From Bruce Coville, the master of tween comic suspense, comes a tale of monsters, the bond between brothers, and saving the world.
Jake's baby brother, LD, may be a monster (complete with fangs and fur!), but together with his best friend, Lily, Jake isn't going to let anything happen to that baby. Even if it turns out LD may be the key to saving the world—or destroying it. Soon Jake and Lily are on a perilous quest through Always October, a land populated with monsters.
Perfect for fans of Bruce Coville's beloved books, such as *Jeremy Thatcher*, *Dragon Hatcher*, the Unicorn Chronicles series, and My Teacher Is an Alien series.
**
### From School Library Journal
Gr 4-7-Sixth-grader Jacob Doolittle and his best friend, Lily, are torn between fascination and terror in this comedic horror tale. When Jacob discovers a baby on his doorstep, his mother decides to keep it-even when the newborn sprouts pointy ears, bushy fur, and fangs. Adjusting to the new life of monster-sitting, Jacob and Lily next discover a secret room in the attic that holds the clues to the earlier disappearance of Jacob's father and grandfather. The boy's grandfather, Arthur Doolittle, once wrote a book called A World of Midnight in which he first described the monster world known as "Always October." One night when a magical portal appears in Jacob's room, he and his baby monster, Little Dumpling, must flee from the evil monster Mazrak and his herd of Unravelers. Entering the world of Always October, Jacob and his friends encounter a giant spider called Octavia, the Tunnel of Tears, Forest of the Lost, Black Bridge of Doom, and the Library of Nightmares, while protecting LD. Upon his shoulders rests the fate of Always October and Humana. The story alternates between Jacob's and Lily's points of view. With the right combination of horror and humor, this book will hold readers in its grip and have them asking for more. Fans of Coville's "Magic Shop" series (Harcourt) will find this new story cooler than a goblin's heinie!-Krista Welz, The North Bergen Public Library, NJα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
### From Booklist
Twelve-year-old Jacob and best friend Lily frequently hang out at a mausoleum in the cemetery between their houses. One night they are swept into Always October, a parallel universe filled with monsters representing humankind’s greatest fears. They encounter warring creature groups, including one that would like to permanently sever connections between the two worlds. Jacob’s younger brother, Little Dumpling (a foundling who has recently become a monster himself), is the focus of this dispute, with each side claiming LD is the key to survival. Related in alternating chapters by Jacob and Lily, Coville’s tale is a quest for survival and knowledge: Jacob needs to understand the disappearances of his grandfather and father and safely return LD to the real world, while Lily functions to support Jake, who suffers from multiple insecurities and OCD. Short chapters and a large font make the lengthy text accessible, and a cast of intriguing minor characters (especially a two-part monster, Sploot Fah, that bonds with Jacob) will intrigue readers. Give to fans of Debi Gliori’s Witch Baby series. Grades 3-6. --Kay Weisman
Description:
From Bruce Coville, the master of tween comic suspense, comes a tale of monsters, the bond between brothers, and saving the world. Jake's baby brother, LD, may be a monster (complete with fangs and fur!), but together with his best friend, Lily, Jake isn't going to let anything happen to that baby. Even if it turns out LD may be the key to saving the world—or destroying it. Soon Jake and Lily are on a perilous quest through Always October, a land populated with monsters. Perfect for fans of Bruce Coville's beloved books, such as *Jeremy Thatcher*, *Dragon Hatcher*, the Unicorn Chronicles series, and My Teacher Is an Alien series. ** ### From School Library Journal Gr 4-7-Sixth-grader Jacob Doolittle and his best friend, Lily, are torn between fascination and terror in this comedic horror tale. When Jacob discovers a baby on his doorstep, his mother decides to keep it-even when the newborn sprouts pointy ears, bushy fur, and fangs. Adjusting to the new life of monster-sitting, Jacob and Lily next discover a secret room in the attic that holds the clues to the earlier disappearance of Jacob's father and grandfather. The boy's grandfather, Arthur Doolittle, once wrote a book called A World of Midnight in which he first described the monster world known as "Always October." One night when a magical portal appears in Jacob's room, he and his baby monster, Little Dumpling, must flee from the evil monster Mazrak and his herd of Unravelers. Entering the world of Always October, Jacob and his friends encounter a giant spider called Octavia, the Tunnel of Tears, Forest of the Lost, Black Bridge of Doom, and the Library of Nightmares, while protecting LD. Upon his shoulders rests the fate of Always October and Humana. The story alternates between Jacob's and Lily's points of view. With the right combination of horror and humor, this book will hold readers in its grip and have them asking for more. Fans of Coville's "Magic Shop" series (Harcourt) will find this new story cooler than a goblin's heinie!-Krista Welz, The North Bergen Public Library, NJα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. ### From Booklist Twelve-year-old Jacob and best friend Lily frequently hang out at a mausoleum in the cemetery between their houses. One night they are swept into Always October, a parallel universe filled with monsters representing humankind’s greatest fears. They encounter warring creature groups, including one that would like to permanently sever connections between the two worlds. Jacob’s younger brother, Little Dumpling (a foundling who has recently become a monster himself), is the focus of this dispute, with each side claiming LD is the key to survival. Related in alternating chapters by Jacob and Lily, Coville’s tale is a quest for survival and knowledge: Jacob needs to understand the disappearances of his grandfather and father and safely return LD to the real world, while Lily functions to support Jake, who suffers from multiple insecurities and OCD. Short chapters and a large font make the lengthy text accessible, and a cast of intriguing minor characters (especially a two-part monster, Sploot Fah, that bonds with Jacob) will intrigue readers. Give to fans of Debi Gliori’s Witch Baby series. Grades 3-6. --Kay Weisman