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Neversink
Barry Wolverton's masterful middle-grade debut, Neversink, is an epic tale of some very un-epic birds, a fast-paced and funny story of survival, friendship, and fish, in the vein of Watership Down and Kathi Appelt's The Underneath.
Along the Arctic Circle lies a small island called Neversink, home to a colony of odd-looking seabirds called auks, including one Lockley J. Puffin. With their oceanfront views and plentiful supply of fish, the auks have few concerns—few, save for Lockley's two best friends, Egbert and Ruby, a know-it-all walrus and a sharp-tongued hummingbird.
But all of this is about to change. Rozbell, the newly crowned king of the Owl Parliament, has long had his scheming eyes on the small colony to the north. Now Neversink's independence hangs in the balance. An insurgence of owls will inevitably destroy life as the auks know it—unless Lockley can do something about it.
Along the Arctic Circle lies a small island called Neversink, home to a colony of odd-looking seabirds called auks, including one Lockley J. Puffin. With their oceanfront views and plentiful supply of fish, the auks have few concerns—few, save for Lockley's two best friends, Egbert and Ruby, a know-it-all walrus and a sharp-tongued hummingbird.
But all of this is about to change. Rozbell, the newly crowned king of the Owl Parliament, has long had his scheming eyes on the small colony to the north. Now Neversink's independence hangs in the balance. An insurgence of owls will inevitably destroy life as the auks know it—unless Lockley can do something about it.
287 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
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1056 people want to read
About the author
Barry Wolverton
10 books63 followersBarry Wolverton has been writing for children for 20 years, helping to create educational books, documentaries, and online content for Discovery Networks, National Geographic, the Library of Congress, Scholastic, and Time-Life Books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
April 30, 2012
Originally reviewed here.
I would hug this book if it weren't physically impossible for a human and a book about a puffin, a walrus, and a hummingbird to embrace. It has everything I love about a fantastic middle grade book. Adventure, fun, wit, illustrations, a dastardly villain, love, friendship, PUFFINS, and of course, a map:
Neversink by Barry Wolverton tells the story of an improbable hero, Lockley Puffin, and his adventure that comes full circle. Neversink is an island populated by auks (a family of fish-eating birds that includes puffins, razorbills, murres, and guillemots) lying off the coast of the mainland, Tytonia, where, if you will forgive the expression, the owls rule the roost. When the fear arises that the small animals owls consider food are infected with the sickness, one ambitious owl takes it as an opportunity to oust the king and put the auks of Neversink back under the owls’ thumb (yes, I know owls don’t have thumbs, it’s a figure of speech!). Rozbell, the new owl ruler with a Napoleon complex, enacts a fish tax, indulging in the scrumptious delights that are Lucy Puffin’s fish smidgens. It would appear, however, that Rozbell’s appetite cannot be quenched (while of course, those around him continue to be quite peckish), and soon the demands upon the auks rise. Lockley refuses to let such a burden fall upon his people, particularly upon his wife Lucy. But with a population of birds who have many mottos about not making waves, how will a squidgy puffin, a scholarly walrus, and an excitable hummingbird save the day?
Oh friends, I loved this book. Barry Wolverton’s writing was so unabashedly clever and full of wit that I found myself constantly smiling and chuckling while reading Neversink. It’s the type of book that is written perfectly for the intended age, and yet has so many quick references and jokes in it that an adult will most assuredly appreciate them as well. Taking place before the appearance of humankind on the globe, Neversink is full of funny lines that reference things we know as familiar (like pants), and then reminders that those things don’t exist. Egbert, our dear walrus, even has some good Beatles and Alice in Wonderland references up his metaphorical sleeve.
Not only was the writing fun and clever, but the story and characters were as well! I appreciate it so much when a middle grade author doesn’t shy away from realities such as death. Barry Wolverton doesn’t make it ghastly or inappropriate, but he doesn’t do the Disney thing and have characters just fall from high places never to be seen again either (I suppose when the bulk of your characters can fly, this tactic would be rather misguided). His villain, Rozbell, has depth, and isn’t just a mad-bird lusting for power for power’s sake—you can really see how he becomes corrupt, and understand his thought process, even if it’s selfish and cruel. I love a well-done bad guy!
And of course I was going to love a book where our hero was a puffin! Do you remember how excited I was when I brought this one home? I just love them so much! Even if they can be rather indignant at times. It would seem that calling a puffin a penguin, is much akin to calling a Scott English. Lockley and Lucy were both perfect heroes in my mind because they didn’t set out to be. They’re scared, they don’t want to make trouble, make things worse, or defy authority, but we all know that everyone can be pushed too far. When pushed too far, some characters break, but heroes push back.
In the end we see that like Neversink, not every good story needs a moral. Some adventures just need to happen. Sam Nielson’s illustrations are whimsical and perfect for the setting, as mentioned I am a particular fan of the map.
I would hug this book if it weren't physically impossible for a human and a book about a puffin, a walrus, and a hummingbird to embrace. It has everything I love about a fantastic middle grade book. Adventure, fun, wit, illustrations, a dastardly villain, love, friendship, PUFFINS, and of course, a map:
Neversink by Barry Wolverton tells the story of an improbable hero, Lockley Puffin, and his adventure that comes full circle. Neversink is an island populated by auks (a family of fish-eating birds that includes puffins, razorbills, murres, and guillemots) lying off the coast of the mainland, Tytonia, where, if you will forgive the expression, the owls rule the roost. When the fear arises that the small animals owls consider food are infected with the sickness, one ambitious owl takes it as an opportunity to oust the king and put the auks of Neversink back under the owls’ thumb (yes, I know owls don’t have thumbs, it’s a figure of speech!). Rozbell, the new owl ruler with a Napoleon complex, enacts a fish tax, indulging in the scrumptious delights that are Lucy Puffin’s fish smidgens. It would appear, however, that Rozbell’s appetite cannot be quenched (while of course, those around him continue to be quite peckish), and soon the demands upon the auks rise. Lockley refuses to let such a burden fall upon his people, particularly upon his wife Lucy. But with a population of birds who have many mottos about not making waves, how will a squidgy puffin, a scholarly walrus, and an excitable hummingbird save the day?
Oh friends, I loved this book. Barry Wolverton’s writing was so unabashedly clever and full of wit that I found myself constantly smiling and chuckling while reading Neversink. It’s the type of book that is written perfectly for the intended age, and yet has so many quick references and jokes in it that an adult will most assuredly appreciate them as well. Taking place before the appearance of humankind on the globe, Neversink is full of funny lines that reference things we know as familiar (like pants), and then reminders that those things don’t exist. Egbert, our dear walrus, even has some good Beatles and Alice in Wonderland references up his metaphorical sleeve.
Not only was the writing fun and clever, but the story and characters were as well! I appreciate it so much when a middle grade author doesn’t shy away from realities such as death. Barry Wolverton doesn’t make it ghastly or inappropriate, but he doesn’t do the Disney thing and have characters just fall from high places never to be seen again either (I suppose when the bulk of your characters can fly, this tactic would be rather misguided). His villain, Rozbell, has depth, and isn’t just a mad-bird lusting for power for power’s sake—you can really see how he becomes corrupt, and understand his thought process, even if it’s selfish and cruel. I love a well-done bad guy!
And of course I was going to love a book where our hero was a puffin! Do you remember how excited I was when I brought this one home? I just love them so much! Even if they can be rather indignant at times. It would seem that calling a puffin a penguin, is much akin to calling a Scott English. Lockley and Lucy were both perfect heroes in my mind because they didn’t set out to be. They’re scared, they don’t want to make trouble, make things worse, or defy authority, but we all know that everyone can be pushed too far. When pushed too far, some characters break, but heroes push back.
In the end we see that like Neversink, not every good story needs a moral. Some adventures just need to happen. Sam Nielson’s illustrations are whimsical and perfect for the setting, as mentioned I am a particular fan of the map.
May 6, 2013
So what do you get when you mix the Guardians of Ga'hoole, Ice Age and the American Revolution all into a middle grade and slap a cute puffin on the cover? Neversink. This book gives off a really strange vibe for me. I first picked it up because of the cover. I was visiting a library in Charlottesville over Spring Break, and I saw it and I was immediately interested. It's a very pretty cover, and it sparks immediate curiosity which exactly what a well-designed cover should do. So, I purchased it, and I started reading it. I was immediately annoyed. There's this bothersome hummingbird, who is always making jokes about things that don't yet exist, because the book is set in prehistoric times, after dinosaurs and before humans. For example, the walrus and the hummingbird are looking at something flying towards them. The hummingbird asks, "Is it a plane?" And the Walrus responds "There's no such thing as planes." It might be ok, maybe even funny, (if the reader was in a REALLY giddy mood) once, but it happens several times throughout the book, and I never found a good explanation for it. It the hummingbird from the future?
Well, I decided that I was reading the book the wrong way. Instead of looking for a good literary story, that maybe I should read the book like I watch a Pixar movie. And that worked out better for me, and I actually started enjoying it. The characters are funny, several of them brave, and the story is a heartwarming one. I think it earns 3.5 stars, but it's closer to three than four because of the annoying hummingbird that might be from the future and some of the owl dialogue that is stolen directly from the Ga'hoole books.
Well, I decided that I was reading the book the wrong way. Instead of looking for a good literary story, that maybe I should read the book like I watch a Pixar movie. And that worked out better for me, and I actually started enjoying it. The characters are funny, several of them brave, and the story is a heartwarming one. I think it earns 3.5 stars, but it's closer to three than four because of the annoying hummingbird that might be from the future and some of the owl dialogue that is stolen directly from the Ga'hoole books.
October 14, 2025
Neversink reminded me of a modern retelling of Animal Farm, with a dose of humor and lighter tone. Younger readers will enjoy Neversink for the animals, mythology, and exciting storyline. Older and adult readers will appreciate the details and social commentary. The environmental and social messages are nicely done; informative without being overbearing. The writing and characters are great; I want a loquacious, sesquipedalian walrus friend.
If you liked this book, you might also enjoy:
✱ Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures
✱ The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp
✱ Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer
If you liked this book, you might also enjoy:
✱ Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures
✱ The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp
✱ Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer
July 5, 2022
Surprisingly cute and enjoyable. I'm usually not a big fan of animal narrators but this one worked for me.
Read
April 27, 2017I got about seven chapters into this before realizing that I was really just skimming it and it wasn't holding my attention at all. Which is surprising -- by rights, this should be my kind of book, given that I usually snap up any animal fantasy I can find. But besides the fact that I'm not much of a bird person, everything here just reminded me too much of too many things I'd read before (maybe all those Guardians of Ga'hoole books I read years ago).
I also couldn't get into the strange-feeling mix of animal and human culture the book uses, where the characters are obviously regular animals but also have human-style kitchens to cook in. (Granted, this never bothered me in Redwall, so I can't figure out why it grated on me here, unless it's that I'm just having a harder time picturing birds using beaks and talons to make things. I don't know.) The tone of the book was also too self-consciously isn't-this-delightfully-silly/clever for my taste, throwing in references to Sigmund Freud and other anachronistic human aspects even though we'd been told by our narrator that this world existed long before humans. The voice and the worldbuilding just don't match up with the type of story this seems to be setting up for, and the end result is an odd mishmash of a book that just isn't working for me at all.
(Also, I love how every book with anthropomorphic animal characters automatically gets Watership Down referenced in its description, even when the fact that they use animal characters is literally the only thing the two works have in common.)
I also couldn't get into the strange-feeling mix of animal and human culture the book uses, where the characters are obviously regular animals but also have human-style kitchens to cook in. (Granted, this never bothered me in Redwall, so I can't figure out why it grated on me here, unless it's that I'm just having a harder time picturing birds using beaks and talons to make things. I don't know.) The tone of the book was also too self-consciously isn't-this-delightfully-silly/clever for my taste, throwing in references to Sigmund Freud and other anachronistic human aspects even though we'd been told by our narrator that this world existed long before humans. The voice and the worldbuilding just don't match up with the type of story this seems to be setting up for, and the end result is an odd mishmash of a book that just isn't working for me at all.
(Also, I love how every book with anthropomorphic animal characters automatically gets Watership Down referenced in its description, even when the fact that they use animal characters is literally the only thing the two works have in common.)
July 29, 2013
Couldn't get into this. The hummingbird is obnoxious and the small owl has a Napoleon Complex.
July 26, 2021
just replace animal farm in curriculum with this. facism and puffins???? YEAAAA BABEYYY i kin lockley he’s very cute. idk why it took me so long to read it but i actually really liked it
July 17, 2013
This bird is told from the animals’ perspective in a pre-human era. This alone would usually turn me off, as I generally am not a fan of the talking animal novels, but I know my readers of Erin Hunter’s Warrior and Seeker series would want me to give it a chance.
Lockley Puffin is a Puffin. Generally Puffin’s on his island are only friendly with other Puffins, so Lockley is a bit odd in that his two closest friends are a walrus and a hummingbird. Basically, the owls are the high council of the island and the Puffins are forced to pay taxes and follow their laws. The Puffin community has always been fine with this, but when an evil owl takes over the high council and begins making increasingly impossible demands on the community, Lockley and his two friends decide they must do something. Thus the adventure begins.
Although this is not as well done as the Warriors series, and I cannot wrap my mind around owls wearing bowler hats (especially since it is a pre-human era in which clothing would not be around), I do believe this book will appeal to a small group of my students. I probably would not have purchased this book if I had seen it on the shelf as the cover is rather dull and unappealing.
Price: $16.99
Suitability: Grade 3-7
Recommendation: Recommend to readers of Warriors…not my favorite
Illustrations: Black and white drawings here and there
Genre: Fantasy/Animal Fiction
Would you purchase this book? Second choice Why? Similar idea to Warriors, but not as well written
Dewey Classification: FAN FIC WOL
Lockley Puffin is a Puffin. Generally Puffin’s on his island are only friendly with other Puffins, so Lockley is a bit odd in that his two closest friends are a walrus and a hummingbird. Basically, the owls are the high council of the island and the Puffins are forced to pay taxes and follow their laws. The Puffin community has always been fine with this, but when an evil owl takes over the high council and begins making increasingly impossible demands on the community, Lockley and his two friends decide they must do something. Thus the adventure begins.
Although this is not as well done as the Warriors series, and I cannot wrap my mind around owls wearing bowler hats (especially since it is a pre-human era in which clothing would not be around), I do believe this book will appeal to a small group of my students. I probably would not have purchased this book if I had seen it on the shelf as the cover is rather dull and unappealing.
Price: $16.99
Suitability: Grade 3-7
Recommendation: Recommend to readers of Warriors…not my favorite
Illustrations: Black and white drawings here and there
Genre: Fantasy/Animal Fiction
Would you purchase this book? Second choice Why? Similar idea to Warriors, but not as well written
Dewey Classification: FAN FIC WOL
October 14, 2012
On the island of Neversink, populated by different sorts of auks (a type of bird), a hummingbird, and a walrus, life is peaceful. Food is plentiful as the inhabitants of Neversink live on a steady diet of fish. There is no threat from natural predators, because none live on the island. Unfortunately, the auks’ relative peace does not last forever.
Read the rest of my review here
Read the rest of my review here
January 8, 2019
I just could Not get into this Book. I tried I really tried , this Book was so cute and pretty. But the Story was boring and did Not grip me at all. :(
November 18, 2024
A silly story featuring a puffin, a walrus, and a hummingbird as they fight to reclaim their homeland from the nefarious owls that are holding it hostage.
Lockley J. Puffin has a pretty simple life, but he loves it dearly. He has a loving wife, he's about to become a father, and his best friends are eccentric, but he wouldn't trade them for the world. But one day, peace on the island of Neversink is shattered when the new king of the Owl Parliament decides to take matters into his own hands. Neversink is an independent colony of the Owl kingdom, but it's about to become a lot less independent under the rule of Rozbell (who has a bit of a Napoleon complex). Now, it is up to Lockley and his best friends, Egbert the walrus and Ruby the hummingbird to save Never sink before the owls take everything that they love from them.
My sister came across this book at the library and when she showed it to me, I just couldn't get over how cute it looked. However, many books featuring anthropomorphic animals can get really cringey quite quickly so I was skeptical about how good it was actually going to be. I am glad to report that I had a silly good time reading this book today. It reads a bit like a Disney/Pixar movie with quirky characters, a niche sense of humor, and an abundance of heartwarming themes buried beneath a cute concept. Also, it kinda reflects the American Revolutionary war, which I was not expecting. I've never consumed the "Warrior" series or "The Guardians of the Ga'hoole" series, but I'm sure that the vibes are pretty similar with the whole animals at war plot.
One of my favorite things about this book has to be the weird forms of humor. I don't why, but I just found all the cheesy remarks to be so comical, so this book landed really well for me today. This book breaks the fourth wall a bit (which I almost always think is fun, not annoying) and it also is written in a way that the narrator took an ancient story written by a walrus and made it palatable for kids in our modern era. Both of these things made for a unique narrative experience that had be smiling at the narrator's insights. Also, there are moments that are just so corny (shout out to the red herring moment!), but I found them to be so much fun to read nonetheless.
Egbert the walrus was definitely my favorite character. Yes, he is totally a snobby scholarly walrus who never shuts up, but I just found his character so endearing despite this. And the lengths he is willing to go to be there for his best pal Lockley is so sweet, and I found myself falling in love with his entire vibe as the story progressed.
It most definitely was not on my bucket list to read a story about arctic animals facing their prejudices and racist ideals as they fought for their independence and peace, but here I am anyway. It most definitely was based somewhat on the American Revolution with the puffins being unfairly taxed by the owls (taxation without representation is not okay, people). Also, it also kinda gave me Zootopia vibes with many of the animal species thinking they are superior to the others and avoiding those that their species have notoriously had bad blood with. I was quite alarmed when the animals would be casually talking to one another and all of the sudden one of them would eat the other one. I get that's how nature works, but this book is so light and fluffy I wasn't ready for various events like that to go down.
Overall, "Neversink" was a cute and fluffy read that I flew through in a couple of sittings the same day. The humor was on point, the characters were mostly likable, and the found family vibes are fun. I appreciate the fact that there was a main character who was married and about to become a father in a middle grade book; that is truly something you don't encounter every day. I would definitely recommend this one for young readers who have enjoyed books about animals at war in the past or are looking for a fun book that features some pretty cool animals.
Lockley J. Puffin has a pretty simple life, but he loves it dearly. He has a loving wife, he's about to become a father, and his best friends are eccentric, but he wouldn't trade them for the world. But one day, peace on the island of Neversink is shattered when the new king of the Owl Parliament decides to take matters into his own hands. Neversink is an independent colony of the Owl kingdom, but it's about to become a lot less independent under the rule of Rozbell (who has a bit of a Napoleon complex). Now, it is up to Lockley and his best friends, Egbert the walrus and Ruby the hummingbird to save Never sink before the owls take everything that they love from them.
My sister came across this book at the library and when she showed it to me, I just couldn't get over how cute it looked. However, many books featuring anthropomorphic animals can get really cringey quite quickly so I was skeptical about how good it was actually going to be. I am glad to report that I had a silly good time reading this book today. It reads a bit like a Disney/Pixar movie with quirky characters, a niche sense of humor, and an abundance of heartwarming themes buried beneath a cute concept. Also, it kinda reflects the American Revolutionary war, which I was not expecting. I've never consumed the "Warrior" series or "The Guardians of the Ga'hoole" series, but I'm sure that the vibes are pretty similar with the whole animals at war plot.
One of my favorite things about this book has to be the weird forms of humor. I don't why, but I just found all the cheesy remarks to be so comical, so this book landed really well for me today. This book breaks the fourth wall a bit (which I almost always think is fun, not annoying) and it also is written in a way that the narrator took an ancient story written by a walrus and made it palatable for kids in our modern era. Both of these things made for a unique narrative experience that had be smiling at the narrator's insights. Also, there are moments that are just so corny (shout out to the red herring moment!), but I found them to be so much fun to read nonetheless.
Egbert the walrus was definitely my favorite character. Yes, he is totally a snobby scholarly walrus who never shuts up, but I just found his character so endearing despite this. And the lengths he is willing to go to be there for his best pal Lockley is so sweet, and I found myself falling in love with his entire vibe as the story progressed.
It most definitely was not on my bucket list to read a story about arctic animals facing their prejudices and racist ideals as they fought for their independence and peace, but here I am anyway. It most definitely was based somewhat on the American Revolution with the puffins being unfairly taxed by the owls (taxation without representation is not okay, people). Also, it also kinda gave me Zootopia vibes with many of the animal species thinking they are superior to the others and avoiding those that their species have notoriously had bad blood with. I was quite alarmed when the animals would be casually talking to one another and all of the sudden one of them would eat the other one. I get that's how nature works, but this book is so light and fluffy I wasn't ready for various events like that to go down.
Overall, "Neversink" was a cute and fluffy read that I flew through in a couple of sittings the same day. The humor was on point, the characters were mostly likable, and the found family vibes are fun. I appreciate the fact that there was a main character who was married and about to become a father in a middle grade book; that is truly something you don't encounter every day. I would definitely recommend this one for young readers who have enjoyed books about animals at war in the past or are looking for a fun book that features some pretty cool animals.
March 7, 2014
Excuse me a moment while I communicate with the Middle Grade sky Gods, and thank them profusely for the likes of mister Barry Wolverton. Seriously, the human talent that exists in this world renders me SPEECHLESS sometimes-and I'm left here, wondering how in the HECK my muggle words could do a fantastic book ANY justice in it's review. Dearest, and most precious
Neversink
..YOU were one of those fantastic books. You invoked in me feelings of yesteryear-the feelings I felt as a child, watching Disney movies, and hoping beyond hope that my favourite hero, or heroine, would beat the bad guy and save the day.
Let's start with the wonderful fact that Neversink began with a map. I LOVE MAPS. Any book that begins in such a helpful way is already showing signs of gold. This map showed the islands of Tytonia (where the owls ruled), and Neversink (where my favourite birds resided), and ALL areas in between. There is nothing more satisfying than spotting an area's name within a book's narrative, and being able to flip to a map to get the visual. I won't tell you much about what follows the map, because I want you to be JUST as pleasantly surprised as I was *cryptic grin*. Just know that it was beautiful, and clever, and helpful, and I totally would have stopped here and given it 4 ½ stars based on those two pages alone *more cryptic grinning*.
Lockley J. Puffin is the name of our potential hero in Neversink , a peaceful Puffin, who, much to his chagrin, is often mistaken for a penguin. With his wife and two best friends, Egbert (a witty walrus), and Ruby (an eccentric hummingbird), he's lived a fairly routine existence, until one day, it becomes everything but. Over in Tytonia, a famine has broken out among the island, and chaos is a wing span away (see what I did there?..wing?..okay..moving on). The 'Owl Parliament' is not without a solution though, and soon a plan is set in motion that could shatter the harmonious ways of Neversink, and it's residents, forever.
Neversink is targeted at a Middle Grade audience, ages 8-12, but as with a lot of Middle Grade out there, it's definitely meant to be used as more of a guideline than a strict requirement. Personally, I choose to ignore it COMPLETELY. I felt like this book was written for ME, like everything that existed within it's pages were there because Barry Wolverton knew that I needed them. This book was absolutely riveting, and fun, and MY GOD what was food while I read this!? NOTHING else existed around me while I devoured Neversink . I sat there, SO entirely engrossed, and drawn to every single moment in this book, I didn't know up from down when I finally took a small break. I rooted my little heart out, and literally covered my eyes at the parts that became too intense to bear. Wolverton's writing was so visually descriptive, there were moments that I felt the cool Arctic air on my skin, swore I could hear the swoop of wings outside of my window. And the PICTURES:
I can definitely see Neversink making it to the big screen. The art work was breathtakingly good, and added so much more depth to the narrative.
I loved that Barry Wolverton took chances, that death wasn't a quick scene written behind some bushes, and then implied to his readers. There were evil characters in this book, and the tension that existed because of it set the perfect tone for the story. There were elements of mythology, and the fantastical idea that these animals enlist the help of sea goddess to keep them alive. It was just all so incredibly thought out, so intricately aware of it's small details. I really appreciated the 'extras' at the back of the book. It answered questions I didn't even realize I had stored away in my head. If I had to sum up Neversink in one word, it would be this: clever. It was an amazing idea to begin with-who doesn't love talking animals!?-but Barry Wolverton's writing took it to an outstanding level of good. I will keep this book until I have children, read it to them, have THEM read it, then have their children's CHILDREN read it. This is definitely a book to keep in your forever collection, and I am SO happy that I got to be a part of it.
Also... I want stuffed animals for EVERY character. Can we make this happen!? *SIGH*
Recommended for fans of: Happy Feet , Rio , Disney movies, Middle Grade fiction, Adventure.
Let's start with the wonderful fact that Neversink began with a map. I LOVE MAPS. Any book that begins in such a helpful way is already showing signs of gold. This map showed the islands of Tytonia (where the owls ruled), and Neversink (where my favourite birds resided), and ALL areas in between. There is nothing more satisfying than spotting an area's name within a book's narrative, and being able to flip to a map to get the visual. I won't tell you much about what follows the map, because I want you to be JUST as pleasantly surprised as I was *cryptic grin*. Just know that it was beautiful, and clever, and helpful, and I totally would have stopped here and given it 4 ½ stars based on those two pages alone *more cryptic grinning*.
Lockley J. Puffin is the name of our potential hero in Neversink , a peaceful Puffin, who, much to his chagrin, is often mistaken for a penguin. With his wife and two best friends, Egbert (a witty walrus), and Ruby (an eccentric hummingbird), he's lived a fairly routine existence, until one day, it becomes everything but. Over in Tytonia, a famine has broken out among the island, and chaos is a wing span away (see what I did there?..wing?..okay..moving on). The 'Owl Parliament' is not without a solution though, and soon a plan is set in motion that could shatter the harmonious ways of Neversink, and it's residents, forever.
Neversink is targeted at a Middle Grade audience, ages 8-12, but as with a lot of Middle Grade out there, it's definitely meant to be used as more of a guideline than a strict requirement. Personally, I choose to ignore it COMPLETELY. I felt like this book was written for ME, like everything that existed within it's pages were there because Barry Wolverton knew that I needed them. This book was absolutely riveting, and fun, and MY GOD what was food while I read this!? NOTHING else existed around me while I devoured Neversink . I sat there, SO entirely engrossed, and drawn to every single moment in this book, I didn't know up from down when I finally took a small break. I rooted my little heart out, and literally covered my eyes at the parts that became too intense to bear. Wolverton's writing was so visually descriptive, there were moments that I felt the cool Arctic air on my skin, swore I could hear the swoop of wings outside of my window. And the PICTURES:
I can definitely see Neversink making it to the big screen. The art work was breathtakingly good, and added so much more depth to the narrative.
I loved that Barry Wolverton took chances, that death wasn't a quick scene written behind some bushes, and then implied to his readers. There were evil characters in this book, and the tension that existed because of it set the perfect tone for the story. There were elements of mythology, and the fantastical idea that these animals enlist the help of sea goddess to keep them alive. It was just all so incredibly thought out, so intricately aware of it's small details. I really appreciated the 'extras' at the back of the book. It answered questions I didn't even realize I had stored away in my head. If I had to sum up Neversink in one word, it would be this: clever. It was an amazing idea to begin with-who doesn't love talking animals!?-but Barry Wolverton's writing took it to an outstanding level of good. I will keep this book until I have children, read it to them, have THEM read it, then have their children's CHILDREN read it. This is definitely a book to keep in your forever collection, and I am SO happy that I got to be a part of it.
Also... I want stuffed animals for EVERY character. Can we make this happen!? *SIGH*
Recommended for fans of: Happy Feet , Rio , Disney movies, Middle Grade fiction, Adventure.
February 8, 2019
It's really my own fault. I read the reviews that this book was like Animal Farm light. None of the examples made me think I would enjoy it.
But the cover! And the font! And the sketchbook at the back! How could it be bad?
Well, it's very political. Maybe I could have looked past that, but also it kept making rediculous references. Is that a plane? Planes don't exist. Then why exactly does she keep asking if it is things like that? Is that supposed to be humor? For me it was distracting, and kind of annoying. Just like the hats on the owls.
The only thing that kept me going was Lucy and Lockley's egg, which had a non ending.
Bah.
But the cover! And the font! And the sketchbook at the back! How could it be bad?
Well, it's very political. Maybe I could have looked past that, but also it kept making rediculous references. Is that a plane? Planes don't exist. Then why exactly does she keep asking if it is things like that? Is that supposed to be humor? For me it was distracting, and kind of annoying. Just like the hats on the owls.
The only thing that kept me going was Lucy and Lockley's egg, which had a non ending.
Bah.
January 26, 2019
I was not sure I would enjoy this, or that my daughter would give it a chance. Mainly, we have not entered into plots that involve battles, specifically a clash between a group of owls and a puffin! I’m happy to report we enjoyed the main character, his side-kicks, and his heroic journey. I think it is a good signal that my daughter might be ready to read such classics as_The Chronicles of Narnia_ and maybe even _Watership Down_. The unconventional setting and animal characters helped distract from the predictable quest motif.
October 22, 2017
If you look at how long it took to finish this book, it's really not that bad. But obviously it wasn't good enough to keep us from getting distracted from it. We always found more interesting books, and this was our book we went to when we had nothing else.
October 9, 2019
To be fair, I didn’t get through this book. In fact, I barely even started it. The set up of the world was so long and ridiculous, and the characters and writing so stupid, that I couldn’t get into it. I’ve read a lot of kid’s books. A LOT. More than most adults. This was a stinker. Skip it!
Read
June 29, 2021
Trigger & Content Warnings
Death of a sibling
Animal death
Death of a sibling
Animal death
May 15, 2022
Interesting idea, it just wasn’t really what I wanted. Good for older children, since there are some dark themes throughout.
April 14, 2023
It was an okay book. Just not my favorite
November 24, 2024
Absolutely loved it! I don't usually go for books with animal MCs, but this book was so well written. I totally forgot they were puffins, owls, and hummingbirds!
August 30, 2025
A book written for kids 8-12 but I think any age would enjoy it and notice parallels with real world government and those in authority who should not be.
October 12, 2016
Book Review For Neversink
The book I read this month was Neversink by Barry Wolverton. This book is about a colony of Auks, (sea birds), whose colony was freed from a nearby kingdom of owls not long ago. But now a new owl king is rising to power and if they don’t stop him, then he will cause the extinction of the whole colony.
This story is narrated in third person omniscient and the type of book is fantasy. The story starts out on a small, rocky island called Neversink located in the arctic circle. On this island lives a colony of seabirds called auks. One puffin, Lockley, is a little unusual. His friends are a walrus and a hummingbird, the only non auks on the island. He likes having different friends, while everyone else is trying to blend in with the crowd. He has a wife named Lucy who is expecting an egg soon. On the other island, Tytonia, where the almighty owls live, the old king, who let the auks free, is getting old and the opposing party is planning to take advantage of this. The opposition, Rozbell, starts a rumor that the food has been poisoned and they must now find a new food source. The old king, recognizes the lie and denies the sickness. Rozbell has to find a way to take over the throne and decides that the best path may be murder. I think that the theme of the book is that in the most desperate situations you will find unlikely friends. I think this because when Lockley goes adventuring into owl territory he finds “stilt legged birds” who help him by pulling him out of the swamp. Also when Lockley and Egbert find the walrus library an unknown walrus helps them even though the rest of the walruses disapprove of this. These examples show how people will help you even is the most unlikely situations.
I really like this book and have read it multiple times because of that. I like that it has action and a lot of things happen that really surprise you as a reader. Like when Lockley is escaping from Rozbell, finds the mole and then the mole betrays him. Again when Rozbell gets kicked off his throne I don’t think anybody thought that Lockley was going to throw the stick that kicked the dictator out of his seat into the ocean because it was a piece of driftwood. I also liked how the narrator occasionally through in a thought of his own. I think that the writing of this book was pretty high quality. It had no typos that I found, it used good descriptive adjectives and didn’t repeat words many times in one paragraph. I liked how the author put in details about characters that really made them come to life, really described them deeply. You learn all about how Rozbell loses his temper all the time and is embarrassed about it. You learn how Lockley wished that he could glide like an eagle instead of flying with so many flaps, and having to use so much energy to stay aloft. I really like how the author describes and narrates this book.
Now to some problems. When you are reading this book you will often find yourself wishing it had even more action, more excitement, and maybe even you want it to have battles. I think that the author should have added in more action to the book. For some books when you pick them up you can’t put them down till you’ve read them front cover to back cover. It is kind of nice if you’re trying to do homework but it’s not so great when you want to sit down and read for a while. You’ll find yourself getting up for snack breaks because you're getting bored of the book. However, with all that being said, it is pretty amazing that I only have one thing to complain about. It is overall a very well done book.
In conclusion I believe that you should definitely read this book. It is a very well written, funny, and witty book that you will probably like just as much as I did. The characters are so well described that you will know everything about them mentally. Find out what happens, in rivalry where poison, and passion for freedom clash in . . . Neversink.
The book I read this month was Neversink by Barry Wolverton. This book is about a colony of Auks, (sea birds), whose colony was freed from a nearby kingdom of owls not long ago. But now a new owl king is rising to power and if they don’t stop him, then he will cause the extinction of the whole colony.
This story is narrated in third person omniscient and the type of book is fantasy. The story starts out on a small, rocky island called Neversink located in the arctic circle. On this island lives a colony of seabirds called auks. One puffin, Lockley, is a little unusual. His friends are a walrus and a hummingbird, the only non auks on the island. He likes having different friends, while everyone else is trying to blend in with the crowd. He has a wife named Lucy who is expecting an egg soon. On the other island, Tytonia, where the almighty owls live, the old king, who let the auks free, is getting old and the opposing party is planning to take advantage of this. The opposition, Rozbell, starts a rumor that the food has been poisoned and they must now find a new food source. The old king, recognizes the lie and denies the sickness. Rozbell has to find a way to take over the throne and decides that the best path may be murder. I think that the theme of the book is that in the most desperate situations you will find unlikely friends. I think this because when Lockley goes adventuring into owl territory he finds “stilt legged birds” who help him by pulling him out of the swamp. Also when Lockley and Egbert find the walrus library an unknown walrus helps them even though the rest of the walruses disapprove of this. These examples show how people will help you even is the most unlikely situations.
I really like this book and have read it multiple times because of that. I like that it has action and a lot of things happen that really surprise you as a reader. Like when Lockley is escaping from Rozbell, finds the mole and then the mole betrays him. Again when Rozbell gets kicked off his throne I don’t think anybody thought that Lockley was going to throw the stick that kicked the dictator out of his seat into the ocean because it was a piece of driftwood. I also liked how the narrator occasionally through in a thought of his own. I think that the writing of this book was pretty high quality. It had no typos that I found, it used good descriptive adjectives and didn’t repeat words many times in one paragraph. I liked how the author put in details about characters that really made them come to life, really described them deeply. You learn all about how Rozbell loses his temper all the time and is embarrassed about it. You learn how Lockley wished that he could glide like an eagle instead of flying with so many flaps, and having to use so much energy to stay aloft. I really like how the author describes and narrates this book.
Now to some problems. When you are reading this book you will often find yourself wishing it had even more action, more excitement, and maybe even you want it to have battles. I think that the author should have added in more action to the book. For some books when you pick them up you can’t put them down till you’ve read them front cover to back cover. It is kind of nice if you’re trying to do homework but it’s not so great when you want to sit down and read for a while. You’ll find yourself getting up for snack breaks because you're getting bored of the book. However, with all that being said, it is pretty amazing that I only have one thing to complain about. It is overall a very well done book.
In conclusion I believe that you should definitely read this book. It is a very well written, funny, and witty book that you will probably like just as much as I did. The characters are so well described that you will know everything about them mentally. Find out what happens, in rivalry where poison, and passion for freedom clash in . . . Neversink.
April 11, 2012
Neversink is the kind of book you read and once you get into it, you forget you're reading about talking animals as what's happening could apply to a foreign country or our country in the past or just about anywhere. I fell in love with Egbert the Walrus, the only one on Neversink, who really sort of started the trouble in the first place, but only out of the interest in educating everyone (including the owls on Tytonia) how to read and write. You see he'd created the first book....well it's rather a long story and I don't want to sound like a Walrus who according to the Prologue tend to be lengthy in their stories. (Don't any of you comment about the length of my reviews! I am not a Walrus!) Suffice it to say that the Auks and the Owls had already had a war-The Cod Wars and the Auks had been moved to Neversink on which the Owls were never to set foot. However, Egbert's invitation to his birthday party to taste Lucy Puffin's fish smidgens extended to the owls, was a sort of loophole. And, since there was some dissension going on over on Tytonia with the Owls, a few came-The Roundhats-called that because they wore derby hats. Egbert's big announcement about his book was overshadowed by the fact that the Roundhats, while detesting raw fish, found Lucy Puffin's fish smidgens very tasty and flew off with the lot of them back to Tytonia for the rest of the Owl to taste.
The dissension going on Tytonia was that disease was spreading through the animals that the Owls preyed upon and they would need another food source. That's where the fish smidgen's came in. But, there was that Pesky Treaty of Yore that said the Owls would leave the Auks alone and the Great Grey Owl King was determined to stick to it. But when the greedy Rozbell comes into power, that treaty is thrown out along with Parliament and Rozbell basically becomes a dictator putting a fish tax on everything the Auks collect claiming 1/3 of them as fish smidgens. Unfortunately, pregnant Lucy Puffin is the only one that can make fish smidgen's so she's the only one truly affected by this. The Auks just go along with the tax. This is where the story gets really interesting. You see, Lucy and her husband, Lockley haven't had the best luck with their eggs in the past few years. No offspring so far. They are particularly protective this time. Lockley isn't going to let anything to happen to Lucy and the egg when she births it. But things get complicated when Lockley decides to stand up to Rozbell in defense of his wife. Problem is, Auks usually just kind of take things as they come and don't stand up for themselves so he doesn't get any help. And then Lockley disappears leaving Lucy defenseless. Except for a rather large Walrus with a heart of gold and a rather hyperactive hummingbird named Ruby.
I could go on and tell you the story, but I have to stop there. Why should you read this story? For kids, it's a great lesson about blindly following orders and how to stand up for yourself even if everyone else is following along. It's about how one voice can make a difference. It's also got mythology in it. Forgiveness. And what real friendship is all about. And it's all done through talking animals with a really creative story. Bits of humor are strung throughout even during dangerous times. And, there is always hope and faith. You don't have to read anything into it or you can read into it for a deeper meaning. In either case, it's an enchanting story that held my 12 yr old and myself spellbound until the tear inducing ending. The illustrations are amazing! I didn't think black and white pictures could show such emotion, but looking in Lucy Puffin's eyes I almost cried. I did later.
The dissension going on Tytonia was that disease was spreading through the animals that the Owls preyed upon and they would need another food source. That's where the fish smidgen's came in. But, there was that Pesky Treaty of Yore that said the Owls would leave the Auks alone and the Great Grey Owl King was determined to stick to it. But when the greedy Rozbell comes into power, that treaty is thrown out along with Parliament and Rozbell basically becomes a dictator putting a fish tax on everything the Auks collect claiming 1/3 of them as fish smidgens. Unfortunately, pregnant Lucy Puffin is the only one that can make fish smidgen's so she's the only one truly affected by this. The Auks just go along with the tax. This is where the story gets really interesting. You see, Lucy and her husband, Lockley haven't had the best luck with their eggs in the past few years. No offspring so far. They are particularly protective this time. Lockley isn't going to let anything to happen to Lucy and the egg when she births it. But things get complicated when Lockley decides to stand up to Rozbell in defense of his wife. Problem is, Auks usually just kind of take things as they come and don't stand up for themselves so he doesn't get any help. And then Lockley disappears leaving Lucy defenseless. Except for a rather large Walrus with a heart of gold and a rather hyperactive hummingbird named Ruby.
I could go on and tell you the story, but I have to stop there. Why should you read this story? For kids, it's a great lesson about blindly following orders and how to stand up for yourself even if everyone else is following along. It's about how one voice can make a difference. It's also got mythology in it. Forgiveness. And what real friendship is all about. And it's all done through talking animals with a really creative story. Bits of humor are strung throughout even during dangerous times. And, there is always hope and faith. You don't have to read anything into it or you can read into it for a deeper meaning. In either case, it's an enchanting story that held my 12 yr old and myself spellbound until the tear inducing ending. The illustrations are amazing! I didn't think black and white pictures could show such emotion, but looking in Lucy Puffin's eyes I almost cried. I did later.
January 20, 2016
Review originally posted on Bibliophilia, Please.
Neversink by Barry Wolverton is the story of Lockley J. Puffin and what happens after a nasty little owl goes on a power trip and breaks the peace between Tytonia and the auks' home island of Neversink. The story is set far in the past, as described by the following passage:
Animals communicated... Okay, talked, to one another, but the book centers on the birds. The peace between Neversink and Tytonia is uneasy, with grudges still held from the Cod Wars of a previous generation. When Rozbell the pygmy owl schemes his way into becoming king of the owls, he does away with that peace and subjugates the auks of Neversink.
What initially drew me to Neversink was Sam Nielson's beautiful cover. (I don't think it can be said enough how important it is to have a cover that will pull readers to a book.) Luckily for readers, there are plenty of black and white illustrations by Nielson throughout the book. They strengthen the story by giving the children (and adults) who read it a good visualization of the various animals. There is a handy guide at the beginning of the novel that shows an illustration of each of the birds mentioned in Neversink , as well as a brief description of them. I, personally, cannot tell any owls apart except for the snowy owl and was completely at a loss to what an auk looked like, so it was helpful to me. A handy map of Neversink and the surrounding area is also included in the book.
As for the story itself in Neversink , I am a bit torn. I learned new things about the birds, the Artic, and the ocean, but I think all of this information took away from the story for me. There was no information dumping, so to speak, but I still had trouble getting into it. However, the mythology Wolverton created for the creatures was fascinating and imaginative.
The characters themselves were cute, and their interactions were fun to read. Lockley was a bird torn between not making waves (a motto of Neversink's birds that causes them a lot of problems in Neversink ) and doing what was right. He looked to his friends, Egbert the Walrus and Ruby the Hummingbird, and the Great Auk for advice and assistance when he had a problem. Egbert is an intelligent, and a little uppity, walrus who wants to write the history of Neversink and its stories. Ruby is a hilarious little bird who migrates to Neversink each year, and makes pop culture metaphors and references that no one understands. (This was set thousands of years ago, remember?) My favorite character would have to be Lucy, Lockley's wife. She is pregnant with their egg and is not one to let the owls completely take advantage of her. Although her cooking may have been a catalyst for Rozbell's actions, her own actions serve as a catalyst later in the book.
Neversink is a novel about standing up for what is right, conservation, and the importance of friendship. This is a book that will appeal to both boys and girls who at a "middle grade" age. Young readers will learn about birds, their behavior, and environment, while enjoying the antics of the characters and a unique story.
Neversink by Barry Wolverton is the story of Lockley J. Puffin and what happens after a nasty little owl goes on a power trip and breaks the peace between Tytonia and the auks' home island of Neversink. The story is set far in the past, as described by the following passage:
The continents had formed and separated but were covered with forests. The dinosaurs were long gone. Humans did not yet roam the earth, much less rule it. (Neversink, pg 2)
Animals communicated... Okay, talked, to one another, but the book centers on the birds. The peace between Neversink and Tytonia is uneasy, with grudges still held from the Cod Wars of a previous generation. When Rozbell the pygmy owl schemes his way into becoming king of the owls, he does away with that peace and subjugates the auks of Neversink.
What initially drew me to Neversink was Sam Nielson's beautiful cover. (I don't think it can be said enough how important it is to have a cover that will pull readers to a book.) Luckily for readers, there are plenty of black and white illustrations by Nielson throughout the book. They strengthen the story by giving the children (and adults) who read it a good visualization of the various animals. There is a handy guide at the beginning of the novel that shows an illustration of each of the birds mentioned in Neversink , as well as a brief description of them. I, personally, cannot tell any owls apart except for the snowy owl and was completely at a loss to what an auk looked like, so it was helpful to me. A handy map of Neversink and the surrounding area is also included in the book.
As for the story itself in Neversink , I am a bit torn. I learned new things about the birds, the Artic, and the ocean, but I think all of this information took away from the story for me. There was no information dumping, so to speak, but I still had trouble getting into it. However, the mythology Wolverton created for the creatures was fascinating and imaginative.
The characters themselves were cute, and their interactions were fun to read. Lockley was a bird torn between not making waves (a motto of Neversink's birds that causes them a lot of problems in Neversink ) and doing what was right. He looked to his friends, Egbert the Walrus and Ruby the Hummingbird, and the Great Auk for advice and assistance when he had a problem. Egbert is an intelligent, and a little uppity, walrus who wants to write the history of Neversink and its stories. Ruby is a hilarious little bird who migrates to Neversink each year, and makes pop culture metaphors and references that no one understands. (This was set thousands of years ago, remember?) My favorite character would have to be Lucy, Lockley's wife. She is pregnant with their egg and is not one to let the owls completely take advantage of her. Although her cooking may have been a catalyst for Rozbell's actions, her own actions serve as a catalyst later in the book.
Neversink is a novel about standing up for what is right, conservation, and the importance of friendship. This is a book that will appeal to both boys and girls who at a "middle grade" age. Young readers will learn about birds, their behavior, and environment, while enjoying the antics of the characters and a unique story.
February 11, 2015
To read the full review (including my 9-year-old daughter's opinions), check out the review on Best Kids' Reads.
Neversink was a fun, humorous Middle Grade novel that's sure to appeal to the animal lovers in your family! This book read very much like a kids' movie (I could totally see an adaptation on the big screen) - full of crazy characters and dramatic moments.
The negatives.
A little slow in parts.
The biggest issue that I had with Neversink is that, in certain parts, it was a little too much talk and too little action for a middle grade novel. This was mostly true in the first half. There were lots of great messages in this book, but some of the political ideals are just a bit over the target audience's head, so I don't think my daughter truly appreciated those parts of the book. She also commented about the spirit journey, saying "He basically just swam down to the bottom of the ocean and talked to the lady." And, yeah, he pretty much did - it was a little anti-climactic considering the build-up to it - we were expecting real danger! Still, overall my daughter and I both enjoyed the book and the slow pace was only an issue in certain parts.
What I LOVED:
The characters.
In my opinion, the secondary characters totally stole the show in this book. I was in love with Egbert, the scholarly walrus with a propensity for talking (and using words that none of the other characters understand)! He was such fun and I loved the fact that he went from sort of a bumbling sidekick to a truly loyal friend with an important part to play in the story. Another fun character was Ruby - a cute little hummingbird who spent much of her time arguing with Egbert. Lucy, Luckley's wife was great because she turned out to be such a strong character (who had to fight her natural puffin instinct to "go with the flow"). These secondary characters really made the book for me!
Tongue-in-cheek humor.
The book had a fun sense of tongue-in-cheek humor throughout, with little asides and fun quips. I especially loved the comments that had to do with the supposed superiority of walruses (at least according to the walruses) and how the writer was sparing us from lots of long walrus speeches in parts. There were also some little joking anachronisms (although these weren't always as successful as far as I was concerned - for instance, Ruby would compare something to a modern item like a plane and then someone else would point out that there was no such things as planes. Huh?). Overall, though, the fun sense of humor made the book feel whimsical, which I really enjoyed.
Great messages.
This book had lots of great messages about not accepting social injustice, sticking with family and friends and believing in yourself! Of course, these are just the types of messages I like to see in a great kids' book!
So, overall, Neversink is a great read!! I highly recommend it to middle grade fans of animal stories! My daughter and I give it 4/5 Stars.
Neversink was a fun, humorous Middle Grade novel that's sure to appeal to the animal lovers in your family! This book read very much like a kids' movie (I could totally see an adaptation on the big screen) - full of crazy characters and dramatic moments.
The negatives.
A little slow in parts.
The biggest issue that I had with Neversink is that, in certain parts, it was a little too much talk and too little action for a middle grade novel. This was mostly true in the first half. There were lots of great messages in this book, but some of the political ideals are just a bit over the target audience's head, so I don't think my daughter truly appreciated those parts of the book. She also commented about the spirit journey, saying "He basically just swam down to the bottom of the ocean and talked to the lady." And, yeah, he pretty much did - it was a little anti-climactic considering the build-up to it - we were expecting real danger! Still, overall my daughter and I both enjoyed the book and the slow pace was only an issue in certain parts.
What I LOVED:
The characters.
In my opinion, the secondary characters totally stole the show in this book. I was in love with Egbert, the scholarly walrus with a propensity for talking (and using words that none of the other characters understand)! He was such fun and I loved the fact that he went from sort of a bumbling sidekick to a truly loyal friend with an important part to play in the story. Another fun character was Ruby - a cute little hummingbird who spent much of her time arguing with Egbert. Lucy, Luckley's wife was great because she turned out to be such a strong character (who had to fight her natural puffin instinct to "go with the flow"). These secondary characters really made the book for me!
Tongue-in-cheek humor.
The book had a fun sense of tongue-in-cheek humor throughout, with little asides and fun quips. I especially loved the comments that had to do with the supposed superiority of walruses (at least according to the walruses) and how the writer was sparing us from lots of long walrus speeches in parts. There were also some little joking anachronisms (although these weren't always as successful as far as I was concerned - for instance, Ruby would compare something to a modern item like a plane and then someone else would point out that there was no such things as planes. Huh?). Overall, though, the fun sense of humor made the book feel whimsical, which I really enjoyed.
Great messages.
This book had lots of great messages about not accepting social injustice, sticking with family and friends and believing in yourself! Of course, these are just the types of messages I like to see in a great kids' book!
So, overall, Neversink is a great read!! I highly recommend it to middle grade fans of animal stories! My daughter and I give it 4/5 Stars.
December 28, 2011
Reviewed at: http://www.teachmentortexts.com/2012/...
Author interview:
http://www.teachmentortexts.com/2012/...
*A hero's journey staring a timid puffin, his loquacious walrus friend and a feisty hummingbird.
What I Think: Neversink is reminiscent of Animal Farm and Redwall but by the sea. With puffins!
Lockley J. Puffin is not your average hero. He is a good husband, a good friend, but he is not extraordinary anything. However, he shows that you cannot judge a puffin by its daily behavior because when trouble comes to Neversink, Lockley is just the bird that they need.
I found this book to be a classic hero's journey, just with auks and owls (with a walrus or two and a hummingbird thrown in). Lockley goes through many of the Campbell stages from refusing to become part of the conflict to being aided by supernatural elements and guides. He becomes the hero of Neversink.
Another fascinating aspect of this story were the myth and world building. Wolverton built a world (complete with a map at the beginning of the book) where the animals played true characters and they even had their own government, history and myths. But Wolverton did all this while still being true to the animals in his story. The book even begins with a guide to the different types of auks and owls so that the reader is knowledgeable about the animals in the book. He did a good job at mixing the facts behind the animals into his fantasy novel.
But what really made this story was the humor. The dynamics between Egbert the walrus, Ruby the hummingbird, and Lockley the puffin are quite a trio, specifically the way Ruby picks on Egbert.
"And in that moment of distraction, it crashed. Right into Egbert to be precise. T here was a sound like a cannon-ball hitting mashed potatoes as the flying object collided with a mound of walrus flesh, bounced to the ground, and rolled to a lumpy stop.
'Lockley! Good heavens!' said Egbert. 'Are you okay?'
Lockley sat up, dazed. He shook his head from side to side until the giant walrus and tiny hummingbird came into focus.
'I think you bruised one of my ribs!' said Egbert, rubbing his side.
'There are bones under there?' said Ruby.
Lockley wobbled to his feet. 'Terribly sorry, Egbert. I didn't see you there.'
'You're kidding right?' said Ruby" (p. 11)
My favorite quote:
Egbert: "Although I did have the strangest dream. I was walking along a beach with a carpenter, and dozens and dozens of happy oysters followed us, and then we ate them all." (p. 259)
Author interview:
http://www.teachmentortexts.com/2012/...
*A hero's journey staring a timid puffin, his loquacious walrus friend and a feisty hummingbird.
What I Think: Neversink is reminiscent of Animal Farm and Redwall but by the sea. With puffins!
Lockley J. Puffin is not your average hero. He is a good husband, a good friend, but he is not extraordinary anything. However, he shows that you cannot judge a puffin by its daily behavior because when trouble comes to Neversink, Lockley is just the bird that they need.
I found this book to be a classic hero's journey, just with auks and owls (with a walrus or two and a hummingbird thrown in). Lockley goes through many of the Campbell stages from refusing to become part of the conflict to being aided by supernatural elements and guides. He becomes the hero of Neversink.
Another fascinating aspect of this story were the myth and world building. Wolverton built a world (complete with a map at the beginning of the book) where the animals played true characters and they even had their own government, history and myths. But Wolverton did all this while still being true to the animals in his story. The book even begins with a guide to the different types of auks and owls so that the reader is knowledgeable about the animals in the book. He did a good job at mixing the facts behind the animals into his fantasy novel.
But what really made this story was the humor. The dynamics between Egbert the walrus, Ruby the hummingbird, and Lockley the puffin are quite a trio, specifically the way Ruby picks on Egbert.
"And in that moment of distraction, it crashed. Right into Egbert to be precise. T here was a sound like a cannon-ball hitting mashed potatoes as the flying object collided with a mound of walrus flesh, bounced to the ground, and rolled to a lumpy stop.
'Lockley! Good heavens!' said Egbert. 'Are you okay?'
Lockley sat up, dazed. He shook his head from side to side until the giant walrus and tiny hummingbird came into focus.
'I think you bruised one of my ribs!' said Egbert, rubbing his side.
'There are bones under there?' said Ruby.
Lockley wobbled to his feet. 'Terribly sorry, Egbert. I didn't see you there.'
'You're kidding right?' said Ruby" (p. 11)
My favorite quote:
Egbert: "Although I did have the strangest dream. I was walking along a beach with a carpenter, and dozens and dozens of happy oysters followed us, and then we ate them all." (p. 259)
March 28, 2012
The Story- Way up in the Arctic Circle are two islands, Neversink, home of the Auk birds, and Tytonia, home of the owls. On the island of Neversink lives our main character, Lockley J. Puffin, an auk who is not content with his plain way of life. He also has two concerns: his pregnant wife and his best friends, Egbert the walrus and Ruby, the hummingbird.
Over on the island of Tytonia, an owl revolt is taking place. Rozbill, a crazy tyrant, has taken over the owl parliament and is intent on making slaves of the auk birds. Of course, the only thing standing in Rozbill’s way is Lockley, who is willing to stand up for what is right, while the other auks simply obey.
Lockley’s quest for freedom takes him to Tytonia, where he is imprisoned, and then engages in a daring escape thorough the bowels of the earth. He ends up at the North Pole where walrus’ live (and from where Egbert was exiled) and eventually heads down below the oceans to find a sea goddess.
My thoughts – First off, the cover of the book is great. My children saw it and immediately wanted to read the book. Because the story is about animals, I thought that this was a humorous middle grade book, surprisingly, it wasn’t. The book, though very humorous, also takes on deep issues and is really more for the older middle grade and teen reader.
A big plus is the list of auks and owls before the book starts. With all the different species included in the book, things would have gotten confusing if I hadn’t had a reference with pictures to turn back to.
The novel is written with an Omni present narrator, who chimes in with bits of information and humor. I found the continuous mention of technology and vocabulary that exists now, but not back during the time of the book odd. The narrator pops in a lot to mention that, oops, these things haven’t been created yet. You get used to it after a while and it adds to the humor.
One of the reasons I believe this book is for older readers, 10 and up, is because there is violence. Though the violence occurs between the animals, it is still very real and could be disturbing to young readers. However, the violence is also necessary in the telling of the story and the horrors that Rozbill, the owl leader, invokes on the auks. Also, the themes of injustice and tyranny that run through the novel will be more evident to older readers.
I really enjoyed this book. It is something different, yet fun, with a good storyline, strong characters and great settings. It is very well written and full of creative imagery.
www.dorinewhite.blogspot.com
Over on the island of Tytonia, an owl revolt is taking place. Rozbill, a crazy tyrant, has taken over the owl parliament and is intent on making slaves of the auk birds. Of course, the only thing standing in Rozbill’s way is Lockley, who is willing to stand up for what is right, while the other auks simply obey.
Lockley’s quest for freedom takes him to Tytonia, where he is imprisoned, and then engages in a daring escape thorough the bowels of the earth. He ends up at the North Pole where walrus’ live (and from where Egbert was exiled) and eventually heads down below the oceans to find a sea goddess.
My thoughts – First off, the cover of the book is great. My children saw it and immediately wanted to read the book. Because the story is about animals, I thought that this was a humorous middle grade book, surprisingly, it wasn’t. The book, though very humorous, also takes on deep issues and is really more for the older middle grade and teen reader.
A big plus is the list of auks and owls before the book starts. With all the different species included in the book, things would have gotten confusing if I hadn’t had a reference with pictures to turn back to.
The novel is written with an Omni present narrator, who chimes in with bits of information and humor. I found the continuous mention of technology and vocabulary that exists now, but not back during the time of the book odd. The narrator pops in a lot to mention that, oops, these things haven’t been created yet. You get used to it after a while and it adds to the humor.
One of the reasons I believe this book is for older readers, 10 and up, is because there is violence. Though the violence occurs between the animals, it is still very real and could be disturbing to young readers. However, the violence is also necessary in the telling of the story and the horrors that Rozbill, the owl leader, invokes on the auks. Also, the themes of injustice and tyranny that run through the novel will be more evident to older readers.
I really enjoyed this book. It is something different, yet fun, with a good storyline, strong characters and great settings. It is very well written and full of creative imagery.
www.dorinewhite.blogspot.com
December 17, 2012
In this story, Lockley the puffin has to behave in an un-Auk-like manner and stand up to an owl tyrant, with help from his friends Egbert the walrus and Ruby the hummingbird. It is set in a time before humankind came to the world in a specific far-north area where owls are the dominant creatures and the auks (puffins included) are comfortably settled on a rocky island, protected from owl dominion by the Peace of Yore. The villain of the story is Rozbell, a teeny tiny owl with grand plans of domination, who upsets the peace.
The characters in this book grew on me, and the story got more exciting and interesting as it went along. I would recommend this book for children who love animal stories and children who are young but reading at a higher reading level; it's more complex and slow-starting than most children's books with animal characters, but wonderfully appropriate for even very young readers. As a grown up person, I enjoyed it, too, so it could appeal to a variety of age ranges.
I found the narration style to be slightly distant and tongue-in-cheek in a way that usually makes me feel more detached from the characters and the story. In the last third of the book, that ceased to be a problem. The second half to last third, after all the set up was finished and Lockley was firmly ensconced in an adventure, was by far my favorite part! I absolutely enjoyed it, and I was at that point committed to the characters. However, Rozbell is so terribly one-dimensional and tyrannical that it was hard to belief the owls would let him get away with the actions he was taking. The Rozbell-related sections of the plot stretched my suspension of disbelief, as did the frequent silly anachronisms. (I.e., Ruby saying something, only to be told that wasn't invented yet.... Those anachronisms did grow on me, by the end, though.)
Political organization and intrigue factor heavily into the story, which is interesting for this kind of children's literature, too. It's a little like Game of Thrones crossed with Redwall and made sillier and more child-friendly. The way Wolverton described the origin of writing (invented by walruses) and the myth of Sedna were two more sources of enjoyment for me, since I love good mythology!
Disclosure: I won an Advanced Reader Copy of this book (not from Goodreads, but in a drawing-type event during a blog tour the author did in the spring of 2012).
The characters in this book grew on me, and the story got more exciting and interesting as it went along. I would recommend this book for children who love animal stories and children who are young but reading at a higher reading level; it's more complex and slow-starting than most children's books with animal characters, but wonderfully appropriate for even very young readers. As a grown up person, I enjoyed it, too, so it could appeal to a variety of age ranges.
I found the narration style to be slightly distant and tongue-in-cheek in a way that usually makes me feel more detached from the characters and the story. In the last third of the book, that ceased to be a problem. The second half to last third, after all the set up was finished and Lockley was firmly ensconced in an adventure, was by far my favorite part! I absolutely enjoyed it, and I was at that point committed to the characters. However, Rozbell is so terribly one-dimensional and tyrannical that it was hard to belief the owls would let him get away with the actions he was taking. The Rozbell-related sections of the plot stretched my suspension of disbelief, as did the frequent silly anachronisms. (I.e., Ruby saying something, only to be told that wasn't invented yet.... Those anachronisms did grow on me, by the end, though.)
Political organization and intrigue factor heavily into the story, which is interesting for this kind of children's literature, too. It's a little like Game of Thrones crossed with Redwall and made sillier and more child-friendly. The way Wolverton described the origin of writing (invented by walruses) and the myth of Sedna were two more sources of enjoyment for me, since I love good mythology!
Disclosure: I won an Advanced Reader Copy of this book (not from Goodreads, but in a drawing-type event during a blog tour the author did in the spring of 2012).
June 22, 2012
One thing I think we can all agree on: puffins are funny. With their awkward walk, missile-shaped bodies, and confrontationally bright beaks, they seem to have been designed by a team of comedians willing to do anything for a laugh.
One thing puffins are not, however, is heroic. Lockley J. Puffin is no exception, but his curiosity and his willingness to speak out against injustice force him further and further into this unwanted role despite his best efforts. His island, Neversink, is being forcibly oppressed by a group of owls, headed by a tyrannical pygmy owl named Rozbell. Most of the puffins and other auks would rather submit than resist, but Lockley, with help from a walrus named Egbert, a hummingbird named Ruby, and the Great Auk himself, is determined to make things right – and protect the safety of Lucy, his mate, and their unborn child.
The world of Neversink is a richly-realized blend of Norse mythology, surreal humor, and Watership Down-style fantasy. Creating a memorable fantasy setting is no mean feat, especially for a debut author, but Barry Wolverton manages it. The prose itself is also marvelous. The scene in which Lockley comes face to face with the sea goddess Sedna, in particular, is truly lovely, reaching a sort of prose poetry that shows up all too infrequently in children’s literature.
I did wonder if the political intrigue and historical in-jokes would be of interest to a juvenile audience, though that was more noticeable at the beginning of the book. And, while Lockley himself is a fully three-dimensional character, not everyone in the book is quite as well-rounded. Rozbell, in particular, is an effective villain, but one without much depth. The setting and the hero, however, largely make up for any such shortcomings.
With the number of excellent books that have already been published so far, I’m not sure you’ll see Neversink in the ALA awards come January. But I’d highly recommend it for any readers with interests in fantasy, animal novels, or mythology.
One thing puffins are not, however, is heroic. Lockley J. Puffin is no exception, but his curiosity and his willingness to speak out against injustice force him further and further into this unwanted role despite his best efforts. His island, Neversink, is being forcibly oppressed by a group of owls, headed by a tyrannical pygmy owl named Rozbell. Most of the puffins and other auks would rather submit than resist, but Lockley, with help from a walrus named Egbert, a hummingbird named Ruby, and the Great Auk himself, is determined to make things right – and protect the safety of Lucy, his mate, and their unborn child.
The world of Neversink is a richly-realized blend of Norse mythology, surreal humor, and Watership Down-style fantasy. Creating a memorable fantasy setting is no mean feat, especially for a debut author, but Barry Wolverton manages it. The prose itself is also marvelous. The scene in which Lockley comes face to face with the sea goddess Sedna, in particular, is truly lovely, reaching a sort of prose poetry that shows up all too infrequently in children’s literature.
I did wonder if the political intrigue and historical in-jokes would be of interest to a juvenile audience, though that was more noticeable at the beginning of the book. And, while Lockley himself is a fully three-dimensional character, not everyone in the book is quite as well-rounded. Rozbell, in particular, is an effective villain, but one without much depth. The setting and the hero, however, largely make up for any such shortcomings.
With the number of excellent books that have already been published so far, I’m not sure you’ll see Neversink in the ALA awards come January. But I’d highly recommend it for any readers with interests in fantasy, animal novels, or mythology.
February 5, 2014
Life on Neversink is quiet and the auks are content to have it so. But there is disease on Tytonia and one fearful owl, Rozbell is determined to turn the land of Neversink into his own personal slave island. But not all the auks are willing to go with the flow, one lowly auk, Lockley is willing to face death to save his family and land.
In Neversink you have a land of birds, owls and a few other sea faring creatures that are in a battle to change the status quo. Granted you have some that want a change for very selfish reasons, while others want change just to not be stagnant and to keep them moving forward. One is evil, as you could probably already guess, while one is the unsung hero; determined to bring about change and save a land that doesn't realize it wants to be saved.
Owls and auks live divided. Owls on Tytonia and auks on Neversink. The two never visit each others lands. They live in harmony and all are perfectly happy to keep it that way. Well everyone except for Rozbell who wants nothing more than to become a dictator to both Neversink and Tytonia. Rozbell has evil plans. Plans that will leave everyone with a sour taste in their mouth.
Reading Neversink was a lot like watching the perfect Disney movie. One of the things I have always loved about Disney was their uncanny ability to turn the life of animals into a life like any other. To make those animals as real as any person. And Barry Wolverton did that. He breathed life into each of the characters of Neversink causing me to actually forget at times that this was a tale about animals. His characters were all well developed and had great stories that helped me to connect to each of them.
Neversink was an absolutely adorable fun read that had me chuckling at every corner. I cheered for the good guys, booed the bad guys and gasped at moments that took me by complete surprise. Neversink is a fun tale that will take you back to a simpler time in life where animals had voices and led very full lives.
*Received a free copy in exchange for an honest review
In Neversink you have a land of birds, owls and a few other sea faring creatures that are in a battle to change the status quo. Granted you have some that want a change for very selfish reasons, while others want change just to not be stagnant and to keep them moving forward. One is evil, as you could probably already guess, while one is the unsung hero; determined to bring about change and save a land that doesn't realize it wants to be saved.
Owls and auks live divided. Owls on Tytonia and auks on Neversink. The two never visit each others lands. They live in harmony and all are perfectly happy to keep it that way. Well everyone except for Rozbell who wants nothing more than to become a dictator to both Neversink and Tytonia. Rozbell has evil plans. Plans that will leave everyone with a sour taste in their mouth.
Reading Neversink was a lot like watching the perfect Disney movie. One of the things I have always loved about Disney was their uncanny ability to turn the life of animals into a life like any other. To make those animals as real as any person. And Barry Wolverton did that. He breathed life into each of the characters of Neversink causing me to actually forget at times that this was a tale about animals. His characters were all well developed and had great stories that helped me to connect to each of them.
Neversink was an absolutely adorable fun read that had me chuckling at every corner. I cheered for the good guys, booed the bad guys and gasped at moments that took me by complete surprise. Neversink is a fun tale that will take you back to a simpler time in life where animals had voices and led very full lives.
*Received a free copy in exchange for an honest review
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