A review by graypeape
Things in the Basement by Ben Hatke

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

This is such a fun story, full of imagination, spooky and a little bit scary without being terrifying, with lovable characters that shouldn't be judged by their appearances. Milo's family has moved into a new house, and his mother asks him to go to the basement to find his little sister's missing sock (it must've gotten lost in the laundry). Now, basements are creepy - I've never lived in a house with one, but I remember the basement at my Aunt Annabel's house well, what thrilling fun it was to explore! Milo spots a rat running off with the sock, and discovers a whole other world down there, below the basement. He makes some unexpected friends, discovers that sometimes others look scary but turn out to be very nice, and by facing your fears, you often find they're not as scary as you thought. The art is delightful throughout, and the ending leaves open the possibility of a second book, because now that Milo's found the missing sock, there's a box up in the attic...