Monster Claw Ranch #1 - by Avery Hart (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

For fans of Impossible Creatures and Goosebumps comes a monstrously thrilling tale about a thirteen-year-old boy who knows monsters are real...because his family home is full of them.

Mateo Parra isn't a typical thirteen-year-old. He lives on a ranch with his family, but rather than raising horses or cattle, they rescue and rehabilitate monsters--a secret they keep hidden from their small town of Tombstone, Montana.

When his parents leave him in charge for the weekend, things quickly spiral out of control. His next-door neighbor, January Jordan, discovers the truth, and the worst happens. The duo accidentally releases a monster, leaving them with a monstrous problem: how to capture the creature quickly before chaos erupts. Then several people in town are struck by a strange trance, and some even start disappearing. Mateo and January must race to uncover the mystery before his parents come home--but does the answer lie with the missing monster...or something far more frightening?

With fast-paced adventure, mythical creatures, and light frights, this hair-raising series starter is perfect for fans of both horror and fantasy tales.

About the Author

Avery Hart holds degrees from ASU and Harvard and is a curious, lifelong learner with a passion for science. Avery lives with a husband, two daughters, and menagerie of pets in the scenic Southwest, but occasionally ventures outside the writing room to explore faraway corners of the planet. While not reading or watching documentaries, Avery is dreaming up new stories that feature magic and monsters.

James Firnhaber is an illustrator based in Philadelphia. His work draws on his love of mythology, magical realism, graphic novels, and traditional animation. When they're not illustrating, James designs board games and helps run the Game Makers Guild of Philadelphia. Besides drawing and designing games, James loves discovering new music, baking bread, and spending time with their partner cooking, watching monster-of-the-week shows, and exploring the city. Visit him online at JamesFirnhaber.com.