Mail-Order Monsters: Crash Course

A 10-year-old boy desperate for a new best friend orders monsters from an ad at the back of an old comic book. Ten-year-old Marco Torres needs a new bestie. Or a few. He’s on the outs with his EX-best friend and needs someone to talk to, confide in. So he takes a chance on an ad in the back of an old comic book promising something big: MAIL-ORDER MONSTERS. Marco hopes they’ll make amazing new besties and scare off his bully, who in a mean twist of fate happens to be the twin of his crush. When the monsters arrive, Marco unleashes their magic and draws the reaction he’d hoped for from his classmates—until the monsters’ hilarious, uncontrolled escape through the school’s ceilings makes it nearly impossible to hide them from adults. And when Marco’s ex-bestie challenges him to a grudge match to finally settle their score, it’s Marco’s monsters against an enemy robot in a race on remote control trucks through the neighborhood junk yard. But through it all, Marco begins to wonder who should really be fighting his battles? And what exactly is he fighting for? A tale of friendship breakups and makeups, of monsters and robots, and of racing and chasing. Featuring a diverse cast and bilingual Latino protagonist, readers will love the Spanish lightly sprinkled and explained within. REVIEWS: "Packed with humor, heart, and fast-paced adventure, Mail-Order Monsters is a wild ride about friendship, courage, and the inspiring journey of discovering where true strength comes from. Silvia Acevedo skillfully explores how loneliness can drive us to seek connecgon in the most unexpected places. Through vivid storytelling and hearlelt emogon, she takes readers on a journey of discovery and imaginagon. Jeff Miracola's masterful illustragons leap off the page, bringing each scene to life with energy and hearlelt emogon. Combined with Acevedo's rich, descripgve language, this story offers an excigng and immersive adventure that will capture readers' hearts from beginning to end." ~ Midwest Book Review "Mail-Order Monsters is a fun and fast-paced story for middle grade readers. The themes of friendship and reconciliation are woven securely into the plot, and action in the final chapters just rockets the reader forward. Highly recommend this book for young boys in particular." ~ Wisconsin Writers Association "Acevedo’s Mail-Order Monsters: Crash Course is a delightful, rollicking, action-packed tale of friendships—old and new, forgiveness, and the willingness to believe in the impossible. A middle-grade must-read!" ~ Michelle Houts, author of Winterfrost and Lucy's Lab "Readers will enjoy discovering the creatures’ capabilities, laughing at their school pranks, and cheering them on during the thrilling road race challenge. As an added bonus, Spanish words and phrases are effortlessly sprinkled throughout the book, adding a beautiful layer of authenticity. Can Camo, Stinky, and Growler show Marco what it means to be a true friend?" ~ Kristin Oakley, author of The Devil Particle "An action-packed adventure filled with excitement, surprises, and unforgettable friendships! Perfect for classrooms and read-aloud fun, Mail-Order Monsters is a thrilling, laugh-out-loud story about teamwork and the true meaning of friendship. Young readers will love the wild adventures, quirky creatures, and heartwarming moments that make this book an instant favorite!" ~ Christy Wopat, teacher and author of Always Ours "Monsters to the rescue! You’ll enjoy being along for the twists and turns as the author skillfully weaves a story of friendship into this action-packed tale. Witty, hilarious, and full of fun with a touch of sweetness right when we need it the most!" ~ Valerie Biel, award-winning author of Haven