Trailer park for monsters? Ok. A mystery about a few disappearances? Alright. A half-siren on the case? Of course.

The elements here are a fun set up for a Scooby-type mystery mixed with elements of Hotel Transylvania. I loved the premise. I think the target audience will find it to be fun.

I appreciate that Elvira struggles to fit in, not monster enough for some monsters and not human enough for most humans. On a personal level, I can feel that, living somewhere in the in-between and looking rather ambitious myself. Elvira, though, maybe had that othering manifest in a less than desirable way. I struggled with her as a character at times because she didn't seem to listen well and came off as a little selfish.

I wanted to like this book so much more than I actually did. I thought the premise sounded like a lot of fun, but instead I just found myself wondering why I should care about Elvira as a character. She's a little spoiled and selfish and if there is a bad way to do something she is sure to choose that way. You are given the impression that she is great at solving mysteries but all I saw was someone with a knack for making everything worse. She plunges full steam ahead into her plans without listening to anyone else, taking into account the risks, or thinking about how her actions will impact others. I guess that's supposed to be part of her siren-personality, but instead it just makes her seem selfish and not as great an investigator as she thinks. You also realize that, in the end, everything she did had little to do with actually solving the mysteries. And if ever a family needed some counseling it is Elvira's - I am not sure how her father could ever fully trust her again (partly because she was not really that remorseful over what she did). With the ending, I do not understand what changed to make people suddenly accepting of the monsters - it was still a monster that almost caused mass casualties (on both sides) and no one really did or said anything to create a bridge between the two groups. I know other people really liked this book, but I thought it was just okay.

An action-packed, epic monster adventure that raises big discussion questions around identity and discrimination. Marfa, Texas hosts the best monster festival with treats, decorations, music, and all sorts of fun. But some humans still don’t accept monsters, and there is even bigotry within the community like what half-siren, half-human Elvira experiences. When the festival crown is stolen, humans use the crime as a pretext to cancel the festival setting Elvira and her friends off on a mission to solve the case and save the event. I loved meeting all the supernatural beings – seeing how they use their monster skills was thrilling and suspenseful. There are also issues around how we are each responsible for how we use our power for good and must not take advantage of our friends. I think Elvira’s struggles not to compel those around her using her voice will lead to interesting discussions for young readers.

This is a fun Scooby-Doo like mystery--except the monsters are the victims and the ones solving the mystery! Elvira Vance is a feisty half-monster half-human who is intensely devoted to her friends, family, and home. She'll do anything to protect them--sneak out when she's grounded, make a deal with a ghost (never make a deal with a ghost!), and sneak into a deadly werewolf's lair. Action packed and full of spunk, readers will love going on this wild ride with Elvira Vance as she fights for monster rights and against discrimination all while solving a whodunnit-type mystery. Loved it!

Kacy Ritter has done it again with a wonderful sophomore novel. Elvira Vance is a half-siren and the daughter of Vince Vance of Vince Vance’s Vintage Trailer Park Inn for Monsters. She has a big mystery to solve when the crown for the Marfa Monster Festival disappears and monsters begin going missing. The humans are blaming the monsters for all the problems, and anti-monster sentiment is growing. Elvira knows that it is up to her to use her powers as a siren to find out what is really going on and keep the monster community from being destroyed. With the help of her two best friends, she collects evidence from all kinds of interesting, unusual creatures. This fast-paced page-turner will have readers rooting for Elvira from the very beginning, and it is sure to be a favorite of all who enjoy stories full of mystery and adventure.