Hellhole

Reviewed by: Brooke Faulkner - McArthur Public Library, Biddeford, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: March 10, 2015

Review

This Faustian tale features a winning narrator, Max, who inadvertently summons a tracksuit wearing demon when he steals a tacky cat statue from the store where he works to give to his ailing mother. Dialogue-driven chapters are divided into two parts - Across and Down - a nod to Max's love of crossword puzzles. Max's geeky, anxious inner monologues and his often rambling social interactions are laugh out loud funny and readers will root for him as he struggles to find a home complete with hot tub for the demon - all part of a deal he strikes to try to win back his mother's health. While much of the novel is played for laughs, this still bears the hallmarks of a cautionary tale. Lore, a girl that Max asks for help due reveals that her own dabbling with evil forces resulted in tragedy and Max agonizes about his own sense of morality as he navigates the complicated waters of keeping the demon a secret while taking care of his very ill mother and still carrying on as a normal high school student. Hilarious quirky elements abound, such as the demon's obsession with junk food (In demanding that Max procure Hot Pockets for him at one point, he threatens, "Oh, and don't you DARE try to pull one of those Lean Pocket shitmuffins on me. I'LL KNOW."), and these work particularly well because Damico has taken the time to construct authentic and vulnerable characters. Despite the ending being a bit abrupt, this should appeal widely to teens in seventh grade and up who appreciate good, thought-provoking fantasy with plenty of witty situational comedy.

Overall Book Score: very good