Monster Club: Hunters for Hire

About this book

There is only one thing seventh graders Tommy Wainwright, Colleen "Spike" Hernandez, and Karim Khalil want to do -- go on adventures and catch monsters! And in a world where monsters -- big and small -- roam, someone has to keep these creatures in check, right? Luckily, this is the iPhone era, and that means anyone can use the brand-new app, AppVenture ("It's like Uber for monster-slaying!"), to hire their very own adventurer to stop the beasts.

So when Tommy, Spike, and Karim find a way to become registered "Independent Adventure Contractors" for the new app, they couldn't be more thrilled. At first, being full-fledged adventurers is a blast. But when the trio embark on their second quest, they stumble upon a secret: It seems AppVenture has been releasing monsters into the wild in order to generate more business. Now the three friends find themselves on the run from a venture-backed startup that will do anything to make sure our heroes don't live to reveal the truth...

Reviews

Praise for Josh Baxter Levels Up:

* "Smartly paced and emotionally engaging, a book even those who have never held a controller will enjoy." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Brown includes countless gaming references that will delight in-the-know readers... It's a light, fun approach to typical middle-school struggles from an author who gets his audience and knows his games." -- Publishers Weekly

"The gamer theme and the inclusion of various digital diversions add a charge to this upbeat fitting-in story." -- Booklist

"Readers will be engaged in this likable lead's quest to solidify burgeoning friendships via a school video game decathlon. Secondary peer characters of both genders and diverse backgrounds add texture... VERDICT: Recommended as an enticing addition, especially for middle school gamers and reluctant readers." -- School Library Journal

"Gamers will appreciate that each chapter ends with a full-page recap of Josh's current experience level, health, lives remaining, and new skills unlocked (clever summaries of major events he successfully navigated). Even non-gamer kids will likely appreciate Josh, however, as he is earnestly interested in but not always adept at navigating the often baffling social flow of middle school." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Josh Baxter Levels Up is an epic boss battle of a book. Set in a terrain more intense than any video game -- middle school -- it deploys a triumphant combo of humor, high-stakes, and heart. Read this book: It's a winning move!" -- Michael Northrop, New York Times bestselling author of the TombQuest series