I would like to share a book I received Mayhem at Misfit Mansion by Kay Davault I received in exchange for this review. Inside this post is my affiliate links. If you make a purchase I will make a small percentage from the items you purchase.
When I receive the press release talking about Mayhem at Misfit Mansion by Kay Davault, I had Charlie and Bradley in mind. I wanted to find something a little different for them to read, and with Halloween around the corner, a graphic novel filled with monsters, mysterious happenings, and a haunted house party sounded like a fun place to start!
But here’s the thing: the more I looked through this book, the more I could see myself sitting down and reading it, too. And that got me thinking about why this book deserves a place in the Greatful Moments Interactive Halloween Gift Guide this year. But also remind you this novel can be read year round and could even find a place in our Christmas Gift Guide/ Wish List as a Stocking Stuffer.
Let me tell you a little more about it!
Title: Mayhem at Misfit Mansion Author and illustrator: Kay Davault
Book type: Graphic novel, fantasy, supernatural adventure, and spooky fiction
Series: Book 2 in the Misfit Mansion series; described by the publisher as a graphic novel companion to Misfit Mansion
Recommended age: Ages 8 and up, according to the publisher. Some retailers list the target audience as ages 8–12. Parents can use their own judgment when deciding whether the spooky themes are right for their children.
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers Length: 288 pages
Website: KayDavault.com
because the cover has a girl in a Hoodie, and there was a Haunted House, and it was set in Dead End Springs the cover caught my attention right away. You see what looks like two boys and a girl standing in front of a beautiful house with what looks like a windmill in the background. One of the characters is hiding underneath a hoodie.
Of course, that immediately made me think of Charlie. He wears his hoodie 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year—even when it’s 90 degrees outside here in Texas. Don’t ask me how he does it! Because there is no, way no, how David and I would be caught wearing a hoodie year round. Would you?
Behind the characters is the house where Iris and her unusual housemates live. The description tells us that Iris and her housemates can’t wait to host a haunted house party for the people of Dead End Springs. Dead End Springs? I don’t know about you, but I’m not sure I’d be in a hurry to visit a town with that name!
The story is written and illustrated by Kay Davault, an author and comic artist who creates colorful worlds filled with cute characters and the occasional monster—or five! I might be able to handle one monster but 5 no, way no, how. How about you? Would you want 5 monster’s?
Welcome to Mr. Howley’s Home for Horrors– The story follows Iris and her housemates as they prepare for their haunted house party. Iris is especially eager to connect with Larkspur, a reclusive new addition to their home of misfit monsters. She hopes that bringing a little of the harvest festival into their home will help Larkspur open up to her and the humans he distrusts.
Unfortunately, relationships can be complicated. Man, oh man, tell me and Charlie about that! Larkspur is cold toward just about everyone, and their new human friend, Matthias, is struggling to get along with the other townspeople. Even Iris’s closest friendships are becoming strained. She’s worried she could lose Agnes and Kel forever if something doesn’t change.
Kel is a neat name, by the way. It’s a name I’ve never heard of making the book even more unusual. But things get even more complicated when a rare horror called a pied piper parrot arrives at the house looking for a missing friend. Iris takes it upon herself to help, bringing a grumpy Larkspur along for the adventure.
Now they’re facing horrors beyond their imaginations. Can Iris keep her family safe, or will she lose everything and everyone dear to her? Oh, my Lord! I hope everything works out for Iris and her friends. What about you? Turning this book into a mystery almost.
One thing I especially appreciate about Mayhem at Misfit Mansion is its artwork. The illustrations are colorful, detailed, and full of personality. The book has that graphic-novel and comic-book feel, with the pictures and dialogue working together to tell the story from beginning to end.
And there’s quite a collection of unusual characters to discover! Mr. Howley’s Home for Horrors is a refuge for any horror in need. We’re talking werewolves, vampires, mermaids, yes, I said mermaids which makes me want to check out this story and all sorts of mythical creatures.
I can imagine Charlie and Bradley looking through these pages and stopping to examine all the different creatures. I can also imagine hearing them say something like, “Ooh, eek! A girl monster! Monsters shouldn’t be girls!” Cooties. Cooties. Now, I got Cooties back when they were little. LOL
But that’s part of the fun of discovering a book like this. The characters don’t all look or act alike, and they each have their own personalities, challenges, and relationships. Underneath all the spooky happenings, there’s also a story about learning to trust others, dealing with strained friendships, and finding the courage to face things that frighten us.
There’s another detail I noticed when I held the book and looked through it more carefully. Some pages have a white background, while other sections use darker gray or black backgrounds. Those darker pages give the illustrations a different look while still keeping the story fun to explore. I like how the artwork changes from one section to another. It’s an interesting detail that you might not notice just by looking at the cover.
With all the unusual creatures, colorful characters, and spooky happenings, the illustrations are an important part of what makes this graphic novel enjoyable to look through. You’re not just reading dialogue; you’re also following the story through the artwork. It’s one of the things I appreciate about graphic novels. The illustrations help bring the characters and their world to life.
Now, I have a question I asked Charlie and David. Is Mayhem at Misfit Mansion a Halloween Book? They both said that’s an interesting question! Then they said they’re not sure they’d classify Mayhem at Misfit Mansion strictly as a Halloween novel. Yes, it has monsters, mysterious creatures, a haunted house party, and enough spooky happenings to make it a fun choice for this time of year.
But honestly, they said they could see themselves sitting down and reading this novel year round and I agree with them. And that’s saying something, because Charlie and David sometimes think I should watch some of the movies they enjoy. Let me tell you, some of those movies are NOT happening in my home. I have no desire to watch something that will keep me awake for the next 110 years! I’m laughing, but I’m also being serious! 😂
This book, on the other hand, looks like it has just the right combination of colorful illustrations, unusual characters, adventure, and spooky fun. I can enjoy a few monsters on the pages of a graphic novel without worrying that I’ll be seeing them every time I close my eyes at bedtime.
So while Mayhem at Misfit Mansion could be a fun Halloween-season read, I wouldn’t limit it to Halloween. Readers who enjoy graphic novels, fantasy, mythical creatures, and stories about friendship might find something to enjoy any time of year David and Charlie said.
One of the things that makes the Greatful Moments Interactive Halloween Gift Guide unique is that we don’t believe everything has to fit into one little box. Would I necessarily pick up Mayhem at Misfit Mansion and immediately classify it as a Halloween book? Maybe not. But someone else might see the monsters, the haunted house party, and the wonderfully unusual characters and think it would make the perfect Halloween gift for a young reader. And that’s precisely why we’re including it!
Our Interactive Halloween Gift Guide is about discovering possibilities, exploring different interests, and finding something special for the people we love. A graphic novel like this could be a fun choice for a child who enjoys fantasy, a teen who loves illustrated stories, or a family looking for something a little different to read together.
After all, we don’t all celebrate Halloween the same way, and we certainly don’t all enjoy the same things. Some families love the frightening stuff, while others would rather enjoy colorful characters, a little mystery, and a few friendly monsters without losing any sleep. That’s the beauty of our guide. We’re opening the door to possibilities and letting our readers decide what belongs on their Halloween shopping list.
At Greatful Moments, we believe there is room for all kinds of interests, personalities, and reading adventures. And if Mayhem at Misfit Mansion makes one family smile, inspires a young reader to pick up a book, or becomes someone’s favorite Halloween gift, then it deserves a place in our guide. We’re not just showing people what to buy for Halloween. We’re helping them discover what might make Halloween special for someone they love.
Another thing I appreciate about this book is its graphic-novel format. The story unfolds through illustrated panels and dialogue, carrying readers from the beginning to the end. That makes it a book you can pick up and enjoy in sections instead of feeling like you must finish everything in one sitting. I can see Mayhem at Misfit Mansion being a fun addition to our Greatful Moments 10-Minute Reading Challenge.
Charlie could spend ten minutes reading, earn a ticket, and come back to the story later. And honestly, I think David might enjoy looking through it, too. Graphic novels can be a wonderful way to encourage readers who enjoy visual storytelling or who find a heavily text-based book intimidating. Sometimes, a good combination of illustrations and dialogue is just what someone needs to get excited about reading.
And that’s what our challenge is all about: making time for reading in a way that works for each person. You don’t have to read an entire book in one sitting to enjoy it. Ten minutes is a place to start, and sometimes those ten minutes turn into even more reading than you expected!
Mayhem at Misfit Mansion is the second book in the Misfit Mansion series and is described by the publisher as a companion to Misfit Mansion. From the way this story is presented, I can see why a new reader might be able to follow along without having read the first book. The premise introduces us to Iris, her housemates, and the situation they’re facing.
I would still love to hear from readers who have enjoyed the first book and can tell us whether reading it beforehand adds something special to the experience. If you’re already familiar with Mr. Howley’s Home for Horrors, you may enjoy returning to its unusual collection of characters. If you’re new to the series, this could be an opportunity to discover a different kind of graphic novel.
Let’s meet the Author: Kay Davault is an illustrator and comic artists based in Nashville, Tennessee She spends her time creating stories about cute characters. in vibrant worlds that may or may not contain a monster—or five! Charlie says bring them on.
Her work includes Star Knights, Misfit Mansion, Mayhem at Misfit Mansion, and Oddity Woods. Her debut graphic novel, Star Knights, was selected as an Indie Next book, included in the 2022 Indies Introduce list, and featured on the American Library Association’s 2022 Best Graphic Novels for Children list.
Misfit Mansion also received recognition, including selection as a 2023 Indie Next book, an American Library Association Round Table Best Graphic Novel for Kids, and a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection. <Cite refs={[“turn424550search0″,”turn424550search3”]}/> You can learn more about Kay and her work by visiting her website or finding her on Instagram at @kaydavault.
I picked Mayhem at Misfit Mansion for Charlie and Bradley because I wanted to find something fun, different, and fitting for the Halloween season. The colorful illustrations, unusual creatures, mysterious adventure, and friendships at the heart of the story make it an interesting choice for readers who enjoy graphic novels.
I especially like that it doesn’t have to be read in one sitting. That makes it a natural possibility for our Greatful Moments 10-Minute Reading Challenge, where we’re encouraging everyone to make a little time for reading, one day at a time.
And I love the thought behind the closing words you find on the last page: “Then I won’t let fear hold me back either.” What a wonderful reminder!
We all face things that frighten us, whether those fears involve monsters, new friendships, or something happening in our everyday lives. Sometimes we just need a little courage to take that next step. As for me, I think I’ll leave the monsters in Dead End Springs to Iris and her friends. I’ll enjoy visiting them through the pages of a book!
And if Charlie and David want me to watch one of their frightening movies afterward, well, they already know my answer. Some things are better left to the imagination!
Would you or your young reader enjoy a spooky graphic novel filled with monsters, mystery, and friendship? Have you read Misfit Mansion or another book by Kay Davault? I’d love to hear about it!
Happy reading, and remember to make a little time for a good book today.
Disclosure: This article reflects our personal observations and impressions of the book. Add any applicable review-copy or affiliate disclosure before publication.
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Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
