Heck: Where the Bad Kids Go

By: Dale E. Basye

Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot

Length: 6 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's Summary

When Milton and Marlo Fauster die in a marshmallow-bear explosion, they get sent straight to Heck, an otherworldly reform school. Milton can understand why his kleptomaniac sister is here, but Milton is—or was—a model citizen. Has a mistake been made? Not according to Bea “Elsa” Bubb, the Principal of Darkness. She doesn’t make mistakes. She personally sees to it that Heck—whether it be home-ec class with Lizzie Borden, ethics with Richard Nixon, or gym with Blackbeard the pirate—is especially, well, heckish for the Fausters. Will Milton and Marlo find a way to escape? Or are they stuck here for all eternity, or until they turn 18, whichever comes first?

©2008 Dale E. Basye (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic Reviews

“Parents and readers…are in for a treat with Dale E. Basye’s very funny debut novel.” ( Wall Street Journal)

“The author’s umpteen clever allusions…make this book truly sparkle.” ( Publishers Weekly)

“Dale E. Basye has written a romp of a story.” ( Tweendom)

A well-read, imaginative diversion

The reader makes all the difference sometimes, and Bronson Pinchot is masterful at creating distinct voices. It was sometimes hard to believe that only one person was reading! The story is a bit light and corny for my taste, but it was original. Marlo and Milton are sent to Heck, which is a kind of limbo exclusively for children, populated by a corrupt bureaucracy of flawed demons administering offbeat punishments such as locking away the phonics lessons from the kids who are "hooked" on them and forcing boys to wear humiliating clothing such as lederhosen. I would imagine this story appealing most to a fanciful ten year-old, but I stuck with it because I was so entertained by the excellent reading.

One heck of a book series😉

It is such a creative series and the writing is hysterical.
Definitely a must read.

what a fun listen

loved this story, it was hilarious, and don't forget all the puns and alliteration! fun time to be had for all. 10/10

Better than expected

Absolutely hilarious. Easy read. Jokes for kids and adults. More than worth the read in my opinion

It’s slow slow and slower

I do like it it’s just so slow like slower then Harry Potter on half speed. Best person on the book is melton. Maybe if the reader didn’t sound like he was teaching high school science I would have listened more to the story

Fun and fit for youngsters

The story carries well enough to listen as an adult, though it’s a children’s story. Recommend for long trips of device free hours to share a story with the whole family. Enough lessons to use as literature building with the kiddos, too.

I couldn’t even finish it

I’m sorry to say this but it was boring absolutely no story and a very basic plot line I would have enjoyed it if it had a little more gore details and discreptians I am younger than 13 so typos r gonna happen anyways yea pretty boring plot overall no relative characters and teaches kids bed lessons

Didn’t expect this.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It made me laugh out loud as I listened. The children’s journey Toto and through Heck was captivating.

slow starter

It starts off slowly and the narrator struggles a bit getting in character particularly with the younger characters. After a short while the story starts to pick up and the performance improves markedly. The story stays strong from then on . There were a couple weak points again later in the children's voices but the rest of the characters were were great. over all I enjoyed listening to it.

Complete waste of time.

The story was hard to get into and it is very slow at the beginning. Trust me it will not get better do not waste your time. By the end I was just thankful it was over.