#BookReview: They Threw Us Away (The Teddies Saga #1) by Daniel Kraus

Synopsis: "Buddy wakes up in the middle of a garbage dump, filled with a certain awareness: he’s a teddy bear; he spent time at a Store waiting for his future to begin; and he is meant for the loving arms of a child. Now he knows one more thing: Something has gone terribly wrong.

Soon he finds other discarded teddies—Horace, Sugar, Sunny, and Reginald. Though they aren’t sure how their luck soured, they all agree that they need to get back to the Store if they’re ever to fulfill their destinies. So, they embark on a perilous trek across the dump and into the outer world. With ravenous rats, screeching gulls, and a menacing world in front of them, the teddies will need to overcome insurmountable challenges to find their way home.



Goodreads | Amazon

Rating: 2 Stars
My Review: I was hoping this book was going to start out sad then end happy but that just didn't happen.  I sadly cant recommend this one as it had my daughter in tears and now she doesn't want to get rid of any of her toys because she doesn't want them to fell like the teddy in the story.  Nothing like dealing with a kid bawling her eyes out as you bag up toys to giveaway.  This story is way darker than most middle grade stories and kids that this book is for will find it sad, dark, and scary. 

From School Library Journal

Gr 4-6-Buddy is a teddy bear, and he wakes up to find himself far from his cozy box in the toy store. He's in the middle of a garbage dump, and he has no idea how or why he's there. He quickly finds and aligns himself with a few other teddies, and the more they learn and explore, the more sinister things become. The garbage dump is crawling with things that want to eat and/or destroy the teddies, but the world outside the dump isn't much better. In order to find what they're convinced will save them-children-they're going to have to venture beyond the dump and brave the city streets. This unique book begins in a seemingly innocent way, but there are many underlying, more ominous plot lines in the works. It's definitely creepy, has moments of violence, and could easily scare sensitive readers. Those seeking a dark story, however, will find just that. The illustrations are appropriately dark and add to the creep factor. The writing leaves a bit to be desired and contains a number of subject/verb disagreements. There is also an unnecessary and blatant nod to a big fast food chain. VERDICT An additional purchase for larger collections or where middle grade horror is very popular.-Jessica Trafton, Skidompha Lib., Damariscotta, MEα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Review

"Reminiscent of Watership Down...reflective children will revel in this thought-provoking world." ―Kirkus, Starred Review

"By turns swashbuckling and reflective, touching and disturbing, this existential work of fantasy and horror considers what one is willing to sacrifice when utterly lost." ―Publishers Weekly

"With a nod to Watership Down...[r]eaders with a taste for disturbing adventures and disquieting revelations will be well served." ―Booklist

"Fans of Toy Story or The Velveteen Rabbit might be aghast, but readers who knew there was always something a little off about their playthings will appreciate this uniquely horrific take." ―The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

About the Author

Daniel Kraus is the author of numerous novels, including Rotters, the Death and Life of Zebulon Finch duology, and Bent Heavens. With Guillermo del Toro, he wrote the New York Times bestselling The Shape of Water (the companion novel to the Academy Award-winning film) and Trollhunters (the inspiration for the Netflix series). 

His novels have been Odyssey Award winners, Library Guild selections, YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults picks, Parent’s Choice Gold Award winners, Bram Stoker finalists, and more. He lives with his wife in Chicago.

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Posted in: 2 Stars, Henry Holt and Co., Middle Grade, Review