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The League of Beastly Dreadfuls #1
The League of Beastly Dreadfuls
A creepy Victorian house, secretive aunties, and a great escape combine in this debut that is part Mysterious Benedict Society, part Roald Dahl. Join the League. . . .
Anastasia is a completely average almost-eleven-year-old. That is, UNTIL her parents die in a tragic vacuum-cleaner accident. UNTIL she’s rescued by two long-lost great-aunties. And UNTIL she’s taken to their delightful and, er, “authentic” Victorian home, St. Agony’s Asylum for the Criminally Insane.
But something strange is going on at the asylum. Anastasia soon begins to suspect that her aunties are not who they say they are. So when she meets Ollie and Quentin, two mysterious brothers, the three join together to plot their great escape!
Anastasia is a completely average almost-eleven-year-old. That is, UNTIL her parents die in a tragic vacuum-cleaner accident. UNTIL she’s rescued by two long-lost great-aunties. And UNTIL she’s taken to their delightful and, er, “authentic” Victorian home, St. Agony’s Asylum for the Criminally Insane.
But something strange is going on at the asylum. Anastasia soon begins to suspect that her aunties are not who they say they are. So when she meets Ollie and Quentin, two mysterious brothers, the three join together to plot their great escape!
309 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2015
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December 16, 2016
When Anastasia's parents are killed in a freak vacuum-cleaner accident, she's carted away by two aunties she never knew she had to a spooky Victorian house, once known as St. Agony's Asylum for the Criminally Insane. Before long, Anastasia discovers a mystery that needs solving and begins to suspect her aunties are up to something sinister.
The League of Beastly Dreadfuls is good for a chuckle and exhibits a sense of humor suitable for its intended audience:
[Anastasia] had a terrible sensation in the pit of her stomach that was, for once, not tragic flatulence. No, dear Reader, it was a premonition of doom. (Or, in simple language, a strong feeling that something nasty was about to happen. And boy, was she right.)
Thanks to its over-the-top characters and quirky flights of fancy, this book often reads like a Roald Dahl novel:
"Now be a Nice Little Girl and scoot right to bed," she said. "And don't be scared by any noises you might hear."
"Noises?" Anastasia echoed.
"You know," Prude said, "creaking or footsteps. This is a very old house, and sometimes old houses make funny noises."
"Sometimes, the house makes a cute noise kind of like a man screaming in anguish," Prim said cheerfully. "But it's just St. Agony's settling into its foundations!"
Homage is paid to Nancy Drew books in the form of Anastasia's favorite book series about a young sleuth named Francie Dewdrop. Anastasia wishes to be just like Francie Dewdrop, and her stay at St. Agony's is her first real opportunity to practice her developing skills as a first-rate detective-veterinarian-artist.
Once in a while the verb or adjective selected is a little too far off base to be suitable for the occasion, such that the reading feels a bit clunky. The author also employs the use of a device that tends to annoy: having characters repeat dialogue.
"Not to mention the flowers and the cold cut buffet," said Prude.
"Cold-cut buffet?" Anastasia repeated.
"You can't have a funeral without a cold-cut buffet," Prude said.
"Mystery Lumps," chirped Prim. "Isn't that fun?"
"Fun?" Anastasia echoed.
"Maybe we'll discuss it tomorrow," Prude said.
"Tomorrow!" Anastasia said.
And, finally, the book hints at a spectacular reveal to be delivered at its end but leaves the reader hanging, resulting in an unsatisfying conclusion.
Liable to appeal to fans of Roald Dahl, The League of Beastly Dreadfuls takes the reader on a macabre romp through an old asylum where nothing is as it seems and mystery lurks around every corner.
The League of Beastly Dreadfuls is good for a chuckle and exhibits a sense of humor suitable for its intended audience:
[Anastasia] had a terrible sensation in the pit of her stomach that was, for once, not tragic flatulence. No, dear Reader, it was a premonition of doom. (Or, in simple language, a strong feeling that something nasty was about to happen. And boy, was she right.)
Thanks to its over-the-top characters and quirky flights of fancy, this book often reads like a Roald Dahl novel:
"Now be a Nice Little Girl and scoot right to bed," she said. "And don't be scared by any noises you might hear."
"Noises?" Anastasia echoed.
"You know," Prude said, "creaking or footsteps. This is a very old house, and sometimes old houses make funny noises."
"Sometimes, the house makes a cute noise kind of like a man screaming in anguish," Prim said cheerfully. "But it's just St. Agony's settling into its foundations!"
Homage is paid to Nancy Drew books in the form of Anastasia's favorite book series about a young sleuth named Francie Dewdrop. Anastasia wishes to be just like Francie Dewdrop, and her stay at St. Agony's is her first real opportunity to practice her developing skills as a first-rate detective-veterinarian-artist.
Once in a while the verb or adjective selected is a little too far off base to be suitable for the occasion, such that the reading feels a bit clunky. The author also employs the use of a device that tends to annoy: having characters repeat dialogue.
"Not to mention the flowers and the cold cut buffet," said Prude.
"Cold-cut buffet?" Anastasia repeated.
"You can't have a funeral without a cold-cut buffet," Prude said.
"Mystery Lumps," chirped Prim. "Isn't that fun?"
"Fun?" Anastasia echoed.
"Maybe we'll discuss it tomorrow," Prude said.
"Tomorrow!" Anastasia said.
And, finally, the book hints at a spectacular reveal to be delivered at its end but leaves the reader hanging, resulting in an unsatisfying conclusion.
Liable to appeal to fans of Roald Dahl, The League of Beastly Dreadfuls takes the reader on a macabre romp through an old asylum where nothing is as it seems and mystery lurks around every corner.
July 5, 2016
I say it often, and I'll say it again: this is a book I picked up during a slow day on the Bookmobile. I'm always just grabbing books that I happen upon on the job and I'm often surprised by how enjoyable they are. The League of Beastly Dreadfuls is another one of those books.
This is the first book in a planned series, and I'll definitely be picking up book 2. The story took me back to the good ol' days of reading Roald Dahl novels in the summertime while I was a kid. They were filled with charm, quirkiness, and a mild creepiness that I loved at that age. League is the same kind of story. It's peculiar, adventurous, and has a certain absurdity balanced by a spooky atmosphere. There were times when the humor was a tad too childish and other times where I felt the story was too long for its target audience, often repeating things. But I liked it a lot in the end.
This is the first book in a planned series, and I'll definitely be picking up book 2. The story took me back to the good ol' days of reading Roald Dahl novels in the summertime while I was a kid. They were filled with charm, quirkiness, and a mild creepiness that I loved at that age. League is the same kind of story. It's peculiar, adventurous, and has a certain absurdity balanced by a spooky atmosphere. There were times when the humor was a tad too childish and other times where I felt the story was too long for its target audience, often repeating things. But I liked it a lot in the end.
February 23, 2016
Does anyone out there have that one weird acquaintance who seems unable to take anything seriously? He or she is constantly making jokes of varying quality, has a handful of quirky catchphrases, or sometimes tries on a foreign accent for frustratingly long periods of time? He or she loves acting out other comedian's material until they receive a reaction. This person is mostly harmless, but is so desperate for laughter and attention that you often feel as if you are being battered over the head by their flimsy personality as if it was a blunt instrument. That person IS this book.
Anastasia McCrumpet (smack-goes the personality) is the child of a hapless vacuum salesman (smack) and a demanding, bedridden hypochondriac (slap). She is kidnapped by two women that are clearly not her great aunties, Prim[rose] and Prude[nce] (swipe-slap), with the help of a unibrowed secretary named Miss Sneed (smack). She is taken to live in a gloomy asylum bedecked in defensive mirrors (slap?), where her captors force her to do housework, such as harvesting leeches by standing in a bog (smack). Anastasia is in turns dreary and frightful until she finally decides to escape with the help of Quentin and Ollie Drybread (slap), aspiring musical saw player (swat) and pastry chef (slap). Along the way, Anastasia develops a mysterious hunger for moths (smack). If the handful of details in this brief synopsis made you cringe, just imagine the whole book. Imagine coming upon the self-styled words 'jozzled' and 'snoot' in the same sentence. Imagine the first chapter. It was honestly one of the most grating I have ever read.
Extreme quirkiness aside, I have more conventional problems with the book. The pacing and structure and character motivations are especially frustrating. Though she has absolutely no reason to trust or believe her captors, our protagonist just goes along with whatever they say for almost half of the book. She runs from other characters who appear harmless while taking a disappointingly long time to realize who the true bad guys are. Two thirds of the way in, this victorian orphan plight becomes a supernatural mystery. This kind of realization so late in the story feels at best cheap, at worst confusing. Unfortunately, similar world developments rush past as one progresses toward the conclusion. Two new(ish) characters arrive for the grand finale, which is followed by an unsatisfying glut of exposition that reveals a whole lot, but maddeningly not enough. We are just left with the tease that Anastasia McCrumpet is 'special'.
Holly Grant has done little to hide/twist/recreate her two biggest influences: Roald Dahl and Lemony Snicket. Beastly Dreadfuls has its own version of aunts Spiker and Sponge, a librarian styled after Miss Honey, and a nefarious organization of unibrowed women with a penchant for eye insignias (this screams Count Olaf). Let me be clear. I really love the books those two wrote. Nasty as he can be, Dahl is near universally adored at this point, but Lemony Snicket has plenty of haters. Snicket, or Daniel Handler, uses the device of a narrator addressing the reader, he defines words in a way some feel is patronizing, and he has a lot of alliterative place-names and titles. Despite all these stylistic contrivances, I love his books. So, I can truly tolerate and even grow to appreciate a lot of quirkiness. Perhaps because Holly Grant's book is lacking a satirical edge, or because the narrator is not a character from the world of the story, or because mashing Dahl and Snicket together is just too much, or because she just is not a good enough storyteller--I absolutely can not stand these very same stylistic tendencies in The League of Beastly Dreadfuls. Whatever her intentions were, this book is far from a clever homage. Instead, I felt like I was reading the work of Dahl and Snicket's pitiable wannabe younger sibling.
It is at this point in my review that I must address another of Holly Grant's crutches: toilet humor. One of Anastasia's admittedly unique character traits is that she has "tragic flatulence." The author pretty much exhausts the thesaurus of synonyms and even adds a few of her own new words in place of 'fart' once every other chapter. As if the mere fact of this was not enough, we are also treated to the fact that her pet guinea pig is a "revenge pooper" and scenes of mice leaving our characters' regular breakfast of "mystery lumps" full of "chocolate sprinkles". When I try to think of a time I have enjoyed reading about passing gas in a children's book, my mind quickly goes to Dahl's The BFG. I confess that I am not quite sure why his scenes of farting feel so delightful. Maybe it's the fact that it is a result of drinking magical "frobscottle" or that "whizzpopping" means farting so powerfully that one is lifted off the ground. Maybe it is because it is written as an isolated funny event rather than drawn out through the book. But where Dahl is delightful, Grant once again comes off as desperate for laughs. Do all kids love toilet humor, because it is taboo to talk about? I don't know. For my own part, I have distinct childhood memories of feeling that when a fart or poop joke was carelessly tossed into movie, television show, or book (something made by an adult), I was being talked down to; that sentiment of 'Oh, the kids are sure to like this'. Then again, it could be that I was just more uptight than the general kid population.
I really want to rate this book one star, but something is holding me back. It could be the illustrations, which are not too bad. Probably more likely though, is some deeply buried childish part of me that is insisting it is not THAT bad. My snobby adult, kid lit-judging self, though, is much looking forward to forgetting about this one and hoping I never come across anything like it again.
Anastasia McCrumpet (smack-goes the personality) is the child of a hapless vacuum salesman (smack) and a demanding, bedridden hypochondriac (slap). She is kidnapped by two women that are clearly not her great aunties, Prim[rose] and Prude[nce] (swipe-slap), with the help of a unibrowed secretary named Miss Sneed (smack). She is taken to live in a gloomy asylum bedecked in defensive mirrors (slap?), where her captors force her to do housework, such as harvesting leeches by standing in a bog (smack). Anastasia is in turns dreary and frightful until she finally decides to escape with the help of Quentin and Ollie Drybread (slap), aspiring musical saw player (swat) and pastry chef (slap). Along the way, Anastasia develops a mysterious hunger for moths (smack). If the handful of details in this brief synopsis made you cringe, just imagine the whole book. Imagine coming upon the self-styled words 'jozzled' and 'snoot' in the same sentence. Imagine the first chapter. It was honestly one of the most grating I have ever read.
Extreme quirkiness aside, I have more conventional problems with the book. The pacing and structure and character motivations are especially frustrating. Though she has absolutely no reason to trust or believe her captors, our protagonist just goes along with whatever they say for almost half of the book. She runs from other characters who appear harmless while taking a disappointingly long time to realize who the true bad guys are. Two thirds of the way in, this victorian orphan plight becomes a supernatural mystery. This kind of realization so late in the story feels at best cheap, at worst confusing. Unfortunately, similar world developments rush past as one progresses toward the conclusion. Two new(ish) characters arrive for the grand finale, which is followed by an unsatisfying glut of exposition that reveals a whole lot, but maddeningly not enough. We are just left with the tease that Anastasia McCrumpet is 'special'.
Holly Grant has done little to hide/twist/recreate her two biggest influences: Roald Dahl and Lemony Snicket. Beastly Dreadfuls has its own version of aunts Spiker and Sponge, a librarian styled after Miss Honey, and a nefarious organization of unibrowed women with a penchant for eye insignias (this screams Count Olaf). Let me be clear. I really love the books those two wrote. Nasty as he can be, Dahl is near universally adored at this point, but Lemony Snicket has plenty of haters. Snicket, or Daniel Handler, uses the device of a narrator addressing the reader, he defines words in a way some feel is patronizing, and he has a lot of alliterative place-names and titles. Despite all these stylistic contrivances, I love his books. So, I can truly tolerate and even grow to appreciate a lot of quirkiness. Perhaps because Holly Grant's book is lacking a satirical edge, or because the narrator is not a character from the world of the story, or because mashing Dahl and Snicket together is just too much, or because she just is not a good enough storyteller--I absolutely can not stand these very same stylistic tendencies in The League of Beastly Dreadfuls. Whatever her intentions were, this book is far from a clever homage. Instead, I felt like I was reading the work of Dahl and Snicket's pitiable wannabe younger sibling.
It is at this point in my review that I must address another of Holly Grant's crutches: toilet humor. One of Anastasia's admittedly unique character traits is that she has "tragic flatulence." The author pretty much exhausts the thesaurus of synonyms and even adds a few of her own new words in place of 'fart' once every other chapter. As if the mere fact of this was not enough, we are also treated to the fact that her pet guinea pig is a "revenge pooper" and scenes of mice leaving our characters' regular breakfast of "mystery lumps" full of "chocolate sprinkles". When I try to think of a time I have enjoyed reading about passing gas in a children's book, my mind quickly goes to Dahl's The BFG. I confess that I am not quite sure why his scenes of farting feel so delightful. Maybe it's the fact that it is a result of drinking magical "frobscottle" or that "whizzpopping" means farting so powerfully that one is lifted off the ground. Maybe it is because it is written as an isolated funny event rather than drawn out through the book. But where Dahl is delightful, Grant once again comes off as desperate for laughs. Do all kids love toilet humor, because it is taboo to talk about? I don't know. For my own part, I have distinct childhood memories of feeling that when a fart or poop joke was carelessly tossed into movie, television show, or book (something made by an adult), I was being talked down to; that sentiment of 'Oh, the kids are sure to like this'. Then again, it could be that I was just more uptight than the general kid population.
I really want to rate this book one star, but something is holding me back. It could be the illustrations, which are not too bad. Probably more likely though, is some deeply buried childish part of me that is insisting it is not THAT bad. My snobby adult, kid lit-judging self, though, is much looking forward to forgetting about this one and hoping I never come across anything like it again.
March 10, 2018
3.5 stars. Light and silly and definitely feels influenced by Ronald Dahl and a little bit of Edward Gorey. The old ladies who kidnap Anastasia are suitably awful, and the house they live in is terribly grim. Anastasia is plucky and thanks to her mystery novel reading and her desire to be a detective veterinarian artist, finds clues to what her situation is at the creepy, mouldy house, as well as the means to escape it with two other boys trapped there. There is a mystery still about Anastasia’s non-detective abilities, which is hopefully explained in the next book.
The audio is fun and the voice artist’s characterization is amusing.
The audio is fun and the voice artist’s characterization is amusing.
December 22, 2021
Die Schulsekretärin holt Anastasia aus der Schulstunde und erklärt ihr, dass ihre Eltern einen Unfall hatten. Vor der Schule würden ihre Tanten warten, die sich jetzt erst einmal um sie kümmern würden. Tatsächlich stehen dort zwei alte Damen, die Anastasia in ihren pinken Lieferwagen verfrachten und mit zu ihrem düsteren Haus nehmen, in dem gruselige Pudel mit Metallzähnen Wache halten.
Das Buch ist völlig kreativ und immer wieder überraschend. Das die Tanten etwas im Schilde führen, wird Anastasia sehr schnell klar. Es gibt nur dubiose Knödel für sie zu essen und abends wird sie auf ihrem Zimmer eingeschlossen. Die Geschichte ist haarsträubend, spannend und wenn man Pups- und Kackawitzeleien lustig findet auch spaßig. Obwohl mir dieser Humor nicht liegt und ich keine Vorliebe für Motten und Blutegel hege, hat es mir viel Vergnügen gemacht, dieses Buch zu lesen.
So trifft Anastasia im Laufe der Geschichte auf zwei Jungen, von denen einer um seinen Kopf einen Vogelkäfig trägt. Es gibt jede Menge Mäuse und natürlich die unheimlichen Tanten Prue und Pim. Für Anastasia stellt es sich als sehr nützlich heraus, dass ihre Lieblingsbücher Krimis sind und ihre Sinne dadurch geschärft wurden.
Das Buch ist nicht nur vom Cover schön gestaltet, auch die Seiten werden durch zahlreiche Illustrationen aufgelockert.
Für alle Leser ab 10 Jahren, die gerne skurille und spannende Geschichten lesen.
Das Buch ist völlig kreativ und immer wieder überraschend. Das die Tanten etwas im Schilde führen, wird Anastasia sehr schnell klar. Es gibt nur dubiose Knödel für sie zu essen und abends wird sie auf ihrem Zimmer eingeschlossen. Die Geschichte ist haarsträubend, spannend und wenn man Pups- und Kackawitzeleien lustig findet auch spaßig. Obwohl mir dieser Humor nicht liegt und ich keine Vorliebe für Motten und Blutegel hege, hat es mir viel Vergnügen gemacht, dieses Buch zu lesen.
So trifft Anastasia im Laufe der Geschichte auf zwei Jungen, von denen einer um seinen Kopf einen Vogelkäfig trägt. Es gibt jede Menge Mäuse und natürlich die unheimlichen Tanten Prue und Pim. Für Anastasia stellt es sich als sehr nützlich heraus, dass ihre Lieblingsbücher Krimis sind und ihre Sinne dadurch geschärft wurden.
Das Buch ist nicht nur vom Cover schön gestaltet, auch die Seiten werden durch zahlreiche Illustrationen aufgelockert.
Für alle Leser ab 10 Jahren, die gerne skurille und spannende Geschichten lesen.
October 30, 2015
Another meh book for me. It was reallllllly slow going at first. There was a lot about how Anastasia was sad in the new house, and the aunties were cackling meanies. Lots and lots of pages about eating mystery lumps, and being locked away in her room.
Once we finally meet the other boys, we meet them for maybe a page before Anastasia freaks out and runs away from them, and then we're back to more dreary pages for a while.
The ending was cool, and I liked the little twist. It was kind of too little too late, especially because the supernatural element came out of left field.
My biggest issue with this, though: This makes light of stranger danger. Anastasia is pulled out of school and goes with these two older women who she's never seen before, and give no real indication that they know her parents. She doesn't even think twice about it, and I don't like that. It's already bad enough that kids are taken right under their parents' noses, we don't need to add to that by letting kids think that if they get taken, maybe they're special. Because Anastasia was special. That might be a reach, sure. But kids are so friendly and innocent to begin with, I hesitate to give them any more reason to think it's okay to go off with someone they don't know.
You might argue this is a deterrent against going with people you don't know. Maybe that's true. But fact is, Anastasia learned that lesson too late. She had no idea where she was, no one knew where she went, and she was in a location that barred any escape. If it hasn't been a kids story it would have been terrifying.
It is possible I am just reading too much into it, but it left a bad taste in my mouth.
Once we finally meet the other boys, we meet them for maybe a page before Anastasia freaks out and runs away from them, and then we're back to more dreary pages for a while.
The ending was cool, and I liked the little twist. It was kind of too little too late, especially because the supernatural element came out of left field.
My biggest issue with this, though: This makes light of stranger danger. Anastasia is pulled out of school and goes with these two older women who she's never seen before, and give no real indication that they know her parents. She doesn't even think twice about it, and I don't like that. It's already bad enough that kids are taken right under their parents' noses, we don't need to add to that by letting kids think that if they get taken, maybe they're special. Because Anastasia was special. That might be a reach, sure. But kids are so friendly and innocent to begin with, I hesitate to give them any more reason to think it's okay to go off with someone they don't know.
You might argue this is a deterrent against going with people you don't know. Maybe that's true. But fact is, Anastasia learned that lesson too late. She had no idea where she was, no one knew where she went, and she was in a location that barred any escape. If it hasn't been a kids story it would have been terrifying.
It is possible I am just reading too much into it, but it left a bad taste in my mouth.
August 31, 2015
“A marvelously funny mystery that feels refreshingly original while yet channeling the best of Dahl’s characters and Grimm in storytelling.”-my staff rec at work.
Have you noticed how difficult it is for an author to pull off the Dahl-esque; especially American authors? Holly Grant is marvelously Dahl-esque in The League of Beastly Dreadfuls. But that isn’t the only reason to pick up your own copy. Grimm came to mind, for instance. But for all the fond reminiscence of favorite childhood storytellers, Grant demonstrates an originality all her own. That expansive imagination proves rather daring (e.g. the mice are genius, as is the tragic flatulence). The pacing both in action and humor is perfect, and the narrator not too clever for its own good. You must read this one aloud.
You know those scenes where the protagonist overhears the villain murmuring about their impending demise and they fail to confront said villain about it? There is a glorious moment (on page 67) where Anastasia asks an Auntie about a strong inference muttered under the breath. Anastasia is rightly terrified by this point–and so was I, thus my pleasant surprise when Anastasia quite forcefully inquires after just what did Prim mean. The author does not imperil her protagonist comfortably and the escape attempt will have all sorts of horrible inconveniences. “Saint Agony’s Asylum for the Deranged, Despotic, Demented, & Otherwise Undesirable (that is to say, criminally insane)” is not some quaint Victorian fixer-upper. And Anastasia is not in the least casual in her observation that “every day at St Agony’s Asylum was perfect funeral weather” (59). The contemplation of the photographs of past children was chilling. And despite those delicately sipped cups of tea, the ‘weirdly dentured’ old ladies are blood-thirsty.
so good.
I’m not sure which is more deliciously wrought, the adrenaline or the ridiculous humor; maybe it is the characters (who manage to generate both). The old ladies are entertaining, in their own horrid way. The Manly Baron aka Mouse Destroyer makes me sigh, and not because of his manly presence. It’s that he is silliness incarnate. I found him and that whole plot twist charming. And the boys, with their Ballad of the Lovelorn Beluga are amusing, to say nothing of awesomely gifted. But Anastasia is the star: clumsy and resourceful and capable of keeping her wits about her.
The League of Beastly Dreadfuls is easily one of my favorite books this year, and I’ve enjoyed some fabulous reads. I found myself laughing aloud and reading huge swathes of it to the daughter. I’m sure I read the “looney gardner” scene (in chapter 4) multiple times to multiple friends; and I may have referenced the line “Podiatrists are, in general, the most dashing of all doctors” (281) a time or three, even though too few have yet to read the novel. Friends were updated at regular intervals and subjected to the mysteries of the novel: plenty of which remain unsolved. Like who is Anastasia and why have her captors taken such a keen interest in her? It quickly becomes apparent that it isn’t just because Anastasia is orphaned by a tragic vacuum incident.
The lovely problem the reader will come to realize is that the author’s imagination could originate any sort of possibility for our increasingly mysterious Anastasia. The reader also comes to the conclusion that they won’t mind terribly much when the author artfully puts off a few questions there at the end. The reader is going to want to read book two (The Dastardly Deed).
The League of Beastly Dreadfuls is the kind of smart and entertaining everyone needs off the shelf and in their hands and reading to their favorite human (or mouse).
————–
recommendations: if you love Grimm, Dahl, Ellen Potter’s Kneebone Boy, and/or Adrienne Kress’ Ironic Gentlemen. if you like peril, laughter, and clever narrators. To be read aloud to any and all grade-schoolers (whether they suffer from tragic flatulence or umbrating-related nudity*).
*yeah, you have to read the book.
~L (omphaloskepsis)
https://contemplatrix.wordpress.com/2...
Have you noticed how difficult it is for an author to pull off the Dahl-esque; especially American authors? Holly Grant is marvelously Dahl-esque in The League of Beastly Dreadfuls. But that isn’t the only reason to pick up your own copy. Grimm came to mind, for instance. But for all the fond reminiscence of favorite childhood storytellers, Grant demonstrates an originality all her own. That expansive imagination proves rather daring (e.g. the mice are genius, as is the tragic flatulence). The pacing both in action and humor is perfect, and the narrator not too clever for its own good. You must read this one aloud.
You know those scenes where the protagonist overhears the villain murmuring about their impending demise and they fail to confront said villain about it? There is a glorious moment (on page 67) where Anastasia asks an Auntie about a strong inference muttered under the breath. Anastasia is rightly terrified by this point–and so was I, thus my pleasant surprise when Anastasia quite forcefully inquires after just what did Prim mean. The author does not imperil her protagonist comfortably and the escape attempt will have all sorts of horrible inconveniences. “Saint Agony’s Asylum for the Deranged, Despotic, Demented, & Otherwise Undesirable (that is to say, criminally insane)” is not some quaint Victorian fixer-upper. And Anastasia is not in the least casual in her observation that “every day at St Agony’s Asylum was perfect funeral weather” (59). The contemplation of the photographs of past children was chilling. And despite those delicately sipped cups of tea, the ‘weirdly dentured’ old ladies are blood-thirsty.
so good.
I’m not sure which is more deliciously wrought, the adrenaline or the ridiculous humor; maybe it is the characters (who manage to generate both). The old ladies are entertaining, in their own horrid way. The Manly Baron aka Mouse Destroyer makes me sigh, and not because of his manly presence. It’s that he is silliness incarnate. I found him and that whole plot twist charming. And the boys, with their Ballad of the Lovelorn Beluga are amusing, to say nothing of awesomely gifted. But Anastasia is the star: clumsy and resourceful and capable of keeping her wits about her.
The League of Beastly Dreadfuls is easily one of my favorite books this year, and I’ve enjoyed some fabulous reads. I found myself laughing aloud and reading huge swathes of it to the daughter. I’m sure I read the “looney gardner” scene (in chapter 4) multiple times to multiple friends; and I may have referenced the line “Podiatrists are, in general, the most dashing of all doctors” (281) a time or three, even though too few have yet to read the novel. Friends were updated at regular intervals and subjected to the mysteries of the novel: plenty of which remain unsolved. Like who is Anastasia and why have her captors taken such a keen interest in her? It quickly becomes apparent that it isn’t just because Anastasia is orphaned by a tragic vacuum incident.
The lovely problem the reader will come to realize is that the author’s imagination could originate any sort of possibility for our increasingly mysterious Anastasia. The reader also comes to the conclusion that they won’t mind terribly much when the author artfully puts off a few questions there at the end. The reader is going to want to read book two (The Dastardly Deed).
The League of Beastly Dreadfuls is the kind of smart and entertaining everyone needs off the shelf and in their hands and reading to their favorite human (or mouse).
————–
recommendations: if you love Grimm, Dahl, Ellen Potter’s Kneebone Boy, and/or Adrienne Kress’ Ironic Gentlemen. if you like peril, laughter, and clever narrators. To be read aloud to any and all grade-schoolers (whether they suffer from tragic flatulence or umbrating-related nudity*).
*yeah, you have to read the book.
~L (omphaloskepsis)
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June 8, 2015
Anastasia is a perfectly normal almost-eleven-year-old living a perfectly normal life. That is, until she is pulled out of class one day at school and told that her parents have been severely injured in a freak vacuum-cleaner accident and her two great-aunts are there to take care of her. Anastasia had no idea that she had two great-aunts, but before she knows it she is being driven far away to their strange house, the former St. Agony’s Asylum for the Criminally Insane, and locked in her bedroom "for her own safety." After a few days with these unknown relatives, Anastasia is convinced that there is something else going on and begins to explore the house for clues, as any good aspiring detective-veterinarian-artist would. What Anastasia discovers will challenge everything she thought she knew about the world - and her own identity.
This book was maybe a little too quirky for my taste, but the mystery of what was going on kept me reading. It's a little Roald Dahl and a little Lemony Snicket, although maybe not quite as clever. The plot was well-paced, which I did enjoy. I am a bit annoyed that the book ends with a key piece of information about to be revealed to Anastasia. I wanted to know what it was! Clearly this is intended as the beginning of a series, however.
I would recommend this book to grades 5-8, especially those who like a creepy mystery with some gross and humorous elements. I think it would appeal to fans of Lemony Snicket or other similar dark adventures.
This book was maybe a little too quirky for my taste, but the mystery of what was going on kept me reading. It's a little Roald Dahl and a little Lemony Snicket, although maybe not quite as clever. The plot was well-paced, which I did enjoy. I am a bit annoyed that the book ends with a key piece of information about to be revealed to Anastasia. I wanted to know what it was! Clearly this is intended as the beginning of a series, however.
I would recommend this book to grades 5-8, especially those who like a creepy mystery with some gross and humorous elements. I think it would appeal to fans of Lemony Snicket or other similar dark adventures.
July 5, 2015
I just keep finding new middle grade series that I must follow, my dear lovely readers. This first book of the The League of Beastly Dreadfuls had me turning the pages because, like Anastasia, I had frightful premonitions of what was to come for her. If you enjoy or have readers who enjoy Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events, this books has a very similar feel to it. Happily, there's a little less doom and gloom to be had here.
Mysteries abound throughout this story and I look forward to more in future books. Anastasia is a resourceful young girl who made the best of a most dreadful situation, and I am quite curious about what she will do in upcoming stories. I definitely recommend The League of Beastly Dreadfuls by Holly Grant to fans of books that are a little spooky and a little funny and that will absolutely have you reading on to find out what happens next.
View my full review at: heathermariereadsmg.blogspot.com
Mysteries abound throughout this story and I look forward to more in future books. Anastasia is a resourceful young girl who made the best of a most dreadful situation, and I am quite curious about what she will do in upcoming stories. I definitely recommend The League of Beastly Dreadfuls by Holly Grant to fans of books that are a little spooky and a little funny and that will absolutely have you reading on to find out what happens next.
View my full review at: heathermariereadsmg.blogspot.com
August 20, 2018
Anastasia McCrumpet is not having a great first day of school. It gets even worse when she is pulled from class and sent off with her great-aunts Prim and Prue who she has never met. She is told her parents where in a vacuum cleaner accident and she is now going to live with the aunts at their classic Victorian asylum. Anastasia finds herself locked in a dreary room at night where she has to use a chamber pot and doing chores like collecting leeches during the day. Who are these aunts? Why do they live in an old asylum? Why do they collect pictures of missing kids?
This was a super quirky read and by that I mean just a bit too over the top. It has aspects of Roald Dahl and Lemony Snicket but is not as well done. There is a supernatural element that comes in towards the end of the book that really seemed tagged on. I think it would have worked better if incorporated earlier in the book. There is also Anastasia herself who just seems to go along with things for entirely too long. I really wanted to like this more than I did.
This was a super quirky read and by that I mean just a bit too over the top. It has aspects of Roald Dahl and Lemony Snicket but is not as well done. There is a supernatural element that comes in towards the end of the book that really seemed tagged on. I think it would have worked better if incorporated earlier in the book. There is also Anastasia herself who just seems to go along with things for entirely too long. I really wanted to like this more than I did.
December 30, 2021
Middle grade books just have this quality that I love. They're fun without being too dramatic, there's usually little to no romance, and the whole point is to have a good time reading. I'm happy I stumbled on this one, it was fast paced and had a cute main character. We also get a taste of some new paranormal type creatures, but I still have questions. The shadow kids are really intriguing and I hope they come back in the sequel. There's also a lot of mystery surrounding Anastasia so I guess it's on to the next book!
June 15, 2015
Full of adventure and excitement, The League of Beastly Dreadfuls is a fast-paced and highly entertaining read. The story mixes the perfect amount of dark and quirky with comic relief and enjoyable characters. The writing flows wonderfully and pulls the reader in expertly, making this an excellent choice for reluctant readers.
Anastasia is a fantastic, clever heroine who knows how use her mind as her most powerful weapon. She is surrounded by mysteries, and she does her best to uncover what is really going on. Her reactions to the aunts and her strange situation are realistic and heartfelt, and I found it impossible not to wish the best for her and hope for a successful escape.
The suspense is incredible. I get creeped out easily when reading a story, but even so, Holly Grant weaves a scary array of discoveries and mysteries that are on the darker side. Areas of comic relief help balance this out, but the dangerous situation Anastasia is in is made very clear.
What Left Me Wanting More:
While some parts of the humor had me laughing out loud, most of the humor didn’t work for me. There are times when it seems a little too silly and occasionally uncomfortable. However, that is absolutely a me-specific note, and I can tell that others could easily enjoy the funnier parts to the story.
Since this is the beginning of a series, the story naturally leaves off with some open mysteries. However, one or two bigger questions that go on during most of the story are still cut off at the end. I hoped for a few more answers than were provided after all the intrigue, but I know they are sure to be answered later in the series.
Final Verdict:
Though this isn’t a favorite, I highly enjoyed The League of Beastly Dreadfuls. The story is quick, quirky, and holds strange and lovable characters. I am eager to see what the author does with the next book in the series, and I would recommend this to readers wanting an entertaining story with a bite.
Anastasia is a fantastic, clever heroine who knows how use her mind as her most powerful weapon. She is surrounded by mysteries, and she does her best to uncover what is really going on. Her reactions to the aunts and her strange situation are realistic and heartfelt, and I found it impossible not to wish the best for her and hope for a successful escape.
The suspense is incredible. I get creeped out easily when reading a story, but even so, Holly Grant weaves a scary array of discoveries and mysteries that are on the darker side. Areas of comic relief help balance this out, but the dangerous situation Anastasia is in is made very clear.
What Left Me Wanting More:
While some parts of the humor had me laughing out loud, most of the humor didn’t work for me. There are times when it seems a little too silly and occasionally uncomfortable. However, that is absolutely a me-specific note, and I can tell that others could easily enjoy the funnier parts to the story.
Since this is the beginning of a series, the story naturally leaves off with some open mysteries. However, one or two bigger questions that go on during most of the story are still cut off at the end. I hoped for a few more answers than were provided after all the intrigue, but I know they are sure to be answered later in the series.
Final Verdict:
Though this isn’t a favorite, I highly enjoyed The League of Beastly Dreadfuls. The story is quick, quirky, and holds strange and lovable characters. I am eager to see what the author does with the next book in the series, and I would recommend this to readers wanting an entertaining story with a bite.
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
July 22, 2018DNF. SO disappointing! The first half was ok. Mostly fun and slightly charming with short paragraphs and characters and a story that never fully got off the ground but was still engaging enough. Then. Halfway through a supernatural element and new characters were introduced and it just feels silly and like it doesn't fit. This book was shaping up to be a 3 star read (nice, but nothing amazing) and I would have finished it, but with this new stuff it's just not strong enough to bother with anymore.
Originally posted at Small Review:
Well, I really wanted to like this book. I'd convinced myself that I would like this book because the cover art and the title were just so darn charming. Color me disappointed when the first half of the book was almost charming and almost engaging, but never quite got there. The main character was a sketch of someone I could care about, and the aunts were sketches of people I could find menacing and creepy, and the house was something I could almost find intriguing, but none of these things went past the potential for greatness into actually achieving greatness.
And then.
Then supernatural elements were randomly introduced about halfway through and the plot took a turn and I just wasn't prepared to get on board with this new direction. Maybe if I was already invested, or if there had been more to prepare me for those twists, but none of that was the case. The twists also weren't the type of twists that surprise, but rather just a totally different direction. I don't know, maybe it's just me (I don't like it when Plans Change), but it all seemed to come out of nowhere which made it feel tacked on and not like a cohesive story.
Sadly, this one isn't for me. I had such high hopes.
Originally posted at Small Review:
Well, I really wanted to like this book. I'd convinced myself that I would like this book because the cover art and the title were just so darn charming. Color me disappointed when the first half of the book was almost charming and almost engaging, but never quite got there. The main character was a sketch of someone I could care about, and the aunts were sketches of people I could find menacing and creepy, and the house was something I could almost find intriguing, but none of these things went past the potential for greatness into actually achieving greatness.
And then.
Then supernatural elements were randomly introduced about halfway through and the plot took a turn and I just wasn't prepared to get on board with this new direction. Maybe if I was already invested, or if there had been more to prepare me for those twists, but none of that was the case. The twists also weren't the type of twists that surprise, but rather just a totally different direction. I don't know, maybe it's just me (I don't like it when Plans Change), but it all seemed to come out of nowhere which made it feel tacked on and not like a cohesive story.
Sadly, this one isn't for me. I had such high hopes.
June 30, 2015
This book started out so intriguing - I loved the quirky voice but thought "this might be too much quirky for over 200 pages." And it was...it reminded me of James and the Giant Peach mixed with The Bad Beginning, but trying too hard to be those things.
June 15, 2016
This book was much better than I expected.
July 13, 2016
DNF'd at 70%. Too immature for me.
July 14, 2019
This is a cute little story packed with action. I like Anastasia's character, her love of libraries, reading and Francie Dewdrop mysteries.
That being said, there are a lot of pieces of this story that seem to come out of nowhere and don't make sense. Also there is a TON of breaking the fourth wall. Which is super annoying. The author did this in a way that I think was trying to be cutesy and helpful, in explaining larger vocabulary, since this is meant to be for younger kids.
It would have been much better if they had just used more appropriate words and language. I found the breaking of the wall to be super distracting.
That being said, there are a lot of pieces of this story that seem to come out of nowhere and don't make sense. Also there is a TON of breaking the fourth wall. Which is super annoying. The author did this in a way that I think was trying to be cutesy and helpful, in explaining larger vocabulary, since this is meant to be for younger kids.
It would have been much better if they had just used more appropriate words and language. I found the breaking of the wall to be super distracting.
August 19, 2021
Anastasia heads off to school, leaving her waffle making and plant loving father, and demanding bedridden mother at home. Soon she is pulled from class and told her parents have perished, and she must go live with her aunts at an old insane asylum.
I was really hoping for this, but it moved way too slowly. Even my 12yo was completely bored when she read. Very repetitive, so the kiddos can learn new words, but took five pages for the child to search through a chest of drawers. Unfortunately, we won't be moving on the the next book in the series.
I was really hoping for this, but it moved way too slowly. Even my 12yo was completely bored when she read. Very repetitive, so the kiddos can learn new words, but took five pages for the child to search through a chest of drawers. Unfortunately, we won't be moving on the the next book in the series.
October 4, 2020
I found this book to fun and quirky. The story held my attention in its simplicity. It was just just nonsensical fun. The plot was totally wacky but enjoyable. The Etiquette Manual included at the end had me laughing and I couldn't resist sharing it with my children. A totally fun book for all ages.
October 16, 2017
This is a great book! Not only were the protagonists great but even the villains were wonderfully developed as well! This author leaves me hungry for about Anastasia and the rest of the Beastly Dreadfuls, and I hope to read the sequels soon!
May 16, 2023
Super cute book with a great narration style. I particularly liked how the author scattered so many things-to-be-used-later throughout the whole story. Only thing that bugged me was the repeated avoidance of answering a Super Important Question at the end, since it felt a little forced.
November 17, 2023
Listen to the audiobook with my girls (5 & 8) during road trips. Super enjoyable story, great narrator, and hilariously descriptive language! You are left hanging at the end, as the story continues in the sequel.
June 13, 2018
Bought this in a dollar store while vacationing. It starts off a little slow but then takes off half way. Very silly nonsense throughout. The pictures make it come more alive too.
March 5, 2018
A deliciously fun, silly, slightly spooky adventure story! Makes me want to read book two.
July 26, 2023
Roald Dahl mixed with a little Lemony Snicket. We laughed all the way through
September 29, 2017
We didn't love this one. It did feel like Lemony Snicket meets Miss P's home for Peculiar children...with the humor of Captain Underpants. It was....odd. 4th grade daughter's opinion after finding out there was a second book was "it was okay, but I don't really want to read any more of them." There was some fun dialog and it's an interesting story idea just felt like the author was obviously influenced by too many other authors.
September 17, 2015
Anastasia McCrumpet is busy being an average student at school when she is dragged out of class by the monobrowed secretary and handed over to two old ladies who claim to be her great-aunts Prim and Prudence. They tell her that her father and mother have been in a terrible vaccuum cleaner accident, and take her home to their cozy little old Victorian insane asylum (which they got at a very good price). Prim and Prude keep Anastasia busy dusting cobwebs and scrubbing chamber pots in their dreary and chilly crumbling mansion. Anastasia begins to think that perhaps Prim and Prude are not who they claim to be and she decides to put on her investigator hat and sneak around to see if she can find clues. What she finds far surpasses anything she imagined, and makes it all too clear she needs to escape soon. But how? There's locks on the doors and an electrified fence and guard poodles with metal teeth.
I wasn't sure I was going to like this one, but as soon as Anastasia starts snooping around and finding clues I was hooked. I needed to figure out what was going on! The mood of the story is definitely reminiscent of books like an Unfortunate Series of Events and the Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place. In fact, the first part of the story borders on feeling like a horror story for middle graders. You know Anastasia is in a bad spot, and you really hope she figures that out before it's too late. Eventually, though, Anastasia starts to snoop and finds some incredible things, which sends this book into outright fantasy and brings hope and excitement to the story. A very important question is left dangling at the end, so now I really want the second book in the series. Oh, and I have to add, don't skip the etiquette book at the end. It is rather darkly humorous with some laugh out loud moments.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. Violence is threatened, it has clearly happened in the past, and someone gets a little buckshot in them from a poorly aimed gun, but no one is severely injured in the story.
I wasn't sure I was going to like this one, but as soon as Anastasia starts snooping around and finding clues I was hooked. I needed to figure out what was going on! The mood of the story is definitely reminiscent of books like an Unfortunate Series of Events and the Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place. In fact, the first part of the story borders on feeling like a horror story for middle graders. You know Anastasia is in a bad spot, and you really hope she figures that out before it's too late. Eventually, though, Anastasia starts to snoop and finds some incredible things, which sends this book into outright fantasy and brings hope and excitement to the story. A very important question is left dangling at the end, so now I really want the second book in the series. Oh, and I have to add, don't skip the etiquette book at the end. It is rather darkly humorous with some laugh out loud moments.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. Violence is threatened, it has clearly happened in the past, and someone gets a little buckshot in them from a poorly aimed gun, but no one is severely injured in the story.
April 29, 2015
THE LEAGUE OF BEASTLY DREADFULS by Holly Grant is the first book in a new Victorian era fantasy series featuring quirky characters, creepy settings, and a daring escape.
After being told that her parents have been in an accident, Anastasia is forced to live with two strange old ladies that claim to be her long lost great aunts. She is soon immersed in a demented world of mystery and suspense with a hint of horror. This bizarre fantasy will appeal to children who enjoy witty, dark humor.
From the bizarre characters to the weird settings, Grant’s colorful descriptions will immerse readers into her wacky world. The author has filled the pages with off-the-wall elements including invented, Victorian era book titles, signs, and artifacts.
Librarians will easily find an audience for this far out fantasy. Aimed at the middle grades, children will enjoy the peculiar story and unconventional writing style. Fans of Roald Dahl, Trenton Lee Stewart, and Lemony Snicket will be attracted to the dry, dark humor and look forward to the next book in this new series.
The series website contains book club questions, a name generator, silly Victorian horoscopes, and lots of other fun activities that can be printed out.
To learn more about the book and the author, go to the series website at http://beastlydreadfuls.com.
Published by Random House for Young Readers on April 28, 2015.
After being told that her parents have been in an accident, Anastasia is forced to live with two strange old ladies that claim to be her long lost great aunts. She is soon immersed in a demented world of mystery and suspense with a hint of horror. This bizarre fantasy will appeal to children who enjoy witty, dark humor.
From the bizarre characters to the weird settings, Grant’s colorful descriptions will immerse readers into her wacky world. The author has filled the pages with off-the-wall elements including invented, Victorian era book titles, signs, and artifacts.
Librarians will easily find an audience for this far out fantasy. Aimed at the middle grades, children will enjoy the peculiar story and unconventional writing style. Fans of Roald Dahl, Trenton Lee Stewart, and Lemony Snicket will be attracted to the dry, dark humor and look forward to the next book in this new series.
The series website contains book club questions, a name generator, silly Victorian horoscopes, and lots of other fun activities that can be printed out.
To learn more about the book and the author, go to the series website at http://beastlydreadfuls.com.
Published by Random House for Young Readers on April 28, 2015.
June 24, 2017
This book is reminiscent of Roald Dahl's "James and the Giant Peach" and Lemony Snicket's "Series of Unfortunate Events". That is a positive recommendation, but some of the facts, phrases, and characters are almost too similar. For example, this quote ... "No, dear Reader, it was a premonition of doom. (Or, in simple language, a strong feeling that something nasty was about to happen. And boy, was she right.)"... sounds almost too much like the narrator from Snicket's Unfortunate Events. And this book's auntie Prim and Prude seem a lot like auntie Spiker and Sponge from James and the Giant Peach. That said, if you liked those books you will probably like this one too.
I think it will appeal most to a 4th-grade reader. The mysteries and challenges are less sophisticated than other 5th-grade mysteries like 'Escape from Mr Lemoncello's Library' or 'From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler'.
I think it will appeal most to a 4th-grade reader. The mysteries and challenges are less sophisticated than other 5th-grade mysteries like 'Escape from Mr Lemoncello's Library' or 'From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler'.
May 31, 2019
Unfortunately I was unimpressed with this book. The plot was disjointed and confusing. The treatment of the mentally ill was disturbing. And the continual association of ugly women with literal evil really, really turned me off.
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