Beezer

By: Brandon T. Snider

Narrated by: Fred Berman, Eric Yves Garcia, Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Margaret Ying Drake, Ellen Archer, Steve Rimpici, Jennifer Van Dyck, Neil Hellegers, Sanjiv Jhaveri, Gabriel Vaughan, Josh Hurley

Length: 2 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's Summary

Beelzebub, the prince of demons, is bored. It's his destiny to one day rule the dark underworld known as the Red Realm, but it's sooo boring down there. All he wants to do is lay around all day in the lava pits (ahhh), boss everyone around (rude!), and maybe play a cruel prank (or two). But Beelzebub's father has had it with his son's nasty attitude. No one backtalks the Red King. NO ONE. 

A disgraced Beelzebub is banished by his father and cursed to spend his days in the worst place either of them can imagine. EARTH. Now Beezer (his new name...which he hates...) has to navigate a family (who are way too nice for his liking) that doesn't know the truth behind where he really came from. Oh, and his human body? Not a fan. Too many feelings! And it makes weird sounds. 

What would Beezer do to get back home and reclaim his rightful place next to his father? Anything it takes. That is unless, he finds a new path (ugh work).

©2019 Brandon T. Snider (P)2020 Audible Originals, LLC.

What do I know?

This is not the first time this has happened:

- put on a kids' audio book in the car for my kids

- they listen silently and I can't tell if they're engaged or bored silly

- I think, "this is a lame story," but I say nothing

- get to the destination and one kid gushes about how much they love the story

Obviously I am old and do not understand what kids like. My kids sure like this book though.

Intro to Satanism for kids 101

The next Rick Riordan, or J.K. Rowling this is not.

This audiobook aimed at children and tweens is intense with the sound effects of cries from tortured souls in Hell, loud hellish growls, roaring flames, screams of anguish, and attempts of humor to offset the aforementioned with demons eating with sloppy lip smacking, lusty crunching, grotesque descriptions, and characters' pants wetting and flatulence.

You don't need a religious affiliation or belief to know that there are some topics that are not for children, no matter how old they are or how mature we think they are.

The law says that the age of eighteen is the age when one becomes a legal adult and can enter into binding contracts, or join the military, yet they cannot legally purchase alcohol or a gun until the age of 21.

Bearing the above in mind, most everyone can agree that when a child is exposed to a positive or negative influence, it can have far reaching consequences that remain with them well into adulthood.

Sometimes a good experience can ignite a desire to learn more about a subject and the child grows up to fulfill a lifelong desire to become a scientist, doctor, soldier, mechanic, inventor or president.

While bad experiences can spur some on to greatness, it is far more common that they scar a child's tender psyche sometimes beyond repair or sometimes create a trigger of recurring nightmares, anxiety and low self esteem that also can foretell the child's future.

We know this is true from the many examples of individuals from harsh backgrounds that become successful, but greater than those numbers are the lifers in prison who started with negative exposures that snowballed them to hurt animals, bully others, shoplift, runaway from home, sell or take drugs, rob, and kill.

Their stories explain that they were triggered by events or exposure to something beyond their maturity level. And even if for the briefest of moments, it impacted some aspect of their childhood and that fear, moment or bad memory forever negatively changed their impressionable minds.

This story disguises the nightmare inducing topics of: being condemned to Hell, evil, "familiars" in your home in the demonic possession of family pets, casting spells, eating souls, and human hearts. This is heightened with special sound effects and clamoring noise that inevitably compels the listener's mind to run wild creating it's own horrible pictures.

The malignant themes are subtly entwined are among a few thrown in token wholesome values: "family, love, telling the truth, and being yourself" to render the disturbing themes as cute or funny and innocuous.

Encouraging children to enjoy or desensitize these negative topics is reckless. Children are keenly impressionable and are drawn to stories of magic, the fantastic, and kids as heroes.
However, encouraging them with these themes is reminiscent of the beginings of many self proclaimed occultists, murderers, serial killers, or others on death row.

The greatest numbers yet are those who try to live a good happy life, but are still plagued with fear, anxiety, low self esteem and never reach their potential.

Be careful what you feed a child's mind.

As an adult, I enjoyed the story. I think my youngest son of 14 would likely find it amusing as would many other children even younger. But, I would rather he play video games than be entertained by this "free" audiobook, where the chance that he be influenced negatively is unlikely, it has no other purpose except as a warning for parents in what not to let their children access.

good short story

Some of the storyline leaves me unlikely to recommend it to children though. [Particularly foster or adoptive child as evil/ son of the devil.] I know, I know it is a good over evil thing. But I have heard that remark before and it is harmful to traumatized kids when uttered in real life.

That said, the story also has very empowering themes for being able to overcome past evil inflicted in your life.

To sum it up, I wouldn't be mortified to learn of kids reading it, but it isn't one I would recommend.

yucky eating sounds, good story

3 chapters in... I'm struggling to stick with it because of the DISGUSTING eating noises they make.

I like the story so far and that's the only thing pushing me through

Great Read

A nice adventure to go on through this story. It also teaches us how to treat others with respect, especially when we want it for ourselves. Will have my daughter listen to it. I think she will enjoy the story.

Very cute story

Although I am very much an adult it was a good story. The whole be true to yourself thing.

The Devil I Like

Who would have thought I would like the Devil's son.

Well the devil' son in this story is likable. You find yourself routing for the little imp towards the ends.

Good always wins out.

Love this story. My only issue is it wasnt long enough for my liking.

Also, is there a part 2 coming. It kinda ending like one is coming along. ;)

Funny and Insightful

Great story and good for kids to learn the importance of FAMILY! Loved it.

Peaceful

I finished this book in one sitting and just enjoyed it. I love simple books low key about demons and dark stuff! And this was a cute idea.

A wonderful story

I loved how this kept me engaged and excited to keep listening for me. I wished it was much longer, because it was such a wonderful story.