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    The Children's Book Review

    The Crabtree Monsters | Book Spotlight

    Bianca SchulzeBy Bianca Schulze2 Mins Read Ages 9-12 Novels for Kids and Teens
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    Book Spotlight in Sponsorship with The Smart Aleck Press of The Crabtree Monsters
    The Children’s Book Review

    The Crabtree Monsters: Book Cover

    The Crabtree Monsters is a hard-hitting, gritty middle-grade novel that grips readers from the very first page.

    About the Book

    The Crabtree Monsters: Book Cover

    The Crabtree Monsters

    Written by Chris Wieland

    Ages 10+ | 384 Pages

    Publisher: The Smart Aleck Press | ISBN-13: 9798985701302

    Publisher’s Synopsis: Moving from Los Angeles to tiny Crabtree, Michigan, is the last thing thirteen-year-old Kat Dylan wants to do. Crabtree’s seen better days and isn’t what you call welcoming. Worse, the move means living with her gruff Grandpa Nick, the town’s police chief, and having to look after her little brother, Alec.

    And that’s before Kat and Alec find themselves in the middle of a bank holdup by the Monster Gang—four robbers in monster masks. Before the heist is over, the kids lose their cash and Alec comes within a hair of losing his life. When it is all over, Grandpa Nick goes to jail, accused of being one of the robbers himself.

    Suddenly, this boring little town isn’t so boring anymore. Kat’s determined to find out who the men are behind the masks, and she’s going to need help. But exposing the robbers could have big consequences. The deeper Kat goes, the more she learns life is about making choices, including some that are a matter of life and death.

    Buy the Book
    Amazon
    Barnes and Noble

    About the Author

    Chris Wieland is an award-winning writer and filmmaker. He is also the father of two fierce children, including a tough, smart tween who helped him find the voice of his protagonist, Kat Dylan. He lives in Southern California with his family.

    For more information, visit https://www.thesmartaleckpress.com/.

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    Chris Wieland: Author Headshot

    What to Read Next:

    1. The Crabtree Monsters, by Chris Wieland | Dedicated Review
    2. Chris Wieland Discusses The Crabtree Monsters: A Kat Dylan Mystery
    3. The Body on the Beach: A Kat Dylan Mystery | Awareness Tour
    4. The Body on the Beach: A Kat Dylan Mystery | Dedicated Review

    *Disclosure: Please note that this post may contain affiliate links that share some commission. Rest assured that these will not affect the cost of any products and services promoted here. Our team always provides their authentic opinion in all content published on this site.

    Bullying Chris Wieland Divorce Intergenerational Stories Moving House The Smart Aleck Press
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    Bianca Schulze
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    Bianca Schulze is the founder of The Children’s Book Review. She is a reader, reviewer, mother and children’s book lover. She also has a decade’s worth of experience working with children in the great outdoors. Combined with her love of books and experience as a children’s specialist bookseller, the goal is to share her passion for children’s literature to grow readers. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, she now lives with her husband and three children near Boulder, Colorado.

    137 Comments

    1. Donna L on June 29, 2022 4:00 am

      This sounds like a good mystery, adventure book.

      Reply
      • LINDA BASS on July 11, 2022 6:56 am

        I’D LOVE TO WIN

        Reply
      • Buddy Garrett on July 13, 2022 9:05 am

        It sounds like a great read. I want to read it.

        Reply
    2. Kimberly Flickinger on June 29, 2022 9:09 am

      Looks like a cool book, would love to win it!

      Reply
    3. xjanelx78 on June 29, 2022 9:59 am

      Looks like a really cool book!

      Reply
      • Melissa Fowler on June 30, 2022 5:46 pm

        I would love to give this book and giftcard to my daughter she is 10 and loves to read. I’ve been home schooling for 2 years because of covid and now she is excited to start school in August lol too much time with mom I guess. I’m sure she misses the interaction with children her own age also. Thank you so much for the chance 😀. Have a great summer.

        Reply
    4. Donna L on June 30, 2022 2:26 am

      This looks like a good mystery

      Reply
    5. Nancy on June 30, 2022 5:10 pm

      I would love to win this giveaway because we like to add new books to our collection.

      Reply
    6. heather on June 30, 2022 5:18 pm

      I so want to win this one for the kids in the family they would so love to read this one it sounds amazing.

      Reply
    7. Elizabeth on June 30, 2022 5:24 pm

      I’m curious to see how sensitive themes are handled!

      Reply
    8. Donna on June 30, 2022 6:56 pm

      I want to win this for my oldest granddaughter. She would really enjoy it!

      Reply
    9. Kathleen Karp on June 30, 2022 7:20 pm

      I think my daughter would love to win this – it’s a fun prize!

      Reply
    10. Dale Wilken on June 30, 2022 8:00 pm

      My grandkids love your books.

      Reply
    11. Donna L on July 1, 2022 4:12 am

      This book would go into my grandchild’s library.

      Reply
    12. Linda May on July 1, 2022 6:02 am

      My grandsons love reading mysteries. Thanks for your great generosity.

      Reply
    13. LINDA BASS on July 1, 2022 6:57 am

      WISH THAT TWITTER WOULD WORK!

      Reply
    14. wen budro on July 1, 2022 10:18 am

      I would love to win this because it sounds like an awesome book.

      Reply
    15. Marion on July 1, 2022 12:23 pm

      I would like to win it for my sisters.
      Marion

      Reply
    16. Cheryl Ann Bomar on July 1, 2022 6:53 pm

      Would love this for my grand kids!!

      Reply
    17. Elizabeth on July 1, 2022 7:56 pm

      It sounds like a great addition to libraries!

      Reply
    18. Dana Matthews on July 1, 2022 10:10 pm

      I’d like to win so that I could share this book with my niece. A good mystery is what we need!

      Reply
    19. Elizabeth on July 2, 2022 9:54 am

      It’s good to support indie authors!

      Reply
    20. gloira patterson on July 2, 2022 11:02 am

      this \books sounds like it is full of all kinds of adventures……… these keeps kids involved and want to know more………… zay would enjoy

      Reply
    21. Donna L on July 3, 2022 3:05 am

      I would give this book to my grandchild.

      Reply
    22. kathy agate on July 3, 2022 10:07 am

      Sounds like a great book for my granddaughter

      Reply
    23. Rania R. on July 3, 2022 10:23 am

      I would love to win this for my kids. Thanks for the chance.

      Reply
      • Elizabeth on July 11, 2022 10:10 am

        I’m curious about Wieland’s prose style!

        Reply
    24. Elizabeth on July 3, 2022 12:25 pm

      The cover art makes me feel nostalgic!

      Reply
    25. Kimberly Flickinger on July 3, 2022 1:43 pm

      This is a cool and fantastic giveaway! I would share this with my nephew .

      Reply
    26. Dana Matthews on July 3, 2022 9:34 pm

      I’d share with my Gracea then we’d share with her sister Effie!

      Reply
    27. Annette on July 3, 2022 10:16 pm

      I’d like to win to give to a friend’s child.

      Reply
    28. Donna L on July 4, 2022 3:46 am

      This book would go into my grandson’s library.

      Reply
    29. LINDA BASS on July 4, 2022 6:31 am

      TOO BAD TWITTER DOES NOT ACCPT MY ENTRIES

      Reply
    30. gloira patterson on July 4, 2022 10:31 am

      intersting read for zay

      Reply
    31. Elizabeth on July 4, 2022 10:58 am

      This sounds like a fun one for grade school story time!

      Reply
    32. xjanelx78 on July 5, 2022 7:42 am

      I’d love to win this book and give it to my nephews.

      Reply
    33. Betsy Barnes on July 5, 2022 9:05 am

      Love a good, children’s mystery.

      Reply
    34. Elizabeth on July 5, 2022 10:19 am

      I think the neighbor kids might like it!

      Reply
    35. Cheryl Ann Bomar on July 5, 2022 11:37 am

      My DIL is a teacher and she would love this for her class!

      Reply
    36. Dana Matthews on July 5, 2022 3:09 pm

      This would be a great beach read for my pre-teens!

      Reply
    37. gloria patterson on July 5, 2022 4:10 pm

      this sounds like a fast pace that would hold a zay interest

      Reply
    38. Antoinette M on July 5, 2022 6:13 pm

      This sounds like a great book for my daughter!

      Reply
    39. Elizabeth on July 6, 2022 9:03 am

      It’s always good to see more MG books!

      Reply
    40. gloria patterson on July 6, 2022 2:37 pm

      this book looks and sounds like a real adventure I think zay would enjoy

      Reply
    41. Elizabeth on July 7, 2022 9:10 am

      I’d bet the local librarians would love it!

      Reply
    42. gloria patterson on July 7, 2022 2:06 pm

      sounds like a good book to keep zay on her toes

      Reply
    43. Jeanna Massman on July 7, 2022 2:29 pm

      I think my grandson would love this book! Shopping at Barnes & Noble is always a treat.

      Reply
    44. Elizabeth on July 8, 2022 10:11 am

      It looks like it appeals to a wide range of readers!

      Reply
    45. Chel B on July 8, 2022 11:40 am

      Would love to win this to share with my nephew.

      Reply
    46. gloria patterson on July 8, 2022 12:33 pm

      sounds like a interesting story

      Reply
    47. vivorn sophamisay on July 8, 2022 9:35 pm

      My kids and I love to read, so this is a great giveaway for us. We could use the money to get more books!

      Reply
    48. Elizabeth on July 9, 2022 8:42 am

      I’m curious about the side characters!

      Reply
    49. gloria patterson on July 9, 2022 1:41 pm

      this sounds like a book that would keep a young reader interested

      Reply
    50. Kimberly Flickinger on July 9, 2022 1:51 pm

      I would love to win this for my nephew, we love reading !

      Reply
    51. Linda Everson on July 10, 2022 4:14 am

      I would like to win because I love reading.

      Reply
    52. gloria patterson on July 10, 2022 12:00 pm

      sounds like a book my niece would enjoy a lot

      Reply
    53. Elizabeth on July 10, 2022 12:16 pm

      I’m curious to see what Crabtree is like!

      Reply
    54. Antoinette M on July 10, 2022 5:47 pm

      Sounds like an exciting story for young kids!

      Reply
    55. Donna L on July 11, 2022 5:31 am

      This sounds like a good mystery, adventure book

      Reply
    56. gloria patterson on July 11, 2022 1:19 pm

      sounds like a exciting book and that is a fun read

      Reply
    57. Antoinette M on July 11, 2022 6:40 pm

      Awesome book. Love the cover, too!

      Reply
    58. Francine A on July 11, 2022 8:05 pm

      Looks like a great book

      Reply
    59. Donna L on July 12, 2022 4:47 am

      I would like to win this book for my grandchild

      Reply
    60. Elizabeth on July 12, 2022 2:37 pm

      As a younger sibling myself, I think I’d identify with Alec!

      Reply
    61. gloria patterson on July 12, 2022 2:42 pm

      this would be a fun book to read to a couple of kids

      Reply
    62. Elizabeth on July 13, 2022 7:14 am

      All the tour stops have piqued my interest!

      Reply
    63. gloria patterson on July 13, 2022 3:52 pm

      great great nephew would enjoy this book

      Reply
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