An Adventure Involving Magic, Trolls, and other Creatures
[This is a guest post by a certain 9 year old boy -- who is not, I feel obliged to point out in case Child Protective Services is reading this, normally allowed to read Triple R.]
By guest poster: This is an extremely good read. It may have tons of pages (529) but nearly every one of them is filled with excellent illustrations.
This story is about a boy named Arthur, who lives underground, and a wretched gang of monstrous beings. One day while Arthur is out stealing food for his grandfather – because they are penniless — he sees a gang of people doing something illegal in Ratbridge: they are hunting cheese. Arthur follows them.
Arthur has wings that his grandfather made him, so he flies, (and he can talk to his grandfather using a doll with wings that looks like him) but one of the members sees him and Arthur gets caught. Arthur manages to get away in the nick of time, but a stranger pulls him into a house filled with random nuts and bolts. There Arthur meets a friendly man named Willbury QC Nibble, who helps him throughout the story.
Arthur also meets strange creatures called Underlings, who live in the underworld. Cabbageheads have cabbages on their heads, worship the art of gardening and make tunnels extremely deep below the surface. A Cabbagehead is rarely seen, even by other Underlings.
Boxtrolls, another type of Underling, live inside boxes because they are so shy. They love collecting random things, though many citizens get mad when their water won’t come out through there sink because a Boxtroll has taken many pipes away. Boxtrolls also help the Cabbageheads with their water supply (they are also good at wiring things up and putting pipes in places so water will run through them).
Trotting badgers — stay away from them! These type of Underlings can and will eat you whole! If you ever see one, run away as fast as you can! Grandfather lost a finger to one of them!
Freshwater sea cows love grass (as any cow would), and if you were in Ratbridge near some water, throw some grass in! If you are lucky enough you might be able to see a regular-sized cow swim up out of the water and start eating the grass! But now, sadly, Freshwater sea cows are extremely rare, so if you ever see one it wouldn’t hurt to stop for a few minutes and look at it!
Arthur has to stop the gang from hunting cheese and help the Underlings get back to their real home in the underworld. There is a lot of action, and some funny scenes, and a few times where there is some straight on talking.
[From Jessica: Here Be Monsters! was first published in the UK in 2005 (by Oxford University Press) and has since been published in the US by Atheneum. It's marketed to 9-12 year olds, although, like Gaiman and Dahl, it has appeal for adults. It's the closest thing we have to Steampunk in our house. Clothing suggests very early 1800s England, but over-industrialization has already occurred, and bicycles, cardboard boxes and electrical technologies have been developed. A stop motion film adaptation of Here Be Monsters!, helmed by the director of Coraline, is in the works.]
And finally, here is a quick interview with our guest poster:
J: Do you think both girls and boys will like this book?
D: Well, there are many gross parts, but there are also humorous parts. And there are also rabbit women that are much like women but were raised by rabbits. So, yes, both will like it.
J: Don’t girls like gross stuff?
D: Well, most girls I know do not.
J: What other kinds of books do you enjoy?
D: I like adventure books, like The Golden Compass, and I have tons of Roald Dahl books. I also like mysteries, like The Big Nap. I also love Japanese Manga. One of my favorite titles is Naruto.
J: Do your parents like to read?
D: Daddy reads tons of music books, books about war, and other books. My mom is addicted to romance, which I do not like.
J: What??!! No Wii for a Wiik. Just kidding. Would you ever read a romance?
D: No, I think love is icky.
J: Why?
D: Just because of like kissing … and love. Just gross, man.
J: But mommy and daddy kiss and are in love. Would you rather we didn’t?
D: Well, it’s just not for kids. It’s just weird.
J: I can see that. Do you think reading is good?
D: Well, reading comic books isn’t that good. But reading chapter books that are filled with words is pretty good for the mind.
J: Isn’t reading also fun?
D: Yes, because every time I read I learn new things and that is fun.
J: Ok, I don’t know what pod child this is, but I want my son back. Let me try again: isn’t reading FUN?
D: Metza metz [He learned it from his grandmother, complete with hand gesture.] I love reading, but there are so many other things in life. It’s half and half.
J: Very true. Thank you!
D: You’re welcome. Can I do another one?
