The Doldrums

Reviewed by: Jill O'Connor - North Yarmouth Academy, Yarmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: January 13, 2016

Review

Spectacularly illustrated and expertly told, with quirky characters reminiscent of a Roald Dahl novel - the likeable, stifled hero, the horrifying, despotic teacher, the bumbling parents, this middle grade novel is delightful. The story ambles a bit, which will throw off reluctant readers, but for those who enjoy unwrapping a story and clever word play this is a great book. Archer's grandparents are famous world-explorers, but they have gone missing on an iceberg. Archer fervently believes that they are still alive, so much so that he is willing to put together an expedition to find them. He enlists his two new friends (also his neighbors), the milquetoast Oliver Glub and the dashing, one-legged Adelaide Belmont (the story goes that she lost that leg wrestling a crocodile). The story is not so much about their expedition, but the planning and putting together of that expedition and what it brings out in each child. Not that there isn't action, there is, particularly at the end, but the book is really an exploration of friendship and family and finding out who you really are when faced with a hungry tiger. The 20 color illustrations, also by Gannon, are gorgeous and the black-and-white line drawings add to the telling. There is also a nod to the kind, knowledgeable school librarian! Hopefully, we haven't seen the last of Archer, his friends, or his globe-trotting grandparents. Give to fans of Dahl, Trenton Stewart's Mysterious Benedict Society, or Lemony Snicket. Highly recommend.

Overall Book Score: excellent