For this installment of our weekly book reviews from Booklist, the American Library Association’s nationally distributed book and media review publication, we have Chelsea Collier’s review of “Monster Down Deep” by Amy Fellner Dominy, first published June 5, 2026, in Booklist Online.
Enjoy.
“Monster Down Deep”
By Amy Fellner Dominy.
June 2026. 304p. Pushkin, paper, $13.95 (9781782695516). Grades 4-7.
An uncommon friendship between a young beachcomber and a stranded deep-sea creature provides the framework for an examination of fear and its ability to shape our lives in this environmentally conscious novel perfect for budding marine scientists. Despite an intense fear of open water, 11-year-old Cassie is determined to find the lost treasure of a sunken yacht. Instead, she discovers Blue, a strange fish far from home that shares an intuitive connection with Cassie. Teaming up with TJ, an aggressively friendly fortune hunter, Cassie brings Blue to her father’s aquarium and soon finds herself a viral sensation. But when Blue’s rarity becomes a threat to his very existence, Cassie must find the courage to do the right thing and prove herself worthy of Blue’s trust. Alternating between Blue’s amusingly stodgy perspective and Cassie’s sometimes unreliable narrative, Dominy creates a surprising but believable bond of friendship between girl and fish, emphasizing the importance of conservation efforts to protect creatures like Blue. A daring rescue adds drama to the plot’s third act, leading to an uplifting conclusion.— Chelsea Collier
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