annieb123
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
Rayleigh Mann in the Company of Monsters is the first book in an engaging and well written middle-grade UF series by Ciannon Smart. Released 8th Aug 2023 by HarperCollins on their Children's imprint, it's 368 pages and is available in all formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.
It's always exciting and fun to find a new series and voice in UF, especially one which is kid-friendly. This intro has a cool and tough (but generally good) protagonist, who happens to be a demi-monster (his dad's Bogey Mann (yes, that one)). His backstory is well written and fleshed out, and if teachers reading the story can imagine how challenging he could be in a classroom, the kids reading will find a relatable, believable outsider hero, and grand adventure.
It's also nice that Rayleigh's background, and much of the lore, are from the Caribbean. Representation is so important, and having a well written story with a main character who isn't white shows kids of color that they -can- be the main character, and exposes caucasian kids to a wider circle of cultures and lived experiences. The book manages to tread the line without being preachy or obvious; it's nice to see what I hope is a sea change coming for literature and entertainment media.
One note about the spelling and editing. The story is set in urban London (UK), but most of the spellings and vernacular are AmEnglish. It's noticeable and clearly an intentional editorial decision.
The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 10 hours, 55 minutes and is capably narrated by Jake Fairbrother. He has a crisp, very well modulated, classically trained voice and handles the various accents very well.
Four stars. It's a good book. A well written and an exciting fantasy romp, after a slightly slow background start; the fate of many series first intros. It would make an excellent public or school library acquisition, for gift giving, and home use.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.