A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting #3 Read online

  He leaned forward. I closed my eyes.

  Slurp! Kevin licked the side of my cheek with his slobbering tongue. Everyone laughed. I wiped the drool off my cheek and playfully shoved him.

  Same old Kevin. Nothing but trouble.

  Victor came back and joined us. He looked at Kevin, a little suspicious. “Who’s this guy?” Victor asked.

  “Bro!” Kevin grabbed Victor into a huge bear hug. “That was pretty cool, you going up in that slingshot,” said Kevin.

  Victor’s eyebrows jumped.

  Kevin let out a funny “arroo.”

  Victor bro-hugged Kevin. “You look amazing, man!”

  Kevin grinned. “Thanks. I’ve waited so long to be able to say this out loud.”

  He nervously wiped his hands on his jeans. “Wow. Okay. Sorry I got you suspended. I never meant to get you in trouble. I was only trying to look out for you. Because whenever I felt lonely and lost, I thought about you guys. You’re my friends. And you have no idea how much you mean to me.”

  “I think I know,” I said.

  “Let’s dance, losers!” Liz shouted.

  Liz, Berna, Cassie, and Curtis leaped into a circle. Victor, Kevin, and I joined them, and I watched the best babysitters in the world whirl and laugh with wild, celebratory abandon. Yes, there would be more monsters, more bumps in the night, more battles, more drama, more broken bones and great sacrifices. I would probably need counseling for the rest of my life to get the haunting image of the Wolf out of my head. And pretty soon, we would face the biggest horror show of them all: high school.

  But for now, we were a bunch of goofballs, dancing together. The world was ours. Anything was possible.

  Acknowledgments

  The book’s over. Why are you still reading? Are you one of those people who just see words and need to read them? Hopefully you’re still reading because you had such a good time that you want to hang and chat like the movie just let out and we’re gathered in the theater lobby all abuzz. So, what did you think of Mission to Monster Island? Really? That’s fascinating! Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt. Ah, yes, that is a bit of a plot hole, but please don’t tell anyone else.

  Great, now let’s all go get some ice cream and I’ll tell you about the incredible people who helped build this rickety roller coaster.

  First up, editor Maria Barbo. Maria has been through three giant Boogeypeople battles with me and has always led us to victory. Maria enthusiastically loves our gang of monster hunters so much I think she might be one herself. In Maria’s backpack you will find an assortment of weapons, such as a proofreading dog, a character nuance amulet, and a very sharp machete for pacing. Writers are like toddlers in the rain, prone to splashing in muddy puddles and making a huge mess of themselves. Assistant editor Stephanie Guerdan, aka the Great Guerdan, had to organize that mess, and I doubt you would be reading this were it not for her wondrous train-conducting skills. All hail the Great Guerdan! Vivienne To’s ability to translate my words into super cool pictures, her endless creativity, and talent always wow me. Which drawing is your favorite? My favorite one is—all of them. I’m constantly amazed at the teamwork that goes into getting this very book into your hands. There are copy editors, art editors, marketing people, the big boss, Katherine Tegen, and an entire room of elves that paint each book cover. Thank you for your hard work and your time making these books a reality.

  The very first people to hear any of my stories were my parents. I would tell them tales about giant rats living in sewers and superheroes, and they always encouraged me—even though I am sure those stories needed some serious proofreading. My folks are a huge reason why I am able to do what I do and I am forever thankful to them for being a kind, supportive first audience. They did more than listen, too. They played with me and let me be a weird kid without trying to change me. So thanks, Mom and Dad.

  I do my best to keep my work in the workshop but it follows me through the walls like a ghostly haunt, whispering sentences and ideas every waking moment. My darling, dearest Cara is with me in the spooky darkness, knowing when to fend off the ghosts and when to welcome them to tea. She fills my heart and soul every day. Our life together with our son has never been better.

  And yes, all that mushy stuff helps when writing a book—except when Theo wanders into my office and draws on my manuscript pages with blueberry yogurt. Thanks, kiddo.

  Hopefully the next time we meet we’ll be talking about book four and the movie of book one.

  What’s that? A movie?! Ah. That is an entirely different story for another time. Thank you for riding the rides on Monster Island with me, my friends. I suppose now is a good time to tell you that I am terrified of roller coasters.

  Books by Joe Ballarini

  A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting

  A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting #2: Beasts & Geeks

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  Copyright

  Katherine Tegen Books is an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

  A BABYSITTER’S GUIDE TO MONSTER HUNTING #3: MISSION TO MONSTER ISLAND. Text copyright © 2019 by Joe Ballarini. Illustrations copyright © 2019 by Vivienne To. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.

  www.harpercollinschildrens.com

  Cover art © 2019 by Vivienne To

  Cover design by Joel Tippie

  Library of Congress Control Number: 2019934618

  Digital Edition JULY 2019 ISBN: 978-0-06-243792-1

  Print ISBN: 978-0-06-243790-7

  1920212223PC/LSCH10987654321

  FIRST EDITION

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