Awards
- Junior Library Guild Selection
Overview
A just-scary-enough Nordic noir illustrated chapter book about a town terrorized by monsters and a warm-hearted werewolf trying to find his pack. Frank is nipped by a dog on his ninth birthday, and his life turns inside out. His nights fill with mysterious dreams and eery adventures. A wild beast is reported roaming the town after dark. Frightening encounters lead to Frank’s discovery that he is the werewolf. But he can’t understand why everyone is afraid. Frank is still a nine-year-old boy inside—one who feels a strong urge to have his tummy scratched. Forced to own his new identity, Frank learns about the town’s secret underbelly. Beneath the streets live other monsters, cast out of their human families. Perhaps he has found his pack of misfits.
Full Product Details
Author: Mats Strandberg ,
Sofia Falkenhem
Publisher: Lerner Publishing Group
Imprint: Gecko Press
Weight: 0.222kg
ISBN: 9798348029661
Pages: 112
Publication Date: 07 April 2026
Recommended Age: From 8 to 9 years
Audience:
Children/juvenile
,
Children / Juvenile
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming
Availability: Not yet available
This item is yet to be released. You can pre-order this item and we will dispatch it to you upon its release.
Reviews
""Strandberg's well-crafted small-town setting and suspenseful pacing draw readers in, while his quietly matter-of-fact prose, speckled with satisfying detail, expresses Frank's frustration, alienation, and even rage—feelings his young audience will recognize. . . . An invigorating take on a well-worn paranormal trope.""—Kirkus Reviews
""An excellent bridge between transitional chapter books and novels, the chapters are short and Falkenhem's striking black, white, and blue illustrations will engage reluctant readers. . . . With themes of bullying, growing up, and belonging, this story will resonate with kids who need reassurance that it's okay to be different.""—starred, School Library Journal ""Strandberg's well-crafted small-town setting and suspenseful pacing draw readers in, while his quietly matter-of-fact prose, speckled with satisfying detail, expresses Frank's frustration, alienation, and even rage—feelings his young audience will recognize. . . . An invigorating take on a well-worn paranormal trope.""—Kirkus Reviews ""A fresh take on a classic monster mythos in this timeless-feeling series starter.""—Publishers Weekly
Author Information
Mats Strandberg is one of Sweden's most acclaimed suspense and horror writers for children and adults, published internationally. His Frank the Monster series is an award-winning bestseller and book club choice, read by children around the world in more than fifteen languages. Sofia Falkenhem is an artist in Malmö, Sweden, where she also works as a high school art teacher. Her work includes comics, traditional printmaking, and illustrations for children's books.
