A review by e_flah
Meddling Kids, by Edgar Cantero
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Meddling Kids was a mixed experience -- the nostalgic Scooby Doo vibes were great and there were lots of truly bonkers shenanigans that felt true to the source material. On the other hand, the writing style was experimental in a way that I often found a bit frustrating. Meddling Kids is a book where the prose is basically a character itself as it demands to be acknowledged, rather than fading into the background to let the story take center stage. There's nothing wrong with this approach. I just personally didn't care for it and found it at odds with the tone of the plot.
Kerri and Andy were the reason I stuck with Meddling Kids. They were three-dimensional characters that reminded me of characters from the Scooby gang without feeling like cheap reproductions of them. Andy in particular won me over from the beginning. She's the fighter of the group who's also perfectly willing to be honest about when she's afraid.
If you really love Scooby Doo and like books that feel unlike anything else you've read, Meddling Kids may be the book for you.
Kerri and Andy were the reason I stuck with Meddling Kids. They were three-dimensional characters that reminded me of characters from the Scooby gang without feeling like cheap reproductions of them. Andy in particular won me over from the beginning. She's the fighter of the group who's also perfectly willing to be honest about when she's afraid.
If you really love Scooby Doo and like books that feel unlike anything else you've read, Meddling Kids may be the book for you.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore and Violence
Minor: Ableism, Transphobia, Racism, and Misogyny