A Monster Like Me - Hardcover

Wendy S. Swore

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1629725552 ISBN 13: 9781629725550

Publisher: Shadow Mountain, 2019

Synopsis

“In the vein of R.J. Palacio’s Wonder, this debut allows readers to step inside Sophie’s thoughts and to understand and emphasize with her.” –Booklist, starred review

Sophie is a monster expert. Thanks to her Big Book of Monsters and her vivid imagination, Sophie can identify the monsters in her school and neighborhood. Clearly, the bullies are trolls and goblins. Her nice neighbor must be a good witch, and Sophie's new best friend is obviously a fairy. But what about Sophie? She’s convinced she is definitely a monster because of the monster mark on her face. At least that's what she calls it. The doctors call it a blood tumor. Sophie tries to hide it but it covers almost half her face. And if she’s a monster on the outside, then she must be a monster on the inside, too.

Being the new kid at school is hard. Being called a monster is even harder. Sophie knows that it’s only a matter of time before the other kids, the doctors, and even her mom figure it out. And then her mom will probably leave just like her dad did.

Because who would want to live with a real monster?

Inspired by real events in the author's life, A Monster Like Me teaches the importance of believing in oneself, accepting change, and the power of friendship.

About this title

About the Author

Wendy S. Swore and her family are farmers. She writes part-time, particularly in winter when her farming chores give her time to plant seeds in her imagination. She is a member of SCBWI. This is her debut novel.

Review

"In Wendy S. Swore's tender A Monster Like Me, the imaginative grade schooler battles isolation and bullying to discover that growing stronger sometimes means realizing that there's more to life than meets the eye. Strikes a careful balance, depicting realistic cruelties in everyday encounters like schoolyard name-calling. Sophie's shame and unease are rendered with heartrending clarity. Other characters, including a man disfigured in combat, serve as thoughtful counterpoints. The book shines in its portrayal of finding self-acceptance. Pages from the monster book add occasional life tips and lead toward lessons in gratitude, and Sophie's flights of inspiration set her on a search for a cure. An intelligent and provocative story about a memorable girl who discovers her own unique talents, reminding those around her that everyone no matter how they look feels love and pain." --Foreword Reviews

"For as long as she can remember, Sophie has identified herself as a monster. She either shrouds her face with her long hair or hides behind her Big Book of Monsters to keep others from seeing the hemangioma on her face. She knows that people will think if she s disfigured on the outside, she must be on the inside. Smart, but self-consciously quiet, Sophie thinks she can identify other people as various types of monsters, witches, or fae folk. Bullies may surround her, but Sophie must confront her own fears. Will she ever allow herself to be just a human girl? Swore integrates The Big Book of Monsters into the fabric of the book by beginning each chapter with the description of a different monster, creating a disruption in the first-person narrative but also adding insight into how Sophie views the world. Swore s character-driven debut, in the vein of R. J. Palacio's Wonder, allows readers to step inside Sophie s thoughts and to understand and empathize with her, leaving them to wonder how they would react if they were Sophie."

--Booklist

About this edition

• Publisher: Shadow Mountain
• Publication date: 2019
• ISBN 10: 1629725552
• ISBN 13: 9781629725550
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 304