If you're the type of person who obsesses over Mothman, has a favorite local Bigfoot story, or lives to find out what happened to the Lizard Man of South Carolina, J.W. Ocker has the next book you need in your hot little hands. The United States of Cryptids is a compendium of monsters, unexplained creatures, and stories of the bizarre, all divided into individual regions.   You can read about the mysterious Flatwoods Monster, Batsquatch (which supposedly flew out of Mount Saint Helens).

I enjoyed this book immensely, though I am a huge fan of cryptids so was familiar with almost every story in the book. For the hardcore Cryptid reader who is obsessed with one or two major figures, this might seem like a beginner's course. For those who are more interested in the weird stories of the entire United States or just getting into cryptids, this is definitely the book to pick up.

The United States of Cryptids is available October 11, 2022 from Quirk Books.

This was such a great book! I've heard of the big cryptids like Bigfoot, Nessie, and Mothman. But this book covers so many other creatures that are in the US that I've never heard of before. The Puckwudgie was one of my favorites but there were so many! Skunk Ape, Albatwitch, Batsquatch, and Giant Sky Clam were some others that I really liked. This is such a fun, entertaining, and educational read that I would recommend everyone check out.

My library loves books bout Cryptids! We have a group that meets here once month to discuss cryptids and monster hunting that I am sure will get a lot out of this wonderfully written book.

The cover is super fun and eye catching and the book itself is for anyone with a general interest in cryptids. The book is NOT a definitive work of facts but more of a general A to Z of what is what in the world of Cryptids. Again super fun! Would highly recommend. I bought a copy for both myself and the library.

This is a cute and fun little look into cryptids all over the United States. I really enjoyed how the author held the viewpoint that cryptids were real not because he believed they physically existed as real creatures (though it was clear he hoped he'd find evidence for many of them) but because they had impact on society--people in their little towns believed them, had crazes hunting for them, built up entire town festivals, etc. He didn't go into great depth for any one, and I found many of the entries blurred together a bit in the way they were written and the details around them (which was maybe to be expected given their specific details) but it was charming, casual, and had plenty of personal anecdotes when they were creatures he himself had searched for.

I’m a huge fan of Ocker’s, the man is the penultimate source for things that go bump in the night. His books on New England ghosts, witches and other creepy things you might be worried are hiding under your bed, are the perfect combination of fact and his wry wit. This newest book is no different, he examine the mythology behind creatures like the Florida Skunk Ape and Lake Champlain’s sea monster, Champy with the wide eyed wonder of a kid and the cynicism of a world weary adult. A highly recommended volume, whether you believe or not

This would make a fun gift for the monster hunter in your life. I liked how the cryptids were organized by the region they’re from. The descriptions of each are short enough that you could read several in one sitting. I was hoping there would be more illustrations to make the book more visually appealing. There are some images sprinkled throughout, but it would have been better if there was a picture for each cryptids, especially some of the lesser known ones.

I've always been fascinated by cryptids, so I was very excited to see this book. I learned about many cryptids that I had never heard of, even in my home state! I liked the way the author approached this book...not necessarily making it about the cryptids themselves, but rather how the people in the cryptids' home areas embrace, celebrate or even ignore the stories. It was basically like a cryptid road trip guide, offering the best places to visit cryptid museums, parades, large statues, or even entire towns dedicated to the creatures. I was left with a list of new places I wanted to visit and new cryptids to research. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in cryptids. Or anyone looking for unusual places to stop on a road trip.

Exactly as advertised! Cryptids are broken up into the area of the United Stated they are reported to “live”. Then they are broken into individual chapters for each of the cryptids themselves. This makes finding entries on your favorites easy but also a comfortable read through. Lots of information for the reader to follow up on and also a lot of fun! I can already tell this will be a popular title within our library as we are in WV which is home to both Mothman and the Flatwoods Monster which are both included. Easy to learn about a lot of lesser known cryptids and gain more information on favorites!

“Why talk about politics when you can talk about the time a lizard man attacked a car to get at the bag of Fillet-O-Fish sandwiches inside?”
J.W. Ocker
Exactly! This book was a serious joy to read. It explored cryptids across the United States. From BigFoot to the Fresno Nightcrawlers. I found some of these tales really interesting. The stories and sightings of these mythical creatures is at times more than just a tall-tale. Ocker also explores the darker side of cryptozoology. For instance the Snallygaster first sighted in 1909 in western Maryland. This particular cryptid was used to scare people of color and deter them from voting. Throughout this book there are several other explanations explored as to the possible existence of these creatures and it has further stirred my curiosity. I’ve found myself scouring the internet looking at the videos and photos captured of these oh so elusive beings. I wonder how many of these creatures might be discovered someday.
If you find yourself looking for a fun and curious October read this is the book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars.

Spoilers ahead. I will not reveal anything big - most of the review vaguely alludes to plot, structure, and characters.

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This book is a super quick read, but very fun. I loved that it was laid out like a sort of atlas, and it would be very easy to use this to guide travel or use as a supplemental travel assistant. The design of the book was also great, and added to the text. That being said, don't expect to get an in-depth look at any of the cryptids presented here. You're basically getting a thumbnail sketch of each one. Just a taste. But that's perfect for people looking to just start learning, or a coffee table book, or something of the like. I also deeply appreciated that this book did not simply have the "greatest hits" like bigfoot and mothman - there were even a few cryptids that I had never heard of! 4 stars for a great - if surface-level - examination of American Folklore.

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Again, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a comprehensive cryptic compendium! I could find myself using this in the classroom and I think a lot of students would find it enjoyable. It’s digestible, organized well, and I like the illustrations.

A fun read packed full of information, lore and history, the illustrations look great as well. If you're a fan of this kind of thing you likely already know about most of the Cryptids but I still really enjoyed the read.

This book was so fun to read. Almost like a super speed cross country road trip. It reminds me a lot of his cursed objects book that I read earlier this year. A nice little intro to a ton of cryptids I’ve never heard of and a few that I have. Each snippet gives a concise summary of the cryptid and is a great jumping off point to research more on the ones you want to learn more about. We have a big road trip coming up soon and I hope to stop by a couple of these places if we end up in the area!

I definitely recommend this if you’re a fan of this weird king of stuff!

A deeply informative look into the myriad of Cryptids that have made their home in America. Ocker dives deep into the history and Lori of these creatures, and the towns that celebrate them.

J.W. Ocker has a way with words that pulls me in. I've had a couple occasions where I have gotten to listen to him talk in our online bookclub and he quickly became a family favourite.

I knew about this book awhile back while he was writing it, he mentioned it in one of our bookclub meetings. I knew right away I needed this book. As soon as preorders were available, it was ordered immediately. I then had the pleasure of received this eARC and was NOT disappointed.

It is very easy to tell that JWO enjoys what he does, unless it's talking about Bigfoot the thorn in his side. These short little intros to the Cryptids of the United States and left me wanting to know more about certain ones. This would be a great introduction also to those who don't know a lot about Cryptids and want to learn a little more.

That said I cannot wait for my physical copy of this book considering how much I loved the look of the ebook!

Breaks the US up into 4 different regions and highlights some of the cryptids from each. If the reader is a fan of cryptids, they will already be familiar with many of them. Many if the cryptids also include an illustration. Some of what the author considers a cryptid are actually statues which was a little disappointing. I really wish that sk*inwalkers and wend*go hadn't been included because they are an active part of Native American culture and I don't feel they were treated with the respect they should have been. Ocker additionally seems to have something against bigfoot- he seemed to write a bit disparagingly about him.

Overall, it was a fun read but could have some improvements. Recommend as an overview for fans of cryptids. It would be accessible even for younger fans.

Thanks to Quirk Books and Netgalley for eARC in exchange for an honest review.

As a product of the X files and Supernatural generation I love Cryptids and monsters so this was right up my alley. There were so many that I had never heard of which was great because it added an extra dimension to reading.
I liked the fact that it was separated into different regions. I really liked the few pictures that there were, even if they were only line drawings.
It's definitely one that should be on the shelf for any cryptozoologists.

I loved this book. I loved the layout. The organization. Very entertaining. I think every shelf needs this one.

Each cryptid is grouped by area. They also include the earliest siting and type of creature. There are so many included. Several I already knew about and others were brand new to me. I really enjoyed learning about all the cryptids; can't wait to go look for Batsquatch!

5 stars

J.W. Ocker has hit the spot with this one! If you're a fan of cryptids, travel, or US weird history this is the book for you. Ocker goes across the US and shares some of the most celebrated Cryptid towns. While this is in no way a deep dive into any particular cryptid, it showcases the towns that have made a name for themselves (or just have a fun story) for their history with certain unidentifiable creatures that are without scientific proof.

Each chapter is a bite size story of a cryptid, how it became known in the town, and what that town does to celebrate it today broken up into 4 regions of the US. His writing style is so easy to read and entertain. This would be perfect for people that don't know much about cryptids and just want a brief breakdown or those that are die hard cryptid fans and may want to add some vacation spots to their travel list.