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The Hunchback Assignments (The Hunchback Assignments #1)
by
Arthur Slade (Goodreads Author),
Jayne Entwistle
A gripping new series combines Steampunk, spying, and a fantastic Victorian London.
The mysterious Mr. Socrates rescues Modo, a child in a traveling freak show. Modo is a hunchback with an amazing ability to transform his appearance, and Mr. Socrates raises him in isolation as an agent for the Permanent Association, a spy agency behind Brittania’s efforts to rule the empire...more
The mysterious Mr. Socrates rescues Modo, a child in a traveling freak show. Modo is a hunchback with an amazing ability to transform his appearance, and Mr. Socrates raises him in isolation as an agent for the Permanent Association, a spy agency behind Brittania’s efforts to rule the empire...more
Audio CD, 0 pages
Published
September 22nd 2009
by Listening Library (Audio)
(first published January 1st 2009)
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Every summer I attend San Diego Comic Con, where I often frequent the the Random House booth, and try to get as many Advanced Reader's Copies as I possibly can; and usually, I read these books withing the month, but in this case it took me a while to get to the book. Well, I finally picked this one off my shelf and decided to read it; I could not put it down! I finished it in two days (September 22-23). The back of the book does not quite do this book justice, but gives one the main idea of th...more
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Reading level: Middle Grades Plus (MG+ 6 and up)
Hardcover: 288 pages
Word Count: 63217
Main Focus Group: Boys
I haven't read much at this point in the genre of steam punk (think of H.G. Wells on steroids) but I really liked this book. Much like Alex Rider or one of the CHERUB Agents, this story revolves around a teenage boy, Modo and teenage girl, Octavia, saving the world (well in this case just London).
In this, the opening book of the series we are introduced to the main ...more
Hardcover: 288 pages
Word Count: 63217
Main Focus Group: Boys
I haven't read much at this point in the genre of steam punk (think of H.G. Wells on steroids) but I really liked this book. Much like Alex Rider or one of the CHERUB Agents, this story revolves around a teenage boy, Modo and teenage girl, Octavia, saving the world (well in this case just London).
In this, the opening book of the series we are introduced to the main ...more
I picked up “The Hunchback Assignments” by Arthur Slade randomly last week at the library. I was bored and feeling risky.
The book is loosely, and I mean loosely based on “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” by Victor Hugo. Okay, so I haven’t exactly read Hugo’s classic, but I did read the Wikipedia synopsis, and I have seen the Disney movie, so I’m basically an expert now.
The book is set in late 1800s England, and follows Modo – a shape-shifting hunchback who is raised in seclusion ...more
The book is loosely, and I mean loosely based on “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” by Victor Hugo. Okay, so I haven’t exactly read Hugo’s classic, but I did read the Wikipedia synopsis, and I have seen the Disney movie, so I’m basically an expert now.
The book is set in late 1800s England, and follows Modo – a shape-shifting hunchback who is raised in seclusion ...more
Make that a 3.5 star rating.
First off, if I remember correctly, this is a YA book, so I have to keep that mind in reviewing it. The writing is well done, and the characters are very well done. Modo's life, and him growing as a character was interesting to watch, as was Octavia's softening towards him and losing her bitchy/selfish attitude.
The world for this book is actually fairly interesting, with Slade's take on steampunk to be fairly unique in some regards, especially with...more
First off, if I remember correctly, this is a YA book, so I have to keep that mind in reviewing it. The writing is well done, and the characters are very well done. Modo's life, and him growing as a character was interesting to watch, as was Octavia's softening towards him and losing her bitchy/selfish attitude.
The world for this book is actually fairly interesting, with Slade's take on steampunk to be fairly unique in some regards, especially with...more
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I really liked this book! Have you ever finished a story and felt sort of smug on the author's behalf?
"Yep that was brilliant all right - ooh he is good!"
That is the feeling that this book evokes. It has got everything you could wish for - a splash of romance, a dash of mystery, a thimbleful of intrigue and a whole bowl full of danger!
Modo is an ugly child, saved from life as a traveling "freak show" attraction by the enigmatic Mr. Socra...more
"Yep that was brilliant all right - ooh he is good!"
That is the feeling that this book evokes. It has got everything you could wish for - a splash of romance, a dash of mystery, a thimbleful of intrigue and a whole bowl full of danger!
Modo is an ugly child, saved from life as a traveling "freak show" attraction by the enigmatic Mr. Socra...more
I have to admit that I didn't realize this was a children's book when I picked it up, but as a fan of the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen series (which is definitely not for kids), the book's steampunkish Victorian setting appealed to me. In the early pages, we meet the protagonist, a horribly disfigured young boy who is kept by gypsies as a freak show entertainment. A brisk gentleman named Mr. Socrates purchases him, installs him in a country manor, and keeps him there for 13 years, training ...more
Reason for Reading: Arthur Slade had a new book out and I was thrilled to find out it was the start of a series. I had been wanting him to venture out into a series.
Summary: Modo is an orphan taken in by Mr. Socrates and kept house-bound for the first thirteen years of his life where he is trained in body and mind. Modo is a hunchback with a terribly disfigured face which is so repugnant to look upon that Mr. Socrates does not allow mirrors in the house until he decides Modo is old ...more
Summary: Modo is an orphan taken in by Mr. Socrates and kept house-bound for the first thirteen years of his life where he is trained in body and mind. Modo is a hunchback with a terribly disfigured face which is so repugnant to look upon that Mr. Socrates does not allow mirrors in the house until he decides Modo is old ...more
Arthur Slade has really done it again with this first book in his new steampunk series. Without a doubt, The Hunchback Assignments was one of my favourite books of the year - an exciting read from start to finish. Set in an alternative Victorian era, Slade takes his readers through the streets, alleys, rooftops and sewers of London. Modo, the main character, is a deformed hunchbacked boy with the ability to shapeshift - one of my favourite characters of all times. He is an amazing hero that is s...more
Heidi
rated it
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review of another edition
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review of another edition
Shelves:
2012-beehive-nominee,
audio,
ya-12-19,
2011-snh-book-challenge,
series,
science-fiction,
fantasy
I feel really bad for this book. I'm pretty sure it is much better than my overall impression, but I was highly distracted while trying to listen to the audio. And then, while the narrator was pretty good, I hated her voice for Modo. He did not sound 14. And the book came off as much younger than the cool, steampunk-ness it was meant to be. So, I blame myself for not having a more focused, listening mind as well as some irksome things in the narration. Otherwise, I probably would have really enj...more
If you want a more in depth preview: It definitely combined the classics of the Hunchback of Notre Dame (most notably in the main character) and that of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. (In one of the other characters and some of the plot). However, as a whole the novel was definitely original and new. A steam punk coming of age set in a world of classics.
The plot itself was twisted and convoluted, and yet also straight forward. I would say that if you're paranoid it makes it a much more ...more
The plot itself was twisted and convoluted, and yet also straight forward. I would say that if you're paranoid it makes it a much more ...more
This book, set in about the 1800's of London, is about a hunchback deformed boy who is raised by a man named Mr. Socrates. His name is Modo, and he has the ability to change his face to look like anyone in the world, real or fictional. Mr. Socrates trains him to fight, read, and think philosophically. One day, Mr. Socrates drops Modo off on the streets of London. Meanwhile, urchin children are disappearing all over London. Modo is lead on an adventure by a pretty girl named Olivia (who is more t...more
Modo was born disfigured with a hunchback and a disfigured face, but he was also born with a very special gift. The ability to twist and change his appearance to take on the looks and characteristics of anyone. This made him a very valuable person for Mr. Socrates to add to him secretive team of agents. Mr. Socrates snatched Modo from a freak show and raised him as his own. He moved him to the country side and give him a good education, and a lot of training in investigating and spying. Th...more
I love picking up a book and immediately thinking of several kids to give it to. There's a historical setting, which is there more for atmosphere than anything else, an orphaned hunchback with a knack for rearranging his features, a benevolent (or is he?) father figure, plenty of steampunk-ish machines, a few strolls through London's sewers, plenty of action, mysterious associations and secret plots...what more do you need? Plus, the audio version is perfectly narrated, with accents and enough...more
I am guessing this steampunk fantasy is based on the character of the Hunchback of Notre Dame. The main character is named Modo and he is a hunchback, trained to be very strong and swing from the rooftops. He is taken in as a toddler by a rich man and trained and molded and told to never show his face to the world. He is then let loose and given assignments as the agent of The Permanent Association, although he is not told that to begin with. He has to figure it out as he goes. He is paired...more
Fourteen-year-old Modo was rescued as a baby from a traveling freak show by Mr. Socrates who along with his Indian servant has trained him to be an extraordinary agent. Modo is incredibly ugly but as part of his training he has achieved the ability of altering his appearance, actually changing his face and form for a few hours. After being abandoned in London by Mr. Socrates, he sets himself up as a private investigator and is hired by a young woman claiming to be Miss Featherstone who involves ...more
Deformed, hideous Modo is discovered at age 1 by a mysterious and powerful man, who determines that Modo shall be raised and trained to enter his service as an agent. Modo is in his teens before he is allowed to leave the rooms in which he has spent his whole life, and Mr. Socrates unceremoniously dumps him into the middle of London and leaves him to fend for himself. Ever resourceful, bright, and determined, Modo manages to survive, even succeed. When he is unexpectedly called back into serv...more
Mr. Socrates finds Modo in a traveling freak show. Modo can manipulate his bones and facial structure to create any visage he can imagine; in reality, he is a grotesque hunch-back (think Charles Laughton as Quasimodo). Modo lives in isolation for years with occasional visits from Mr. Socrates, raised by Mrs. Finchley who dotes on him. He learns martial arts and educates himself, reading the classics. When he is 13, Mr. Socrates returns, takes him to London and casts him out to see if he can surv...more
I think this will go over well with middle grade readers who like thrills and adventure, some gross stuff, some romantic-but-not-too-romantic stuff. But it was also a book I kept wanting to rewrite and then wondering if the parts that didn't work for me work just fine for younger readers and my brain is just too old. Some parts were very tell-y ("Modo wished Mrs. Finchley was there to take care of him...") while others seemed to rush by without filling in details (what's the bad guys' ...more
In spite of a lot of action and the kind of suspense that makes you hold onto the page just so you can turn it faster, the main action, yes, main...doesn't start till waaaay later in the book. And then suddenly it's just one astounding, mind-blowing epiphany topped off with a climax that is rather short-lived. I loooove all the descriptions of the technology and chemical chimeras. Wish there were more. Tavia's friendliness is somewhat of a cliche. Skip. I understand that the cold fascade of Mr. ...more
This was a hell of a lot of fun, considering it was a free Kindle download.
Review to follow when I'm not completely plastered, my state doesn't even merit a drunk book review.
Need to go fall over somewhere. Preferable somewhere soft.
***
Agh.
My poor tender head.
My teeth seem to individually hurt.
Interesting scientifically, trying to chew toast physically, not so much.
It was an epic night, one of those: It's rare I get that trolleyed, and oh...more
Review to follow when I'm not completely plastered, my state doesn't even merit a drunk book review.
Need to go fall over somewhere. Preferable somewhere soft.
***
Agh.
My poor tender head.
My teeth seem to individually hurt.
Interesting scientifically, trying to chew toast physically, not so much.
It was an epic night, one of those: It's rare I get that trolleyed, and oh...more
A steampunk mystery starring a shapeshifting hunchback boy named Modo who encounters an evil scientist by the name of Dr. Hyde--very entertaining! Kind of dark and spooky, very Victorian, with lots of action and also featuring a clever heroine named Octavia, a former Cockney pickpocket who's now a trained agent for the resourceful Mr. Socrates. They have to stop the nasty Clockwork Guild before their creations ruin all of London! I really enjoyed this and I'm looking forward to the sequel. Recom...more
http://sosaysthewhale.wordpress.com/2011...
Drop what you're doing and read this now! I've been raving about this book for the past week and am finally able to sit down and put all my flailing into words.
Mr. Alan Socrates hears about an odd little child and buys him. It sounds remarkably cruel - and it is - but it's as simple as that. He takes Modo (a te...more
Drop what you're doing and read this now! I've been raving about this book for the past week and am finally able to sit down and put all my flailing into words.
"For heaven's sake, boy, put your mask on," Mr. Socrates snapped. "No one should see your face."
Mr. Alan Socrates hears about an odd little child and buys him. It sounds remarkably cruel - and it is - but it's as simple as that. He takes Modo (a te...more
Arthur Slade is an author that few can rival when it comes to magical "steampunk" novels...simply said. The Hunchback Assignments follows the adventures of Modo, a hunchbacked teenager in Victorian London. Together with one of the most memorable characters in literature, Octavia Milkweed, a rescued urchin- the reader journeys into the very depths of London as our two heroes become involved with the Coclwork Guild, a maniacal organization bent on the destruction of the British Empire. ...more
To be honest, I was a little disappointed in this book. Perhaps it’s that my hopes were so high to begin with, but they weren’t quite met. Given the overview, there was certainly a recipe for an excellent tale—steampunk, Victorian England, the hunchback of Notre Dame as the main character, but as a teenager, and having been raised completely differently—but the execution was a little lacking.
Specifically, I felt like the story was rushed, and Slade didn’t take the time to relish in t...more
Specifically, I felt like the story was rushed, and Slade didn’t take the time to relish in t...more
Mr. Socrates buys Modo from a traveling freak show when Modo is one. Modo has a special talent--he can shapeshift his face and body into the image of other people. Modo is raised to be intelligent, resourceful, and a spy. When the Clockwork Guild begins mesmerizing lords and stealing orphans off the street, Modo is enlisted to find out what is happening.
Poor Modo! Slade does not try to make Modo sound physically appealing. His face is horribly disfigured, and so is his back. Modo...more
Poor Modo! Slade does not try to make Modo sound physically appealing. His face is horribly disfigured, and so is his back. Modo...more
I have just nicely started this one. Arthur Slade is one of my favourite YA authors. Why? Well, he's from Saskatchewan, he has an amazing imagination, and he knows how to hook his reader on page one. He is my author idol. I love the way he puts a new slant on a recognizable genre/classic storyline. The prologue to The Hunchback Assignments got my attention right away. How could it not - when horrible experiments are being performed on helpless animals? His characters are engaging - Dr. Hyde, Mod...more
YA (more middle school and up) Steampunk adventure. I give it 4.5 stars.
Loved it. So much fun. Modo (abandoned near Notre Dame) has a disfigured face and hunchback, but also has the power to shapeshift. As a baby, Mr. Socrates buys him from a traveling freak show and raises him, training him to be a future agent for a secretive English society. He grows up and finds himself investigating missing orphans, scientific experimentation, and threats against the country from an evil organiz...more
Loved it. So much fun. Modo (abandoned near Notre Dame) has a disfigured face and hunchback, but also has the power to shapeshift. As a baby, Mr. Socrates buys him from a traveling freak show and raises him, training him to be a future agent for a secretive English society. He grows up and finds himself investigating missing orphans, scientific experimentation, and threats against the country from an evil organiz...more
Gruesome steampunk for upper middle grade.
I would rate this higher for it is certainly a quality piece of ficition, but it was a little too gruesome for me, personally. As the owner of a large powerful dog, the opening sequence just about did me in. I would have stopped reading if this wasn't a Wendy Lamb book and for the fact that I hate not finishing a book.
I know some middle-school boys that would eat this up. Maybe a series to recommend for fans of the currently p...more
I would rate this higher for it is certainly a quality piece of ficition, but it was a little too gruesome for me, personally. As the owner of a large powerful dog, the opening sequence just about did me in. I would have stopped reading if this wasn't a Wendy Lamb book and for the fact that I hate not finishing a book.
I know some middle-school boys that would eat this up. Maybe a series to recommend for fans of the currently p...more
My second foray into the genre of teen fiction and steampunk is not quite as fulfilling as Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan. While there are some neat, pop culture inspired ideas here (i.e. A hunchback ala Notre Dame who can change his appearance ala Lon Chaney), my biggest problem is than none of these cool ideas are delved into in very much depth. Honestly, this was a book that I wanted to be much more detailed and, honestly, longer. So, really the fact that it is a teen book is what the biggest p...more
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Arthur Slade was raised in the Cypress Hills of southwest Saskatchewan and began writing at an early age. He received an English Honours degree from the University of Saskatchewan, spent several years writing advertising and now writes fiction full time. He is the author of the "Canadian Chills" series of books, "Dust" (which won the Governor General's award), "Tribes,"...more
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