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Dust & Grimby Chuck Wendig Hardcover, 368 pg. Read: October 28-29, 2021 |
“We’re a funeral home for monsters,” Vivacia said
“Viv!” Dustin said, scandalized.
“Fine. The supernatural,” the woman corrected. To Molly, in a lower voice, she said: “Monster is a bit of no-no word. We prefer not to use it, and they certainly prefer us not to use it. But we need common ground here, and I hope it helps you to understand.”
“Monsters,” Molly said, repeating the no-no word.“The supernatural,” Viv corrected again.
“The nonstandard citizens,” Dustin said sharply.
What’s Dust & Grim About?
After thirteen-year-old Molly’s father died, her uncle comes to her and tells her about her (late) mother and older brother—Molly’s parents split right after she was born and she’d never known anything about them. Her father had never been a good provider—or much of a parent in any other way. She needs money for costuming school (and room and board, too) and her long-lost family has an ongoing business of some sort.
So Molly introduces herself to her brother, Dustin, and makes an ultimatum: she wants half of everything or to take part in the business. Dustin and his mother’s friend, Vivian (who has taken on the role of mentor/guardian) aren’t keen on either option (or on Molly in general, if truth be told).
Through sheer pluck, determination, and a happy accident or two, Molly learns that the family business is as a funeral home/cemetery caretakers for supernatural creatures. Not only that, but a malevolent magic-user is running around the cemetery ruining the eternal rest of those interred there (which could have cataclysmic effects).
With the help of a band of non-standard citizens—as delightfully creepy and goofy as you could want—the siblings have to figure out how to get along and stop this threat.
The Non-Standard World
“Mollllllly,” the forest whispered in return.
She shuddered. “That’s weird. You should stop that!”
“Sorrrrry,” the forest answered.
Well, at least it’s a polite menacing voice.
It’s hard to describe briefly the non-standard world we’re introduced to—through the cemetery, the group helping Molly and Dustin, and others that they interact with. It’s sort of like Gaiman’s Neverwhere or Aaronovitch’s demi-monde. But the Pixar version.
Just a few examples: there’s a Foxperson shapeshifter, which is pretty much what it sounds like; the above talking forest (at least, that’s her theory at the time); a vampire that can compete with Fred, the Vampire Accountant for the Most Milquetoast Vampire in Literature; and a Florg, a childlike extra-dimensional being, who is probably the most dangerous being in the book, who is pacified with cheese crackers and by attempting to be funny (think Dave Bautista’s Drax, but not at all).
I hope there’s a sequel just to spend more time in this world.
So, what did I think about Dust & Grim?
“What kind of poison?” Dustin asked.
Marsha chimed in: “Mucus-thorn and mire-berry.”
“Is that, like, some kind of alt-folk band?” Molly asked.
“Not as bad as that,” Ember said, grinning like, well, a fox. “But as poisons go? Pretty flappin’ bad.”
Dust & Grim was just silly, creepy, wholesome fun. You’ve got some great creatures. You’ve got a nice sibling-dynamic. Some genuinely funny lines. Molly’s cosplaying is great, I love the choice to ground her character in that. And a creative story.
But most of all, you get to young characters who learn who they are, find ways of fulfilling their dreams that they didn’t expect to find, and a strong sense of family—and what that means. Not in some “we have to find a wholesome message for MG readers” kind of way, but in a way that would work for these characters no matter the intended audience.
I don’t want to spend too much time trying to talk about this, it’s just a fun read that should be enjoyed that way.
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