Ahmet Zappa’s The Monstrous Memoirs of a Mighty McFearless is a first book written by this author whose background includes being a member of a notable, and some think, quirky musical family. The Monstrous Memoirs is meant for the Middle grade reading audience.
The Monstrous Memoirs of a Mighty McFearless begins with eleven year old Minerva McFearless, her younger brother Max, and their battered and bleeding father locked in bird cages, dangling over a endless pit of molten lava. Close by, a rotund, drowsy, Snargleflougasaurus contaminated the air with his cavernous, fetid, fusty, razortoothed mouth.
The trio are closeted deep within the demonic nadirs of Castle Doominstinkinfart where The Zarmaglorg – sovereign of evil, has been engaged with tormenting Mr. McFearless in an unproductive, to date, struggle to seize control of the wicked magic held within the Enotslived Diamond.
From that opening The Reader is rushed along on an exciting journey jampacked with amplification of just how not ordinary the McFearless family really is, as well as arriving at the understanding that eight is the number of forever, while being made aware that Minerva and Max can, will and do give the impression they will discover calamity whenever they are left alone, and, Readers will move into a secretive chamber with the kids. It is a chamber where the fireplace used to be.
Rambling along a covert corridor Minerva and Max come to an entrance leading into a museum like room.
Prior to the termination of the account is reached; The Reader will note a description regarding The Grumplemiser, will see a formula for preparing Fool’s golend Friend Chicken Surprise Attack as well as one for The Cat Hand of Doom, which guards the user from Krunkadillions for 300 days.
Excitement, more exploits, more recipes and imaginings fill the pages of The Monstrous Memoirs of a Mighty McFearless. I first read Zappa’s The Monstrous Memoirs of a Mighty McFearless while teaching two terms of 4th grade back during the mid-2000s.The book enjoyed a good bit of approval among both girl and boy readers.
Educators of the middle grade student frequently verbalize the datum that the middle grades are a period when many kids often seem not to have proclivity for reading much of anything.
It appears that boys of this age, 10 - 13 years old, do often seem to lose much interest in reading. Not always so, I soon learned, reader interest can be tweaked especially when books offering a good bit of lively action, coupled with gross and just plain entertainment are available.
Ahmet Zappa’s The Monstrous Memoirs of a Mighty McFearless featuring lots of gross, fun and action never remained on the classroom library for more than a day before being checked out again.
Educators of the middle grade student frequently verbalize the datum that the middle grades are a period when many kids often seem not to have proclivity for reading much of anything.
When I moved to my first teaching love, First Grade, at the end of my second year in fourth grade; the book continued to be popular among those students who were no longer in my classroom.
Now that I am retired from teaching, I have begun to sort through books, and other materials, and I came upon our class library shelf copy of The Monstrous Memoirs of a Mighty McFearless. Reading it again today, I find the dwork holds as much attraction as ever it did.
So, I will review and post it now to AuthorsDen, despite the book having been published over a decade ago; in hopes another middle grade teacher, or parent of a ‘tweener’ 10-13 year old will read the review, search out a copy for their classroom, or home book shelf, and more reluctant middle grade readers will have the entertaining, idiosyncratic account brought to their attention by parent or educator, who may not as yet have noticed it.
I find Ahmet Zappa has fashioned a stirring, child friendly tale certain to entice the middle grade target audience.
Characters and circumstances including Guide Mr. Devilstone, the egomaniac, oneeyed coyote who sports a monster alarm the Enotslived Diamond, around his neck, as well as Ms. Monstranomicon a live monster manual who is kindhearted rather than alarming, and the McFearless clan itself is pleasing, charming and likeable.
I particularly enjoyed viewing the numerous graphics, photo works, monster images in addition to the monster deterring instructions formulas and recipes. Zappa has fashioned a book for kids who may not much enjoy reading.
Zappa,as one who is dyslectic knows well the struggle many kids face when trying to make sense of letters and words.
Minerva and her love hate relationship with her sibling is something young readers will understand, appreciate and giggle over.
Humor abounds, as it smooths out the monsterish chunks of the work in a sui generis and enjoyable manner. Zappa’s command of language is a pleasure to read, he presents verbiage to amuse the tongue, lend enjoyment to the eye as it pulls children and adults alike into the reading.
Mighty McFearless is a distinctive book holding much appeal for the middlegrade reading audience. I must admit, I expected much from the son of Frank Zappa who was my generation, while Ahmet is my children’s. I was not at all dissatisfied. During my reading for review of his lighthearted, keep‘em turning the page work.
I tend to appreciate quirky too. While Mighty McFearless is a book I read without hesitancy to my 4 grade classes, it was a little outside the scope for my First Grade students.
The Monstrous Memoirs of a Mighty McFearless works well as a pleasure reading choice for the 10-13 set, in addition to being a fine book for read-to activity for teachers in the classroom and parents at home to use for reading to their 8 – 10s.
After reading aloud to First Grade and Kindergarten students for 25+ plus years; I was not entirely surprised to learn ‘older’ kids too enjoy sitting and listening. My own children, as well as, the fourth graders I taught only the two terms between stints in Primary never tired of listening during home or classroom reading, listening time.
Note: Some parental guidance will be necessary for younger listeners. Parents will do well to read the book before reading it to young children. Some parental guidance will be necessary for younger listeners.
Reading the book first will help parents be aware of the spots in the narrative when younger, or particularly sensitive Little Learners may express genuine apprehension as opposed to the predictable shrieks of glee kids in the target audience, 10-13 years old can be anticipated to express when hearing crude not profane, or sensational or unusual verbiage.
Enjoyed the read again, happy to recommend.
Available Paperback, Hard Cover, Audiobook
========================================
Reviewed by: Molly Reviews BOOKS molly martin
www.AuthorsDen.com/mjhollingshead
20+ years classroom teacher
----------------------------------------------------
Internet search re biography: I found Zappa is a husband, father, member of a well known musical family, has released several albums with brother Dweezil, is an actor, tours with a music group and is writer of middle grade novels and screenplays.
