The Great Pencil Quest: Another Wallace the Brave Adventure

Wallace the Brave Collections #5

by Will Henry

In this new collection of Wallace The Brave comics, Wallace and friends Spud, Sterling, Amelia, and Rose, get in all kinds of trouble as they explore Snug Harbor in search of sea monsters, fun, and adventure. 

For years, Wallace and his friend Spud have dreamed of sharpening the giant pencil known as "Big Betty." With their teacher, Mrs. Macintosh, getting a new sharpener, this dream may finally come true—but not without some perilous twists and turns. Among many other adventures, Wallace and friends explore the caves of Snug Harbor in search of sea monsters, make a fort in a cornfield, and try to evade the school's ban on pizza delivery during class. Award-winning cartoonist Will Henry's beautiful watercolor comics and storytelling will entertain reluctant readers—and bold explorers—of all ages, especially fans of classic comics like  Peanuts  and Calvin and Hobbes .
 

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Humor, Middle Grade, Childrens, Fiction

176 pages, Paperback

First published October 24, 2023

Reviews

[Fizah(Books tales by me) · Rating 2 out of 5]

THANKS TO NETGALLEY FOR THIS REVIEW COPY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW

It was too chaotic and haphazard for me.

[Josephine Sorrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wallace and friends Spud, Sterling, Amelia, and Rose, get in all kinds of trouble hanging out in Snug Harbor. Wallace and his friend Spud have giant pencil known as "Big Betty." Wallace acquired Big Betty at the carnival after he found a quiet place to sit and enjoy his fried butter on a stick. Unfortunately he was sitting on the platform of a dunk tank and had his fried butter spoiled. The carnies felt bad and gave him the big pencil. Now for years they’ve been trying to get it sharpened. Then their teacher, Mrs. Macintosh, gets a new sharpener, and the dream may finally come true, or maybe not.
Ride along as Wallace and friends explore the caves of Snug Harbor in search of sea monsters, make a fort in a cornfield, and try to evade the school's ban on pizza delivery during class.
There is so much subtle humor you need to read the book more than once to get it all.
I laughed aloud…
If you swallow caterpillars, I hear you will burp butterflies. No it just turns into poop.

Offer Will Henry's beautiful watercolor comics to your reluctant readers.
Fun and brilliant!

[Sera · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve found a new favourite comic and can’t wait to read the previous comics in this book series. I loved the unassuming quick humour! I think it’s the perfect read for most age groups, and even adults can enjoy it too. I laughed out loud at least a handful of times. Thanks to NetGalley for making this available for an honest review.

[Sirah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wallace and his friends are at it again, with Wallace's imagination and boundless optimism, Amelia's no-nonsense, Spud's anxiety, and Rose's perfectionism, they're ready to take on anything the school year can throw at them.

I'm not the biggest fan of Wallace-style humor. Some of the jokes are too obvious, and some too obscure. But I definitely chuckled at a few of these, and I found the teacher moments very relatable.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wallace the Brave comics are published in newspapers nationwide and are also collected and published for kids aged 9-12 in book form. This is the 5th such book and will provide kids and their caregivers chuckles galore. Most are standalone strips with a few that string together for a 3 or 4 strip run but those are infrequent. Do not look for any sort of plot progression, only vignettes of the lives of a few kids in Snug Harbor at their school, by the water, in their homes, etc. Personalities of the main characters, Wallace, best friend Spud, classmates Amelia and Rose, Wallace’s parents and very strange brother Sterling, are distinct and resemble kids and parents everywhere. Will Henry keeps his strips free of profanity and sexual content and violence is strictly things like mud and water balloon fights and the occasional shoe that may or may not connect with a dad’s head.

Thanks for sending a finished copy for my review, Andrews McMeel Publishing.

[Melki · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I'm just hanging out in my underwear, singing Motown to the stuffed animals."

Wallace and his pals return in this collection of comics featuring some of the epic adventures that make up a unusual American childhood. The quest to sharpen Spud's large pencil - Big Betty - leads the boys to the forbidden realms of a 5th grade shop class.

And the gang faces down, or at least runs away from, an angry egg-pelting farmer.

Ah, the days are just packed for these kids.

Wallace the Brave continues to be one of the best comics EVER, and it's a joy to have the strips collected in book form.

Thanks to Andrews McMeel and NetGalley for sharing this.

[Bexa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Snug Harbor is the modern Calvin and Hobbes, and this adventure is just another wonderful tale of Wallace the Brave.

There were more consistent storylines, and it was great to see all four of the characters be solidly in the storylines. I liked that Amelia and Rose got more time in the stories and how they only added to the humor instead of detracting.

This is an amazing series and a joy to read. Perfect for adults who grew up on C&H but don't want to deal with the philosophical discussions that came with it, instead we're just worried about what happens if you swallow caterpillars, or does throwing their shoes to Davy Jones really make a successful summer? Truly a delight.

Copy provided by Edelweiss.

[Robert Cronin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was unfamiliar with Wallace, Spud, Amelia, and Rose prior to reading this book, which is actually Wallace the Brave (Volume 5). The book is a collection of comic strips that detail the lives of these four individuals, their families, their teachers, their friends, and their community in a few strips at a time. The book takes the characters through growing pains in school, developing friendships, and dealing with teachers, parents, and community visitors. It includes imagination, personal growth, and maybe a few pranks along the way. I only wish I knew Wallace the Brave much earlier than the fifth book.

[Becky B · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of comics featuring the adventurous and unpredictable Wallace, his introverted friend Spud, and various other family members, classmates, and inhabitants of Snug Harbor.

Another fun and entertaining collection of adventures with Wallace, Spud, and gang. The new pencil sharpener is in here, as well as the corn field fort, and miscellaneous other things. I always love the teacher's reactions to things (she should be a hostage negotiator, she's super calm under pressure) and the way Wallace's mom gets into comics and imagining things with him.

Notes on content: There are a 3 comics featuring Spud at home alone in his undies.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Graphic Novel
I received an electronic ARC from Andrews McMeel Publishing through NetGalley.
Wallace and his family and friends return for their fifth volume of adventures. Henry's quirky humor shines through as readers see the gang in school, at home and during summer break. Though some endings are predictable, they all offer a different look at life. The artwork captures so much more that is happening in each comic strip. A light and hilarious read.

[Laura Slabach]

I love Will Henry. These are such fun, quintessential comics. They are the new Peanuts of our day. Simple everyday snippets from the lives of every day kids and their families and friends. I loved his first three instillations of Wallace the Brave and was not disappointed by the fourth. I'm excited to see what he has in store for the fifth and cant wait to receive my own physical copy of this title!

[Danielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't like this style of storytelling that is just random stories dropped in. I wish there was more of a central story with surrounding stories, instead this feels like a collection of comic sections from a newspaper glued together with no rhyme or reason. The characters were interest enough, you could tell a lot about them from the little stories, but a story with a central plot would make more sense especially with a name like The Great Pencil Quest.

[Jenna Stensland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is hilarious! So hilarious that I called my husband multiple times while reading this to share parts with him, read it twice through with my 8 year old, and we were delighted to find that this is part of a series and we can read more of this hilarity with the first ones. Witty, hilarious, relatable comic strip. We are now life long devotees!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Jdetrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sadly, the last Wallace the Brave book I have to read, as these have been saving my sanity while stuck in the hospital. Now we’re beginning to get into the style of the strips I know better, with the cast and the drawing style settled in what I know. But the strips continue to be so much fun, so positive and so detailed. I’m glad I’m in a situation that kind of forces me to really linger over the strips and enjoy the artwork and all the little beauty that Will Henry infuses into every one.

[Lisafuuii · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an arc!

This was so much fun! Such cute little short stories! I hadn’t realised it was the fifth book in the series but there’s no real need to read the others before this one.

This book is filled with little slice of life comics from a group of children. It’s a lot of fun to read and just very comforting.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a graphic novel with a great story. The illustrations reminded me of Calvin and Hobbs comics and fits the story very well. I think graphic novels are a great way for kids to read that is not the traditional chapter book. I found this story very engaging and know my kids would love it. This book is also part of a series so you have other books to read if you enjoy this one!

[Mrs Mommy Booknerd http://mrsmommybooknerd.blogspot.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Great Pencil Quest is a book that will captivate readers of all ages, inviting them into a world of imagination and friendship, and reminding us all that even the most ordinary objects can hold extraordinary adventures. This book is a must-read for those seeking a light-hearted and whimsical escape into a world of creativity and camaraderie.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great collection by Henry. Who knew sharpening a pencil could be such an adventure. The cast of characters are well used in this collection. Every time Sterling makes an appearance I guffawed, and Amelia’s penchant for playing the Devil’s Advocate… well, I know people like her. 🙂 I can’t wait to read it again.

[Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay read. I quite liked the stories, though not quite for me. This reminded me a little of older comics in terms of style. Calvin & Hobbes vibes for sure.


Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this ARC. These are my honest thoughts.

[Renny Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received a copy of The Great Pencil Quest, the 5th collection of my favorite comic strip- Wallace the Brave. The illustrations and charming and the characters really grow on you (especially Spud)

[doowopapocalypse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will Henry's comics make me feel like I'm relieving a childhood I never had. Equal parts Peanuts and Calvin & Hobbes, Wallace and Co. manage a sincerity and pastoral quality.

ARC from Netgalley.

[Tom M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent collection of Wallace the Brave comic strips.

[Sarah TheAromaofBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love Wallace the Brave, and this was another fun collection of comics that I literally sat down and read as soon as it arrived at my house.

[Wyatt Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute. Fun. Silly.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Makes me feel happy to be alive.

[Robert Schulz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Die Cartoons von Will Henry sind einfach großartig und das Erscheinungsdatum des jeweiligen Jahresbandes sollte ein staatlicher Feiertag werden.

[Jennifer Van Oosbree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun cartoons focusing heavily on weather, school, and the harbor town the characters live in.

[Natalia HW · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every year for Christmas I hope for a new Wallace the Brave, because it's just the perfect sweet, funny and corky read. It delivered, as always.

[K TEA · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got through the story pretty quickly. Thank you for the advance copying of the book I’m always open to these types of stories.