The Bother with the Bonkillyknock Beast - (Miss Mary-Kate Martin's Guide to Monsters) by Karen Foxlee (Paperback)

About the Book

Miss Mary-Kate Martin travels the globe with her family helping solve monstrous problems in this fun fantasy adventure from the multi-award-winning author of Dragon Skin and Lenny's Book of Everything.

Book Synopsis

Miss Mary-Kate Martin travels the globe with her family helping solve monstrous problems in this fun fantasy adventure from the multi-award-winning author of Dragon Skin and Lenny's Book of Everything.

'Funny and fast-paced. A thrilling combination of courage, kindness and a cleverness of the heart.' Anna Fienberg, bestselling co-author of Tashi

Mary-Kate and her granny are going to stay at a very quiet castle near a very quiet Loch in the Scottish village of Bonkillyknock. The perfect destination for reading beside fireplaces, going for long walks in galoshes and drinking cups of tea with Granny's old friends. At least, that's what Mary-Kate thinks.

However, this is no ordinary reunion - it's a World Society of Monster Hunters' conference. So, when an ear-shattering howl interrupts the convention, Mary-Kate isn't too anxious. After all, the experts are on hand to investigate.

But when the castle kitchen is turned upside-down and the experts suspect the usually secretive Loch Morgavie monster, Mary-Kate isn't sure the clues add up. Could there be some other kind of beastly problem bothering Bonkillyknock Castle?

Miss Mary-Kate Martin might only be a beginner, but she's determined to get to the end of this monstrous mystery in the third exciting instalment in the Miss Mary-Kate Martin's Guide to Monsters series.

Review Quotes

'Karen Foxlee is such a brilliant writer, for all ages. The characters instantly drew me in, each with their own eccentricities and particular brand of vulnerability and courage. I adored Mary-Kate, holding fast to her set of magic rules (as you would!) to keep her safe in that family of monster hunters. Courage, kindness and a cleverness of the heart combine so thrillingly in this monster mystery. Funny and fast-paced, the action builds to a breath-holding pitch. I so admire the skilful way all the wild, green pieces come together to yield such a surprising, glowing ending. So satisfying!' Anna Fienberg, bestselling co-author of Tashi

PRAISE FOR THE WRATH OF THE WOOLINGTON WYRM'The Wrath of the Woolington Wyrm is easily one of the most charming books for young readers I have come across. It has a perfect balance of fun, fantasy, humour and innocence. I think it takes real talent to create something that is exciting/dramatic with a fantasy element without getting too dark. I'm big on keeping things innocent for our kids, while giving them plenty to challenge their imagination and literacy skills. This really hits the sweet spot! Not surprising, really, because Karen Foxlee is a genius.' Katrina Nannestad, bestselling author of the Travelling Bookshop series

'An intriguing, suspenseful, action-packed and deliciously thrilling mystery, full of Karen Foxlee's trademark heart, wisdom, wit and ingenuity. A gently reassuring and inspiring story about the value of courage, knowledge and kindness. It reminds us that we all have the capacity for bravery, despite our worm holes, worries and monster-shaped fears. Ultimately, we see that truth is at the heart of every monster hunter's search. And that sometimes all we need to do is start - by putting one red sparkly footstep in front of another. Perfect for young fans of The Ghouls of Howlfair by Nick Tomlinson and Jonathan Auxier's The Fabled Stables.' Edwina Wyatt, award-winning author of The Secrets of Magnolia Moon

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About the Author

Karen Foxlee is an Australian author who writes for both children and young adults. She grew up in the Australian outback mining town Mount Isa and still frequently dreams she is walking barefoot along the dry Leichhardt River. She has written many acclaimed children's books including Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy, A Most Magical Girl, the internationally successful and multi-award-winning Lenny's Book of Everything, and Dragon Skin, which was a CBCA Honor Book, winner of the Aurealis Awards and short-listed for the NSW Premier's Literary Awards, the Indie Book Awards and the ABIA Awards. Karen's latest books are the junior fiction Miss Mary-Kate Martin's Guide to Monsters series, illustrated by Freda Chiu. www.karenfoxlee.com

Freda Chiu is an author and illustrator from Sydney, Australia. As well as illustrating children's books, her work spans comics, editorial and retail graphics. Outside her art practice, Freda lectures in Illustration at the University of Technology Sydney. Her debut picture book, A Trip to the Hospital, was short-listed for the CBCA Award for New Illustrator and the IBBY Australia Ena Noël Awards. She has most recently illustrated Karen Foxlee's junior fiction series Miss Mary-Kate Martin's Guide to Monsters and Wai Chim's picture book Last-Place Lin. www.fredachiu.com