Making Friends With Monsters

Sandra L. Rostirolla

Paperback

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IngramSpark Bestselling Indie Young Adult Fiction Book

A Kirkus Review's Best Book

Booklife Prize Semi-Finalist

"Why does everything have to be so complicated? Why? Monsters! That's why! They stick their scungy little noses into everything!"

In this gripping tale, twelve-year-old Sam's innocent quest to help his troubled older brother, quickly spirals into a battle with his own inner monster. After a life-altering accident awakens Sam's beast, his once well-intentioned actions wreak havoc on his relationships, including with the girl he loves.

When he uncovers the family secret that triggered his brother's downward spiral, Sam realizes someone else also has a monster and the hideous beast did something really bad. With his world spiraling out of control, Sam struggles to find balance and along the way discovers hidden strengths and the power of compassion.

In this thrilling book, the stakes are high as Sam confront the truth about himself and those around him. Full of heart-pounding suspense and emotional depth, "Making Friends With Monsters" is a powerful story of self-discovery, resilience, and the transformative power of friendship. Readers of all ages will be captivated by Sam's harrowing journey as he grapples with the complexities of life and finds the courage to confront the monstrous shadows that haunt us all.

Themes: Suicidal ideas, death of a family member, animal death, family dysfunction, and severe bodily trauma.

Book Details

Publisher: Pinkus Books
Publish Date: Apr 4th, 2023
Pages: 300
Language: English
Edition: undefined - undefined
Dimensions: 8.50in - 5.50in - 0.67in - 0.84lb
EAN: 9780999189184
Recommended age: 13-18
Categories: • Social Themes - Death, Grief, Bereavement• Social Themes - Mental Illness• Social Themes - Suicide

About the Author

Rostirolla, Sandra L.: - "Sandra is an award-winning YA author (CIBAs Dante Rossetti Award, Author Academy Award, Literary Classics Award, & Eric Hoffer Award - Finalist). Her books include the YA/Fantasy Trilogy: "The Cecilia Series" and the upcoming YA/Coming of Age: "Making Friends With Monsters." Born is Sydney, Australia, she presently resides in Los Angeles, CA."

Praise for this book

"An urgent, unflinching YA novel about the 'monsters' of depression and family dysfunction." -Booklife Editor's Pick

"Equal parts heartbreaking and hopeful. . . . The monster motif is ingenious: it allows for a way to talk about mental health in its entirety rather than just in terms of one manifestation, like depression or anxiety." -Foreword Reviews (5 Stars)

★ "Utterly engaging and rewarding. . . . Rostirolla balances evoking readers' sympathies with avoiding maudlin emotions, successfully turning a novel about stark and painful topics into an enjoyable read." -Kirkus Reviews

"Sam is a masterful narrator, insightful and un-selfconscious. Some lines impress with their visual simplicity, others with their wit." -IndieReader (5 Stars)

". . .a compelling novel that is gripping from beginning to end. . . . Highly recommended." -Midwest Book Reviews

"A wonderful, timely & ingenious novel depicting mental health issues & family dynamics, metaphorically highlighted in the guise of 'Monsters' residing and needing to be 'tamed' in all of us." -Luis Arabit, Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy San Jose State University

"A spectacular look into the mental woes that today's adolescents face on a daily basis." -Thomas O'Flaherty, Studio Teacher

"An amazing book that everyone can benefit from. I learned about myself, about others, how to handle other people, knowing that they do have monsters as well, and how to make friends with my own monster." -Ginny Null, R.S. Kellis High School Library

"This book can make a real difference in someone's life and I love that it gives them language to use." -Sarah Katin, Writer/Executive Producer

". . . this novel defies and resists and withstands the relentless onslaught of what life is like with monsters, and ultimately prevails as an uplifting story of love and family. . . . powerful book with a compelling message." -Goodreads Reviewer

"Highly Recommending. The discussion of personal monsters and the main character's eventual understanding of them is AMAZING! A must read for MS kids."-Jessica Washington, School Librarian