“All of us carry monster marks, Sophie. It’s just that some of us carry them on the outside.” A Monster Like Me is a compelling novel from Wendy S. Swore. Elementary school age Sophie worries she’s a monster due to a large birthmark on her face. Sophie uses her vivid imagination to create a fantasy world in her head — a place to hide from the stares and comments of strangers. Swore is a strong writer and tackles hard subjects with compassion and creativity in this debut book. A Monster Like Me is extremely descriptive, with lots of figurative language and unique characters.  The use of monsters and other fantasy creatures in the plot is a brilliant way to help Sophie (and readers!) learn about courage, hope, and acceptance. A Monster Like Me is a highly recommended story with fantastic messages for the whole family. 

Review of an Advance Reader’s Edition

This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Shadow Mountain

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  None

Violence/Gore:  Several mentions of fantasy violence involving monsters and other creatures, including a monster craving ‘human flesh’, a witch drowning weak creatures, maiden sacrifices and a mention of the blood of victims. Two second-hand reports of violence include a boy injuring a squirrel with a BB gun and a man recounting how he received his war injury. 

Sex/Nudity:  An adult couple holds hands and makes ‘kissy noises’; a character remembers the story of a princess kissing a frog; a monster is said to be ‘riding naked’; a character sees a car magazine with a lady in a ‘way-too-small bikini’ laying on the hood of a car. 

Mature Subject Matter:

Bullying, abandonment and fear of abandonment, moving to a new school, terminally-ill family members, hospitals visits and doctors, birthmarks, name calling (freak, idiot), counseling, stolen lunch money, school suspensions, mention of dead of family members, war experiences. 

Alcohol / Drug Use:

None