Monster High by Lisi Harrison

Frankie Stein is thrilled when her parents tell her that she is ready to go to school. Frankie has high hopes for high school - she can't wait to make friends and to finally have the chance to wear her amazing wardrobe out in public. She's spent her whole life (all 15 days of it) inside her father's lab (a/k/a the Fab) and her only friends are the Glitterati (her pet mice) and her parents. Aside from her mint green skin, the thick bolts in her neck and the seams that are holding her appendages together, she would fit right in. But Frankie is none to happy when she is told that she and RAD's (other monsters like her) have to blend in with the normie's (random normal folk). Generations of RAD's have found safe haven in Salem, Oregon and cannot risk the chaos and uproar that a monster siting might cause - witch hunt anyone?

So off to "normie" school she goes under tons of make-up and conservative clothing to hide her more "original" traits. There she meets other monster teens who quickly befriend her Claudine (Clawdeen), Draculaura, Lagoona Blue, Deuce, D.J./Jackson Hyde, and Cleo.

In alternating chapters from Frankie's POV, you also meet new student and town resident, but more importantly, normie, Melody Carver. Melody and her family have just moved to Salem from Beverly Hills. Merston High and the town of Salem, Oregon, are in for a surprise when their September Semi (ironically themed "Monster Mash") - gets a tad bit more ghoulier then anticipated.

Oh, but I loved Frankie. She's such a sweet thing. I loved her attitude, her love of who she is and what she looks like really gives a positive vibe to the story. Ms. Harrison truly makes her shine throughout Monster High's pages. Although we do read a lot about Melody, and I did enjoy her chapters, Frankie's story was so much more interesting. I loved the mystery of who was a monster and who was a normie.... I kept trying to guess which monster the kids were... I found myself quite entertained by this.

I will forewarn that there is a cliff-hanger ending - so be prepared to be left feeling anxious for the next book. What will happen to Frankie, Melody, and their friends? The writing is witty, fun and definitely appealing for tweens. Super cute story and one that I think will be a sure hit with youngins plus there are some great messages scattered throughout. You guys also have to check out their "RAD" website. This is the start to what seems to be a very promising series. I can't wait to see what happens next.

This book was reviewed as part of a blog tour through Book it Forward ARC Tours and