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38th out of 42 books
—
27 voters
Soonchild
Two internationally acclaimed artists create a groundbreaking, genre-defying adventure to transcend time, place, and identity.
In the cold north where the white wind blows lives Sixteen-Face John, a shaman. His wife is expecting their first child -- a "soonchild." But Soonchild won't come out! So John sets out to find the World Songs that inspire all soonchildren to leave...more
In the cold north where the white wind blows lives Sixteen-Face John, a shaman. His wife is expecting their first child -- a "soonchild." But Soonchild won't come out! So John sets out to find the World Songs that inspire all soonchildren to leave...more
Hardcover, 144 pages
Published
March 1st 2012
by Walker Books
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Sixteen Face John has a problem; his unborn child, Soonchild, won't come out into the world because she cannot hear the World Songs, so Sixteen Face John must go on a quest to find them. Sixteen Face John gets help in his quest from the spirit world where he meets spirits tied to his past, his present, and the possible future. The book is eerie and very strange, many of the illustrations are downright creepy. Finding out if Sixteen Face John would succeed and just what would he succeed at is wha...more
I enjoyed this much more than I did Hoban's most recent novel marketed to adults, Angelica Lost and Found, which seemed forced and creaky. Soonchild is a bit haphazard and draggy in the middle, but I'll say, generously, that that suits its campfire-tale mode -- and that Hoban has some fun with the inherently repetitive nature of a quest story by sending his protagonist into a "time loop" at its most interminable point. The publisher claims this book is for readers age 14+, but I think it might b...more
A unique and peculiar read. Bought literally by its cover, for it was wrapped closed in cellophane, so I had no idea what it would be about. It's a very tactile read, soft pencil illustrations bringing out the characters and the drama of the narrative in a tone that matches completely. In places, both action and illustrations dive from the pretty and the evocative to the grotesque, and even the frightening, but it's a worthwhile read all the same.
It's a big story and a small story and somewhere...more
Mar 04, 2013
Judy
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone over the age of 10
Recommended to Judy by:
happy discovery
Shelves:
awesome
It's hard to imagine a more outstanding combination of writer and illustrator. Alexis Deacon, whose work I have admired in the past, far exceeded my expectations with his mouthwatering illustrations. Previous work I've seen has been for a younger audience, and this book, with its complex, more mature and mystical themes has given him full opportunity to deliver powerful and imaginative work.
Russell Hoban, whose work I have also enjoyed in the past, but whose writing style I have previously asso...more
Russell Hoban, whose work I have also enjoyed in the past, but whose writing style I have previously asso...more
From the Publisher:
Somewhere in te Artic Circle, Sixteen-Face John, a shaman, learns that his first child, a soonchild, cannot hear the World Songs from her mother's womb. The World Songs are what inspire all newborns to come out into the world, and John must find them for her. But how? The answer takes him through many lifetimes and many shape-shifts, as well as encounters with beasts, demons and a mysterious benevolent owl spirit, Ukpika, who is linked to John's past...
My Thoughts:
In Soonchild...more
Somewhere in te Artic Circle, Sixteen-Face John, a shaman, learns that his first child, a soonchild, cannot hear the World Songs from her mother's womb. The World Songs are what inspire all newborns to come out into the world, and John must find them for her. But how? The answer takes him through many lifetimes and many shape-shifts, as well as encounters with beasts, demons and a mysterious benevolent owl spirit, Ukpika, who is linked to John's past...
My Thoughts:
In Soonchild...more
One of the shortlisted books for the Guardian Children's Fiction prize 2012, a beautifully written book. Poetic with a wistful meandering storyline, a kind of cross between Winnie the Pooh and Pilgrims Progress made to be read aloud. Sixteen Face John learns to face his past, his identity as a Northern shaman, father, husband and his place in the world as he comes to terms with the impending birth of his daughter Soonchild. Soonchild is reluctant to be born as she cannot hear the world songs whi...more
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A hero's quest tale of the North, with illustration that perfectly matches the tone. I picked this up based on the printed rec from Patrick Ness on the book, and it is a bit reminiscent of his "A Monster Calls", though I would argue that "Monster" is a much better book. But it has a similar mysterious flavor, the illustrations enhance the story similarly. I do not know my Inuit? myth, but I assume that they are the basis for this story. It has a rambling, oral-tradition sort of style, which had...more
get it. read it. it's lovely. and not a little wise.
This is a likely candidate for Weirdest Book I Read in 2012. Sixteen-Face John is an Inuit shaman who has pretty much forsaken the old ways. His wife, No Problem, is pregnant, but the baby, known as Soonchild, does not want to be born because she cannot hear the World Songs. So Sixteen-Face John goes on a vision quest to get the World Songs for his unborn daughter, along the way realizing that he went wrong by leaving the old ways behind. It's a good premise with nice illustrations but something...more
I was completely taken in on the first page, the description of the North so intense I felt a chill "...where it's so cold that your nose hairs get stiff and your eyeballs get brittle..." I thought the illustrations were grotesquely beautiful. But it just didn't work for me. I wonder if it would have worked better read aloud? I would get wrapped up in the legend and the journey and then feel like I was suddenly jarred out of it. I was planning to give it 2 stars, but I went with 3 because of the...more
I really loved this book. It is beautiful in every sense, from the illustrations to the layout, the ideas and the words. My only problem is that I don't know who I'd recommend it to, hence awarding 4 stars rather than 5. At times it seemed aimed at a much younger audience than it's 14 plus guidelines, at others it felt very adult. How many teenagers would identify with a middle-aged man awaiting the birth of his first child? In many ways it felt like a book for adults who love reading children's...more
I really wanted to love this book . I just couldn't find my home inside it. Labeled " genre-defying," I found it baffling. Is it for me? My students? I can't really tell. And it's not compelling enough for me to want to figure it out. I feel sad that I feel this way.
Addition and change:
I have been stewing over this for days, wondering why it bothers me so much that this wasn't the book I thought it would be. I finally read School Library Journal's review and confirmed what I already felt - that...more
Addition and change:
I have been stewing over this for days, wondering why it bothers me so much that this wasn't the book I thought it would be. I finally read School Library Journal's review and confirmed what I already felt - that...more
I loved the premise and in many ways I loved the book so it was disappointing each time something spoilt it along the way. The language would be lyrical, drawing you deep into the mythical tale, only to be spoilt but sudden and jarring American style speaking which knocked you out of the mood and ruined the flow. I could see that Hoban was trying to show the influence of modern culture on this traditional world and in those instances it was kind of appropriate if a little awkward. There were oth...more
You ever stumble on a book that you’ve heard nothing about, but immediately find yourself immensely attracted to? Soonchild by the late Russell Hoban was that book for me — the Patrick Ness blurb on the cover acting as a sort of siren call. Friends, this genius, slim little book evoked the same sort of feelings in me that The Alchemist and Life Of Pi did.
Read the rest of my review here link goes live 7/18/12
Read the rest of my review here link goes live 7/18/12
When this arrived at work the other day, I was immediately drawn in by the beautiful and creepy illustrations. I expected an old Native American-like tale with talking animals and spirits, but it sadly didn't live up to my expectations. The entire story felt too one-dimensional. Plus I really can't imagine hand-selling this at work. It just doesn't seem right for its target audience.
I liked the blue pages, the white pages were a bit too spacey and the brownish pages were annoyingly nonsensical.
The blue pages are great though. Russell Hobans characters are very realistic and I like the strong female characters like the protaganists wife and daughter.
I guess it's kindof about the fear of bringing a child into this shit world aye?
The blue pages are great though. Russell Hobans characters are very realistic and I like the strong female characters like the protaganists wife and daughter.
I guess it's kindof about the fear of bringing a child into this shit world aye?
After picking this book somewhat randomly off the shelf in the library, I absolutely fell in love with it. The drawings are gorgeous, and it's an amazing fairy tale--but not for kids. It's about finding yourself, family, the landscape of the mind and the arctic...it was joyful to read.
So cool. Sharp and somehow cozy and mysterious pencil drawings perfectly fit the tone of this book. A very realistically portrayed man, who is a shaman in a village way up in the North, takes a very unusual journey to find the World Songs for his soon to be daughter.
I wanted to rate this book higher, it is a beautiful package, and deals with big themes, preserving our world, it's spirits, it's children, but it was just a bit slow and rambling for me. For many that will be it's joy.
1 like · like · see review
The late Mr. Hoban at his very best. A beautiful (thanks in no small part to the extraordinary illustrations), intelligent, compassionate fable based on Inuit myth and, crucially, leavened with well-judged humour.
Astonish, mesmeric, read from master storyteller Hoban, published shortly after his death. It's about a Shaman, but the quality of the telling itself seems shamanic itself!
This book has some clever profound undercurrents of wisdom and can be silly and funny - it's a mixture of creative writing that will make you smile and hopefully you will also enjoy the story too.
Read this book for my 9-year old daughter. She really enjoyed it and found the story really funny. I found it a bit bonker but amusing and yes funny.
Dec 10, 2012
Kaethe
marked it as stricken
The Kirkus reviewer says it is "based on paternalistic and romanticized notions about Native peoples."
I really enjoyed this quiet, eerie book on life. I am not sure to whom I could recommend.
This book was suppose to be a kids book but I do not know many kids who would understand it.
This is a beautiful story, and a beautiful book. Mythology, humor, a parable of life, an amazing journey....
Dec 27, 2012
Tanita S.
added it
The audience for this quirky book is very unclear.
Didn't quite meet my expectations.
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“He was thinking what a long and wide thing time is, to have so many happenings in it.”
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