The Monster on the Road Is Me - Hardcover

Romney, J.P.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0374316546 ISBN 13: 9780374316549

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR), 2016

Synopsis

It starts with the crows. When you see them, you know he’s found you.

Koda Okita is a high school student in modern-day Japan who isn’t very popular. He suffers from narcolepsy and has to wear a watermelon-sized helmet to protect his head in case he falls. But Koda couldn’t care less about his low social standing. He is content with taking long bike rides and hanging out in the convenience store parking lot with his school-dropout friend, Haru.

But when a rash of puzzling deaths sweeps his school, Koda discovers that his narcoleptic naps allow him to steal the thoughts of nearby supernatural beings. He learns that his small town is under threat from a ruthless mountain demon that is hell-bent on vengeance. With the help of a mysterious―and not to mention very cute―classmate, Koda must find a way to take down this demon. But his unstable and overwhelming new abilities seem to have a mind of their own...

J.P. Romney's The Monster on the Road Is Me is a darkly comic debut novel about the unexpected strength we find when we are tested beyond our limits.

About this title

About the Author

J. P. Romney taught English in the small mountain town of Hidaka through the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program. J.P. came to love the culture, beliefs, myths, and customs in Japan. He lives in Pennsylvania, with his wife and two children. The Monster on the Road is Me is his debut novel.

From School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up—Koda Okita may be a social outcast, but he has wit and charm to spare. Sure, he's the son of shitake mushroom farmers and must wear a giant helmet to protect himself during narcoleptic falls, but there's something special about him. Or at least that's what Moya, a mysterious new girl at school, keeps telling him. There have been a series of suicides on Koda's high school grounds, seemingly coinciding with the arrival of masses of crows, and Moya is certain that only he can prevent more deaths. Koda just wants to kiss her. Romney's debut novel, set in Japan, lays out an intriguing premise and immediately delivers action and snarky commentary, as well as a bevy of mythological creatures determined to bring the town of Kusaka down. As Koda tries to figure out why a river spirit is so interested in driving his classmates and teachers to lethal despair, he encounters not just more monsters but also the hero within. There's a lot to enjoy here, especially for an audience of anime- and manga-loving teens. The demons and spirit creatures introduced here are drawn from Japanese folktales and Shinto and Buddhist lore, which the author learned about while teaching in Japan. Japanese words are interspersed frequently, with context cues used smartly. Violence is handled with minimal gore, despite some potentially disturbing subject matter. Koda's singular narrative voice and the cleverness of the dialogue are stylistic strengths, but the ironic tone does set up a certain amount of emotional distance, even during the climax and its aftermath. VERDICT Original writing, unusual villains, and considerable humor make for a fast-paced and creepy adventure that readers will adore.—Miriam DesHarnais, Towson University, MD

About this edition

• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 0374316546
• ISBN 13: 9780374316549
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 336