Howl

By: Shaun David Hutchinson

Narrated by: Kevin R. Free

From critically acclaimed Shaun David Hutchinson comes a “gripping, dynamic” (Booklist, starred review) portrayal of the oftentimes traumatic experience of growing up.

Virgil Knox was attacked by a monster.

Of course, no one in Merritt believes him. Not even after he stumbled into the busy town center, bleeding, battered, and bruised, for everyone to see. He’d been drinking, they said. He was hanging out where he wasn’t supposed to, they said. It must’ve been a bear, or a badger, or a gator—definitely no monster.

Virgil doesn’t think it was any of those things. He’s positive it was a monster. But being the new kid in a town where everybody knows everybody is hard enough as it is without being the kid who’s afraid of monsters, so he tries to keep a low profile.

Except he knows the monster is still out there. And if he isn’t careful, Virgil’s afraid it’ll come back to finish him off, or worse—that he’ll become one himself.

please make a sequel

I loved the book I think it could have used some more creative at times but other than that a great story just wish he'd make a sequel book or series.

Intricate and Effective

There isn't any surprise with what the author is trying to achieve - I don't think he hides it and it's made clear by the content warnings at the onset of the book. Even so, I felt present with Virgil all throughout: the way his trauma is explored worked well for the story and was performed excellently by Kevin R. Free. The narrative isn't one full of action at every step: the exposition, the experiences, and the confusion that build up to the finale felt well delivered. I wasn't waiting for any kind of explosive reveal, and I think Shaun David Hutchinson crafted a story where that wasn't necessary. This read like great literary fiction in a YA setting, and Kevin R. Free deftly brought the characters to life and performed the post-traumatic asides woven throughout the book so well. I appreciate a story that shows itself to be fully human, and differentiates between deserved and underserved forgiveness.

Spellbinding

I was hooked right away with this one and it kept me guessing until the end.

Boring

The story takes forever to go anywhere. I’m not sure it ever gets anywhere. I expected a some horror, but what I got was a disappointing story.