Molly Grim feels that she got the raw end of the deal: a deadbeat (now just dead) dad, while her mom, Polly Ashe, kept Molly's older brother, Dustin, who is set to take over the odd funeral home she ran with her friend Vivacia. So Molly, a 13-year-old emancipated minor thanks to Uncle Gordo, shows up at the family estate, hoping for enough cash to get her through costuming school (and maybe, deep down, hoping for a family connection with her brother). But Dustin is caught off guard, and neither he nor Vivacia are welcoming; they allow Molly to stay with them only because they have to, and Molly snoops to find out as much as she can. It turns out this isn't a normal funeral home at all...but Molly figures it out too late, once she's already obtained the Fivefold Key from a ghost in the wallpaper and opened the gate in the wall in the woods. Uncle Gordo rushes through, turning into a Devourer who will suck magic from the supernatural cemetery unless Dustin, Molly, and a council of five other creatures can stop him.

Action-packed, tongue-in-cheek, and supernaturally inventive.

See also: Castle Hangnail, No One Leaves the Castle

Quotes

Molly could be quite stubborn. Especially when she was wrong. She knew this. And yet. And yet. (81)

Curiosity and stubbornness formed a one-two punch. (112)

"Monstrousness isn't because of who you are, but because of the choices you make." (Marsha, 196)

"Gabe thinks he knows things, which often means he's not receptive to knowing new things." (Marsha, 255) ( )

Did I even finish this book? I don't remember. I remember several aborted attempts, but I've been bingeing podcasts for the last week and cannot recall finishing, but Audible is counting it as read, so I will, too. Disappointing, because I've thoroughly enjoyed everything else Wendig, but maybe the middle-grade target audience would have connected to it better than middle-aged me. ( )

Dust and Grim is a 2023 Lone Star tongue-in-cheek novel.

The novel begins abruptly with, "Our father is dead, and I have some to discuss matters of his estate." Little does Molly Grimm know, but her brother, Dustin, has no idea she exists. He vaguely remembers that his mother was pregnant, but then, she wasn't. He never thought more beyond that fact. Molly arrives with her--their--Uncle Gordo wanting half of the estate. It's quite an estate, too. Dustin and Molly's mother is also dead, so it's now the two of them, so they can sell the funeral home and split the proceeds. Dustin feels that Molly is pushy and does not feel as if she should claim anything. Molly has lived with her no-good father, never having a break. Her brother had a loving mother and inherited the business. He. needs to share. Dustin's partner, Vivacia Sims, fails to welcome Molly as well. They do agree to have her stay in the house while Gordo leaves. Viv and Dustin watch Molly closely. It's a very strange funeral home. Where are the plots? Where are the dead bodies? Does Dustin really know about dead bodies and funeral planning. It's all very suspicious. Everything unravels and the truth is revealed when Molly creates havoc.

Molly loves cosplay. She plans to be a costume designer and needs money to attend school. She's on her own and, as her brother seems uninterested, she doesn't need him. She has her Uncle she just met and she will be fine. She dresses in costumes most of the time, which confuses her brother. She knows about games, movies, and books about all sorts of characters. Dustin is the complete opposite--kind of a stiff upper-lip kind of guy. She's rather strange and obsessed with these characters while he seems to have no personality. Still, when havoc ensues, they may have to spend time together..

I have no idea if the characters and games Molly talks about really exist. I hope they do, but maybe they're made up for the book. As I mentioned, it's a tongue-in-cheek book that doesn't take itself too seriously. Everything is a bit outlandish, so suspend your disbelief and travel to this very unusual funeral home and the characters who have to solve the problem that Molly accidentally creates. Each scene is rather amusing. I'd love to say more, but then I would spoil all of the many surprises. If you want a fun novel, try this book. I will say to be patient. It takes a while before the secrets reveal themselves. ( )

“We're a funeral home for monsters,” Vivacia said

“Viv!" Dustin said, scandalized.

“Fine. The supernatural,” the woman corrected. To Molly, in a lower voice, she said: “Monster is a bit of no-no word. We prefer not to use it, and they certainly prefer us not to use it. But we need common ground here, and I hope it helps you to understand.”
“Monsters,” Molly said, repeating the no-no word.

“The supernatural,” Viv corrected again.

“The nonstandard citizens,” Dustin said sharply.

WHAT'S DUST & GRIM ABOUT?
After thirteen-year-old Molly's father died, her uncle comes to her and tells her about her (late) mother and older brother—Molly's parents split right after she was born and she'd never known anything about them. Her father had never been a good provider—or much of a parent in any other way. She needs money for costuming school (and room and board, too) and her long-lost family has an ongoing business of some sort.

So Molly introduces herself to her brother, Dustin, and makes an ultimatum: she wants half of everything or to take part in the business. Dustin and his mother's friend, Vivian (who has taken on the role of mentor/guardian) aren't keen on either option (or on Molly in general, if truth be told).

Through sheer pluck, determination, and a happy accident or two, Molly learns that the family business is as a funeral home/cemetery caretakers for supernatural creatures. Not only that, but a malevolent magic-user is running around the cemetery ruining the eternal rest of those interred there (which could have cataclysmic effects).

With the help of a band of non-standard citizens—as delightfully creepy and goofy as you could want—the siblings have to figure out how to get along and stop this threat.

THE NON-STANDARD WORLD

“Mollllllly,” the forest whispered in return.

She shuddered. “That's weird. You should stop that!”

“Sorrrrry," the forest answered.

Well, at least it's a polite menacing voice.

It's hard to describe briefly the non-standard world we're introduced to—through the cemetery, the group helping Molly and Dustin, and others that they interact with. It's sort of like Gaiman's Neverwhere or Aaronovitch's demi-monde. But the Pixar version.

Just a few examples: there's a Foxperson shapeshifter, which is pretty much what it sounds like; the above talking forest (at least, that's her theory at the time); a vampire that can compete with Fred, the Vampire Accountant for the Most Milquetoast Vampire in Literature; and a Florg, a childlike extra-dimensional being, who is probably the most dangerous being in the book, who is pacified with cheese crackers and by attempting to be funny (think Dave Bautista's Drax, but not at all).

I hope there's a sequel just to spend more time in this world.

SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT DUST & GRIM?

“What kind of poison?” Dustin asked.

Marsha chimed in: “Mucus-thorn and mire-berry."

"Is that, like, some kind of alt-folk band?" Molly asked.

“Not as bad as that," Ember said, grinning like, well, a fox. “But as poisons go? Pretty flappin' bad."

Dust & Grim was just silly, creepy, wholesome fun. You've got some great creatures. You've got a nice sibling-dynamic. Some genuinely funny lines. Molly's cosplaying is great, I love the choice to ground her character in that. And a creative story.

But most of all, you get to young characters who learn who they are, find ways of fulfilling their dreams that they didn't expect to find, and a strong sense of family—and what that means. Not in some "we have to find a wholesome message for MG readers" kind of way, but in a way that would work for these characters no matter the intended audience.

I don't want to spend too much time trying to talk about this, it's just a fun read that should be enjoyed that way. ( )