Reviews

Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero

mainereading's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny lighthearted mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I am obsessed with Scooby Doo. I grew up watching it since I was a baby and I even named my dog Scrappy after the character from the series. I was really looking forward to reading this book, and it didn't disappoint. I loved it. It was spooky, funny, and it had many Scooby Doo references! Not everyone will enjoy this story or the writing style the author used, but I liked it. I do have some questions and complaints, but overall it was an enjoyable read, and it has become one of my favorite books! Also, this gave me Scooby Doo on Zombie Island and Scooby Doo and the Witches Ghost vibes!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug use, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Murder

em_jay's review against another edition

3.0

Took me a while to warm up to the plot & characters. I didn’t love this book, but after the 3rd part it became more interesting to me. I’m all for an occult detective book, but the familiarity of scenes, Scooby Doo tropes, etc. Just wasn’t for me at this time. Enjoyable, but didn’t love it.

izzi_pinnock's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

practicallysprout's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

cdoxsie's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

whatyoutolkienabout's review against another edition

5.0

I have to say I loved this. Equal measures of comedy and horror. Romance that isn't the main driving force and best of all Tim and the Canary are okay!

hjswinford's review against another edition

2.0

This book started out strong. I loved the concept and it seemed at the beginning like it was going to be awesome. I think it was just too long...? I started to lose interest and found myself not wanting to get back to it. It was fine in the end...I just had lost all the emotion I'd invested in it at the beginning.

ila_mae's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

If Scooby-doo had a baby with Stranger Things, it would be this book. I can honestly say, I haven't read anything quite like this before. The homage to Scooby-doo is definitely there, but this definitely takes a much darker, more sinister inspiration for the plot. While the horror was more gory than scary, it's definitely creepy and well done. The book is also written
... Cinematically? I'm not sure how else to describe it. The action sequences are written beautifully, probably with some of the best momentum and punch that I've ever read. The writing also reads like you're watching it on a screen, not just in how vividly it's described, but also in how it's described.  Characters randomly switch to dialogue tags like a script, or the prose sometimes breaks the fourth wall, or is even self-referential (there's a line about the two lines of space between a paragraph break). It was fascinating and probably my favorite part of the book. The way the story is told is incredible and completely unique. The only thing I didn't necessarily like is the over-elaborate metaphors. Clever? Yes. Beautifully worded? Yes. But did I enjoy having to pause and sit and think about what the heck he was trying to say? No, not really. But other than that, I really enjoyed reading this book.

kblum15's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

jjuliaagriss's review against another edition

2.0

I was so pumped for this because Scooby Doo and Cthulhu!!?!!!!? But it kinda fell flat. It didn't feel like there was enough lore or backstory in the plot. I feel like most of the plot revolved on Andy and Kerri's "relationship" - it didn't help that I hated Andy and didn't actually like any of the characters at all.

I felt like most of the book was them running around, underground, in passages, into Kerri's old room and the script format was sooo distracting for me (and seemed unnecessary??)

Needs more Nate, TBH.