Monster Match

My 4th grade 10yo son, who is a voracious reader, adored this book. He finished it in one sitting and sung its praises. He loved its pacing, the idea behind it, and its adventurous spirit. In his words, "Five stars, and I'd recommend it to my friends!" He thinks it'd be perfect for kids 8-10.

This is definitely a book you could read with your child, either at bedtime or together for practice.

It's a fun story about the power of creativity, but also about helping one another and how someone's "jokes" can hurt us.

Definitely recommend this

A cute fantasy book for children that has an intriguing storyline. Even as an adult I enjoyed reading this one and am sure a lot of children will find the characters very relatable. The book was fast-paced and is recommended for a day or 2 reading marathon. Adding to that there are illustrations in between that make it more engaging for the targeted age group.

Thank you @netgalley @redchairpress for the ARC

This adorable fantasy book is perfect for children to introduce them to monsters in school settings, a classic in any fantasy novel, and provide them with a fun and engaging story,

Definitely pick this one up for your pre-teen who's wanting to read more.

Thanks to NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. My 9 year old son enjoyed this book - he is partial to fantasy stories set in school and this checked the boxes for him.

I can’t believe how much I enjoyed this book! The clues given are really good!

This is the story of a boy and his best friend when things change all of a sudden in class. He turns into someone else and his bestie turns into a Princess! They have to solve clues and race against time to turn back things to normal.

I love, love, love the writing. It’s fun and totally fast paced. The illustrations are so good!

Do check this one out when it comes out. It’s book one and I do believe the sequel will come out soon!

Thank you, Red Chair Press, for the advance reading copy.

This was a cute kids story about a kid whose what if poem ends up really happening. Fred who was suppose to get a book signed by the author has the book but it says Frank instead of Fred. The girl next to him is always calling him dumb and making fun of him and he doesn't like it. She ends up calling him Frank in School, so Frankinschool is created. He has to write in class and make up a story about Frankinschool and the other girl and all of a sudden some things happen.

It was cute.

When Fred comes to school the day after an author's visit, he receives a copy of the book that was meant to be signed for him. The problem is, the message is actually addressed to Frank, not Fred!

As he puzzles over the meaning of this, Fred is mercilessly teased by his classmate Luisa. Upset over her meanness, Fred chooses instead to focus on the assignment the students are given, writing a rhyming story about how it would feel be Fred at home and Frank in school.

And just like that, his imagination comes to life and the Frankenstein version of Fred teams up with the Princess version of Luisa to solve the mystery of the green fog that has sent all the other students - and their teacher! - to sleep.

The adventure that follows involves a mysterious ghost, some hungry mice and a flock of bats, as well as various potions and alchemy. It takes some work on Fred's part to figure out how to solve the problem.

The illustrations are very cute and go well with the story. And the banter between Frankinschool and Princess Luisa was also quite effective. Overall, I didn't find the story particularly interesting, but the elements of humour, and the rhyming are nicely done.

Thank you so much to Red Chair Press and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.

Fred misses the author signing at school and comes back with his copy signed to someone named Frank. Whilst doing a school assignment a green mist approaches over them all, as he and Luisa are stuck within a world of imagination he created.

This was such a unique book, very imaginative, I really enjoyed the aspects of it being that he created this whole different place within the school. The ghost, Luisa the girl next to him in class as a princess and he as a Frankinschool. It was really creative and very funny.

I liked that the two of them had to work together to figure out what was happening and how to help ghost Frank. They had to figure out how to fix the problems created and to have to learn from the class assignment.

The illustrations were really creative and I loved seeing the story come alive in the illustrations. If you like whimsical stories filled with imagination, stories of ghosts and Franks then I do recommend you read it. It was such a fun imaginative read.

"Monster Match" by Caryn Rivadeneira is a thrilling and imaginative children's book that takes readers on a wild adventure through a school filled with monsters, ghosts, and magical potions. The story follows Fred, a young boy who is working on a writing assignment, when a strange mist fills his room, bringing the words on his page to life. Suddenly, Fred finds himself transformed into Frankinschool, and his classmate Luisa becomes Princess Luisa, and they must work together to save their school from a dangerous potion and a mischievous ghost living in the attic.

Rivadeneira's writing style is engaging and captivating, drawing readers into the story from the very first page. The characters are well-developed and relatable, and readers will find themselves rooting for Frankinschool and Princess Luisa as they face one obstacle after another in their quest to save their school.

One of the things that makes "Monster Match" stand out is its creativity. The author has created a fascinating world filled with monsters of all shapes and sizes, each with their own unique personalities and quirks. The descriptions of the various creatures are vivid and detailed, bringing the story to life in the reader's imagination.

Overall, "Monster Match" is an excellent book for children who love adventure, fantasy, and all things spooky. It's a fun and engaging read that will keep readers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end. Highly recommended!

This short story starts quick and will hold a readers attention. Witty writing is sprinkled throughout. A lesson in forgiveness is a bonus. Ghosts are cool and not too scary.

This is a clever book written for readers ages 6 to 9. A fun adventure at school involving two students, whom at first do not get along. Gradually, a magical fantasy gives way for a monsterously good story. The story was fast paced and with lots of humour sprinkled in. The end of the story suggests a possible series.

[ARC] 'Frankinschool 1: Monster Match' written by Caryn Rivadeneira and illustrated by Dani Jones

Release: 01 August 2023

About: [from NetGalley]
●Fred is working diligently on his writing assignment when a mist fills the room, and the words on his page come to life, literally.
●Suddenly Fred—now Frankinschool—and Luisa—now Princess Luisa—need to save the school from the mysterious potion—and the even more mysterious and devious ghost living in the school attic.


Notes:
● I really enjoyed how this story showed creative writing as a tool to help process events, practices and people in the child's life

Positives:
● The illustrations are fantastic
● an intriguing beginning that makes the reader want to keep reading
● three-dimensional characters while still being clear to understand
● engaging from start to finish
● teaches kids about the power of imagination
● teaches kids about the importance of forgiveness and understanding

This book has a lovely spooky twist. One that won’t scare kids, but highlights the real power of imagination. It also does a fabulous job showing how perceptions can be wrong. We may have one idea of a person but on closer examination, we might realize that our perceived ideals of that person might not be who they truly are. In fact, they might be someone who you could friend with, where previously you though friendship impossible. This book also touches on the concept of grace in a lovely manner. Overall, I think this is a book that has some great lessons that readers can learn from it in a fun quirky way.
Thank you so much to Red Chair Press, and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

Fred is annoyed when he is accidentally called Frank in school one day. As he starts working on an assignment in class, he is overcome by a strange mist and becomes Frankinschool. He must team up with a princess to solve the mystery and confront a vengeful spirit.

This one was ok for me. I don't think it was engaging really. I think it also could've had more illustrations or fewer - it was on that weird line between an illustrated book and a non-illustrated one.

Monster Match Book Review: A Monster Book with a Heart

Rating: 5/5

In Caryn Rivadeneira's delightful book, "Monster Match Book 1," readers embark on an extraordinary adventure alongside the endearing protagonist, Frank ergh I mean Fred or no, I mean Frankinschool ;-) From the very first page, this captivating tale hooks readers and takes them on a journey filled with mystery, imagination, and unexpected friendships.

When Frank's class is assigned an important task, he must first navigate around a not-so-nice classmate who believes she is a princess and unravel the mystery of the wrong name in his book. Little does he know that Ms. Martinez's words about the power of imagination will soon come to life, offering unexpected twists and turns.

One thing I always appreciate in a book is a deeper message, and "Monster Match" delivers just that. As Frankinschool (a clever play on words) embarks on his adventures, he discovers a newfound sense of grace. He learns to extend grace to the ghost who had stolen his book, offering understanding and empathy instead of anger. Additionally, he finds the grace to befriend the classmate who initially rubbed him the wrong way. Princess, as she is known, imparts a valuable lesson on the impact of circumstances on one's actions, inviting readers to reflect on how our own actions may be influenced by the situations we find ourselves in.

Rivadeneira masterfully weaves this message of grace and understanding throughout the story, adding nuance and depth to her characters. The illustrations by Dani Jones beautifully complement the narrative, bringing the lovable monsters to life on the pages.

"Monster Match Book 1" is not only an entertaining read but also an important teaching tool for young readers. I would highly recommend gifting this book to a young child or donating it to a classroom. Its powerful message on grace and empathy is a crucial lesson to impart to children, teaching them the value of understanding someone's circumstances and offering kindness in return.

Overall, "Monster Match Book 1" is a heartwarming and engaging story that will capture the imagination of young readers while leaving them with a valuable lesson to carry in their hearts. Caryn Rivadeneira and Dani Jones have created a truly remarkable book that deserves a resounding 5 out of 5 rating.

This was a really good, quick read! Even at 24 it was entertaining! It was a well written chapter book, that even I was surprised some of the things that happened! It wasn’t scary, but did have some spooky parts, as hinted by the cover!

This is a fanciful book geared toward 2nd to 4th graders. Fred isn’t having a great day at school and decides his writing might help. Will Luisa continue to torment him? Or will things change in ways Fred could not have guessed?

I had really good impressions and tried to put myself into the shoes of young readers. Then, I decided to read it to my 12 year old son, my 10 year old son and my 8 year old daughter! Two out of three said they can’t wait for more books in the series. They all enjoyed it very much.

As a parent, I loved the values that went with the fantasy. It was well-written and easy to follow.

I was given a complimentary early copy of #MonsterMatch.i did, as I believe most readers, young and adult, will agree. This book is fun fast paced book. I connected immediately with the book and the main characters, Fred. Fred is gone the day the author of their book was in class to sign books. He received his book when he returned to school next day. He opened the book to see it was signed to Frank. Fred is beside himself upset. Luisa looks over his shoulder to see it says to Frank.As Luisa points out she and the class will call him Frank, she also points out to Fred that Frank is a dumb name fitting because Frank is dumb. To stop them from arguing once again. The teacher gave out a creative writing assignment with prompts the first was what if... and to let your imagination free to pretend. Frank begins by finding his journal and a pencil. Writing immediately was Luisa. Fred finally wrote a poem, in rhyme about Princesa Maria Lucia Octavia. the fancy name for the girl that sits next to Fred and is unrelenting in her daily dose of meanness. His mother councils Fred to calmly tell her it bugs you. And she will stop. Even if, she continues without saying she is sorry, he is still to forgive her. The book teaches a moral lesson which I loved. It didn’t shove it down your throat it was just a statement from mom to son about forgot forgiveness. Fred goes on to write his story, with a slow start. He writes what he would do if he ruled from the attic as Franinschool. As soon as he stops a green fog comes into the room rendering everyone asleep.. The teacher even fell to the floor becoming stuck in the green goo.and sleeping there. Be sure to get your car ops so that you can read this next weekend. I highly recommend! You will enjoy the banter between Franinschool and Princesa. Thanks to the following for allowing me to review early:
#NetGalley
#RedChairPress
#CarynRivendeneira
#MonsterMatch
Publication Date: August 1, 2023

Cute little elementary level book about forgiveness, friendship and Franks.
Did it make sense?
Nope.
Was it epic?
Nope.
Still cute tho. Quick read perfect for spooky season even if it wasn't at all spooky. 😀

Fred is hard at work at school when suddenly, after the appearance of an odd green mist, he finds he’s been transformed into Frankinschool, the imaginary monster he’d been writing about moments before as part of a class assignment. While the rest of his classmates are seemingly asleep under the spell of the mist, Fred/Frankinschool and his classmate Luisa, now transformed into a princess, must work together to save the rest of the school from a magic potion and a ghost in the school’s attic.
The quick pace, short chapters, and great illustrations will capture the attention of middle grade readers. Many readers will relate to the peer conflict between Fred and Luisa, too. This one will be a great choice for readers who want something just a little spooky and scary!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of the book to read and review.

This was a pretty fun book to read. It starts normal enough with a creative writing assignment, where a kid comes up with a great idea for a poem. Just as it seems finished, a strange green mist puts everyone to sleep. Except him, and he looks very different. With the help of a princess, they plan to find out what is going on and who might be behind it. As this story comes to a close, life for Fred will never be the same.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book.
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Frankenschool a "fantastic knowledge and approach to a ghost who were on limbo. On the other hand two kids from Elementary or middle school tried to help him because of they want to get back the school to be normal as they used to be before that fog around the places in.

It was so funny, i read it so fast oh my way. <3
top 3rd fav
5.0

This book was cute in many ways, particularly the artwork. It features Fred who is upset that a book is signed to Frank instead, and to top it off his fellow student teases him relentlessly. He ends up writing a story that leads to his entire class falling asleep and him on an adventure with his fellow student and to find out what had happened to the other students. It’s a quirky story of right and wrong, and about friendship. I found the story a little lack luster, but overall very cute for early elementary.

I enjoyed this story with all the characters within. The main characters were Fred and Luisa.

Fred and Luisa are in school. One day something happens while they are taking a test. They both try to find out what is happening.

This was a fun story to read. It had action, adventure and suspense throughout. It had a few giggles within.

I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. This is my honest unbiased opinions.