JESS JUST READS

A BOOK REVIEW BLOG

The Wonderling by Mira Bartok

Mira Bartok tells the story of Arthur, a shy, fox-like foundling with only one ear and a desperate desire to belong, as he seeks his destiny.

Have you been unexpectedly burdened by a recently orphaned or unclaimed creature? Worry not! We have just the solution for you!

Welcome to the Home for Wayward and Misbegotten Creatures, an institution run by evil Miss Carbunkle, a cunning villainess who believes her terrified young charges exist only to serve and suffer. Part animal and part human, the groundlings toil in classroom and factory, forbidden to enjoy anything regular children have, most particularly singing and music. For the Wonderling, an innocent-hearted, one-eared, fox-like eleven-year-old with only a number rather than a proper name — a 13 etched on a medallion around his neck — it is the only home he has ever known.

But unexpected courage leads him to acquire the loyalty of a young bird groundling named Trinket, who gives the Home’s loneliest inhabitant two incredible gifts: a real name —Arthur, like the good king in the old stories — and a best friend. Using Trinket’s ingenious invention, the pair escape over the wall and embark on an adventure that will take them out into the wider world and ultimately down the path of sweet Arthur’s true destiny.

The Wondering is a gorgeous hardback gift book for primary-school aged children. It’s about a young groundling — an animal hybrid named Arthur — who escapes the terrible orphanage Miss Carbunkle’s Home for Wayward and Misbegotten Creatures. Arthur wants to find out where he’s from and what happened to his family, and along with his best friend Trinket, the two venture far and wide to find the answers that they’re looking for.

“Arthur took a deep breath and looked up at the sky. ‘I wish — and I will say it out loud, Trinket, for you are my best friend in the whole wide world — I wish —‘ He took another breath. ‘I wish to know why I’m here and what I’m supposed to do in the world — what is my destiny? There. I said it.”

The first thing you notice about the book is its package. The cover design is gorgeous and the illustrations throughout the book are wonderful. And not only does the book look beautiful, it’s actually a wonderful story and one that I really enjoyed reading.

“The sun rose over the city as Arthur and the Rat made their way across the bridge. All along the railing were flocks of wood pigeons and crows, fighting over bits of dead fish. It was a sad, neglected bridge, with the same soot-blackened statue on either side — a creature with a woman’s face and the body and wings of a swan.”

Whilst reading this, I had many flashbacks to some of the children’s books I read as a kid. There is something about this book and the storytelling that reminds me of Peter Rabbit and The Wind in the Willows. I think Mira has created a truly marvellous and highly original world.

The Wonderling is full of rich description and imagery, and strong friendships. There are multiple key messages in the book, and I think the strongest is the importance of friendship and the stability of it. Trinket, Arthur and Quintus — another friend that Arthur meets along the way — have a wonderful relationship and their friendship is really heartwarming, particularly amidst all the sadness in their world.

Mira has created some fantastic hybrid animals in the story, as well as highly original world-building. There’s homes within hollow trees, flying bicycles and clockwork beetles. The villains are also pretty entertaining. In particular, Headmistress Carbunkle and Mr Sneezeweed.

“Arthur climbed up the rope ladder to a rickety platform and was hoisted to the top by a loud clanking pulley. His new ‘home’ was a small, damp, empty hole carved into the rock. It reeked of bird droppings, mould, sewage and pee.”

The Wonderling is full of warmth and soul, and I really enjoyed the book. I did think it could’ve been shorter, though. At 462 pages, it’s a hefty read and I do think Mira could’ve condensed the story a bit. Besides this, it’s a sweet tale for young kids and there are plenty of learnings in there for them as well as a really great story with wonderful characters.

This book is recommended for children aged 9-13.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Wonderling
Mira Bartok
October 2017
Walker Books Australia

The Wizards of Once by Cressida Cowell

Once there was Magic, and the Magic lived in the dark forests.

Wizard boy, Xar, should have come in to his magic by now, but he hasn’t, so he wants to find a witch and steal its magic for himself. But if he’s got any chance of finding one, he will have to travel into the forbidden Badwoods.

Xar doesn’t realise he is about to capture an entirely different kind of enemy. A Warrior girl called Wish. And inside this book, at this very moment, two worlds collide and the fate of the land is changed forever. Xar and Wish must visit the dungeons at Warrior fort, and face the evil Queen. But something that has been sleeping for hundreds of years is stirring …

The Wizards of Once is the first book in a new middle grade fantasy series by Cressida Cowell, the author of How to Train Your Dragon. It’s about two kids — completely different from each other and too stubborn to want each other’s help or guidance — who must band together to destroy an evil that plagues both of their worlds.

Deeply rooted in history and legend from ancient Britain, this book takes place in a land filled with dark magic, mysterious forests, and suspicious characters. It isn’t too hard for the reader — child or adult — to grasp the history of this setting. There are warriors (no magic), witches (evil and magical), and wizards (good and magical).

“Giants are big and they tend to have BIG thoughts”

The warriors lived beyond the sea and were invaders. They disliked the witches and wiped them out years ago. Since then, they’ve also been wanting to wipe out wizards as well. However, as the novel begins and we are introduced to the cast of characters, we learn that there’s a mutual hatred amongst the neighbouring lands in the Kingdom because both warriors and wizards are very much still alive and they despise each other. The warriors haven’t been successful in their plight to destroy wizards and their magic. And so begins the story of Xar (the King Enchanter’s Son) and Wish (Warrior Princess).

 

The Wizards of Once is suspenseful and intriguing, with sketchy, scratchy illustrations scattered throughout the book. Kids will love the story, and although it’s a large book, some pages have no text on them and so kids won’t feel too daunted when picking this up to read.

At times I did find that the pace slowed a little too much, and I started skim reading just to keep things moving a little faster. In retrospect, Cressida probably could’ve trimmed the book in certain sections to keep the pace from slowing.

Despite this, the characters are brave, bold and really fun to read. They’re incredible flawed. They’re polar opposites and they compliment each other well. They learn to trust each other and to support each other, and together they work to tackle a common evil. Scattered throughout the story are moments of humour, reflection and depth.

Cowell’s world is delightful and fun and The Wizards of Once is a rollicking adventure — I’d recommend this to children aged 8-13.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Wizards of Once
Cressida Cowell
September 2017
Hachette Book Publishers

Team Hero 1: Battle for the Shadow Sword by Adam Blade

Welcome to Hero Academy! Join Jack and your other new classmates at this secret school, where the lessons are more exciting than Maths and PE. But when a portal from the evil underground realm of Noxx is discovered beneath the school, Team Hero needs your powers. The next invasion is upon us!

Surprisingly, I had a lot of fun reading this and I’m about twenty years older than the intended audience!

Jack Beacon is a school kid with scaly hands that he keeps hidden in gloves. His classmates tease him, until he manages to stop a moving car simply with his hands. Before he has time to work out what’s happening, a woman named Miss Steel finds Jack and brings him to Hero Academy. He joins other classmates who all have different types of powers. Here, they train and learn how to defeat the evil underground realm Noxx.

“With low mutterings, the students edged forward. Jack gasped as he saw what lay within the wall. It wasn’t a pool at all but a pit. At its base were horribly life-like statues, moss-covered and flaking. There were skeletons wielding swords and things like giant bats, wings speed as if about to fly away.”

Team Hero is actually really fun. Adam sure knows how to end each chapter with suspense and intrigue! The book is filled with illustrations, making it easy for kids to read. The chapters aren’t too long and the words aren’t too difficult. I’d say this book is perfect for kids who have just started learning to read chapter books, so age 6+

This book, with its comic-strip type illustrations, actually reminded me of a lot of animated kids shows I watched as a kid. The combination of superpowers and an academy would no doubt really draw a young reader in.

“Then Jack felt it too, through the soles of his feet — a tremor, then a rumble. Within the low stone wall, the statues began to tremble. Jack set the bike down quickly.”

Battle for the Shadow Sword is the first book in the Team Hero series. There are eight books coming out in total.

I recommend this to parents who are looking for something adventurous for their young child to read. Given that I loved reading it and I’m an adult, at least a parent would enjoy reading it to their child (after all, it’s always good if the parent actually likes the book as well as their kid).

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Team Hero 1: Battle for the Shadow Sword
Adam Blade
July 2017
Hachette Book Publishers