Review of Matt Monroe and the Haunted House by Edward Torba

This post is part of a partnership with The Children's Book Review and New Shelves Books. Opinions are my own.

This week, I have the fun of telling you about a new kids book called "Matt Monroe and the Haunted House Written" written by author Edward Torba. This book is designed for midde-grade readers or anyone who likes a nice spooky scare that's age-appropriate for kids 9-12.

 A haunted mansion. A community at risk. A group of teens with mysterious abilities. Strange sightings at the Payne mansion and baffling incidents in the countryside place the community of Kingston on edge. Did opening the portal to Paragon draw evil entities to Kingston? In facing this new threat, Matt Monroe soon realizes he is not the only one who has secret talents. Many of his companions have hidden abilities which are exposed as Matt and his friends confront a terrifying, ethereal foe. 

All Points Press put out this book, and it was a good-sized read for a kids book. It was very engaging and had both light horror and mystical, high fantasy elements. For this reason, it should appeal to anyone who likes a good "whodunnit" but can handle a slight bit of peril handled very appropriately.

Parents should know that this book deals with abilities and things not quite of this world. It features missing kids, and there is an after-life element that creates the "haunted house" we see in the title. It's all very mild, kid-friendly, and yet engaging enough for older teens to enjoy it, too.

Above all, this is a book with strong character development, a relatable series of events that kids can look at and go "oh, yeah! that happened to me" and then it takes off into some pretty imaginative scenes. The author remembers what it's like to be a kid, and it shows. If you're looking for a way to get your child to read, Matt Monroe and the Haunted House may be it!

This book is full of scenes depicting the power of teamwork. If you haven't read the first book in the series, it may feel a bit rushed in the beginning, since so much has already happened. This book can be enjoyed as a stand-alone, however, with the author doing a good job of providing enough backstory to give you an idea of how everyone got to be here. For double the fun, read both books!

Learn more about the book and author on the author's website. Or buy the book from Amazon! 


Wanna Win? Enter For A Chance To Win A Matt Monroe Series Gift Basket! 

One (1) grand prize winner receives: 

• A copy of Matt Monroe and the Secret Society of Odontology (Book 1) 
• An advanced reader copy of Matt Monroe and the Haunted House (Book 2) 
• Dental supplies! 

Two (2) winners receive: 

• A copy of Matt Monroe and the Haunted House (Book 2) 

Two (2) winners receive: 

• A digital copy of Matt Monroe and the Haunted House (Book 2) This digital prize is open to worldwide entrants 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Giveaway begins October 1, 2019, at 12:01 A.M. MT and ends October 31, 2019, at 11:59 P.M. MT. Open to international addresses and the legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, who are eighteen years of age or older in their state or territory of residence at the time of entry. Void where prohibited by law. New Shelves Books is responsible for prize fulfillment.