The Yark by Bertrand Santini is about a monster called, well, the Yark, who lives off eating children. He needs good little boys and girls though. Eating bullies and scoundrels gives the Yark a right terrible tummyache. But over the years, decades, and centuries, there are fewer and fewer good children to be found. What’s a monster to do? Steal Santa’s list, that’s what! Whatever could possibly go wrong?

List in hand, the Yark travels the world looking for delectable children to gobble. Unfortunately for him, potential victim one sees his presence as an excuse to be bad. Potential victim two turns out to not be so delicious after all, and gives the Yark flying axe handles. He ends up crashing into an abandoned lighthouse, where a young orphan has made her home. Through the love she shows him, the Yark learns about humanity, and in doing so, about himself.

Full of gorgeous pencil and ink sketches, this tale was a brilliant commentary on how children pick up patterns of behaviour from parents. More importantly, it shows how it is possible to change one’s own behaviour by changing one’s thinking, and thus overcome upbringing or base instinct. Geared towards middle-grade readers, this is an invaluable lesson. We do not have to be what nature (or nurture) made us. I read this with my cubs, and we all enjoyed it. It really reminded me Stephen Cosgrove’s Serendipity stories, though longer and darker. Certainly, the lessons were consistent!

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Myrick Marketing for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.