Book Review: The Mortification of Fovea Munson by Mary Winn Heider

The Mortification of Fovea Munson by Mary Winn Heider is a middle grade novel. Fovea Munson is nobody's Igor. True, her parents own a cadaver lab where they perform surgeries on dead bodies. And yes, that makes her gross by association, at least according to everyone in seventh grade. And sure, Fovea's stuck working at the lab now that her summer camp plans have fallen through. But she is by no means Dr. Frankenstein's snuffling assistant! That is, until three disembodied heads, left to thaw in the wet lab, start talking. To her. Out loud. What seems like a nightmare, or bizarre hallucination, is not. Fovea is somebody's Igor, all right. Three somebodies, actually. And they need a favor. With a madcap sense of humor and a lot of heart (not to mention other body parts), this is a story about finding oneself, finding one's friends, and embracing the moment.

The Mortification of Fovea Munson is honestly one of the strangest books I have read in the very best ways. What starts off as a almost standard story, middle schooler having trouble with friends and family trying to get through a summer that is certainly not going as planned turns into a madcap adventure with singing heads and a mystery to solve. I love that the mix of real and what the heck is so well balanced. Life can be pretty strange when you are at that age, but I do not remember it ever being that crazy. I thought that Fovea was a very realistic character- with parents that embarrass her and sometimes fail to hear her (which is how most kids feel) and facing friendships changing and having trouble with her classmates in general. I think most readers can sympathize with her on those fronts, even if they have never faced problems quite as unique as Fovea's.  At the same time, the talking heads, blackmail, spunky grandmother, and the less typical aspects of the story keep the readers moving forward, trying to find solutions, and pondering what they might do in such a situation. I was engaged through the entire read and think that most other readers will be as well.

The Mortification of Fovea Munson is a wonderful read with a balance of realistic problems and unbelievable details and moments that come together perfectly. I recommend this read to middle grade readers and older.