Who Are the Monsters?

 

Monster Mission by Eva Ibbotson is a truly refreshing read. The theme of protecting the environment (an all-time Eva’s favorite theme), seamlessly blends into the story. The plot itself is full of surprises, making it so unpredictable and fun to read. With every turn of the page, I never know what new twist awaits me, let alone what might happen in the next chapter!

The story features a large cast of characters, both big and small, and each one gets their moment to shine in the plot. At first, I thought some events might seem unrelated to the main storyline. But by the end, it becomes clear to me that they are essential to the story’s logic and progression.

Although the book is aimed at a younger audience, I did notice some elements that I think might not be as suitable for some children. For instance, the ‘pink inhabitants on an island’ (which I found to be a particularly amusing part of the story). The book also contains mentions of darker themes, such as murder, kidnapping (can’t help it there, it is central to the plot), and scenes involving blood and violence, which might be unsettling for younger readers. But then again, for me, the overall story is just so entertaining.

The book tells the story of a group of Aunts: Etta, Carol, and Myrtle, who are on a mission to find successors to care for the strange creatures—essentially monsters—on The Island they live in. They come up with the rather disturbing idea of kidnapping unwanted children. The plot follows their efforts to abduct the children: Fabio, Minette, and Lambert; and their subsequent lives on The Island.

Minette is just about to be kidnapped by Aunt Etta.
Source: personal document.

When the families of the kidnapped children discover what has happened, they work to rescue them—not out of true love for the children, but driven by pride, greed, and a desire for fame.

I find this theme quite sensitive, as I personally would hesitate to write about such a dreadful portrayal of families and parents. But I think we cannot deny that that kind of rough reality actually exists here in the real world. Eva may have exaggerated her depiction, yet the story still resonates with us and prompts reflection.

Aunt Myrtle playing cello for her selkie best friend, Herbert.
Source: personal document.

At its core, I believe the story suggests that the real monsters in life are not the ugly and strange animals in The Island, but rather humans themselves, with all their greed, hypocrisy, and ill intentions.

The cover is cute and funny, and unfortunately, there are only a few illustrations on the inside. The illustrations are bold and simple, yet funny and suit the story well.

Fabio and Minette accompanied by Aunt Etta are on their way to feed the giant boobrie bird.
Source: personal document.

Eva Ibbotson is a British novelist, born in Austria in 1925 and died in England in 2010. She wrote children's, young adult, and adult novels. In 2001, She won the Smarties Prize for her children’s book Journey to the River Sea and was nominated for many other awards.

I own three of her children’s novels: Which Witch?, The Great Ghost Rescue, and this book, Monster Mission.

The first book of Eva’s that I read was Which Witch?, and I immediately fell in love with her writing. While The Great Ghost Rescue is a bit too focused on its environmental theme so I found it less enjoyable to read, Monster Mission strikes the perfect balance of all the elements.

If you are a fan of monsters, quirky adventures, plot twists, and enjoyed getting surprised all the way from front page to end, I really recommend Monster Mission!