Diary of a Monster's Son [Hardcover]

Ellen Conford (Author)

Book Description

Grade Level: P and up

Bradley Fentriss lives with his dad. He loves his dad. Bradley's dad, however, is not like other dads in the neighborhood. He is very large. He is very hairy. As for his teeth, well, some people are frightened of them. But Bradley's dad works hard at being a good father. Whether he's helping Bradley pick out new clothes, going to parent-teacher night, or doing home repairs, Mr. Fentriss looms large in his son's life. Here is a funny story of everyday life in not-so-everyday family.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4-Bradley Fentriss describes life with his father, who is far from ordinary. In fact, he is a large, hairy monster with fangs and claws. Though his appearance is alarming, in all other ways he is a gent who is punctiliously polite to everyone and a loving father to his son. Bradley's diary entries are arranged into five chapters that detail buying school clothes, Parent-Teacher night, trick-or-treating, home repairs, and a winter picnic. While the events are rather tame, a monster dad gives them an unusual, often humorous twist. Conford taps into the popularity of horror fiction but with a light touch. While at times her message that behavior matters more than looks gets somewhat muddled, it is clear that Mr. Fentriss is liked by everyone who knows him. However, the diary format doesn't fit the narrative: all of the entries are told in the present tense and rely heavily on dialogue. Neither Bradley nor his father comes across as a fully drawn character, but the relationship between them is warm and funny. Newsom's eye-catching jacket and full-page pen-and-ink illustrations will attract and hold young readers. While this is not Conford at her best, children will be drawn by the premise of the story and find the father-son relationship appealing.
Maggie McEwen, Coffin Elementary School, Brunswick, ME
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 80 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown; 1st edition (April 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316152455
• ISBN-13: 978-0316152457
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,714,243 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Funny and darling, August 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Diary of a Monster's Son (Hardcover)

Bradley knows his father is special. For one thing, he's impressively tall. But all through this diary, Bradley never realizes that anyone might think the hair and fangs a bit--well--unusual.

A good read, a short read, and a really neat boy hero, who only wants to grow up just like ("Eat your fungus, Bradley.") Dad. Sweet and funny.

1.0 out of 5 stars So Much "Twaddle", January 5, 2008

By 

A Customer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Diary of a Monster's Son (Hardcover)

While charming in it's simplicity, reader's who are waiting for a crisis or a climax will be disappointed. The title and premise of the book promised so much more--to explore the challenges of having a monster for a father, facing a bully at school, facing the bully in himself, etc. But the author only skims along the surface, leaving us with a book that is superficial and lackluster.

Charming elements include the boy's devotion and tender affection for his father, and his father's for him. The creativity begins (and sadly, ends) with the interesting things they eat: cream of fungus soup, peanut butter and jellyfish, etc.

Specifics: The father's portrayal as such an unflappable, perfect "father-mother" adds to the frustration of having no plot in the story. For those interested in political correctness, the father calls a "Ms. Wainsocket" for home repairs. Bradley wants to go out and build a "snow person." Use of the word "dork" may be undesirable to those who know it's origins and do not wish to hear their children using it.

Nothing is resolved in this story. Bradley never realizes people are reacting to his father in fear. He never faces the fact that he is as big a bully as his arch enemy Raymond, and never learns to befriend him. He never has to face up to his misbehavior at school because the teachers are too afraid to tell their father what he's been up to.

Overall, with so many more books of greater value to fill my children's heads with, this one is not worth the space it would take up.

4.0 out of 5 stars Frivolous - in a good way!, March 23, 2005

By 

Deborah Fredericks "fantasy author" (Spokane, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Diary of a Monster's Son (Hardcover)

This is a very low-key book, no great angst or excitement, but plenty of comic touches aimed at a young reader. Bradley's Dad really is a monster (though we're never told exactly what kind; possibly the author wanted to let kids imagine for themselves).

Light-weight, but a fun read. I especially recommend finding the version that comes with plastic claws. These added greatly to the reading experience for my eight-year-old.

Deby Fredericks, author of The Magister's Mask