Book Review: Just Beyond: Monstrosity

Just Beyond: Monstrosity

*ARC provided via NetGalley. Below is my NetGalley review: 4 stars from me = I really liked it. I did not develop a fondness / love for graphic novels until I was well into adulthood, but my taste is very specific – typically the GNs by Neil Gaiman and Joe Hill. I was absolutely thrilled, JUST BEYOND thrilled, if you will, when I saw that R.L. Stine has a new graphic novel being published the 26th of this month. R.L. Stine’s numerous books made up at least a full quarter of my childhood. I remember Mum taking me to the bookstore where I’d select two or three Goosebumps books, and she’d gently remind me to not read them all in one day. I read Just Beyond: Monstrosity in two sittings just because I remembered the plea to not read all of my Stine material in one day (: The writing in this tale brought me straight back to growing up in the 90s where I craved all the Goosebumps, all the Fear Street, and all the episodes of Are You Afraid of the Dark? A solid 3.5 for the writing and artwork – I just love the subdued colors used in this spooky story! The other .5 of a star is for nostalgia and pure joy alone. As an adult, this graphic novel did not scare me, but I can see where it may creep out a young child depending on their sensitivities to creepy, spooky, and horror.