- Publisher: Pinkus Books
- Publication Date: April 4, 2023
- Author: Sandra L. Rostirolla
- Genre: Own Voices | Parenting & Families | Teens & YA
- Page Count: 298
Review
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first started reading this novel. And at the beginning, it was somewhat depressing. But as I continued reading, it became clear that there was a message behind the story. A message that would evoke deep and moving images in my mind.
Samuel Nolen is seeing and feeling the effects of an unexpected six-year drought. As a sheepherding family, the drought has caused undue hardship for everyone. The family have had to drastically cut back on water usage and they were forced to sell their sheep stock at a loss. Even toilet flushing became a luxury.
As bare necessities became luxuries, and the Nolen family struggles to make ends meet, each of them begin to crumble under the enormous stress. The result is a dysfunctional family desperately in need of rescue.
Making Friends With Monsters is a thought provoking novel that brings to the forefront life issues many of us have encountered or experienced at one point or another. It is not an easy read due to the subject matter. But the messages within it needs to be front and center when difficult subjects arise.
I loved how author Rostirolla crafted such a moving story and incorporated the first person point of view from a twelve-year-old perspective. Having the narrative unfold in this way softened the impact of the difficult subject matter.
Rostirolla’s characters are so real and they could be your neighbors down the street. Her protrayal of Samuel especially, was very touching and I could feel the pain of what he was going through. There are a number of other characters that really added some depth and nice final touches.
In the end, we are awarded with twenty-six takeaways or tenets that help us understand the “monster” inside each and everyone of us. Five excellent stars.
I received a digital ARC from Pinkus Books through Edelweiss+ and NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
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