The Legends of Greemulax works for children by using absurdist humor and a ticking clock monster transformation to explore the anxieties of puberty. The meta narrative encourages readers to resist aggression and define their own identities. Books in this family share high stakes adventures that subvert hero tropes through quirky, fourth wall breaking storytelling.
Reach for this book when your child is on the cusp of puberty and expresses fear that growing up means becoming harder, angrier, or less like themselves. It is a whimsical but deeply resonant fantasy about Penn, a boy who believes he is destined to turn into a literal monster, and Kristy, a girl who helps him realize that the stories he has been told about masculinity and anger are wrong. It tackles heavy themes of toxic cycles and grief with a surreal, Roald Dahl-esque humor. While the setting is fantastical, the emotional core is highly relevant for middle-grade readers navigating changes in their social circles and bodies. It is a hopeful choice for parents wanting to encourage empathy and emotional intelligence in boys.
