The Creakers Hardcover – Illustrated, September 10, 2019

My child is 3 1/2 and loves this book! I have a feeling that I’m going to have to read it all over again. The story comes to life when I read it at night. The book is an easy read and very descriptive. It would make a great movie!

Tom Fletcher’s “The Creakers” is a funny, clever, sometimes-scary adventure story for middle grade readers. Protagonist Lucy Dungston is eleven years old when her mom suddenly disappears in the middle of the night. And since her father – a garbage man with his own stinky garbage truck – disappeared a few months back, she’s particularly frightened. But when she discovers that ALL of the adults in Whiffington have vanished, she is determined to unravel the mystery and save the town. Because things in Whiffington pretty much go to “heck” when all the kids are on their own, without adult supervision. When she learns that strange creatures from under her bed (called “Creakers”) are responsible, her mission is to find out why and rescue the grownups. With the help of her new friend Norman Quirk (a “geeky kid” who’s obsessed with earning Scout badges) and stuck-up rich kid Ella Noying, Lucy braves a strange new world to make sense of what really doesn’t.There’s a clear similarity here to the Netflix series “The Society,” in which all of the adults in town disappear, leaving all of the kids to fend for themselves. Of course, those kids are all teenagers, so the challenges are different. In “The Creakers,” the kids are much younger, some as young as six. I was also reminded here of the Netflix series, “Stranger Things,” where young kids discover a hidden underground world called the “Upside-Down.” The world Lucy discovers through a portal under her bed (called Woleb – for obvious reasons!) is similar – a scary place that’s a little difficult to understand and navigate. Things in the Woleb really are upside down – whatever you say or do means the opposite.The central focus of the novel is on what it means to be different, whether you’re a girl with a mission, a boy who loves Scouting, or a creature from another world. As Lucy’s father has always said, “It’s the different people who make a difference.” And that’s what happens in “The Creakers.”Ultimately, this is a novel about strange things, creatures under the bed, and one young girl’s efforts to make her world right again. I loved Lucy’s character – she’s smart and funny and she has a wonderful heart (she has empathy not only for her parents and her friends, but even for the Creakers). There’s something refreshing about a scary story (and this one has its scary moments) in which even the monsters have personalities and lives and families. I especially liked Fletcher’s way of telling this story, weaving Lucy’s perspective with his own comments as the author of the novel. He even provides clever interludes between chapters, warning his young readers about what’s around the corner. Yes, it’s a scary story. But young kids will definitely love it! It’s the kind of scary that makes you want to know more. And the illustrations (by Shane Devries) are wonderful – I loved turning the pages to see more! I highly recommend “The Creakers.”

The CreakersTom FletcherDid you hear that? Yes that creaking noise. What could be making that noise? Could it just be the floor boards creaking or could it be something under the bed?When all the grown-ups disappear the kids in Whiffington are thrilled, except Lucy. Her dad disappeared a month ago and she is determined not to lose her mother. A note is left on the school gates saying the adults are gone forever. The kids celebrate their freedom; they think they can do anything they want…and they do. Utter chaos ensues. The kids go wild until they get hungry. Lucy takes charge and attempts to calm the kids down and searches for a way to get the grown-ups back. She suspects the Creakers had something to do with the adults disappearing. Norman and Ella are by her side helping her solve the puzzle. Several of the Creakers come looking for Lucy’s dad’s stinky jacket; she tries to grab them and ends up in Woleb, a gross place with all sorts of yucky stuff. The Creakers and their families like dirty, stinky, and gross stuff. They do not want the town’s trash sent to landfill.The Creakers is an action-packed adventure with lots of humor thrown in. Author Tom Fletcher is a master of description. Norman is a bit of an odd character but very likeable; he is fixated on earning Scout badges. Ella is 6 years old and a bit bratty. Lucy is a leader, prudent, sensible, courageous, ingenious, brave and kind. The characters of Buzz and Buddy are Tom Fletcher’s children. There are several not so hidden messages throughout this tale having to do with the environment and being different. The target age for this tale is middle school (10-13). Lucy’s dad was a garbage man. The Creakers have their own persona, lives and loved ones. The story is told from Lucy’s point of view with the author interjecting his comments between chapters. He warns readers what is coming next, for older readers this may seem annoying but for younger readers it prepares them for what may be a scary part and there are definitely a few scary spots. The things in Woleb will make kids laugh but only adults with strong stomachs will truly appreciate the grossness. This is a funny adventure sure to please the most discriminating reader.

I've been trying to find new books for my almost 9 yo daughter to read, and this looked promising. As with so many kids these days that have grown up with the Diary of Wimpy Kid books, she's gotten to where she prefers books with pictures. I guess they break the text up and makes it feel less like work? In any event, this looked like the perfect mix of actual age-appropriate content to make me happy and pictures to make her happy.This book is well-written, and the author seems to draw from many different sources of inspiration. It almost had a hint of The Chocolate Touch (in that "what happens if I really got what I wanted and these mean old adults all went away" way), and the little snippets of beyond the fourth wall communication from the author were very Lemony Snickett.I love that the book is a touch creepy, and that these are not your typical "heroes." The main protagonists are the different kids, and they are led by a girl. That's the kind of thing I want my daughter to read - for that sort of scenario to be considered normal rather than exceptional.This book is a good adventure for kids. The 8-11 reading range rings true in my opinion.