The Monsters of Rookhaven

Two children fall through a hole in the world and into a house full of monsters. It’s guarded by giant carnivorous plants and the residents range from the unsettling (Odd, given to appearing out of thin air; Uncle Enoch, dark haired, intimidating, winged), to the creepy (irritating, alarmingly hungry twins Dotty and Daisy), and the utterly terrifying (Piglet, so powerful he must be locked away in the basement). And yet, Jem and Tom are met with kindness and compassion, far more from these ‘monsters’ than they were receiving in the outside world and from their own family. Before long though, they must all confront a proper monster because something awful follows the children through the tear, a creature that is ruthless, selfish, bloodthirsty and worst of all more than clever enough to turn the human neighbours of this strange community into an angry, threatening mob.  Like all the best monster stories, Pádraig Kenny’s novel turns readers’ assumptions upside down, allowing us to shudder at the strange otherness of these creatures while recognising that the truly monstrous is something different altogether and perhaps even horribly familiar.  In a message that has particular relevance for our times, he also points to understanding and empathy as the greatest tools to use against those who want to destroy us. As with the best monster stories too, the world he creates and its bizarre inhabitants are so well described that Rookhaven feels like a place we might already know or come across.  It’s a work of astounding imagination, written with a confidence and flair that is definitely out of the ordinary and genuinely thrilling too.  Congratulations to illustrator Edward Bettison whose black and white drawings properly reflect and even add to the drama of the story. AR