Facing the Beast Within: The Anxiety of Cameron Poole

NEW FROM INTERNATIONALLY PUBLISHED NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR Mark Cheverton has written 27 books, with over 2 million copies in print.

Winner: Mom's Choice GOLD Award

Winner: 2023 International Book Award for Children's Fiction

Winner: 2023 NYC Big Book Award for Middle-grade Fiction

RunnerUp: 2023 PenCraft Award for Children's Fiction

Cameron Poole has a problem, a big problem: he's a bully magnet who struggles with anxiety. Being the smallest sixth grader at his summer camp, everything around him triggers his anxiety, his Beast, making it impossible for him to do the same things other kids can do. In a constant state of worry, Cameron feels like a perpetual failure. That's bad enough, but when Cameron learns that mythical monsters are trying to invade his camp, things go from bad to worse.

Malphas, the Demon Lord from a parallel world called Agartha, wants to bring his monster army to Camp Pontchartrain and begin his invasion. But before he can the biggest and most lethal monsters to Earth, he must find the seven Skull Keys that will keep the gateway between them open forever. Cameron and his unusual collection of friends are chosen to stop Malphas from finding the Skull Keys. But the Demon Lord of Agartha has other plans. He sends mythical creatures to Earth, gremlins, imps, gargoyles . . . to find the keys and destroy anyone in their way.

In order to stop the Malphas and his monster army from getting all the Skull Keys, Cameron must face his worst nightmares while trying to keep his friends safe. But when he learns Malphas's real plan, Cameron's blood runs cold with fear. Can Cameron control his anxiety and confront his Beast while battling an army of minotaurs, banshees, ghouls, golems, and other nightmarish monsters?

Buckle up and get ready for a thrilling adventure!