Book Nook: Monsters in the Mist

 MONSTERS IN THE MIST is a chilling ghost story, spun with a thread of truth. When 13-year-old Glennon McCue, his mom, and his fragile sister are left with their uncle at his lighthouse on Isle Philippeaux, Glennon only wants to return home and get away from the desolate isle. But his father is away, so Glennon is forced to spend his break surrounded by fog, rats, and the off-putting survivors of a recent shipwreck. It will take all of Glennon’s courage to save his family from the real monster in his life. 

The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books described it as “Stranger Things meets The Goonies... this adventure tale has serious themes but also plenty of heart and just the right amount of chills.” Kirkus Reviews said “Zombie rats and ghastly ghosts galore—but the haunting comes from more than the spectral cast.”

 

MONSTERS IN THE MIST takes place on the almost-real Isle Philippeaux in Lake Michigan. Juliana learned of the isle after visiting Two Harbors, MN, which inspired her to research the Isle and its mysterious origins. However, Juliana knew that MONSTERS would be more than just a ghost story: “I swiftly realized the ghosts would provide the framework for the main allegory of the story which is one of surviving emotional and verbal abuse.

 

MONSTERS IN THE MIST will be a safe-haven for kids who love to read spooky stories, as it’s stuffed full of spooky story tropes--from the terrifying monster hidden in the shadows, to the claustrophobic setting, to the ticking time bomb that grows in intensity throughout the book. It will also be a refuge for kids who need a place to explore how deeply true it is that everyone should be loved with kindness by the people who are closest to them.”

 

 

A haunting and atmospheric tale of bravery and confronting fear, this novel explores the mystery of Lake Michigan’s Isle Philippeaux, artfully combines ghostly horrors with the reality of emotional abuse, and offers hope to all readers coping with real life monsters.

You can learn more in this interview.

Where did you get the inspiration for this book?

The inspiration for Monsters in the Mist came from several places! I always find I need a good "place" to set a book, somewhere that's vivid and will root my characters in the story. For this one, I found that setting when I visited Two Harbors in Minnesota and toured Split Rock Lighthouse which overlooks Lake Superior. I visited at the end of October, right in the middle of a fall windstorm. Freezing wind kicked up over Lake Superior, funneled over the 100 foot cliff the lighthouse perched on, and howled over the lighthouse keeper's grounds. It was incredible, and I knew I had to set a story there. 

The plot for the story itself came from Isle Philippeaux, a very real (and yet fake!) island on Lake Superior. Back in the 1700s, a mapmaker mistakenly drew the Isle on Lake Superior. Mapmakers after him kept inserting the island, even though no such island actually existed on the lake. It took a few decades before cartographers realized it wasn't real. I thought that history was fascinating, and it made me wonder...What if the island was real at one point in history? If that were the case, what happened to it...and could it ever exist again? That question is what spurred me to imagine the whole story of Monsters in the Mist.

What surprised you the most about being an author?

The biggest surprise in being a published author is that the amount of work there is to accomplish! Before being published, my writing life revolved around writing the best books I could. After publication though, my To Do list has become much longer! Being an author means you need to write the best books you can, but it also means a lot of marketing. The wonderful part of the surprise of marketing though is that it means I'm constantly cultivating new connections and meeting people who are excited about books and about my writing. I'm able to talk with readers--finding people who love stories as much as I do is an utter blast. That part of being an author will never get old

How can parents find great books for kids?

Librarians! I've found that librarians are one of the best places to find great books. Another way is to follow authors on social media, if you're able. Authors frequently post about books they're reading that they love. Find your favorite author and check out the books they recommend. Many times, those authors will be drawn to books that are similar to their own, so they might be able to suggest similar titles that you might enjoy. Jessica Vitalis, the author of The Wolf's Curse, is a great example of this. She posts on Instagram frequently about books she's read and loved.