Miss Mary-Kate Martin's guide to monsters: The Trouble with the Two-Headed Hydra by Karen Foxlee

Mary-Kate is on her second monster seeking adventure in this delightful series. Her mother, Professor Martin, has been summoned to an archaeological dig on the remote Greek island of Galinios. There is an ancient, tiled floor that needs protection from building expansion by The Kyrios Famous Sardines factory. As soon as they arrive Mary-Kate is aware of things being awry. There are smashed paddle boats in the harbor. They are met by Nikos and receive a letter from his Yiayia who is very concerned that the island’s Two-Headed Hydra is behaving strangely and attacking things. 

While her mother works, Mary-Kate is taken on a bicycle tour by Nikos who fills her in on other island problems, including pollution in the sea and dwindling fish catches. They become very suspicious of the glamorous owner of the sardine factory and a group of men called The Legendary Pest Control. Maybe they are behind the island's problems. So Mary-Kate and Nikos bravely try to get to the bottom of the mystery. 

Karen Foxlee makes this an entertaining and absorbing read with a nice twist. Mary-Kate is a terrific quirky character with her unique dress style and her glitter pens and notebook. She has many anxieties but overcomes them by making careful plans, having a backpack of useful things and her lucky charms. Her self-talk is always about how to overcome her fears. She grows more intrepid and stronger through the story. Nikos is “the force for good in this world” and Prof Martin is similarly principled and a kind, eccentric parent. There are several villains to dislike who don’t care about the environment, preservation of ancient history or the Hydra. The baddies are a bit menacing but the scary bits are tame and suitable for young readers. Greek language and culture are woven through the story. Freda Chiu’s jacket design, maps and illustrations complement the story well. Year twos and threes should enjoy this as a class read-aloud. It can be read without reading The Wrath of the Woolington Wyrm first.

Themes: Ancient Monsters, Greek culture, Environmental problems, Bravery.

Jo Marshall