Editorial Content for The Curse of the Were-Hyena

Bruce Hale has crafted a funny, charming, and engaging middle-grade mystery in THE CURSE OF THE WERE-HYENA, the first in the Monstertown Mystery Series. The story opens with our protagonist, Carlos, and his best friend, Benny, considering the impossible: that their favorite teacher just might be a werewolf. Mr. Chu, a popular fourth grade teacher who utilizes unconventional teaching styles (like throwing a chair out of a second story window to demonstrate how gravity works), becomes even stranger as the story progresses --- more dog-like, with a hysterical laugh, and even odder mannerisms. Immediately, Carlos and Benny are on the case --- what’s wrong with Mr. Chu, and how can they help him?

Through a cast of somewhat misfit adults, the boys --- and their new sidekick, Tina the Karate Girl --- make friends and enemies alike as they try to unravel the mystery of what is happening to Mr. Chu. They find their way to the Monterossa Museum of Arts and Culture, where the intimidating Mr. Sharkawy suggests to our protagonists that to become a were-anything would be an honor, and that to call it a “curse” is insulting. Carlos and Benny leave the museum feeling uneasy, but having made at least one ally: Ms. Icaza, a curator at the museum who specializes in African cultural artifacts.

What made WERE-HYENA such a fun and wild ride was the wisecracking and wit with which each plot point was delivered; not once is the reader spoken down to or treated as "less than." The book is riddled with pop culture references --- some modern and some more dated --- which often resulted in laugh-out-loud moments. Carlos’ sheer cheekiness and blunt sarcasm as a narrator were also truly endearing.

"What made WERE-HYENA such a fun and wild ride was the wisecracking and wit with which each plot point was delivered; not once is the reader spoken down to or treated as 'less than.'"

WERE-HYENA truly stands out from other books of similar genres for two very important reasons: its wonderful cultural representation and its depiction of a familial obstacle that is positive, despite being a stressor for the protagonist. The cast of characters come from many different backgrounds, with the narrator, Carlos, frequently using Spanish idioms and phrases, and other characters referencing their own unique cultures in subtle ways. This was done in an outstanding, polished way: with seamless integration, Hale manages to create a culturally diverse cast of characters that seems effortless. Future middle-reader and young adult writers would do well to take note. The same is true for Carlos’ family’s strife: ultimately it is a change to the family dynamic that is presented as positive, which is important in that it shows middle-readers that not all stress is inherently negative.

WERE-HYENA reads as if the Magic School Bus were mashed together with R. L. Stine’s Goosebumps series, with just a dash of Darren Shan’s tongue-in-cheek take on horror, to make it more palatable for young readers. This was truly endearing all throughout the novel; a Disney-fied horror-mystery is an excellent way to describe it as a whole. The major flaw in WERE-HYENA, however, is the lack of female characters. The adult cast is relatively balanced, but Tina is the only major female protagonist --- and she could have been used more! I look forward to seeing more of her character in the upcoming sequel in the Monstertown Mystery series.

A fantastic read all around, WERE-HYENA is an excellent book to get reluctant readers engaged in reading. The book is clearly targeted towards fourth graders, although I would suggest that precocious third graders should read it, and parents can enjoy reading it aloud to their children (while finding things to enjoy about the book on their own). Bruce Hale has written a truly charming horror-mystery-gone-comedy novel, and I for one am excited to see what happens next in Monterossa.