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Paul C.R. Monk
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Strange Metamorphosis Kindle Edition

by Paul C.R. Monk (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 out of 5 stars 60 ratings
A talented boy. A transformative choice. Even small journeys can have epic consequences…

This Literary Classics Award-winning novel is “an engaging, clever adventure about a boy’s journey into young adulthood.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Marcel faces a life-changing decision. He can play it safe with a job at a neighboring estate or take his chances at a prestigious Parisian university. Torn between following his heart or stepping into his father’s footsteps, Marcel takes the wisdom of an enchanted tree… and promptly shrinks to the size of an insect.

Marcel must enlist the help of the bugs he once captured to survive the world below the tree roots. A jokester inchworm, a strong-willed beetle, and a rouge honeybee are his only friends on a treacherous journey. To find the cure for his condition, he must traverse a dangerous meadow and infiltrate a buzzing hive. But time is running short, and if Marcel doesn’t find the cure, he may never grow up…

Strange Metamorphosis is an award-winning fantasy adventure. If you like action-packed coming-of-age stories, hilarious characters, and a touch of romance, then you’ll love Paul C.R. Monk’s whimsical tale.



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  1. Reading age
    9 - 18 years
  2. Print length
    276 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    October 11, 2015
  5. Page Flip
    Enabled
  6. Word Wise
    Enabled
  7. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0993444210
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Editorial Reviews

Review

'Powered by an adventurous plot filled with humor, Monk's novel combines a fable-like tale of talking insects with an adventure quest and a coming-of-age story. Marcel's human-to-insect metamorphosis intriguingly parallels his transformation from a boy to a young man who must make life-changing decisions and follow his own path. An engaging, clever YA adventure about a boy's journey into young adulthood.' - Kirkus Reviews


'When P.C.R. Monk set out to write his debut novel, he did so with the flourish and finesse of an established author. His book, Strange Metamorphosis, is as rich and layered as a buttery croissant and just as gratifying to devour. Seasoned with sage tidbits of choice life lessons throughout, steeped in adventure and sprinkled with just a touch of romance, this book is perfectly balanced to provide an enticing read that is destined to become a treasured piece of literature for the young and young at heart.

Marcel Dassaud is a boy of exceptional talent who is at a stage in life where he must decide between two paths, both of which have the potential for completely divergent outcomes. Reflecting upon his options, he finds himself uttering his contemplation to an ancient oak tree which, according to legend, possesses magical powers to impart great wisdom. Moments later he finds himself shrunken to the size of the bugs he once collected for sport. It is soon revealed to him by a gallfly that in order to return to his former state, he must embark on a quest to gather some of the royal jelly which is heavily guarded by bees. He must do this within three days, or his metamorphosis into a bug will be complete and he will never return to his human state.

Along the way, Marcel discovers much about himself, his friends, and the bugs he encounters while seeking the royal jelly. Strange Metamorphosis, is an exciting and whimsical adventure, written with great aplomb and a style which many authors can only hope to achieve within their lifetime. - Literary Classics Book Reviews - Literary Classics Book Reviews

'Perfect for Fantasy Fans of all Ages'

'Within just a few pages of starting "Strange Metamorphosis" I was sucked into this strange tale of a boy who has a lot of choices before him.'

'What a great idea for a story, I see this rising up to be a classic.'

'Amazing Adventure!'

'What a beautiful discovery! Strange Metamorphosis is a gem of a YA novel.'

'Well-written and captivating.'

'Really great read for any young adult. Even if you are only young at heart.'

'Fantastic story and the characters were wonderful and very imaginative'

'A startling and strangely gripping tale.'

'WOW!!!! what a read, a hard book to put down even to eat.'

About the Author

Paul C. R. Monk is an award-winning author and scriptwriter who has worked on a wide variety of projects from indie to critically acclaimed AAA videogames such as Assassin's Creed Syndicate. His debut novel, Strange Metamorphosis, won the Literary Classics Eloquent Quill Award, and book one of his historical fiction trilogy has been received to rave reviews.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B016IQ7ZI4
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bloomtree Press; 2nd edition (October 11, 2015)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 11, 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.0 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 276 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 60 ratings

About the author

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Paul C.R. Monk

Paul C.R. Monk

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PAUL C. R. MONK has worked as a linguist, teacher and script writer. It was while working as a script writer that in 2014 he published his first novel, Strange Metamorphosis, which won the Literary Classics Eloquent Quill award. He has since staged a number of plays, and has been busy completing his historical fiction serial set in the 17th century. The Huguenot Connection trilogy, which includes Merchants of Virtue, Voyage of Malice and Land of Hope, takes the reader from King Louis's France to the Caribbean, and from London to colonial New York, with drama-filled stops in the Rhine Valley and war-torn Ireland...

From his stay in China during the global pandemic comes a contemporary novel: Love in a Forbidden City.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
60 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a great read for young adults, with engaging characters and a vivid, wonderfully woven plot. Moreover, the book is cleverly written with a great pace, and one customer describes it as a wonderful journey to self-realization.

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10 customers mention "Enjoyment"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable, describing it as a fun and great read for young adults, with one customer mentioning it can be read aloud to children.

"...a great pace, memorable characters and an overall plot that keeps the reader engaged from the first page until the last...." Read more

"...quirky, Strange Metamorphosis is a fabulous adventure that readers of all ages can enjoy...." Read more

"...although it is similar yet again it is better because it is so much more readable...." Read more

"I enjoyed this book like few others lately. It was a light and fun read, with a terrific story and memorable characters...." Read more

9 customers mention "Character development"9 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, with one mentioning it's a character-building adventure suitable for all ages.

"...I loved the coming-of-age tones to this novel that bring with it a human quality and emotion that resonates with the reader of times when they are..." Read more

"The story was good. The characters were enjoyable, the pacing was good, and the adventure kept me turning the pages...." Read more

"...Well written, with strong characters, vivid language, and great description. Even the cover art is amazing!..." Read more

"Well written. Characters were well thought out. Kind of like Alice in Wonderland meets Wizard of Oz set in the miniature world of insects...." Read more

9 customers mention "Story quality"9 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story's vivid plot and consider it a fabulous adventure, with one customer noting how the author skillfully weaves the narrative together.

"...The plot is wonderfully vivid and imaginative, mixing the wonders of nature and the inherent "magic" of nature to create a fantastical place..." Read more

"...characters were enjoyable, the pacing was good, and the adventure kept me turning the pages. About the only downside was that the ending" Read more

"...Inventive and quirky, Strange Metamorphosis is a fabulous adventure that readers of all ages can enjoy...." Read more

"Although it was an interesting concept, it failed to catch my imagination...." Read more

6 customers mention "Language"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the language of the book, describing it as cleverly written and vivid, with one customer noting its great dialog.

"...novel that bring with it a human quality and emotion that resonates with the reader of times when they are tasked with forging their own path in life..." Read more

"...Well written, with strong characters, vivid language, and great description. Even the cover art is amazing!..." Read more

"Well written. Characters were well thought out. Kind of like Alice in Wonderland meets Wizard of Oz set in the miniature world of insects...." Read more

"...along with some great dialog...." Read more

4 customers mention "Enlightened content"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enlightening, with one describing it as a wonderful journey to self-realization and another noting it provides life lessons.

"...The trip, unlike Alice's, does indeed clarify everything and is not just a wonderful tale...." Read more

"...There are some life lessons in here too (don't wish you were something you cannot be and be persistent in thought and deed) along with some great..." Read more

"...is not your "normal" story, it is out of the box and absolutely enlightened. Definitely a must read!" Read more

"Wonderful journey to self realization..." Read more

3 customers mention "Pace"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's pace.

"...The novel is well written with a great pace, memorable characters and an overall plot that keeps the reader engaged from the first page until the..." Read more

"The story was good. The characters were enjoyable, the pacing was good, and the adventure kept me turning the pages...." Read more

"...appears too advanced for this age group, but quickly settles into a pace that is appropriate...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • T. Coker
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Fantastically Imaginative Coming-Of-Age Story
    Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Within just a few pages of starting "Strange Metamorphosis" I was sucked into this strange tale of a boy who has a lot of choices before him, but is unable to decide what his path in life should be... then in a strange order of events he finds himself changed into a bug and tasked with traversing a large meadow as in his new bug form before time runs out and he is forevermore a bug. I loved the coming-of-age tones to this novel that bring with it a human quality and emotion that resonates with the reader of times when they are tasked with forging their own path in life. The plot is wonderfully vivid and imaginative, mixing the wonders of nature and the inherent "magic" of nature to create a fantastical place where Marcel grows into his own self and finds the path he has always been looking for.

    The novel is well written with a great pace, memorable characters and an overall plot that keeps the reader engaged from the first page until the last. P.C.R. Monk does a wonderful job of weaving the story together and tying up all loose ends so that when the novel is over I felt like I'd taken a thrilling adventure that made sense and left me feeling like it had come to a nature close. It was overall well worth the read and I would definitely recommend it to other readers.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Jeffrey Beesler
    4.0 out of 5 stars Strange Metamorphosis a fun story about changes.
    Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    The story was good. The characters were enjoyable, the pacing was good, and the adventure kept me turning the pages. About the only downside was that the ending
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  • Kara J.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for Fantasy Fans of all Ages
    Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Paralyzed with indecision about his future, fourteen year old Marcel heads to his favorite oak tree to sit and think. Since the tree is rumored to be magic, Marcel asks the tree to help him make a decision? Should he stay or take the scholarship to school. Instead of a replying, the magic tree turns him into a bug!

    The magic tree has given him a quest—Marcel must find the magic jelly to return to his normal size and his normal life. Accompanied by an inchworm for a guide, Marcel sets off on his quest through the fields. Along the way he is forced to make new friends, defeat enemies, and learn a lot about himself during the journey. Inventive and quirky, Strange Metamorphosis is a fabulous adventure that readers of all ages can enjoy. Well written, with strong characters, vivid language, and great description. Even the cover art is amazing!

    I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy novels but wants something a little bit different. All of the typical fantasy elements are absent here—which helps makes Strange Metamorphosis so distinctive and fresh.

    All fans of the fantasy genre should check out this book. You won’t be disappointed.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Possum
    3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting idea
    Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Although it was an interesting concept, it failed to catch my imagination. I ended up skipping through the rest after reaching 68% and deciding to either quit the book or find where he made it back to humanity. I did the latter.
    One person found this helpful
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  • tmg41604
    4.0 out of 5 stars Kind of like Alice in Wonderland meets Wizard of Oz set in ...
    Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Well written. Characters were well thought out. Kind of like Alice in Wonderland meets Wizard of Oz set in the miniature world of insects. If you like those stories you might like this one.
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  • Dinky Deb
    5.0 out of 5 stars Most ingenius story I have read lately!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I could not have asked for a more delightful story. I hate to compare it to Alice in Wonderland although it is similar yet again it is better because it is so much more readable. A young boy who takes a side trip to a part of his world he has never been able to know before just as he needs to make a critical life decision. The trip, unlike Alice's, does indeed clarify everything and is not just a wonderful tale. I am 63 and I thoroughly loved it; yet I believe I could read it to my 5 year old grandson and then give it to his teenage brother or sister who would then enjoy it. I felt as if I had indeed been transported into a bug's eye view of the world with this story and such endearing characters!
    Helpful
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  • Nunja Business
    5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful and precious - read this out loud to your children!
    Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed this book like few others lately. It was a light and fun read, with a terrific story and memorable characters.
    Including a bug with a speech impediment could have been overkill, but with this book's tone, it was PERFECT and perfectly adorable. There are some life lessons in here too (don't wish you were something you cannot be and be persistent in thought and deed) along with some great dialog.

    If this is PCR Monk's first book, I can only say he has a spectacular career ahead of him.
    I highly recommend this book and will be loaning it to the rest of the family.
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  • Momto4BookLover
    5.0 out of 5 stars Strange Metamorphosis
    Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    This is something a long the lines of "Alice in Wonderland" meets "The Wizard of Oz". I really like both of those books and I really loved this one too!

    Marcel is a young man caught in the middle of his first "fork in the road" moment of life.
    He feels pressure from his girlfriend to pursue a scholarship in the big city. He really just wants to stay right where he is and accept other opportunities closer to home.

    While weighing his options he suddenly finds himself shrunk to the size of a bug! Thus begins his epic journey. Along the way he will find out many things, including what he's made of.

    Really great read for any young adult. Even if you are only young at heart.
    4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Strange Metamorphosis
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 7, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    A brilliant read that keeps you captivated all the way through the book, I can't wait for another book by this author,you really feel as if your living in the storyStrange Metamorphosis
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  • Margaret Davies
    5.0 out of 5 stars brilliant
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 8, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Absolutley fabulous, usually not into fantasy but on a summers day yesterday finished in one seshion and missed my son coaching cricket,more please !!!
    Report

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