BOOK REVIEW THE POOMONSTER CLUB Author: Ana Coto Fernández From the reader report by: Asa Hirano This book makes the reader consider the pressing problem of bullying by exploring the feelings of bullied children and the reactions of people around them. However, it does this in a generally humorous way that features monsters, magic and puzzle-solving elements, for example, with the book’s main draw being its enjoyability as a story. Finland has an anti-bullying program called KIVA that aims to reduce bullying by engaging onlookers as well as those involved in the bullying. This work is part of Spain’s response to this program and it is read widely at schools across the country. Several books about bullying have been published in Japan too, but this story is somewhat different and it will probably appeal to a wide audience, from elementary school kids the same age as the protagonist to adults with a deep connection to children. In the end, Alex never finds his stolen treasure. In the epilogue, a figure probably representing the writer appears before Marco. From their conversation, we know this story is not finished just yet. The sequel “The Kaka Monsters Club: Mr. Bully Is Coming” was released in 2018. I think it would be worth publishing this as a series.
PUBLISHED IN NEW SPANISH BOOKS JP
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