The Phantom Tollbooth

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

“There was once a woman named Alissa who didn’t know what to do with herself – not just sometimes, but always.

“When she was at work she longed to be out, and when she was out she longed to be in. On the way she thought about coming home, and coming home she thought about going. Wherever she was she wished she were somewhere else, and when she got there she wondered why she’d bothered. Nothing really interested her – least of all the things that should have.”

And that is how The Phantom Tollbooth begins. Okay, I made a few adjustments. I made myself the protagonist. Because as soon as I read the opening remarks, I clearly identified with the main character. And I wondered to myself, “Why has it taken me so long to discover this book? I cannot believe I missed it the first time around!” And the second time around too – this is the Special 35^th Anniversary Edition published in 1996.

So here is a boy, Milo, who doesn’t see the point in anything. Why go to school? Why study? Why learn? There are many adults out there who sound like grownup Milos. They say, “I told you so. I didn’t need math. I never use math. There is no point to requiring math.” And I think, “Really? I use math ALL THE TIME and I’m a librarian – not an engineer.” I’m usually among the first to argue the importance of a thing and why it must be required. You know, the importance of reading and such (smile). But is it merely for the sake of argument?

I am a closet Milo. Why should I read all of these books? Why should I write about them? Why should I work out? Why should I get up early just to get everything done? What is the point of doing something for me, for my pleasure? It’s easy to argue a point against a worthy adversary. Seems kind of … pointless… arguing with oneself.

What I am saying is that I completely identified with Milo. Now if I only would receive a Phantom Tollbooth.

Milo drives his toy car through the tollbooth and pays the toll and ends up in a whole new world! Most of the fun and the joy in this book come from the word play and puns. Milo finds himself transported to the old Kingdom of Wisdom. The sons of the king do not get along. One establishes himself as Azaz of the Unabridged, King of Dictionopolis and lover of all things letters and words. The other one becomes the Mathemagician of Digitopolis, lover of all things numerical.

To finally settle the score, which is more important to daily life, the brothers go to their younger sisters, Rhyme and Reason. The two young princesses will not choose between the two – true daughters of Wisdom – and are therefore banished to the Castle in the Air. Without Rhyme and Reason, the whole kingdom is left in Ruins.

Milo is given the quest to free Rhyme and Reason. Little does Milo know that the mission is futile and hence he succeeds!

My only disappointment with the novel is the ending. Somehow, I don’t think Milo will so easily change his mindset. I don’t think he will be spurred to learn. I think he will fall back into daydreams of his glory days with the Phantom Tollbooth, wishing his days away. Wishing that the tollbooth would return. I know I would. Isn’t that what the Pevensies always looked for? Another way, another opportunity to return to Narnia?

For lovers of language and word play!

A King's Ransom

A King's Ransom by Jude Watson

I find myself fighting the same old argument. Do I keep reading a series after I have already figured out the formula? Do I continue to read a series that is mediocre in my opinion when there are so very many good books out there waiting for me? And my innate inclination says yes. Besides, it is a short book. It is a quick read. It is relief from the sometimes laborious requirements on my lists. I’m so hard on myself. Smirk.

The other argument is do I keep reviewing them? Same answer. My natural tendencies require a yes. Because I never know who might be reading this time… This might be the review that captures some mother’s attention and finally finds that series that she can put in her son’s hand that sets him off and running in my world!

Seriously though, I am glad I didn’t skip this book. I will liken it to The Empire Strikes Back on a lesser scale. Important personages are disposed of and miraculous, although odious, revelations are uncovered. And the audience gasps OR screams NOOOOOOoooooooo!

First we met the Cahill family which is divided into four distinct lines. There are the Ekat, Janus, Lucian and Tomas, each group hoping to discover the 39 clues before one of the other families does. Our main characters, Amy and Dan, were curious as to which family they belonged to. And then a fifth family was revealed – the Madrigals. At first we were led to believe they are evil. In truth, they are working towards a higher calling – protecting the 39 clues while bringing the family back together.

Now that the Madrigals are the good side and even the winning side with most of the children from the various families working together under this moniker with or without the support of their grownups, we needed a new threat. Enter the Vespers. The Vespers are older even than the Cahills. They are not a family, but an organization grown from recruitment. Their aspiration seems to be to rule the world, hence their desire to acquire the super human serum that the 39 clues produces.

Except that the first two books in the Cahills vs. Vespers have very little to do with the 39 Clues. Dan is slowly acquiring the ingredients just in case their situation becomes too dire. But the Vespers are not asking for the serum or its ingredients. In The Medusa Plot, Vesper 1 asked for a work of art which led the Cahills to a book written by Marco Polo. In this volume, Vesper 1 asks for an ancient map. And somehow Marco Polo connects the two.

Luckily Amy and Dan will receive additional assistance to put the puzzle together. Not only do they have the support from their Cahill family, but a new group has appeared – the Guardians. The Guardians have protected the map and moved it from location to location as necessary to protect it. The Guardians have worked with the Cahills before, but the newest Guardian isn’t even aware of what he is. Nor does he understand his importance.

The greatest obstacle impeding Amy and Dan from working with the Guardians is proving that the Cahills are in the right even as Interpol is chasing them for their theft in the previous volume. It is hard to prove the integrity of your character when your reputation for thievery precedes you. Or perhaps Amy and Dan are just as bad as the Vespers. It might be in their blood.

Previous 39 Clues reviews:
The Medusa Plot # 1 Cahills vs. Vespers
Vespers Rising # 11 39 Clues
Into the Gauntlet # 10 39 Clues
Storm Warning # 9 39 Clues

The Whispering Mountain

The Whispering Mountain by Joan Aiken

Sometimes it doesn’t matter how hard you think you did your homework, you still miss something. When I started reading the Wolves Chronicles, also known as the Wolves of Willoughby Chase series, by Joan Aiken, I thought there were a few books, maybe several, based upon those available on our bookshelves at  Decatur Public Library. Then I discovered there were more and DPL didn’t own them all. As I started searching, I found more than ten novels in the series, but no clear order. I ordered one thinking it was third only to discover that it was actually the fourth. This is that book. And it’s not fourth.

When I finally sat down to read this book, I noticed that there was no mention of Wolves on the jacket. There was maybe a millisecond when I thought I’d just skip it and jump right into the next 39 Clues, maybe less than a millisecond. I couldn’t abandon the book that I had checked out twice and had already sent back once. The poor book that nobody else wanted and therefore it was okay that I kept it a bit, okay a whole lot of bit, longer that I should have. Besides, you never know when you might discover treasure.

As I read the story, I never did see a direct connection to Wolves, but it didn’t matter. The tale was magical in and of itself and as I have already pointed out, Wolves titles seem loosely related.

This go around, we are introduced to young Owen Hughes, the son of a Sea Captain who has been lost at sea. Owen has found his grandfather, retired sea Captain Owen Hughes, who is now the curator of a museum in Pennygaff, Wales.

As so often is the case, Owen is a social outcast at his new school. When we first meet him, he is planning his escape from school and the school bullies. But he runs home to another version of bullying. His grandfather doesn’t quite believe Owen to be who he says he is and therefore is quite hard on the younger Owen and doesn’t fully trust him. Grandfather thinks Owen weak of heart.

Owen does have a friend in the form of Aramis Dando, the daughter of the poet/bard, Thomas Dando. Mr. Dando travels across the country as a sort of medicine man, although Aramis does the doctoring while absent-minded Dando is busy writing his great Welsh poem – The King of Caerlon, a retelling of the King Arthur story.

Owen is considers running away and joining Aramis on the other side of Fig-Hat Ben, a local mountain. He has just written his farewell letter for his grandfather when the museum is broken into. Two bumbling burglars, Bilk and Prigman, have arrived to steal the fabled Harp of Teirtu. The robbers decide to take Owen along and blame the theft on him. Owen feels responsible for gaining the harp back and begins to act in a manner that his grandfather will respect.

This is a novel full of unique characters, legends and myths including the Seljuk of Rum who is looking for his lost tribe, missing for two thousand years. There is also the Marquess of Malyn, an evil lord who wants to claim the harp for his own collection of gold. And finally, we have the Children of the Pit. Are they fairy or fable?

Funny that I discovered today that The Whispering Mountain is considered the prequel to Wolves. Now I’m particularly curious to see if and when the books in this series coalesce.

Recommended to those interested in Welsh lore… Did you know that the harp is the National instrument of Wales? Recommended to kids who have enjoyed the Dark is Rising series by Susan Cooper. Recommended to kids who like a good mystery fantasy. Recommended to kids who enjoy any book where hidden tunnels and secret passageways are involved for sure!

The Outcasts

The Outcasts by John Flanagan

If my vocation did not involve reading; if my lifestyle did not allow time for much reading; if I had to choose just a few authors to read devotedly; I would undoubtedly choose John Flanagan.

His books are a manageable size.

His language is very readable – natural, not forced.

Despite his fantasy setting, the books could easily be historical in nature only alternate universe.

His characters are so well-developed; they are easily recognizable as the people we interact with every day.

Despite a lack of magic, they are magical.

Even though Flanagan’s current series are identified as juvenile fiction, adult characters abound – worthy role models and mentors. (oh, there are villains and bullies aplenty)

Being strong is good, a gift, but not all important. Intelligence is a strength, but not the only virtue. Being sneaky has its more honorable counterpart – stealth. Every character has talents, but not all of them. Main characters are socially inept or clumsy or slow on the uptake. And they all get a chance in battle. They all have an opportunity to lead. They all have a chance to present viable options. They all have occasions to grow. (I’m reminded of Worf, the Klingon, who is always wrong. He is one thing and one thing only – the Klingon)

So perhaps you can see why I might have been, definitely was, disappointed when the Ranger’s Apprentice series concluded. Will grew up. He was no longer the slight orphan who dreamed of being a knight despite how unlikely the possibility was. He became a mythical Ranger and a legend in his own right. He earned his rank and a name for himself. The end.

And you can see why I’m ecstatic to discover Flanagan has a new companion series! – Brotherband Chronicles. He has created a new unlikely hero – Hal. He has surrounded his protagonist with a cast of misfits to replace the cast of orphans. And he has set the stage in a well-known Flanagan country – Skandia (think VIKINGS). Skandia is under the leadership of the well-known Ranger’s Apprentice Uberjarl – Erak. And Araluen is NOT forgotten!

Hal is the son of a Skandian warrior and an Araluen slave. He will never be accepted by the Skandians. He is an outcast. They won’t even recognize his Skandian heritage because he more closely resembles the Araluens. He is more likely to think than to go berserk.

Hal is an inventor. He has designed a new boat with a new system of sails that he hopes will revolutionize the Skandian method of travel. Sound familiar to anyone else? Do we think that Will and Hal will perchance meet? I can only hope!

I was only slightly worried that this new book wouldn’t compare to the previous series. I should have known better. Flanagan is an incredible storyteller!