| 9781681194011 |
| 1681194015 |
Available:*
Library | Material Type | Call Number | Shelf Location | Status | Item Holds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Searching... East Library | Children's Book | HARR | Children's-J-Fiction | Searching... Unknown | Searching... Unavailable |
Searching... Penrose Library | Children's Book | HARR | Children's-J-Fiction | Searching... Unknown | Searching... Unavailable |
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Summary
Summary
From the author of the critically acclaimed The Imaginary comes a powerful story about friendship in the vein of Roald Dahl and Neil Gaiman.
A School Library Journal Best Book of 2017
A Wall Street Journal Best Book of 2017
Frank thought her summer couldn't get any worse--until big, weird, smelly Nick Underbridge rescues her from a bully, and she winds up at his house.
Frank quickly realizes there's more to Nick than meets the eye. When she's at his house, she hears the strangest, most beautiful music, music which leads her to a mysterious, hidden door. Beyond the door are amazing creatures that she never even dreamed could be real. For the first time in forever, Frank feels happy . . . and she and Nick start to become friends.
But Nick's incredible secrets are also accompanied by great danger. Frank must figure out how to help her new friend, the same way that he has helped her.
Paired with gorgeous black-and-white illustrations from Levi Pinfold, acclaimed author A. F. Harrold weaves a powerful story about unlikely friendship, strange magic, and keeping the shadows at bay.
Author Notes
A.F. Harrold is an English poet and author who writes and performs for both children and adults. His novel The Imaginary was a Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade Book. He is the owner of many books, a handful of hats, and one beard. He spends his spare time showing off onstage, in schools, and at home, and his non-spare time sitting around, stroking his beard and writing things down. He lives in Reading, England, with a stand-up comedian and two cats.
www.afharroldkids.com
Levi Pinfold has been drawing from imagination for as long as he can remember. He is the author and illustrator of The Django, The Greenling , and Black Dog, which won the prestigious CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal. Born in the Forest of Dean, he has somehow found himself living in northern Australia. He likes paintings, books, music, and some cats.
www.levipinfold.com
Reviews (2)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-6-Strong characterizations and a good dose of spookiness are standouts in this illustrated novel. After a strange boy named Nick rescues her from bullies, Frank begins a cautious friendship with her unpopular classmate. When she hears mysterious and beautiful music coming from Nick's cellar, Frank secretly investigates. She discovers a "leechway" that acts as a door to alternate realities. Nick's nonhuman mother lives in one of them; so do creepy "stick-creatures" who seem eager to invade our world. The two kids play heroic, save-the-world roles in an action-packed climax, but there's just as much tension in the carefully paced plot that leads up to it. Third-person narration conveys Frank's inner thoughts and perceptions, revealing a tentative, flawed, but quite likable protagonist. Amusing inner dialogues with her nervous stomach show how the girl struggles with self-esteem, courage, and ethical choices. She comes through bravely against the stick-figures, but there's a different, equally satisfying triumph in a final scene where she defends a child from bullies. The eeriness builds slowly as Frank gradually learns more about the leechway. The ominous mood is aided by atmospheric black-and-white drawings that capture the shadowy menace creeping into Frank's world. VERDICT Hand to fans of Neil Gaiman's Coraline, Holly Black's Doll Bones, and other books that balance scariness and substance.-Steven Engelfried, -Wilsonville Public Library, OR © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Francesca Frank Patel couldn't experience a worse summer. Her best friend is away, her cat is missing, and the school bully won't leave her alone. When the horrid giant of a kid Nick Underbridge rescues her and takes her to his home, Frank doesn't know what to make of him. His father is friendly, and the house is cheerful and filled with beautiful music. When she snoops behind a secret door, she discovers the source of the music: a gigantic troll, who Nick reveals is his mother, living in another world. Frank agrees to keep Nick's secret; but as their friendship develops, she realizes the secret is dangerous and could cause harm to Nick and his family, forcing her to make a difficult decision. Friendship, acceptance, trust, and decency weave their magic throughout Harrold's (The Imaginary, 2015) tale, which questions how fairy tales and fantasy find their place in our universe. Lush black-and-white illustrations by Pinfold enhance the secrecy, wonder, and mood of the story.--Fredriksen, Jeanne Copyright 2017 Booklist
