Book Review: Fur-Face by Jon Gibbs
Thirteen-year-old Billy Euston and his family have just moved from London to the quiet town of Little Chumberry. There, his father has taken a new position as veterinary surgeon for the local theme park, Adventure Safari. Billy is dismayed to find no other kids his own age in the town.
Meanwhile, a stray black cat known as Snowy has managed to master the English language, yet is unable to find anyone who can actually hear him. This probably wouldn't be an issue had the feline not promised a local fox named Razor that he would find a human to help him locate his mate and cubs who were kidnapped from their den by a human scientist known as "Fur-Face" and his assistant, "Gallstone". Razor was also captured, but managed to escape still wearing a helmet with which he'd been fitted as part of a research experiment. The fox insists that the helmet alerts him to the approach of the rats that "Fur-Face" sends out to kill him.
After negotiating with Razor for more time, Snowy desperately attempts to enter the Euston's new home as they are moving in. Snowy had once been close with the previous owner and a chew toy of sentimental value remained in the house. After several failed attempts, Snowy manages to slip into a second floor room where the toy had been kept, now Billy's bedroom. Snowy hides in the closet until after dark when he begins searching for the toy. His activities startle Billy in the middle of the night and shortly thereafter, two discoveries are made:
Billy encounters a cat that can talk.
Snowy finally finds a human who can hear him.
Once he overcomes the initial shock, Billy successfully convinces his parents to allow him to keep the cat.
Later, the Euston's make a social call to Aggie Cranbrook, the elderly owner of Adventure Safari. Known as "Daft" Aggie, she is hardly your typical senior citizen. After playing with a rock band in the 60s, Aggie went to live in Africa where she worked to save endangered species. Now, she is the sole owner of the theme park. In conversation with the Euston's, Aggie also reveals that the British and US governments are jointly funding and staffing an animal research facility on the theme park property. Strangely, Aggie is not aware of the exact nature of the research, yet seems convinced that it's harmless.
That night, Snowy arranges a meeting with Razor and the fox imparts the details of how the humans invaded his den with smoke bombs and kidnapped him and his family. He recounts his time in a lab and how he was experimented upon by "Fur-Face" and "Gallstone." Billy promises to inquire with Aggie about this upon his next visit to her mansion.
When he arrives, Billy meets Carmen, Aggie's niece staying with her for the summer. They become fast friends and eventually, Billy decides to recruit her in his mission to help Razor and possibly uncover exactly what kind of nefarious animal research is happening in the bowels of Adventure Safari.
Who are "Fur-Face" and "Gallstone" and exactly what kind of research are they performing on the animals at Adventure Safari? Who is backing this research and what are they hoping to accomplish? Will Billy, Snowy and Carmen be able to find Razor's family and stop the evil scientist before more harm is done?
Fur-Face is the debut middle-grade novel by Jon Gibbs. It's an enjoyable story with likable protagonists in Billy, Carmen and Snowy. The author took the time to delve into their personalities (especially Billy and Snowy) without distracting from the plot. The antagonists were your typical government-sponsored evil scientists, but for a middle-grade novel, that works. The story is a well-crafted balance of humor and suspense.
I didn't quite understand how Aggie was unaware of the nature of the animal research happening on her property. While it is explained that she made a deal with the government to allow them to use her property in exchange for theme park funding, one might think she would demand assurances that no harm was inflicted on the animals. To do so would certainly fit with her personality.
Overall, it was a fun tale that held my attention from beginning to end. A follow-up novel, Barnum's Revenge , was released in March 2013.
Meanwhile, a stray black cat known as Snowy has managed to master the English language, yet is unable to find anyone who can actually hear him. This probably wouldn't be an issue had the feline not promised a local fox named Razor that he would find a human to help him locate his mate and cubs who were kidnapped from their den by a human scientist known as "Fur-Face" and his assistant, "Gallstone". Razor was also captured, but managed to escape still wearing a helmet with which he'd been fitted as part of a research experiment. The fox insists that the helmet alerts him to the approach of the rats that "Fur-Face" sends out to kill him.
After negotiating with Razor for more time, Snowy desperately attempts to enter the Euston's new home as they are moving in. Snowy had once been close with the previous owner and a chew toy of sentimental value remained in the house. After several failed attempts, Snowy manages to slip into a second floor room where the toy had been kept, now Billy's bedroom. Snowy hides in the closet until after dark when he begins searching for the toy. His activities startle Billy in the middle of the night and shortly thereafter, two discoveries are made:
Billy encounters a cat that can talk.
Snowy finally finds a human who can hear him.
Once he overcomes the initial shock, Billy successfully convinces his parents to allow him to keep the cat.
Later, the Euston's make a social call to Aggie Cranbrook, the elderly owner of Adventure Safari. Known as "Daft" Aggie, she is hardly your typical senior citizen. After playing with a rock band in the 60s, Aggie went to live in Africa where she worked to save endangered species. Now, she is the sole owner of the theme park. In conversation with the Euston's, Aggie also reveals that the British and US governments are jointly funding and staffing an animal research facility on the theme park property. Strangely, Aggie is not aware of the exact nature of the research, yet seems convinced that it's harmless.
That night, Snowy arranges a meeting with Razor and the fox imparts the details of how the humans invaded his den with smoke bombs and kidnapped him and his family. He recounts his time in a lab and how he was experimented upon by "Fur-Face" and "Gallstone." Billy promises to inquire with Aggie about this upon his next visit to her mansion.
When he arrives, Billy meets Carmen, Aggie's niece staying with her for the summer. They become fast friends and eventually, Billy decides to recruit her in his mission to help Razor and possibly uncover exactly what kind of nefarious animal research is happening in the bowels of Adventure Safari.
Who are "Fur-Face" and "Gallstone" and exactly what kind of research are they performing on the animals at Adventure Safari? Who is backing this research and what are they hoping to accomplish? Will Billy, Snowy and Carmen be able to find Razor's family and stop the evil scientist before more harm is done?
Fur-Face is the debut middle-grade novel by Jon Gibbs. It's an enjoyable story with likable protagonists in Billy, Carmen and Snowy. The author took the time to delve into their personalities (especially Billy and Snowy) without distracting from the plot. The antagonists were your typical government-sponsored evil scientists, but for a middle-grade novel, that works. The story is a well-crafted balance of humor and suspense.
I didn't quite understand how Aggie was unaware of the nature of the animal research happening on her property. While it is explained that she made a deal with the government to allow them to use her property in exchange for theme park funding, one might think she would demand assurances that no harm was inflicted on the animals. To do so would certainly fit with her personality.
Overall, it was a fun tale that held my attention from beginning to end. A follow-up novel, Barnum's Revenge , was released in March 2013.
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