'Theodora was just a baby when Georgie rescued her from a hobgoblin-infested graveyard and delivered her to the Monstrous League of Monsters. The kind-hearted monsters vote to keep Theodora, risking Headquarters’ wrath if they’re ever discovered. They get away with it, too – until a series of anonymous letters coated in earwax threaten to expose them to Headquarters.
'As the monsters race to identify the letter-writer Theodora takes matters into her own hands, hatching a simple – no, clever – no, brilliant – plan. If she fails, her beloved monsters will rot in the dank prisons of Transylvania. Forever. But if she succeeds, Theodora will lose her own freedom. Forever. '
Theodora Hendrix and the Monstrous League of Monsters is a book that will definitely appeal to readers who liked books like Amelia Fang, as it embraces the silly side of monsters and 'spooky' things, presenting them as fun instead of scary.
The book begins by introducing readers to Georgie, a zombie just risen from his grave, and vampire cat Bandit. Together, the two of them discover a baby girl left alone in a haunted graveyard at night. Searching around for her parents, they find nothing. Knowing that leaving her would result in some kind of monster coming along and eating her, the two of them take her to the Monstrous League of Monsters looking for advice.
The League live together in a huge mansion, a mummy, vampire, werewolf, witch, skeleton butler, singing ghost, and more. The League are dedicated to keeping the existence of monsters a secret from the human world, and to helping evil monsters to changing their ways and becoming good. They're unsure what to do with the child, but decide to take care of her, but only until they can think of a better idea. Well, after putting off those 'better' ideas time and time again, the monsters raise the baby, named Theodora, and fall in love with her.
Now Theodora is a lively ten year old, living with her monster family and going to the local primary school. Despite being surrounded by the monsters who love her she doesn't have any human friends, most of the other children being too afraid to come anywhere near her haunted home. However, when a new kid joins her school the two of them strike up a friendship, leading to Theodora trying to have a normal friendship whilst keeping the reality of her home life secret.
Whilst all this is happening the Monstrous League of Monsters begin to receive mysterious letters that indicate that they know about Theodora, and know that they're breaking the rules by raising her. Threatenign to out them to the rest of the MLM, they and Theodora try to find out who's sending the letters, the person who wants to break their family apart.
Despite being full of monsters and creatures the book tells a very human story, and focuses on family. Theodora might not be related to any of the MLM members, not even the same species in a lot of cases, but it's the love they all have for each other that makes them a family, and is the reason they'd all do whatever it takes to stay together.
The book is full of these kinds of messages and morals, and will teach children that friendships and family can take any form, that you can care for someone and mean something to others even if you're not related. It's a nice moral, and one that will leave child readers feeling good.
There's also a lot of silly humour in the book, without it being too ridiculous. It's not full of silly fart jokes or gross-out gags, but relies on the monsters to get a laugh or two; such as when the werewolf has been glamoured to look human in front of Theodora's friend, but starts chewing on a bone, or when Bandit spits up three live mice whilst the kids are playing Monopoly. They're slightly farcical moments, but they'll make your kid laugh out loud, and can even elicit a chuckle or two from any parent reading along with them.
Theodora Hendrix and the Monstrous League of Monsters is a fun little book, full of nice messages and great illustrations that will keep any kid interested. It's got a story that's complex enough to keep children engaged and guessing, but isn't too grown up that they'll begin to lose interest. If you've got a child who likes monsters and spooky things this is an ideal read, especially with Halloween coming up.
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