Review: 21% Monster, by P.J. Canning

• Paperback
• £7.99
• Age 10+
• ISBN: 9781474984416
• Publication Date: July 2022

Genetically-modified teens try to bring down the organisation that made them.

Fun, fast-paced, high-octane action adventure, 21% Monster is a perfect page-turning new series for fans of Alex Rider, Percy Jackson and the MCU generation. When Darren Devlin is arrested for destroying his school with his bare hands, it’s not just the police who are after him. Enter Marek Masters, 14 years old, 19% alien, and the most intelligent, most wanted “almost human” alive. Marek is here to tell Darren the truth – he is 21% monster, and together they must take down the secret organisation that created them. Darren and Marek are wanted, powerful and dangerous. And now it’s payback time. 

My Review

I got this book from the publisher along with 21% Monster – Ice Giant because I wanted to make sure I understood the world building and characters before going into the second novel in the series. I’m glad I did. I didn’t actually need to read this book to get the second book, there’s a recap at the beginning of book two, but it did make the story richer for understanding the relationship between Darren and Daisy, and the relationship between Darren and Marek.

But, what about this book? So, Darren is a child who can’t read, but his sister is a brilliant dancer and scholar, so they’re both at a small, private school that wants Daisy’s good grades and agrees to take Darren along with her. But Darren gets bullied by some year 11 boys for being ‘weird’. When Daisy isn’t there to help him, he destroys the school. This brings him to the notice of a mysterious organisation who imprison him in a young offenders institute, and claim he’s dangerous. He’s rescued by another boy who turns out to be part alien.

Chased by a woman claiming to be a psychologist and a man who was in the SBS, and works as a sniper for this mysterious organisation, across England until they can get to London. Darren has to decide between trusting Marek or the woman calling herself Dr Wiseman. There are fights and chases across rooftops. Darren makes his decision eventually, and tries to return to his family, but things don’t go to plan…

I enjoyed this novel. It was fun, and mildly thrilling and scary at times. I enjoyed the development of Darren and Marek as characters, and of their friendship. Their backstories are relatable to those with differences, feeling like an alien or a monster. Marek describes Darren as being ‘wired differently’ in reference to his inability to read. I have t-shirts with ‘wired differently’ on them. I know a few people with dyslexia, who struggled to read until they got some support and adjustments. I don’t know if this was an attempt to introduce the idea that people can be different and that’s okay, but if it was, it’s not bad.

The genetics is rubbish, obviously, but it’s entertaining for kids and the resources provided at the back of the book can help readers find out the real stuff. The author is a chemist with a PhD, writing about aliens and monsters. To be fair, I have a degree in chemistry and I write about dragons, so I’m not complaining.