Likely Stories - My Favorite Thing is Monsters by Emil Ferris

Do you like to read detective stories and murder mysteries? Do you enjoy pulp horror and old monster movies? How about coming of age stories? And stories of Holocaust survivors? Do you appreciate art history and Renaissance painting? What about books set in the turbulent atmosphere of American cities in the 1960s?

The book I'm reviewing today includes all this and more. My name is Heather White, and for today's Likely Stories segment, I am recommending My Favorite Thing is Monsters by Emil Ferris.

A few years ago, I wanted to start reading graphic novels but didn't know where to start. I looked over many collections of the best graphic novels, and My Favorite Thing is Monsters was at the top of every list – it has won numerous awards and has a cult following as well. The story and the illustrations are unforgettable.

The book itself has a fascinating and inspiring backstory. In 2001, the author, Emil Ferris, was bitten by a mosquito and contracted West Nile Virus. She was paralyzed from the waist down and lost the use of her right hand. In an interview with The Guardian, she said that she wrote and illustrated My Favorite Thing is Monsters as a creative outlet during her recovery, and as a way to strengthen the hand that had been damaged by her illness.

Her writing and illustration process was tedious and time-consuming; it took Ferris six years to write and illustrate 700 pages, averaging a page every two days. Emil Ferris wrote My Favorite Thing is Monsters on notebook paper and illustrated it with ballpoint pen. Her drawings in this simple media are stunning.

My Favorite Thing is Monsters is the fictional diary of the main character, Karen Reyes. Karen is a ten-year-old girl growing up in Chicago in the 1960s. She faces numerous challenges: a mother who is ill, an absent father, bullies at school, and an older brother who is always in trouble.*

She escapes into the world of pulp horror magazines and detective stories. Her notebooks are filled with doodles and narrative, as well as full-page copies of the monsters and horror characters that Karen loves. She and her brother explore the city and often visit the Chicago Art Institute, where the works of art speak to their individual fears and dreams.

Karen’s diaries guide us through the interconnected stories of her family, her neighbors, and her inner world. When her friend and neighbor, a Holocaust survivor, is murdered, Karen appoints herself detective and sets out to solve the case. Along the way, she uncovers her murdered neighbor’s tragic past and exposes shocking secrets about her own family history.

Although this is an illustrated story, it is not appropriate for young readers. The intertwining narratives explore dark themes and mature content.

Those of us who loved My Favorite Thing is Monsters Volume One waited seven years for the sequel, which was published in 2024. The two-volume set is a masterpiece—the visuals are extraordinary, and the story is enthralling.

Although it took Emil Ferris thirteen years to write, it will only take you a few days to read. Give it a try and you’ll see why one of my favorite books is My Favorite Thing is Monsters.

RECENT EPISODES OF LIKELY STORIES

Teaching Under the Influence by Sandra Walters

"Every Kid Deserves a Champion" is a famous quote by educator powerhouse Rita Pearson. For years, teachers have been considered champions for students regardless of their economic background, academic growth, race, or behavior. History.

Likely Stories - Katabasis by R.F. Kuang

Hello. My name is Douglas Henry, Dean of the Honors College at Baylor University, with this week’s edition of Likely Stories. Fantasy writer R.F. Kuang published her sixth novel last year. It’s called Katabasis, an odd but fitting Greek word for her story of academic misadventure.

Likely Stories - A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon

Have you ever felt overwhelmed, and maybe just a bit freaked out, by the absurd enormity of inhabiting a fragile body in a rapidly-changing and dangerous world? George Hall has, a little too often. I’m Gia Chevis, and for this week’s installment of Likely Stories on KWBU, I’m recommending A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon, author of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

Likely Stories - A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst

A married couple’s long awaited adventure at sea becomes a disaster and a nearly four month long deperation to stay alive.

Likely Stories - The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

I don't know if there is a more perfect book. I've read The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern five times (unheard of for someone like me who does not ever reread books), and each time I find myself utterly captivated by this beautiful, mystical story of love, magic, sweeping talents and mystery, and the ties that bind us to each other.

Likely Stories - The Book of Light by Lucille Clifton

This is Guilherme Feitosa de Almeida, senior lecturer in music theater at Baylor University. I'm here with this week's edition of Likely Stories.

Likely Stories - The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo

Have you contemplated spring cleaning? When this bug hit me, I turned to the grand-master cleaner, Marie Kondo, for inspiration. This best-selling author has sold 9 million copies of her classic book: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up – the Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing. Ok, add me, Maggie McCarthy, to the ranks of readers as I set out on my decluttering journey with this instructive read.

Likely Stories - Only God Can Judge Me: The Many Lives of Tupac Shakur by Jeff Pearlman

I'm Kevin Tankersley and this is likely stories on KWBU. I first learned about the book 'Only God Can Judge Me: The Many Lives of Tupac Shakur' when I heard the author Jeff Pearlman on 'The Pete Sousa Show' podcast last year. I knew of Pearlman from his writings at Sports Illustrated and ESPN. He was a sports guy. Why would he be talking about Tupac?

Likely Stories - Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle

I can remember a number of truly incredible meals in my life, whether cooked for me at home or in restaurants locally or while traveling. Some of the food stands out in my mind: a perfectly-cooked piece of meat, a well-crafted cocktail, a side dish that pairs perfectly with the entree, a dessert that caps off the wonderful meal. But in all those epicurean events, what I recall most are the people with me around the table, loved ones sharing a gustatory experience always seems more important than the food itself.

Likely Stories - A Short History of a Small Place by T.R. Pearson

"Some books stay with you for decades. For me, that’s A Short History of a Small Place by T.R. Pearson. First published in 1985, it’s a funny, Southern tale of Neely, North Carolina, told through the eyes of young Louis Benfield, Jr. From quirky townsfolk to a chimpanzee companion, the story blends humor and heart in unforgettable ways. I first heard it on The Radio Reader in 1986—and I’ve never forgotten it."