HERE THERE BE SPOILERS (lols)



5 Things About...The Duckling Gets a Cookie?!

1. So this is one of those books where the title tells you a lot. Much like Melville's classic "Moby Dick, or The Whale," we are introduced to the Duckling, the counterpart to our surly captain, The Pigeon. And much like Ahab's metaphysical obsession over the evil in the albino leviathan, we watch the drama unfold as the Pigeon's desires are laid out on the page, all over a cookie. With nuts.

2. As the series has already dictated, the Pigeon is a very persuasive character. He wastes no time explaining to the audience how he's asked for much in his life. Has he ever gotten it? Of course not. And it's easy to relate to his desperation. How often are we forced to watch as others have things handed to them, and despite our work, despite our words, we are ignored?

3. I was mightily impressed by the flow of the story. It's easy to get over-burdened by dialogue-heavy narratives, but we hit all the major aspects of the three-act plotline in a pretty short time. Duckling gets cookie, Pigeon is made aware of cookie, and...well, I won't give it all away. But trust me - you can get through this of an afternoon.

4. I was very surprised by the twist ending. This second appearance of the Duckling made me think I had it all figured out: here was a foul foil set up to make the Pigeon look like the flawed character that he is. Not so, dear reader, not so. The Duckling plays the Pigeon - and the reader, and Fate (bearing cookies) - for the fools they are. Oh yes, ducklings do get everything.

5. I'd like a walrus, too.

[The lesson here: never take yourself too seriously to enjoy fun books.]