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Synopsis
The Monkey Mountain Monster finds Lindsey a reluctant day-camper, partly because most of the kids come from another school in her town of Hope Springs, but mostly because of mouthy Mona, who's a put-down artist extraordinaire and who's never without her gaggle of admiring girlfriends. Lindsey wants no part of it, but Mona has lured Lindsey's best friend, Caitlin, into her crowd of disciplesówhich leaves Lindsey out in the cold. To complicate matters, there's a mysterious monster, known as the Ooly Gooly, roaming through Hope Springs. On a dare Lindsey agrees that she will sleep out in her backyard one nightóbut when she finds out that Caitlin won't join her, she realizes she really is all on her own. An unexpected volunteer agrees to join Lindsey, and when the monster shows up the kids can't contain themselves. Chaos and panic set in with lively results.
"A cast of dynamic, memorable characters, plenty of humor (a Staunton trademark) and well-paced plots with believable school-age conflicts and satisfying endings. . . . Highly recommended."
-Canadian Materials
"Staunton's strength is that he uses humor to engage the reader while exploring problems that loom large on the pre-teen radar."
-City Parent
Christine Amyot - Children's Literature
Lindsey Schroder does not like day camp, the movie Sewer Slime VII, thunderstorms, and least of all, Mona. "Mouthy Mona" (as Lindsey appropriately nicknames her) has a nasty habit of making other people feel inferior, especially Lindsey. Beginning at a sleepover and continuing through a weeklong day camp, Mona succeeds in making Lindsey's life miserable. The tension between the two girls builds until finally Mona dares Lindsey to camp outside overnight where the dreaded Ooly Gooly, a nightmare evocative of Sewer Slime VII, might "get" her. With the help of her younger brother Kyle, Lindsey overcomes her fear of the Ooly Gooly and enjoys the last laugh in the rousing (and odiferous) conclusion. Staunton writes a story that all children will enjoy both as a read-aloud and as a silent reading. Despite the shallow and stereotypical nature of the characters, the oft-encountered themes of friendship, relationships between siblings, peer pressure, and facing one's fears will resonate with nearly all children. Cute and simple, this book would be an enjoyable break from the daily grind of the classroom. 2001, Red Deer Press,