Jay doesn’t believe in Bigfoot. His dad loves hunting for Bigfoot, but searching for a mythical creature in the dark isn’t Jay’s idea of fun. Especially because he always gets stuck looking out for his little sister while his dad plays with the cool gear, like night-vision goggles. But while out on a camping trip, a large creature starts hunting them, and then Jay’s father goes missing. Jay is forced to start tracking the creature himself while still keeping his sister safe. It turns out that not only is Bigfoot real but it isn’t the only threat in the woods. There’s a different kind of monster out here, one who is armed with a gun. Jay must act fast to save his father before it’s too late. And he needs Bigfoot’s help to do it.

Whether or not you believe that big, hairy Sasquatches (Bigfoots) actually exist, this is a fun, spooky, middle-grade read.

Yes, the mix of thriller and humor works in this novel, which features 13-year-old Jay, his four-year-old sister Rose (who is mostly a plot device to slow down the Bigfoot chase and spice up dialogue) and their Sasquatch-fanatic dad (night-vision goggles, headphones and all). The three depart (the two kids reluctantly) on a trip into the woods to find the legendary creature, a common and till now fruitless family diversion.

The dad is ridiculously one-track-minded, leaving Jay to be the sensible one. Of course, things go wrong, something or someone else seems to be in the woods after them, and it all gets spookier from there.

All I can see is this black shape racing through the trees toward us. But it’s big. Really big. The tops of young trees sway against the cloudy night sky as the beach pushes them out of its way. And wow, is the thing smelly.

But it’s spooky-lite, as things also get more ridiculous. (Sasquatch babies play with dolls and can break open cages? Sasquatches can be bribed with bananas? Adult Sasquatches have their own special swear words?)

But anyone willing to suspend a bit of disbelief will get a kick out of the adventure.

It’s all dialogue-heavy, which keeps the pace up and makes for a can’t-put-it-down read. (It is, after all, an “ultra-readable page-turner,” in other words good for reluctant readers.) At times it feels like a book for lower than middle-grade, but I ended up deciding it’s merely a middle-grade tale that allows the reader a guilt-free giggle-fest now and again. And who doesn’t need that?

Fans will even gain a bit of history on the Sasquatch and some knowledge of primate behavior (as well as some amusing fictional behavior). Enjoy the read.

-Pam Withers