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*How to Make a Golem and Terrify People* by Alette J. Willis - middle grades book review
How to Make a Golem and Terrify People
by Alette J. Willis
Grades 5-8 240 pages Floris Books January 2012 Paperback    

A little creepy. A little spooky. A little weird. But these are the settings that often prove a child character's mettle.

Alette J. Willis’s How to Make a Golem and Terrify People is a creepy, spooky coming-of-age story. Edda—nicknamed “Mouse”—is a meek 12-year-old struggling to fit in at the many different schools she has attended. She finally finds a home with her family, even though a school bully makes life less than ideal.

An unfortunate burglary at Edda’s home on her birthday and the arrival of a strange new kid in her class, sets into motion an adventure for Edda to prove she is more than a mouse.

The strange, new kid is Michael Scot. Parents will likely picture the Michael Scott of television’s The Office, or they may not. I did. Peculiar Michael is the catalyst for Edda’s adventure, pushing her way out of her comfort zone.

Together, Michael and Edda make a golem to protect Edda. Making a giant mud monster is just the beginning of the weirdness, and of Edda finding courage within herself.

It’s a terrific lesson for children who enjoy a little macabre reading. Light macabre, but creepy enough to keep kids engaged.
 
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