MONSIEUR EEK - David Ives


 I fully admit that my main interest in reading this is because of the author, David Ives.  I've seen a number of his short plays (I used to judge high school one act plays and if there was a year without a David Ives play, it was an unusual year).  His plays are tremendously funny and so I thought a book written for young readers would be worth checking out.

It is a dark and stormy night in 1609 in the coastal city of MacOongafoondsen (population 21) when a ship washes up on their beach. There's only one figure aboard, and a mighty strange figure it is.  It must be, the people of MacOongafoondsen think, a Frenchman. After all, this ... 'Frenchman' ... doesn't seem to understand them and all he can say is "Eek."

By not answering their questions, Monsieur Eek (as he is called by the residents) is found guilty of some local crimes and sentenced to death. Monsieur Eek is, of course, a monkey ... who turns this tiny town into a frenzy.

Not surprisingly, author David Ives captures the absurdity of the situation, and the towns-people, quite well. From the strange town name, to every single person believing that a chimpanzee is a Frenchman, to the townsfolk themselves (who are comic, Dickensian characters). There's plenty of off-the-wall potential here. But unfortunately little else.

The joke (it's a monkey, not a Frenchman!) doesn't carry well for an entire book - not even a short one like this. I think even middle grade readers would pick up on this. 

Mostly I was bored. The first chapter, the last chapter, and maybe one in the middle had the bones of a plot and teens Emmaline and Philip are the protagonists of the story which could or should make this energetic as well as funny, but there's just not enough action to play with here.

In his introduction, Ives notes that the book is based on a medieval law that allowed for animals to be convicted of crimes.

I'll stick with reading and watching Ives' plays.

Looking for a good book? Monsieur Eek by David Ives is Ives' first foray into writing fiction for young readers, but this reviewer thinks he should stick with what works - his short plays.

2-1/2 stars

* * * * * *

Monsieur Eek

author: David Ives

publisher: HarperCollins

ISBN: 9780060295295

hardcover, 192 pages

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