Author: Frank Cammuso
Illustrator: Frank Cammuso
© Date: 2018
Publisher: Viking
Pages: 160
Chapters: Yes
Illustrations: Yes, graphic novel
Publisher Recommended Age: 8-12 years
Bonus Activities at End of Book: No
Summary from Book: Edison Beaker is underwhelmed by his family: his mom is busy, his younger sister, Tesla, and her pet hamster are both so annoying, and his uncle Earl heads up Creature Seekers, the family pest-control company. Who cares about a dumb old extermination business?
Edison is about to find out.
Creature Seekers isn’t offering rat and roach removal. For generations, the Beakers have kept their eyes on much bigger-and scarier-pests. And now Uncle Earl has just received an emergency call while babysitting Edison and Tesla. He bundles them into the Creature Seekers van and they’re off-to see what’s scurrying, slinking, and stomping through the mysterious Night Door. Edison is in for some surprises about his family…and himself!
Note: This review is done from memory. I originally read this awhile ago.
Page Pig Thoughts: This one helped me understand the second book a little better. The Underwhere is a creatively done place full of mystery. The illustrations were fun.
Page Pup thought these were okay.
Note that some of the characters/story may be scary for younger or sensitive readers.
Family Unit:
- Edison and his little sister, Tesla, live with their mother. Something happened to their father. Their mother goes to stay with Great Grandma Beaker for a few days so Uncle Earl watches them and agrees to let Edison shadow him at work for career day.
- Knox has been living with Ma-Bob, but would like to know who her family really is.
Conflict/Social Issues:
- Understandably, Edison misses his father.
- Edison doesn’t think that the family pest control business is interesting.
- Knox doesn’t really belong with Edison’s family, she has to find her own destiny.
Positive Items:
- Edison and Tesla stick together.
- Scuttlebutt the hamster even proves to be a valuable companion.
- Knox knows Ma-Bob is rather evil, so even though Ma-Bob has been keeping Knox around, Knox helps Edison and Tesla escape Underwhere.
Items of Interest:
- Uncle Earl tells the story of the night door, which turns out to be true.
- Edison is not enamored with the family business of pest control, but comes to learn why his father chose to accept the responsibility of the family business over going to school to be a scientist.
- Not surprisingly, Baron Umbra does not treat his minions or underlings with respect.
Other Books in Series (At Time of Posting):
- Edison Beaker, Creature Seeker: The Lost City (review)
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