The Wonderling

Reviewed by: Will Brown - Falmouth Memorial Library, Falmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 12, 2017

Review

The Wonderling is a story rich with detail. It follows the story of a young groundling - a creature part animal and part man. In this case it is of a young, one-eared fox creature who doesn't even have a name. Known only as Number 13, he lives in a bleak and dreary home for orphaned groundlings. This story is full of challenges and oppression for the young groundling, from the matron of the Home for Orphaned Groundlings who is spiteful and wicket to the extreme, to the bullying sycophants she controls, and even the world without which often treats Groundlings as second class citizens.

The protagonist of this story ends up on a true adventure, making his way through an unfamiliar world, often without a plan, and is beset by difficulties and obstacles at nearly every turn. The world itself is often quite grim and sets a somber tone for a children's book and harkens at time to Oliver Twist. The story is well written, with twists and turns and red herrings that keep the reader guessing, and the darkness of the world is offset in the end with a happy ending for both the young fox and the friends he's made upon the way, and ends and a few hints of possible stories to follow. A well written tale of adventure, but with a grim and fairly sophisticated setting that would do well with more mature readers of children's books. For those that love animals, songs, or a sweet and innocent protagonist, this is an excellent read.

Overall Book Score: very good