The Remarkable History of the Rise and Fall of Masaniello, the Fisherman of Naples Book

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The Beastly Business series take place in a modern world where mythical creatures aren't so mythical - and they're protected by law. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Beasts (RSPCB) exists to not only protect these creatures, but set up breeding and conservation programs, healing and helping to rehabilitate beasts so that they can return to the wild. Ulf is a young werewolf who has grown up at the RSPCB main headquarters which doubles as a 10, 000 acre rescue home for beasts. He'll remain there until he's able to care for himself. Ulf spends his days learning about and caring for various creatures on the compound and assisting Dr. Fielding, the RSPCB's vet. One night Dr. Fielding was tracking a mother and child pair of dragons when the disappeared from the radar. She discovers the body of the baby dragon and brings it back for an autopsy. During the autopsy they find that the dragon was shot down with a cannon ball and report the findings to the authorities. An Agent Black comes to investigate and Dr. Fielding and Ulf learn that they are dealing with a very dangerous criminal. The agent believes that this person has started the Ring of Horrors back up - an illegal pit fight where magical beasts fight to the death. The RSPCB must stop this criminal and rescue the mother dragon and any other captured beasts.

I'll admit that this is not my type of book at all, but I can think of quite a few students who would love it. Werewolf versus Dragon is a nicely paced story with some fantastic creatures, quite a bit of potty and gross out humor, and some gore (blood, detailed autopsy, guts, etc.) Heck, there's even a ghost! Ulf was a great character who was discounted at times (maybe because of his age or his species) but really saved the day. Duddle has provided some excellent pen and ink illustrations that are humorous and a little edgy.

I think some of the more scientifically minded readers would enjoy the autopsy and cryptozoology "science" parts of the book. I would also recommend this book to kids who enjoy the Captain Underpants books but are looking for a little something different (similar humor in both series). Werewolf versus Dragon seems to straddle the line between early chapter book and a middle grades book, I'd suggest it to my students who are in third grade or higher. While I wouldn't call this a scary book, there is the blood-and-guts factor (be it frozen rats for the mountain troll or the dragon's stomach contents) and it's a bit sad and violent. These creatures are fighting to the death in the Ring of Horrors and the baby dragon was killed. I would definitely keep your reader in mind when selecting this book - this isn't a book that every kid would enjoy and it might upset some. I would tell my students the same things I'm telling you if I were to suggest this series to them.

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