ACHUKA Book of the Day 13 Apr 2026
Publisher: Gecko Press
ISBN: 9798348029661
“Strandberg’s well-crafted small-town setting and suspenseful pacing draw readers in, while his quietly matter-of-fact prose, speckled with satisfying detail, expresses Frank’s frustration, alienation, and even rage—feelings his young audience will recognize. In Falkenhem’s spooky-cute illustrations, Frank is dark-haired and pale-skinned, while the townspeople vary in skin tone. An invigorating take on a well-worn paranormal trope.” KIRKUS
“Strange, funny and unexpectedly moving, this is a quietly powerful exploration of what it means to be seen.” BfK
“Fast-paced first-person prose details Frank’s confusion and stress as he reckons with his new reality as well as his terror at being mistaken for a monster and his desperation to be understood. Falkenhem’s intermittent b&w spot illustrations, accented with dusty blues, depict key moments that shed light on Frank’s shifting emotional state as he and those around him learn to embrace and value one another’s differences.” PublishersWeekly
f.p. in Sweden [2016] as Monstret i natten.
A boy-turned-werewolf discovers his identity and finds his pack of misfit monster friends in a fast-paced Nordic noir chapter book.
Frank is nipped by a dog on his ninth birthday, and his life turns inside out. His nights fill with mysterious dreams and eerie adventures. A wild beast is reported roaming the town after dark.
Frightening encounters lead to Frank’s discovery that he is the shapeshifter. But he can’t understand why everyone is afraid. Even in his monster form, Frank is still a boy inside—just one who feels a strong urge to have his tummy scratched.
Forced to own his new identity, Frank learns about the town’s secret underbelly. Beneath the library live other monsters, hiding from the humans. Perhaps he has found a place to belong.
Mats Strandberg is one of Sweden’s most successful suspense and horror writers for both children and adults.
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“Strange, funny and unexpectedly moving, this is a quietly powerful exploration of what it means to be seen.”
NEW #BooksforKeeps Book of the Week: Frank the Monster reviewed by Mat Tobin. Bonus author Q&A too@geckopress #KidLit 🐺https://t.co/2q9K5tIfZ3 pic.twitter.com/9d0IQSYZNA
— Books for Keeps (@BooksForKeeps) March 27, 2026
Frank the Monster by Mats Strandberg, illustrated by Sofia Falkenhem, translated by Julia Marshall, is a quirky story full of warmth about a boy called Frank who accidentally turns into a werewolf. An original take on exploring fears and finding where you fit in. @geckopress pic.twitter.com/2mBY2d4YZV
— Jo Bowers (@Jo_Bowers) March 22, 2026
Frank the Monster by Mats Strandberg, illustrated by Sofia Falkenhem and translated by Julia Marshall, is a charmingly quirky story about Frank Steen, a 9yo boy who accidentally gets turned into a werewolf. Lots of fun and exactly the right level of spooky for Y2/3 readers. pic.twitter.com/ifnf2uwAhf
— Jon Biddle (@jonnybid) March 22, 2026
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