fancy and punk.
Bonus points to them being that kind of vampire. Of course they aren't the first to be that, but I haven't heard of a vampire who lives with just that kind food. Plus I liked that they choose it for themselves, they wanted to set themselves apart from their parents and the adults.
I also liked that they were different from normal, or standard, vampire requirements. These vampires show up in mirrors and cameras. Which of course bring a big load of trouble with them given that almost everyone these days have a phone, and a way to post things on the internet. You don't want people to discover your secret hideout, especially when one is a monster.

And then there is the epilogue, in which Margo tries to find the little imp's family. I really loved how much effort she put into helping the imp. Plus the ending made me very curious for the next volume. What is up with that threat? Who is threatening Margo. Is it human or monster?

I found tow errors in my copy, on page 53 of my copy, the text bubbles are all empty. :(
And page 84 is not yet rightly coloured and also misses text.

I didn't particularly like how Margo was so anti-adult. I wonder what happened in her life that made her so distrustful of adults. Maybe something that was mentioned in the first book? Or something that will still be shown later?

Bonus points to the ending which has some information on monsters. Done in a fabulous way, like it really came out of an old file cabinet, the paper is old, there are additions to the information, there are drawings, the text is typed out by way of type writer. I love it!

I loved the art style, it just fitted perfectly with the story and how I envisioned Margo's cases.

All in all, I need more Margo Maloo, I need more monsters, I need more cases. I would recommend this one. And again, you don't need to have read book 1.

Sly Fun

This is the second Margo Maloo volume, but if you haven't read the first book you can still step into the series easily enough with this episode.

The premise is that Echo City is loaded with monsters. They try to, indeed are required by their own laws to, stay hidden. Adults can't see the monsters, but kids can. The monsters are getting crowded out and their haunts are being encroached upon, (gentrification, anyone?), and the monsters are getting restive. Mysterious Margo Maloo is known and respected by all of the monsters, and she tries both to protect the monsters and to keep them in line when they mix it up with humans. Margo has picked up an assistant, Charles, and he plays Watson to her Holmes.

This is not a standard, or even very predictable, treatment of the premise. It's kid friendly but smarter and more sophisticated than you might expect. There's no Scooby-Doo style nuttiness or cartoonish action. Margo comes across more like a private investigator, and there are noirish touches. Margo has a network of "monsters who know monsters" and when she's on a case it feels more like a detective procedural as she runs down clues and figures out the angles. As Charles tags along and asks questions we learn more and more about monsters and about Echo City.

In this volume we look for a missing imp family, help some vampires keep thrill seekers out of their abandoned mall hideout, and so on. We also learn more about Margo, (who is an intriguing character), and learn a lot of interesting monster facts. There is a good deal of humor mixed in with the action, and it ranges from slapstick to rather subtle throwaway lines and observations. Margo's a little bit of a tough cookie and her deadpan patter is especially entertaining. There is also an underlying theme of patience, kindness, and understanding that added a humane flavor to the tale that was surprising and welcome.

The drawing is interesting mostly because we have expressive but slightly cartoonish main characters, nicely imagined monsters, and detailed and stylistically distinct backgrounds and scene settings. Layout and panel design is especially creative.

The upshot is that this ended up being much more than just a straight up kid-sized monster hunter comic. There is much here to admire, and the overall reading experience was, for me, impressive and entertaining.

(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

In this second book in the Margo Maloo series, Charles is the official assistant to Margo when it comes to solving mysteries or problems involving monsters or other supernatural beings. In this outing, Margo is contacted by a teenage vampire. They have been living and hiding out in the abandoned mall, but she is afraid that humans are trying to find and film them. Margo and Charles head off to help. They go not want another home to the vampires to be taken and have them move to another place like the imp they are helping. I also enjoyed the interesting explanation of why there are only teenage vampires. This case has a happy ending, but I do not want to give away the whole story.

This series is clever, witty with wonderful adventures altogether with great characters and plot. Both Charles and Margo are interesting characters with recognizable personalities. This comic fits both girls and boys with the main characters being one of each. The story flows nicely and the panels are put together in a way that the story is easy to follow and the graphics are recognizable. The art is well done in a dark shadowy way that fits well with the story. The back of the book has pages showing each of the monsters in the story. It tells a little about them and shows their physical makeup. A nice addition. This is a great book for school and public libraries, especially for those reluctant readers whether male or female.

I have enjoyed Margo Maloo. The first book is often checked out and I know this one will be too.

I have somehow missed this series, and this book starts on Chapter 4. But that is okay. I was able to pick up the story. Monsters are real, and there is one little girl who is part private investigator, part helpmate to these monsters. And she has a friend who wants to be journalist and report all about it. It a very fun graphic novel. This volume include imps and vampires, and an interesting reason why all vampires are teenagers.

The ever brave and fearless Margo Malloo is on the case when monsters, tired of being driven out of their home so by teenagers with cell phones in hand ready to snap a pic at any given movement, start to fight back. With Charles at her side, can they protect the monsters from the relentless teenagers? This book is great for young readers and monster fans alike!

I'm pretty much a sucker for any kind of supernatural detective story, so Margo Maloo is right up my alley. This is a really great juvenile/young adult graphic novel, especially if you enjoy angsty teenage vampires and human-monster friendships. I got the impression that this is the second book in a series, so I'm pretty excited to find the first one and to see any future installments.

Snappy and fun, this led me to purchase the first in the series for our collection.

I really enjoy Weing's Margo Maloo series and I really need to get it to my library, since it's an awesome series for kids and it's clever too. In this second part Charles is once again called to help Margo to solve ghost and monster related mysteries. There are now more humans and thus monsters are forced to abandon their homes and this happens to a young imp too. Margo and Charles also start to investigate these teenagers who bother vampires and the monster world is surely having other troubles too. Weing has created an awesome city, Echo City, where everything ghostly and scary is connected and children can see if adults cannot. We only get some of the answers to the questions and I'm glad Weing is moving the base slowly and accumulates it. Basically we don't really see the big picture yet, but only these instances with Margo and Charles. It's awesome and doesn't take the readers for granted!

The art works so well with the wonky and scary world. The monsters are cute, but odd at the same time and the human characters look fun and round. The contradiction between the content and the art is great, since they balance one another well. There aren't enough scary comics for kids and ones that are deep and meaningful not to forget, actually mysterious. Weing knows how to make this an actual series and both of the parts are equally strong. I cannot really wait for the continuation!

A very cute book. I've always loved books about monsters, vampires and ghosts ever since I was a little girl so this was right up my alley, and throw in an abandoned mall, works for me! The drawings are great and I can't wait to see what these two get up to next. I will definitely recommend this title and it'd previous title through Readers' Advisory to kids and Tweens who come into work.