Assessment:

Plot/Idea: Herrick delivers a fun and kooky sci-fi story for young readers that integrates aliens and cryptids. While organized and structured appropriately, the work may benefit from more pronounced transitions and additional backstory to better fill out the circumstances and orient readers.

Prose: The prose carries a satisfying forward momentum and youthful tone, while also offering gratifying detail and description. 

Originality: Throughout, Herrick offers an enjoyable blend of sci-fi and fantasy adventure for a young audience; the downside, however, to packing in so much in one narrative is that some ideas can (often out of necessity) fall to the wayside in favor of others.

Character/Execution: While the characters in Cryptids may not show significant growth and development, they remain distinct from one another. The many creaturely individuals readers encounter are endearingly presented.

Date Submitted: April 26, 2024