I loved the elements of found family in this. I was sucked into the mystery with Sam and understood her struggle with the truth. I really hope there will be future installments because this was great.

An incredible followup to the School for Invisible Boys. Sam Osborne is back with a new Kairos mission. This time she must investigate the home of a former member who recently passed away. Deeply undercover as a grieving cousin of the family, she is searching for a list of supernatural creatures hidden in the house, but along the way she discovers that monsters are not always what they seem and sometimes the supposed good guys make bad choices in the name of the greater good.

What an amazing sequel, I loved that we picked up almost immediately after the first book. This time around we are following Samantha, who in the first book formed a friendship with Hector and other classmates from the first book. Samantha has a strong will to prove herself to the organization she works for, named Kairos.

They are responsible for tracking and capturing dangerous monsters that could be a potential threat to humans. So when she is given an assignment and had to fly solo, she takes it very seriously. Sam will have to pose as a long forgotten family member of Griffin’s. Which one of its members worked for Kairos and has many secrets that the organization would like to decode. As time passes, Sam becomes fast friends with her “cousins “ and together will find what really happened to their father. This time around we are hit with even more secrets and twists than before. Absolutely loved this sequel and now I’ll be patiently waiting for the third book.

I really enjoyed this installment in The Kairos Files. This takes elements of family and found family to another level. I was genuinely in this mystery with Sam and felt for her as she struggled with the truth. I’m interested in where her next adventure will be and if we’ll see some familiar faces again.

I didn't realize this was the 2nd book in a series when I started, but it didn’t really take away from my enjoyment. That said, I'd recommend starting with the first book to get the full experience. I found this to be a fun, suspenseful read that kept me guessing at every turn. Sam, our MC, and her ability to disguise herself, leaps head-first into a mission filled with secrets, surprises, and monsters! If you enjoy middle-grade mysteries with a creepy twist, this one’s a great pick. Sam’s quest to prove herself as a top agent (while uncovering hidden truths) makes the story both exciting and relatable. It's a perfect fit for younger readers who love a mix of mystery, fantasy, and unexpected twists.

A Home for Unusual Monsters delivers an exciting blend of supernatural intrigue, secret organizations, and shape-shifting deception. Shaun David Hutchinson crafts a fast-paced, engaging story that builds on the world introduced in Howl while adding new layers of mystery and suspense.

Sam is a compelling protagonist, balancing her desire to prove herself within Kairos with the moral dilemmas of deception and trust. Her ability to manipulate how others perceive her makes for some thrilling moments, especially as she infiltrates a former agent’s family. The story weaves together action, mystery, and unexpected twists, keeping readers invested as Sam uncovers shocking secrets.

While the pacing occasionally slows to focus on worldbuilding, the unique concept and engaging characters more than make up for it. Fans of monster-hunting adventures and secret organizations will love this clever and immersive read. With its mix of heart, humor, and suspense, A Home for Unusual Monsters is a worthy addition to the genre.

A wonderful middle grade novel with a big heart. This is exactly what I expect from any book irrespective of its genre. It manages to make the reader feel, experience and empathise with the characters and at the same time manages to hook them to the storyline. It was both heartwarming and thoughtful and the sprinkles of humour made it even more compelling to read. Will definitely read the first book after I enjoyed this one as much as I did. It was truly a wonderful reading experience. (4.75 out of 5 stars).

This is the kind of story I wish I had in middle school. It was so fun! Who doesn't love hunting monsters?

My ten-year-old daughter read this book and absolutely loved it! She was captivated by the suspense and found it to be a real page-turner. One aspect she particularly appreciated was the author’s use of foreshadowing and the first-person perspective, which made the story feel more immersive.

She also found the field guide to the monsters incredibly helpful for visualizing and understanding the creatures described in the book—it added a fun and creative dimension to the reading experience.

However, one thing she didn’t enjoy was the repetitive use of the word “said” in dialogue. She felt that a greater variety of dialogue tags could have made the writing more dynamic and engaging.

Overall, she thoroughly enjoyed the book and was excited to share her thoughts about it!

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

This book follows a young girl who works for an agency that hunts monsters. She is sent on a mission to find a list of monsters that another agent was working on.

This book was just ok. I didn’t feel connected to the characters and I was a bit bored.

I bet kids would like this one but it wasn’t really for me.

This book was very easy to read for a middle school student. Its well written and keeps the reader engaged. I definitely felt it was hard to put down. I wish I would have read the first book to have a little more back story but I felt it was required. I was able to pick up the book and jump in. I feel the sensitive topics (bullying, violence, death in family) are all handled well. It almost gives me a bit of Miss Peregrine's book vibe. Great addition for any library or young readers collection. Appreciate the opportunity to be a part of this review.

Sam, who has the special ability to look like someone else, is sent to infiltrate the family of a deceased agent, looking for a list of monsters. But as she becomes friends with the family, she also discovers that things with Kairos aren't exactly what she would expect. And then the new neighbors aren't all they seem to be either. Sam must rely on her wits and her friends to figure out the truth.

I thought this was good story. I found Sam relatable and was able to follow the story even though it wasn't the first book in the series. I like the depth of the characters, and look forward to reading more in the series.

This book is a fun and suspenseful read that keeps you guessing at every turn. Sam Osborne, with her knack for disguise, dives headfirst into a mission full of secrets, surprises, and of course, monsters. If you love a cozy mystery with a bit of a creepy twist, this one’s for you. Sam’s journey to prove herself as a top agent while uncovering hidden truths makes this story both exciting and relatable. Perfect for readers who enjoy a blend of mystery, fantasy, and a dash of the unexpected.

I received a free copy of, A Home for Unusual Monsters, by Shaun David Hutchinson, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Sam Osborne has been busy saving a school, now she has another investigation to do with her secret Kairos group. I never had as much adventure as a child as Sam does, chasing monsters is a real thing. I devoured this book in, one sitting, it was that good.