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The Enchanted Attic #1
Facing the Hunchback of Notre Dame
Linus and Julia Easterday find themselves in the strangest situations. Repeatedly. And it's their own fault. 'How many other kids our age have Natty Bumpo living in their attic?' Linus complains. And yet, how many other twelve-year-olds know Quasimodo and the Count of Monte Cristo personally? It all began when Linus and Julia, fraternal twins, moved in with their Aunt Portia and Uncle Augustus after their lepidopterologist parents journeyed to the newly discovered island of Stu (named after it's discoverer, Stu Cranston, of Hohocus, New Jersey) for at least five years to study never-before-seen butterflies. Aunt Portia and Uncle Augustus Sandwich run an antiquarian bookshop. Seven Hills Rare Books attracts customers as eccentric as its owners. (If Aunt Portia, who wears a tiara in her fuzzy, apricot colored hair, thick glasses and cowboy boots, can be considered eccentric. We won't get into Uncle Augustus. He does, however, drink a lot of tea, eat a lot of sandwiches, and tends to talk with Jesus at any time -- even if you happen to be standing in front of him.) Seven Hills, housed in a three story stone townhouse, was once a magic shop owned by second-rate magician Harvey Blackstone. What most people who inhabited Rickshaw Street didn't know was that behind the dusty front window arranged with faded top hats, dusty wands, and scattered cards, Harvey Blackstone conjured up something truly magical. So magical he disappeared one night. About a month after the children moved in with their relatives, they discovered Harvey's magic laboratory through a hidden door in the closet of the back bedroom of the third floor. A circle had been burned into the middle of the scarred wooden floor. As it happened, Julia decided to read up there one night when she couldn't sleep. She'd reclined on the couch and fell asleep while reading her Bible and occasionally sneaking a peek at a novel. As happens sometimes, her arm flopped to the side and her book, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, dropped onto the floor. At 12:03 a.m., the circle began to glow, then pop and hiss and spark like fireworks. Julia woke with a start. At 12:05 a.m. the sparks settled down and there sat Quasimodo and my goodness, he wasn't happy at all. Or perhaps he was simply scared to death as he had not yet gotten out of his bell tower and suddenly, poof, there he is in the twenty-first century. How long the visitor stays depends on how fast Julia can read the book, cover to cover. If it's a doozie like Les Miserables, matters can get quite sticky, and believe you me even the shorter books give the twins a great deal of trouble. Imagine having the Frankenstein monster around even for just a day. The bulk of the story is the children's: how they deal with a raging sea captain in present day, how they manage to get a hunchbacked recluse into the sunshine or a babbling Danish prince to the psychiatrist -- and what lessons they take into life.
145 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
3 people are currently reading
186 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
July 28, 2012
Twelve-year-old twins, Ophelia and Linus move in with their aunt and uncle and discover an old laboratory hidden in the attic. While Ophelia is reading The Hunchback of Notre Dame, she unintentionally activates one of the old scientist’s inventions that transports Quasimodo into the present! It’s then that the twins and their friend discover that the old scientist wants to capture Quasimodo, and the three kids do all they can to protect their literary friend and get him back into the book where he belongs.
What a clever premise for a series! You get a group of kids, a famous classical fictional character, and an adventure. I liked the characters a lot—all of them. They were unique and fun. The story was told from a narrator who teaches the reader the definitions of big words and about the craft of writing as he tells the story. That did become a bit distracting at times. Along with the narrator, Ophelia is the big reader in the tale. Many references to classics were mentioned throughout the story, most of which will go over middle grade reader’s heads, but they won’t mind because they’ll be caught up in the tale. For being put out by Zonderkidz, a Christian publishing house, I didn’t notice a faith element in the story, which seemed odd. I did notice that two more books are planned involving the classics Moby Dick and The Three Musketeers. Looking forward to them!
What a clever premise for a series! You get a group of kids, a famous classical fictional character, and an adventure. I liked the characters a lot—all of them. They were unique and fun. The story was told from a narrator who teaches the reader the definitions of big words and about the craft of writing as he tells the story. That did become a bit distracting at times. Along with the narrator, Ophelia is the big reader in the tale. Many references to classics were mentioned throughout the story, most of which will go over middle grade reader’s heads, but they won’t mind because they’ll be caught up in the tale. For being put out by Zonderkidz, a Christian publishing house, I didn’t notice a faith element in the story, which seemed odd. I did notice that two more books are planned involving the classics Moby Dick and The Three Musketeers. Looking forward to them!
May 16, 2012
The Enchanted Attic: Facing the Hunchback of Notre Dame by L.L. Samson
Review by Kara Grant
Minor Spoilers
My Review
What happens when your parents are research scientists that take a job leaving you and your twin brother for 5 years to live with your aunt and uncle who own a rare bookstore? Well, nothing at first, but since you and your twin brother love to read you discover that you’re in good hands. This is where the story begins for Linus and Ophelia. For some reason, the goodreads.com summary and the book’s back cover both say the twins are 12 years old, but in the story they are 14 years old. Don’t know what happened there.
This book is less than 150 pages, but it still took a while for the story to take off. The narration is written from a college custodian’s perspective and he has an opinion about everything. Even though the custodian is supposed to come off as charming, I saw his narrating comments more as a distraction. Still, it is a good story and the book is intended for anyone over 9 years old who has heard the story of The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Ophelia finds the secret entrance to the enchanted attic and accidentally summons Quasimodo as she reads The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Ophelia does the talking, Linus does the thinking. I discovered that the ultimate enemy of children everywhere is boredom, good to know :) My favorite parts of the book are how the twins stick together to help Quasi get back to his story. They have three days to accomplish this (or else Quasimodo is in trouble), but there are a few obstacles to overcome.
First – Ophelia has to read the entire book before Quasi can return. She has only begun the book when he appears. I looked up two different versions of this book on amazon.com and both are well over 500 pages. Even for a booklover, this is a challenge.
Second – There are two men pursuing Quasi and the kids with their own agendas. Will Ophelia, Linus, and their school friend, Walter, be able to outsmart these men in time?
Third – There is the threat of rain and a flooded dam bursting in the same deadline.
It was a treat to meet Quasi and have the chance to get to know him. The kids really connect with him and take several chances in helping him. One of my favorite scenes in the book is when the twins and Walter bring Quasi to the bell tower in the local church. His reaction to the bells was precious and the kids are able to see life through his eyes. Ophelia is able to appreciate luxuries in her life that she didn’t understand before being around Quasi.
Things the narrator, Bartholomew Inkster, explains in the story:
*mortar and pestle
*a neighbor named Mr. Birdwistell
*the Kingscross School for Young People
*the headmistress Madrigal Pierce
*circumspect
*disconcerting
*sashayed
*prone
*accommodating
There is minor violence in the story, but no one gets hurt and the kids experience a great adventure while their parents are away. There is a short prayer mentioned and the Bible/Book of Esther is briefly referred to. It’s a cute story and one of the main themes is accepting kids who are different. Quasi is highly intelligent with an excellent heart and ready to do the right thing, but his looks are mistaken for a Halloween costume twice in the story. Yet even I saw his value and that he had purpose beyond a fictional tale; that’s what God wants for all children. L.L. Samson is coming out with another book called, The Enchanted Attic: Saving Moby Dick. Please visit Lisa Samson on goodreads and at, http://lisasamson.typepad.com/
I want to thank Zondervan’s Z Street Team for sending me a review copy. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Review by Kara Grant
Minor Spoilers
My Review
What happens when your parents are research scientists that take a job leaving you and your twin brother for 5 years to live with your aunt and uncle who own a rare bookstore? Well, nothing at first, but since you and your twin brother love to read you discover that you’re in good hands. This is where the story begins for Linus and Ophelia. For some reason, the goodreads.com summary and the book’s back cover both say the twins are 12 years old, but in the story they are 14 years old. Don’t know what happened there.
This book is less than 150 pages, but it still took a while for the story to take off. The narration is written from a college custodian’s perspective and he has an opinion about everything. Even though the custodian is supposed to come off as charming, I saw his narrating comments more as a distraction. Still, it is a good story and the book is intended for anyone over 9 years old who has heard the story of The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Ophelia finds the secret entrance to the enchanted attic and accidentally summons Quasimodo as she reads The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Ophelia does the talking, Linus does the thinking. I discovered that the ultimate enemy of children everywhere is boredom, good to know :) My favorite parts of the book are how the twins stick together to help Quasi get back to his story. They have three days to accomplish this (or else Quasimodo is in trouble), but there are a few obstacles to overcome.
First – Ophelia has to read the entire book before Quasi can return. She has only begun the book when he appears. I looked up two different versions of this book on amazon.com and both are well over 500 pages. Even for a booklover, this is a challenge.
Second – There are two men pursuing Quasi and the kids with their own agendas. Will Ophelia, Linus, and their school friend, Walter, be able to outsmart these men in time?
Third – There is the threat of rain and a flooded dam bursting in the same deadline.
It was a treat to meet Quasi and have the chance to get to know him. The kids really connect with him and take several chances in helping him. One of my favorite scenes in the book is when the twins and Walter bring Quasi to the bell tower in the local church. His reaction to the bells was precious and the kids are able to see life through his eyes. Ophelia is able to appreciate luxuries in her life that she didn’t understand before being around Quasi.
Things the narrator, Bartholomew Inkster, explains in the story:
*mortar and pestle
*a neighbor named Mr. Birdwistell
*the Kingscross School for Young People
*the headmistress Madrigal Pierce
*circumspect
*disconcerting
*sashayed
*prone
*accommodating
There is minor violence in the story, but no one gets hurt and the kids experience a great adventure while their parents are away. There is a short prayer mentioned and the Bible/Book of Esther is briefly referred to. It’s a cute story and one of the main themes is accepting kids who are different. Quasi is highly intelligent with an excellent heart and ready to do the right thing, but his looks are mistaken for a Halloween costume twice in the story. Yet even I saw his value and that he had purpose beyond a fictional tale; that’s what God wants for all children. L.L. Samson is coming out with another book called, The Enchanted Attic: Saving Moby Dick. Please visit Lisa Samson on goodreads and at, http://lisasamson.typepad.com/
I want to thank Zondervan’s Z Street Team for sending me a review copy. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
February 15, 2013
What a mess.
The pacing is just what really kills this book. There are too many things going one, too many events that don’t flow well into each other (many which are downright pointless). Characters are haphazardly introduced or worst their character traits are also thrown out there to try to explain their actions or worst mentioned for no particular reason. It interrupts the “flow” or lack of as we try to read the plot
This is mostly the fault of the “exposition fairy” also known as the narrator. Apparently our two twin protagonists are incapable of writing their own adventures so they enlist the help of a “friend” and English professor, Bartholomew Inkster to write it for them. Apparently Bartholomew is privy to our character’s inner most thoughts as well as littering the text with asides about the character’s relationship with him. However we never meet Bartholomew throughout the story, so he was not a witness to the events. (He also loves to give the definition of words and other annoying English lessons in the middle of the text)
When looking at a book where half the text is comprised of italic asides; steer clear….
The author/narrator takes an entire introductory chapter to explain the plight of our poor abandoned twins and how they came to live with their aunt and uncle (even though again we never figure out the relationship between the narrator and our characters, how does he know them or their guardians etc.) I guess the first chapter should have been a red flag, any book that needs to explain the entire backstory in one chapter, before introducing the characters is not one that reads smoothly. Seems a bit amateurish, even for a “kid’s” book.
Also it has a lot of potential. The kids have found a way to have characters from famous novel to the real world. How cool is that? (Well I think its cool) So you think they would take them out on adventures. No, we get to sit through the “thrilling” scenario of the children cleaning the floor while Quasimodo is locked away in the attic all day. A lot of the filler could have just been thrown out in favor of more inciting scenes. I will admit the climax was rather exciting and presented a real threat of danger to our characters. There are villains introduced but these climax events are barely given the attention or length they deserved. Instead we got long boring paragraphs about the color of the food at their aunt’s themed tea parties.
I’m a big fan of Hugo’s original novel and try to read any and all spinoffs relating to it. Sorry but I did have to roll my eyes at the suggestion that they borrowed a hearing aid to cure Quasimodo of his deafness. Quick fix there. Apparently, that hearing aid also gave him the magical powers of speaking in modern language and slang…oh not the mention that he speaks perfect English despite being pulled straight out of Medieval France.
The pacing is just what really kills this book. There are too many things going one, too many events that don’t flow well into each other (many which are downright pointless). Characters are haphazardly introduced or worst their character traits are also thrown out there to try to explain their actions or worst mentioned for no particular reason. It interrupts the “flow” or lack of as we try to read the plot
This is mostly the fault of the “exposition fairy” also known as the narrator. Apparently our two twin protagonists are incapable of writing their own adventures so they enlist the help of a “friend” and English professor, Bartholomew Inkster to write it for them. Apparently Bartholomew is privy to our character’s inner most thoughts as well as littering the text with asides about the character’s relationship with him. However we never meet Bartholomew throughout the story, so he was not a witness to the events. (He also loves to give the definition of words and other annoying English lessons in the middle of the text)
When looking at a book where half the text is comprised of italic asides; steer clear….
The author/narrator takes an entire introductory chapter to explain the plight of our poor abandoned twins and how they came to live with their aunt and uncle (even though again we never figure out the relationship between the narrator and our characters, how does he know them or their guardians etc.) I guess the first chapter should have been a red flag, any book that needs to explain the entire backstory in one chapter, before introducing the characters is not one that reads smoothly. Seems a bit amateurish, even for a “kid’s” book.
Also it has a lot of potential. The kids have found a way to have characters from famous novel to the real world. How cool is that? (Well I think its cool) So you think they would take them out on adventures. No, we get to sit through the “thrilling” scenario of the children cleaning the floor while Quasimodo is locked away in the attic all day. A lot of the filler could have just been thrown out in favor of more inciting scenes. I will admit the climax was rather exciting and presented a real threat of danger to our characters. There are villains introduced but these climax events are barely given the attention or length they deserved. Instead we got long boring paragraphs about the color of the food at their aunt’s themed tea parties.
I’m a big fan of Hugo’s original novel and try to read any and all spinoffs relating to it. Sorry but I did have to roll my eyes at the suggestion that they borrowed a hearing aid to cure Quasimodo of his deafness. Quick fix there. Apparently, that hearing aid also gave him the magical powers of speaking in modern language and slang…oh not the mention that he speaks perfect English despite being pulled straight out of Medieval France.
June 13, 2012
'Facing the Hunchback of Notre Dame' by Lisa Samson (L.L.Samson) is a tale of two 14-year-olds and the adventures they encounter. Discovering an old lab in their aunt and uncle's attic, Ophelia and Linus Easterday accidentally bring Quasimodo, the hunchback of Notre Dame, out of Victor Hugo's novel which Ophelia is currently reading. Despite the fun and novelty of becoming acquainted with a fictitious yet very real story character, these two children along with their new-made friend discover that it can also be dangerous.
This story (won from a Goodreads giveaway) is clever in its plot but difficult to discern which age group it is most appropriate for. While it is to be assumed that it is for young teens, a majority of the plot rests on the story on which it is based- 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame'. For those of us who have read this timeless classic(and who also know that the content is NOT all child-appropriate), Samson's story seems childish and uninteresting. Defining words (use smaller words in order to avoid explaining their more complex synonyms) and giving unnecessary asides do nothing to enhance the story.
As far as the content itself is concerned, the light in which certain people and other institutions are portrayed is somewhat disturbing. For instance the adult parents, guardians, and neighbors are absent-minded and neglectful while the children are bright, intelligent, and active. The Church is also not shown in a favorable and respectable light. 'Father Lou', the Episcopalian priest who helps the children hide Quasimodo, is more of a hippy and grown-up kid than a respectable clergyman and who makes the suited pastor of a nearby church look stiff and over-formal.
However the notion of a storybook character coming alive in our day and age is something that every child, including myself, has read and dreamed about. In this sense, this is the kind of book that many children might love for the ideas it presents.
This story (won from a Goodreads giveaway) is clever in its plot but difficult to discern which age group it is most appropriate for. While it is to be assumed that it is for young teens, a majority of the plot rests on the story on which it is based- 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame'. For those of us who have read this timeless classic(and who also know that the content is NOT all child-appropriate), Samson's story seems childish and uninteresting. Defining words (use smaller words in order to avoid explaining their more complex synonyms) and giving unnecessary asides do nothing to enhance the story.
As far as the content itself is concerned, the light in which certain people and other institutions are portrayed is somewhat disturbing. For instance the adult parents, guardians, and neighbors are absent-minded and neglectful while the children are bright, intelligent, and active. The Church is also not shown in a favorable and respectable light. 'Father Lou', the Episcopalian priest who helps the children hide Quasimodo, is more of a hippy and grown-up kid than a respectable clergyman and who makes the suited pastor of a nearby church look stiff and over-formal.
However the notion of a storybook character coming alive in our day and age is something that every child, including myself, has read and dreamed about. In this sense, this is the kind of book that many children might love for the ideas it presents.
March 4, 2012
A delightful story, in the fashion of the classic children’s books of the mid-20th century, Facing the Hunchback of Notre Dame is not-despite the title!-a horror story. Narrated by one disgruntled literate of Kingscross University (grumpy and envious, all right), the custodian Bartholomew Inkster, this novel recounts some of the adventures of twins Ophelia and Linus, fourteen years old, who are sent to spend the next five years in the home of their mother’s twin siblings, Portia and Augustus, while their Ph.D. lepidopterist parents explore a newly-discovered island. The younger twins are accustomed to being left quite on their own, and have been since age seven or younger, so they are not really dismayed. Aunt and uncle own a business in their home, and are sellers of antiquarian and rare books, an establishment frequented by our narrator Mr. Inkster. It is he who first noticed the potentially paranormal oddities in the bookstore, housed as it is on the ground floor of Portia and Augustus Sandwich’s three-story residence. The home had originally been another’s home and business, but that owner, Cato Grubb, mysteriously disappeared (overnight as it were), which has given the younger twins (Linus and Ophelia) much food for thought and discovery adventures. Indeed this is the case, and first Linus, and then Ophelia the reader, discover that the disappearance of Grubb didn’t necessarily mean the disappearance of all of his activities. For the former businessperson was not just an apothecary, but fancied himself a bit of a ceremonial magician, and had left behind in his attic-the very subject of the French classic novel Ophelia has just begun to read-Quasimodo, the Hunchback of Notre Dame, in the flesh!
October 2, 2014
Finding interesting fiction for tweens can be tricky. This new series by L.L. Samson (AKA Lisa Samson) does just the trick. The concept is that three kids (13 y.o. twins and a 14 y.o.) join forces to help story characters find their way back to their story worlds.
In this first installment, Ophelia, Linus, and Walter interact with Quasimodo from the Hunchback of Notre Dame. While the original isn't necessarily a book I'd read with my 11 and 8 y.o.s, we were all engaged in this story that tied the story to a new framework. The narrator, a college janitor, peppers the story with big words, ideas, and literary instruction, but does it in a way that broadens the reader's understanding and is still engaging. There's a taste of magic to pull Quasi from Paris to Kingscross. The chapter titles are fun reminding me of the Percy Jackson series. And the chapters are short with exceptional cliffhangers that left my kids begging for just one more chapter.
At the same time, reading a couple three chapters a day wasn't enough for my daughter, who disappeared with the book because we were too slow. We enjoyed this book so much that I've purchased the second -- Moby Dick -- and we're all eagerly awaiting the next adventure of Ophelia, Linus, and Walter.
July 7, 2012
I just finished the Book and wanted to do the Review as long as it is still “fresh” in my mind. First of all I have to say I had a bit of a hard time getting into the book. It might have to do with the language that is used in it. English is not my first language so a lot of words weren’t really familiar to me and it through me a little out of the story sometimes. But I got used to it.
Funnily a lot of the words I didn’t know where explained in the book. There happens to be a Storyteller who is telling the story to us and as he is proud of his use of the English Language he likes to use “nice” words but is at the same time kind enough to explain the complicated ones. This is especially important as this is a Middle Grade Book for Ages 9-12.
It was a nice short read but still took me ages as I kept putting it down. I am not entirely sure why. Another thing I liked about the book was that you get to know a Classic at the same time. So this is the perfect start for a younger reader who doesn’t quite dare to read “the real stuff” yet but is interested about what else there is in Book World.
Funnily a lot of the words I didn’t know where explained in the book. There happens to be a Storyteller who is telling the story to us and as he is proud of his use of the English Language he likes to use “nice” words but is at the same time kind enough to explain the complicated ones. This is especially important as this is a Middle Grade Book for Ages 9-12.
It was a nice short read but still took me ages as I kept putting it down. I am not entirely sure why. Another thing I liked about the book was that you get to know a Classic at the same time. So this is the perfect start for a younger reader who doesn’t quite dare to read “the real stuff” yet but is interested about what else there is in Book World.
February 17, 2020
A clever idea, a few beautiful quotes but not the great work it could be. However these would be a good option, with a slightly higher reading level, for kids who liked the magic treehouse books
November 3, 2021
DNF - the narrator was too annoying.
December 29, 2024
This book was a let down after wanting to read it for so long. I could not stand the narration and the events in the story did not flow and make sense. It was all over the place.
March 20, 2012
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I have a special fondness for books that feature famous literary characters. Jasper Fforde does this expertly and I love him for it. Last year one of my favorites reads was Arthur Slade's The Hunchback Assignments. When I came across Facing the Hunchback of Notre Dame, I instantly wanted to read it. I couldn't wait to jump back into a book featuring Quasimodo! (Embarrassingly enough, I have never read The Hunchback of Notre Dame. However, now that I've got a few books under my belt with Quasimodo as a main character, I feel as though it's definitely time to read the book that started it all.)
Ophelia and Linus Easterday are sent to live with their uncle and aunt while their parents go off chasing butterflies for five years. Being shipped off to live with strange relatives can put a damper on any fourteen-year old's day and this case is no exception. Uncle Augustus and Aunt Portia are...odd. They have a huge interest in themed parties & dinners (for example, a pea-green dinner - every dish contained a green color, whether it was real or artificial) and force the twins to partake in the events.
The only saving grace to their new living arrangement is Aunt Portia's bookshop. She specializes in antique and rare books (she's a lady I could definitely be friends with!) and Ophelia is an avid reader. There's also the exciting rumors that surround the house's previous owner. Cato Grubb, a devious mad scientist, had owned the house before Augustus and Portia moved in and his bizarre disappearance was so sudden all of his belongings were left behind.
One day the twins come across the remains of Cato's laboratory, complete with a wide array of bottles and potions and interesting drawings on the floor. After Ophelia happens to fall asleep in the attic (where the lab is hidden), she discovers something truly amazing: a flesh-and-blood Quasimodo is on the floor in front of her.
In YA novels, it seems to be convenient to have the parents absent. That's not the case with this book: Portia and Augustus ever-present! Despite what the twins think, I'd love to spend a week living at their house. Old books and medieval parties and right up my alley!
I was surprised by how fast-paced this book was! It actually was a bit too quick for my liking. And, unfortunately, once the magical element became introduced the story was bogged down with a number of rules and regulations (many of which didn't seem to be fully explained).
There's a boy staying for the summer at the nearby boarding school who the twins befriend. Walter is charming and British and has a past! These boys tend to be my favorite characters, but it seemed that all Walter did was exercise. There were a few pivotal moments in the book (huge, HUGE scenes) where it mentioned Walter started doing push-ups. Or Walter decided to do sit-ups. His lack of character development was upsetting.
Quasimodo was easily my favorite character. Such a sweetheart. Since all that bell-ringing has made him deaf, Walter 'borrows' a pair of hearing aids for Quasi. Hee! Quasi also develops quite a taste for tea and peanut butter & jelly sandwiches.
The rules dictate that Quasi only has sixty hours before he needs to get back to his world, lest he be vaporized. Those sixty hours went far too fast and despite the kids determination to show Quasi their world, they aren't able to do much other than eat snacks.
The climax was, well, anticlimactic. The story has built up to that moment and it was such a letdown for me. In the end there were many questions left unanswered, but I know this is the first book in a series, so hopefully problems will be settled in the next book.
Overall, I enjoyed Facing the Hunchback of Notre Dame. The writing style in the beginning reminded me of Roald Dahl novels (never a bad thing!). However, the narrator quickly wore out his welcome: he was always using 'big' words and then defining them. I definitely could have done without that. I'm still not entirely sure what the narrator had to do with the story other than the main characters were too busy to sit down and write out their adventure.
While this wasn't a bad book at all, there were some things I didn't love. However, I'll probably check out the second book (especially if it deals with Moby Dick - the book Ophelia was reading at the end of this novel).
I have a special fondness for books that feature famous literary characters. Jasper Fforde does this expertly and I love him for it. Last year one of my favorites reads was Arthur Slade's The Hunchback Assignments. When I came across Facing the Hunchback of Notre Dame, I instantly wanted to read it. I couldn't wait to jump back into a book featuring Quasimodo! (Embarrassingly enough, I have never read The Hunchback of Notre Dame. However, now that I've got a few books under my belt with Quasimodo as a main character, I feel as though it's definitely time to read the book that started it all.)
Ophelia and Linus Easterday are sent to live with their uncle and aunt while their parents go off chasing butterflies for five years. Being shipped off to live with strange relatives can put a damper on any fourteen-year old's day and this case is no exception. Uncle Augustus and Aunt Portia are...odd. They have a huge interest in themed parties & dinners (for example, a pea-green dinner - every dish contained a green color, whether it was real or artificial) and force the twins to partake in the events.
The only saving grace to their new living arrangement is Aunt Portia's bookshop. She specializes in antique and rare books (she's a lady I could definitely be friends with!) and Ophelia is an avid reader. There's also the exciting rumors that surround the house's previous owner. Cato Grubb, a devious mad scientist, had owned the house before Augustus and Portia moved in and his bizarre disappearance was so sudden all of his belongings were left behind.
One day the twins come across the remains of Cato's laboratory, complete with a wide array of bottles and potions and interesting drawings on the floor. After Ophelia happens to fall asleep in the attic (where the lab is hidden), she discovers something truly amazing: a flesh-and-blood Quasimodo is on the floor in front of her.
In YA novels, it seems to be convenient to have the parents absent. That's not the case with this book: Portia and Augustus ever-present! Despite what the twins think, I'd love to spend a week living at their house. Old books and medieval parties and right up my alley!
I was surprised by how fast-paced this book was! It actually was a bit too quick for my liking. And, unfortunately, once the magical element became introduced the story was bogged down with a number of rules and regulations (many of which didn't seem to be fully explained).
There's a boy staying for the summer at the nearby boarding school who the twins befriend. Walter is charming and British and has a past! These boys tend to be my favorite characters, but it seemed that all Walter did was exercise. There were a few pivotal moments in the book (huge, HUGE scenes) where it mentioned Walter started doing push-ups. Or Walter decided to do sit-ups. His lack of character development was upsetting.
Quasimodo was easily my favorite character. Such a sweetheart. Since all that bell-ringing has made him deaf, Walter 'borrows' a pair of hearing aids for Quasi. Hee! Quasi also develops quite a taste for tea and peanut butter & jelly sandwiches.
The rules dictate that Quasi only has sixty hours before he needs to get back to his world, lest he be vaporized. Those sixty hours went far too fast and despite the kids determination to show Quasi their world, they aren't able to do much other than eat snacks.
The climax was, well, anticlimactic. The story has built up to that moment and it was such a letdown for me. In the end there were many questions left unanswered, but I know this is the first book in a series, so hopefully problems will be settled in the next book.
Overall, I enjoyed Facing the Hunchback of Notre Dame. The writing style in the beginning reminded me of Roald Dahl novels (never a bad thing!). However, the narrator quickly wore out his welcome: he was always using 'big' words and then defining them. I definitely could have done without that. I'm still not entirely sure what the narrator had to do with the story other than the main characters were too busy to sit down and write out their adventure.
While this wasn't a bad book at all, there were some things I didn't love. However, I'll probably check out the second book (especially if it deals with Moby Dick - the book Ophelia was reading at the end of this novel).
August 19, 2012
If you were stuck with your aunt and uncle while your parents were off on an adventure, what would you do? Well, have an adventure of your own, of course! Fourteen-year-old twins Ophelia and Linus Easterday are left with their quirky Aunt Portia and Uncle Augustus Sandwich when their parents, Drs. Antonia and Ron Easterday, PhD, run off to study four-winged insects on a newly-discovered island for five whole years. As you can tell, the Easterdays are not the greatest parents. The twins find their aunt and uncle much more interesting, if not a little crazy, what with their costume parties and the book store they run, not to mention the secret attic the teens find in the Sandwich’s house. Ophelia and Linus make discoveries of their own in the attic, including what appear to be potions and magic books from one of the house’s former residents, a Cato Grubbs, who simply disappeared one day. There is also a circle painted on the floor that leads to the greatest adventure of all when one morning who should emerge from the circle but Quasimodo, the Hunchback of Notre Dame—which just happens to be the book Ophelia is currently reading and which she had left inside the circle. With their friend Walter, Ophelia and Linus must find a way to protect Quasimodo from his master, Deacon Frollo, who also appears from book world and is bent on taking “Quasi” back to his slavish life in the novel from which he came.
The author has created an interesting magical device with the portal that transports fictional characters to real life, and the reader may enjoy getting to know the classic character of Quasimodo a bit better (or at least the author’s imagining of him). By focusing on literary characters, the author has presented two stories in one: we get to follow Ophelia, Linus, and Walter while also learning the story of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. After finishing this book, the reader could be interested in reading the classic Hunchback novel.
Though the story is enjoyable, it has its problems. In the beginning of the story, many characters are introduced at once and I found myself having a difficult time keeping track of names and relations. In fact I went back and reread the beginning after finishing the book just to straighten out the backstory in my mind. I think the author might have better served the readers by working the story presented in the prologue into the book in a natural way. Another problem in the text was the unnecessary use of the narrator, Bartholomew Inkster. His asides do not add to the story and his connection with the characters is never explained. Young readers may find his definitions of words helpful, but I felt they interrupted the story by adding an intrusive voice that seemed to be dumbing things down. Really, the author could have easily gotten by with no narrator and the story would be more focused. The final problem I noticed was the presence of the special camp in the book and the rainstorm that breaks the dam. Neither of these seem terribly relevant to the story and could be removed without affecting the plot.
Despite the changes that I would make to the book, I still enjoyed it. The author has certainly created characters and a storyline that could work across a whole series of books, each exploring a different classic text. Books like this could help young readers gain an interest in the classics of literature.
May 26, 2012
Since I work with elementary school kids, I read a lot of middle grade and children's titles. When I saw the blurb for this on NetGalley, I was immediately intrigued; I mean, the book promised magic, and fictional characters in the modern world, and adventure! It pretty much screamed "your students would love this!" And now that I've finished it, I really think they will. This book was a lot of fun to read.
The book has a bit of a Lemony Snicket feel to it, in that it's told from another narrator's point of view (in this case, a custodian at the University's English Department, who's a bit of a curmudgeon), and also explains the definitions of larger, less-known vocabulary words (I was a really big fan of this, especially when his definitions got a little snarky). He tells the tale of how Linus and Ophelia, who are twins, and their friend, Walter, get caught up in an adventure due to a mishap in an enchanted attic that winds up bringing Quasimodo forward in time, right out of the pages of Victor Hugo's book. He has all of these pretty funny asides, where he goes off on tangents about the professors of the English department, or when he thinks people are boneheaded, and it's all done in a very humorous way that I think kids would love. I know I did, and while I'm not a kid, I am definitely a kid at heart, so there you go.
I loved the description of the twins, especially how they complemented each other but were quite different. I also loved the little back story of Walter, and how he's using his trip to the US to turn over a new leaf and do things differently. And Father Lou, the neighborhood priest, was likewise entertaining, particularly the bit about how he used to be a bounty hunter. All of the characters were so unique, with these little idosyncracies that made them really stand out on the page (or e-reader, in my case). And then, of course, you have Quasimodo, who was really such a gentle soul that I couldn't help but love him.
The adventure in this book comes courtesy of the deadline imposed on the magic, which says that Quasimodo must be returned 60 hours after he first appears in the world or he'll die. Several things end up having to happen in order to make sure things turn out all right, and this is heightened by the fact that it's raining cats and dogs throughout the book, and the dam is not in the best of shape. So you have this urgency (even though I was pretty sure everything would turn out just fine, this being a kid's book and all) that makes you want to keep reading just so you know everything will be okay. As I said before, I just really had a lot of fun with this book.
If you're looking for an easily accessible middle grade book, definitely check this one out. It will introduce students to the story of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and give them a really fun adventure filled with excitement and magic (not to mention talk about how people shouldn't be judged by their outward appearance). I will definitely be purchasing this title for my library and book talking the stuffing out of it!
An e-galley was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The book has a bit of a Lemony Snicket feel to it, in that it's told from another narrator's point of view (in this case, a custodian at the University's English Department, who's a bit of a curmudgeon), and also explains the definitions of larger, less-known vocabulary words (I was a really big fan of this, especially when his definitions got a little snarky). He tells the tale of how Linus and Ophelia, who are twins, and their friend, Walter, get caught up in an adventure due to a mishap in an enchanted attic that winds up bringing Quasimodo forward in time, right out of the pages of Victor Hugo's book. He has all of these pretty funny asides, where he goes off on tangents about the professors of the English department, or when he thinks people are boneheaded, and it's all done in a very humorous way that I think kids would love. I know I did, and while I'm not a kid, I am definitely a kid at heart, so there you go.
I loved the description of the twins, especially how they complemented each other but were quite different. I also loved the little back story of Walter, and how he's using his trip to the US to turn over a new leaf and do things differently. And Father Lou, the neighborhood priest, was likewise entertaining, particularly the bit about how he used to be a bounty hunter. All of the characters were so unique, with these little idosyncracies that made them really stand out on the page (or e-reader, in my case). And then, of course, you have Quasimodo, who was really such a gentle soul that I couldn't help but love him.
The adventure in this book comes courtesy of the deadline imposed on the magic, which says that Quasimodo must be returned 60 hours after he first appears in the world or he'll die. Several things end up having to happen in order to make sure things turn out all right, and this is heightened by the fact that it's raining cats and dogs throughout the book, and the dam is not in the best of shape. So you have this urgency (even though I was pretty sure everything would turn out just fine, this being a kid's book and all) that makes you want to keep reading just so you know everything will be okay. As I said before, I just really had a lot of fun with this book.
If you're looking for an easily accessible middle grade book, definitely check this one out. It will introduce students to the story of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and give them a really fun adventure filled with excitement and magic (not to mention talk about how people shouldn't be judged by their outward appearance). I will definitely be purchasing this title for my library and book talking the stuffing out of it!
An e-galley was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 23, 2012
In Facing the Hunchback of Notre Dame, fourteen-year-old twins Linus and Ophelia Easterday have been left to live with their aunt and uncle (also twins) in Kingscross, home of the famous (fictional) Americal university, while their parents go on a five-year research trip to do something important (well, something they think is important, anyway).
While exploring the old house they are now living in, Linus and Ophelia find a hidden attic filled with the belongings of the mysterious Cato, who used to own the house before he simply disappeared one day. The attic has a lot of strange books and bottles, and a large circle has been drawn on the floor. An ‘accident' with a magic circle brings the fictional Quasimodo out of the classic Victor Hugo novel and into the Real World.
The twins find that Quasi will be with them for sixty hours, and that if they do not follow instructions exactly, he might end his days fizzing down to a pile of dirty rags. As they befriend the fictional hunchback, they find someone else knows about him, and wants to harm him. So, they join with Walter, their new neighbour, to protect Quasi and return him unharmed to fictional Paris (and providing the reader with the formulaic two boys-one girl mystery-solving trio that has worked so well in other series for this age group).
I don't read a lot of Middle Grade fiction, so I'm not entirely sure what represents the best of the genre (although having read a few of the High School Musical, Hannah Montana and Mary-Kate and Ashley books, I have a good understanding of how shallow and trite MG fiction can be). I enjoyed Facing the Hunchback of Notre Dame for what it was: a fun adventure story for 8-12 year olds, with a little classic literature and a few thoughts on good writing thrown in for educational value.
Facing the Hunchback of Notre Dame is a humorous and enjoyable story that would be a good book for reading aloud, and I can see it fitting well into a home schooling curriculum. There is even the odd interjection for the sake of the parents, and this humour, combined with the distinctive voice of the narrator (Bartholomew Inkster, janitor at Kingscross University) reminded me of Roald Dahl. There are a few too many exclamation marks for my taste, but I suppose it is the distinctive voice of the narrator and the age group the book is targeting.
Although it is published by Zondervan, Facing the Hunchback of Notre Dame is not an obviously 'Christian' novel, but it is a fun read, with a plot device that is well set up for a series (it is Book 1 of The Enchanted Attic series).
Thanks to Zonderkidz and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.
While exploring the old house they are now living in, Linus and Ophelia find a hidden attic filled with the belongings of the mysterious Cato, who used to own the house before he simply disappeared one day. The attic has a lot of strange books and bottles, and a large circle has been drawn on the floor. An ‘accident' with a magic circle brings the fictional Quasimodo out of the classic Victor Hugo novel and into the Real World.
The twins find that Quasi will be with them for sixty hours, and that if they do not follow instructions exactly, he might end his days fizzing down to a pile of dirty rags. As they befriend the fictional hunchback, they find someone else knows about him, and wants to harm him. So, they join with Walter, their new neighbour, to protect Quasi and return him unharmed to fictional Paris (and providing the reader with the formulaic two boys-one girl mystery-solving trio that has worked so well in other series for this age group).
I don't read a lot of Middle Grade fiction, so I'm not entirely sure what represents the best of the genre (although having read a few of the High School Musical, Hannah Montana and Mary-Kate and Ashley books, I have a good understanding of how shallow and trite MG fiction can be). I enjoyed Facing the Hunchback of Notre Dame for what it was: a fun adventure story for 8-12 year olds, with a little classic literature and a few thoughts on good writing thrown in for educational value.
Facing the Hunchback of Notre Dame is a humorous and enjoyable story that would be a good book for reading aloud, and I can see it fitting well into a home schooling curriculum. There is even the odd interjection for the sake of the parents, and this humour, combined with the distinctive voice of the narrator (Bartholomew Inkster, janitor at Kingscross University) reminded me of Roald Dahl. There are a few too many exclamation marks for my taste, but I suppose it is the distinctive voice of the narrator and the age group the book is targeting.
Although it is published by Zondervan, Facing the Hunchback of Notre Dame is not an obviously 'Christian' novel, but it is a fun read, with a plot device that is well set up for a series (it is Book 1 of The Enchanted Attic series).
Thanks to Zonderkidz and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.
June 22, 2012
For only being 140 pages long, this MG fantasy took me a long time to read. I considered not even finishing it because was a mental challenge to stay focused on the story. The narrator is a college custodian that likes to explain how to write a story and also make snide remarks about his colleagues, which have nothing to do with the story. After reviewing the book, I checked the author’s profile on Goodreads and it said:
The Christy-award winning author of nineteen books including the Women of Faith Novel of the YearQuaker Summer, Lisa Samson has been hailed by Publishers Weekly as “a talented novelist who isn’t afraid to take risks.
I’m not sure if the risks taken with this book are worth it. I still haven’t figured out who the targeted audience is. As an adult, I didn’t enjoy the narrator and only finished the book so I could explain the book in detail to my mother, who is a MG teacher, and ask if her students would read a book like this. She said no. What’s the point of the author making a Mice and Men reference, and then explaining the reference as a book they will read in high school? Later in the book the narrator says that he will not describe the scene because bugs make him gag. Really? So if it’s not for adults who enjoy MG and it’s not for MG students, then who will enjoy this book? I honestly don’t know. This is a perfect example of a book that is not marketable.
The beginning of the book should of alerted me to trouble when the word prologue was immediately followed by:
What You Need to Know Before Reading This Fantastic Little Book…Or All This Backstory Isn’t Normally a Good Idea, but We’d Like to Get On with Things.
The plot was bland. By accident, Orphelia summons Quasimodo into her attic and in order to send him back she has to read a book before time runs out. She tells one of the other characters that she can’t help clean up because she HAS to read this book, but then continues chatting with her companions while she is ‘reading’ and they are ‘working’. Oh and there’s a storm, no a flood. That’s it. That’s the story. I don’t need to put a spoiler for you to know what happens at the end. It’s A + B = C. Nothing more. This isn’t MG quality. This has a better fit as a story I would read to my one year old son.
I think it also has the worst ending line to date:
“You can’t sit around reading all day.”
Yeah, lets discourage the youth from reading. Great idea.
My advice to the author? Stick to Christian fiction. MG fantasy is not your forte.
Characters 2/5
Concept 1/5
Pacing 1/5
Grammar 5/5
Ending 1/5
The Christy-award winning author of nineteen books including the Women of Faith Novel of the YearQuaker Summer, Lisa Samson has been hailed by Publishers Weekly as “a talented novelist who isn’t afraid to take risks.
I’m not sure if the risks taken with this book are worth it. I still haven’t figured out who the targeted audience is. As an adult, I didn’t enjoy the narrator and only finished the book so I could explain the book in detail to my mother, who is a MG teacher, and ask if her students would read a book like this. She said no. What’s the point of the author making a Mice and Men reference, and then explaining the reference as a book they will read in high school? Later in the book the narrator says that he will not describe the scene because bugs make him gag. Really? So if it’s not for adults who enjoy MG and it’s not for MG students, then who will enjoy this book? I honestly don’t know. This is a perfect example of a book that is not marketable.
The beginning of the book should of alerted me to trouble when the word prologue was immediately followed by:
What You Need to Know Before Reading This Fantastic Little Book…Or All This Backstory Isn’t Normally a Good Idea, but We’d Like to Get On with Things.
The plot was bland. By accident, Orphelia summons Quasimodo into her attic and in order to send him back she has to read a book before time runs out. She tells one of the other characters that she can’t help clean up because she HAS to read this book, but then continues chatting with her companions while she is ‘reading’ and they are ‘working’. Oh and there’s a storm, no a flood. That’s it. That’s the story. I don’t need to put a spoiler for you to know what happens at the end. It’s A + B = C. Nothing more. This isn’t MG quality. This has a better fit as a story I would read to my one year old son.
I think it also has the worst ending line to date:
“You can’t sit around reading all day.”
Yeah, lets discourage the youth from reading. Great idea.
My advice to the author? Stick to Christian fiction. MG fantasy is not your forte.
Characters 2/5
Concept 1/5
Pacing 1/5
Grammar 5/5
Ending 1/5
May 8, 2012
Sometimes, a book that is so very well written and entertaining, needs no introduction nor words... every kid out there should read this book! This book, and eventually series, should be in every classroom/school!
The story is narrated by a disgruntled janitor from Kingscross University; the storyteller is full of humor and insight. I really did enjoy having him jump in at times and give us his two cents and would explain words and phrases that a middle grader may not fully understand the meanings to them yet.
The story begins with twins, Ophelia and Linus, having to go stay with their Aunt and Uncle while their parents go off for 5 years to a remote island to study rare insects and butterflies. In their boredom, they venture around and explore their new 3 story-home - down the stairs is their Aunt's used book shop, the basement is where their Uncle's old collection of costumes and antiques are stored... and then one day, they go upstairs and find a hidden door that leads them to the enchanted attic!
Upon finding the attic, they unearth many trivial bottles filled with unknown powders and liquids, curious books and unique drawings on the floor. All of these things that once belonged to the previous owner - a mad magician that practiced apothecary, who had disappeared a few years ago.
One night while Ophelia was reading her book in the attic, she got curious with her surroundings, and while looking around, she dropped her book onto the floor at the exact moment that something magical was aligning up! In the next moment, Quasimodo appears!
How did Quasimodo come out of the book???
The rest of the story is about getting to know people, trying to do the right thing and standing up for what you believe in and not being afraid.
How will they help Quasimodo get back into his world???
And will they be able to help Quasimodo and change his story for the better???
My only issue with this book is probably just a typographical error - the summary states that the twins are twelve years old, but as you read the story, it continuously says that they are fourteen. Since this is an ARC, I believe that it may just be a typo. The children in this book do seem to be mature, so I am going to say that they are fourteen, it just makes better sense to me...
I highly recommend this book! Especially for advancing middle graders that are taking the leap from beginner chapter books to those thicker ones, and for those who have an early interest in writing.
The story is narrated by a disgruntled janitor from Kingscross University; the storyteller is full of humor and insight. I really did enjoy having him jump in at times and give us his two cents and would explain words and phrases that a middle grader may not fully understand the meanings to them yet.
The story begins with twins, Ophelia and Linus, having to go stay with their Aunt and Uncle while their parents go off for 5 years to a remote island to study rare insects and butterflies. In their boredom, they venture around and explore their new 3 story-home - down the stairs is their Aunt's used book shop, the basement is where their Uncle's old collection of costumes and antiques are stored... and then one day, they go upstairs and find a hidden door that leads them to the enchanted attic!
Upon finding the attic, they unearth many trivial bottles filled with unknown powders and liquids, curious books and unique drawings on the floor. All of these things that once belonged to the previous owner - a mad magician that practiced apothecary, who had disappeared a few years ago.
One night while Ophelia was reading her book in the attic, she got curious with her surroundings, and while looking around, she dropped her book onto the floor at the exact moment that something magical was aligning up! In the next moment, Quasimodo appears!
How did Quasimodo come out of the book???
The rest of the story is about getting to know people, trying to do the right thing and standing up for what you believe in and not being afraid.
How will they help Quasimodo get back into his world???
And will they be able to help Quasimodo and change his story for the better???
My only issue with this book is probably just a typographical error - the summary states that the twins are twelve years old, but as you read the story, it continuously says that they are fourteen. Since this is an ARC, I believe that it may just be a typo. The children in this book do seem to be mature, so I am going to say that they are fourteen, it just makes better sense to me...
I highly recommend this book! Especially for advancing middle graders that are taking the leap from beginner chapter books to those thicker ones, and for those who have an early interest in writing.
March 19, 2014
"Worlds collide and the instructions aren't as helpful as one should expect."
When twins Linus and Ophelia move in with their Aunt Portia and Uncle Auggie, it is so their parents can go on a 5-year expedition to observe butterflies. But the twins are actually happier with their aunt and uncle. Add to the mix Walter, the boy who lives in the Kingscross School next door (“When you find yourself in an adventure, try to bring along a person of charm - not to mention sparkling good looks and compelling personality - to serve as a decoy.”)
The adventure begins when Ophelia finds the book: It’s All Reality: Traveling through ”imaginary” Realms in Five Easy Steps by Cato Grubbs and accidentally allows Quasimodo to enter our world through a time portal in the attic. As she interacts with Quasi, she sees a side of him that isn't in the book and she begins to see him as a friend. Knowing that he has to return to his dismal literary life, the three decide to take him out and let him experience the real world. They soon learn, however, that Cato has brought Frollo into the real world, and they want to take Quasi back through their portal. As Ophelia continues reading The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, she is more and more determined to try to change Quasi's "novel life" but doesn't know if she can. Throwing more obstacles in the way is the impending flood caused by a weakened dam. Most disturbingly, is the time crunch they are in. If they don't return Quasi at precisely 60 hours from the time he arrived in the portal, he will fizzle and disappear in a most painful way. Can they make Quasi's life better? Will they be able to see him again? Will Cato Grubbs interfere with their plans?
Fans of Lemony Snicket will recognize his style in this book: the omnipotent author addressing the reader (including offering writing advice) and definitions of words in the middle of sentences. The sarcasm is still present, but the dark humor replaced by a lighter humor. I love the premise of this book: interacting with the great characters of literature. Future novels in the series include Captain Ahab, Tom Sawyer and the Three Musketeers. I just thought the definitions within the text got a little tedious and over-bearing at times.
When twins Linus and Ophelia move in with their Aunt Portia and Uncle Auggie, it is so their parents can go on a 5-year expedition to observe butterflies. But the twins are actually happier with their aunt and uncle. Add to the mix Walter, the boy who lives in the Kingscross School next door (“When you find yourself in an adventure, try to bring along a person of charm - not to mention sparkling good looks and compelling personality - to serve as a decoy.”)
The adventure begins when Ophelia finds the book: It’s All Reality: Traveling through ”imaginary” Realms in Five Easy Steps by Cato Grubbs and accidentally allows Quasimodo to enter our world through a time portal in the attic. As she interacts with Quasi, she sees a side of him that isn't in the book and she begins to see him as a friend. Knowing that he has to return to his dismal literary life, the three decide to take him out and let him experience the real world. They soon learn, however, that Cato has brought Frollo into the real world, and they want to take Quasi back through their portal. As Ophelia continues reading The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, she is more and more determined to try to change Quasi's "novel life" but doesn't know if she can. Throwing more obstacles in the way is the impending flood caused by a weakened dam. Most disturbingly, is the time crunch they are in. If they don't return Quasi at precisely 60 hours from the time he arrived in the portal, he will fizzle and disappear in a most painful way. Can they make Quasi's life better? Will they be able to see him again? Will Cato Grubbs interfere with their plans?
Fans of Lemony Snicket will recognize his style in this book: the omnipotent author addressing the reader (including offering writing advice) and definitions of words in the middle of sentences. The sarcasm is still present, but the dark humor replaced by a lighter humor. I love the premise of this book: interacting with the great characters of literature. Future novels in the series include Captain Ahab, Tom Sawyer and the Three Musketeers. I just thought the definitions within the text got a little tedious and over-bearing at times.
April 28, 2012
I wasn't really sure what this book was about when I requested it but I am interested in the story of The Hunchback of Notre Dame even though my only experience with it is watching the Disney movie, which is quite...um...different, let's just say.
The cool factor was immediately apparent when it turns out that the main characters can bring forth a character from a book, in this case Quasimodo, the hunchback of Notre Dame. The tension emerges as the kids want to give Quasi a better ending than what he endures in the book, from the fact that Frollo also emerges from the book and has his own sinister plan for Quasimodo, and from a pending flood in their town.
While I liked the story concept, I did not get along well with the writing. It is told from the perspective of an outsider, someone who did not participate in the events of the story but who is friendly with the children and knows what happened. However that narrator has a giant chip on his shoulder from the snobby professors who look down on his work as a janitor and his writing includes definitions of his words. It reminded me of Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events except I found it annoying. Younger readers (the target audience) may enjoy it more but I found it grating.
I also didn't find the characters very memorable. As I write this, I know it was about twins who make a new friend and the three of them are clever and sweet kids. But Ophelia and Linus, no matter how nice they are, weren't standout characters to me. I remember Quasimodo much better, as the patient humble man who does what he can.
Overall: Cool concept but a little easy for me; I think I would have enjoyed this more if I was younger. The next book looks really interesting; they're tackling Moby Dick (these kids are very intimidating; I never could have dared to read MD when I was younger. I don't feel ready to tackle it now.)
Cover: Accurate! I also love the glow around Quasi while in the circle.
The cool factor was immediately apparent when it turns out that the main characters can bring forth a character from a book, in this case Quasimodo, the hunchback of Notre Dame. The tension emerges as the kids want to give Quasi a better ending than what he endures in the book, from the fact that Frollo also emerges from the book and has his own sinister plan for Quasimodo, and from a pending flood in their town.
While I liked the story concept, I did not get along well with the writing. It is told from the perspective of an outsider, someone who did not participate in the events of the story but who is friendly with the children and knows what happened. However that narrator has a giant chip on his shoulder from the snobby professors who look down on his work as a janitor and his writing includes definitions of his words. It reminded me of Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events except I found it annoying. Younger readers (the target audience) may enjoy it more but I found it grating.
I also didn't find the characters very memorable. As I write this, I know it was about twins who make a new friend and the three of them are clever and sweet kids. But Ophelia and Linus, no matter how nice they are, weren't standout characters to me. I remember Quasimodo much better, as the patient humble man who does what he can.
Overall: Cool concept but a little easy for me; I think I would have enjoyed this more if I was younger. The next book looks really interesting; they're tackling Moby Dick (these kids are very intimidating; I never could have dared to read MD when I was younger. I don't feel ready to tackle it now.)
Cover: Accurate! I also love the glow around Quasi while in the circle.
June 20, 2012
First, thank you to Zondervan for the opportunity to read and review this book! This is a middle grade fantasy novel and the first of a new series. The 2 main characters, twins Linus and Ophelia live with their elderly aunt and uncle who own an antique bookshop. They discover a hidden attic, where at certain times, on certain days they can bring book characters into the real world through a magic circle on the attic floor. But he only has 60 hours in the real world and he must go back to where he came from through the magic circle or he will face a painful demise. This first adventure is about Quasimodo. Linus and Ophelia, and the new student in town, Walter, befriend Quasi and discover that there is much more to Quasi than his hunchback.
This was a really cute fantasy story with a wonderful idea behind it. However, it did have some flaws in it that bothered me as well. First, certain things are not well explained. For example, the story says that Ophelia must read and finish Quasi's book by the time he goes back to the circle but it doesn't explain why. It also says that whatever page of the book is open in the circle when he goes back is what point in time he will return...and Ophelia just randomly tosses the book in at the last moment...I found this frustrating. We also never find out if anything that Linus and Ophelia did for Quasi in the Real World affected him when he returned. I would have liked it if the author did some kind of epilogue or something.
I did like how the narrator used "fancy" words and then explained what they meant. He also threw in bits of advice on how to write a story, such as what a "hook" is. I thought that was a unique idea for the middle grade set.
Overall, I really like the idea of the series (at the end, it hints that the next book will be about Moby Dick). I was just a little disappointed in the execution of the plot.
This was a really cute fantasy story with a wonderful idea behind it. However, it did have some flaws in it that bothered me as well. First, certain things are not well explained. For example, the story says that Ophelia must read and finish Quasi's book by the time he goes back to the circle but it doesn't explain why. It also says that whatever page of the book is open in the circle when he goes back is what point in time he will return...and Ophelia just randomly tosses the book in at the last moment...I found this frustrating. We also never find out if anything that Linus and Ophelia did for Quasi in the Real World affected him when he returned. I would have liked it if the author did some kind of epilogue or something.
I did like how the narrator used "fancy" words and then explained what they meant. He also threw in bits of advice on how to write a story, such as what a "hook" is. I thought that was a unique idea for the middle grade set.
Overall, I really like the idea of the series (at the end, it hints that the next book will be about Moby Dick). I was just a little disappointed in the execution of the plot.
August 3, 2016
This is a fast-paced, intriguing children's story told by a very literary janitor. I love the language used (and the explanations within!), though some kids may find it a bit odd.
Fourteen year old twins, Ophelia and Linus Easterday have been sent to live with their uncle and aunt while their parents go off chasing butterflies for five years. Their Uncle Augustus and Aunt Portia live above an antique store that used to belong to a mad scientist. The only saving grace is the bookshop part of the store. They specializes in antique and rare books and Ophelia is an avid reader. There's also the rumors about the house's previous owner, Cato Grubb. The twins discover laboratory in the hidden attic, complete with a wide array of bottles and potions and interesting drawings on the floor. Through a set of circumstances, Ophelia conjures up Quasimodo, then discovers that she can conjure up any fictional character, but only at special times and with specific limits.
The climax was, well, anticlimactic. The story built up to that moment and it was such a letdown for me. In the end there were many questions left unanswered. I know this is the first book in a series, so hopefully problems will be settled in the next book.
Overall, I enjoyed Facing the Hunchback of Notre Dame. However, the narrator was a tad off-putting. I think I'd have enjoyed it more from either Ophelia's point of view, or a third person non-intrusive one. Still, overall, it was an enjoyable read.
Fourteen year old twins, Ophelia and Linus Easterday have been sent to live with their uncle and aunt while their parents go off chasing butterflies for five years. Their Uncle Augustus and Aunt Portia live above an antique store that used to belong to a mad scientist. The only saving grace is the bookshop part of the store. They specializes in antique and rare books and Ophelia is an avid reader. There's also the rumors about the house's previous owner, Cato Grubb. The twins discover laboratory in the hidden attic, complete with a wide array of bottles and potions and interesting drawings on the floor. Through a set of circumstances, Ophelia conjures up Quasimodo, then discovers that she can conjure up any fictional character, but only at special times and with specific limits.
The climax was, well, anticlimactic. The story built up to that moment and it was such a letdown for me. In the end there were many questions left unanswered. I know this is the first book in a series, so hopefully problems will be settled in the next book.
Overall, I enjoyed Facing the Hunchback of Notre Dame. However, the narrator was a tad off-putting. I think I'd have enjoyed it more from either Ophelia's point of view, or a third person non-intrusive one. Still, overall, it was an enjoyable read.
April 25, 2012
Ophelia and Linus Easterday are fourteen year old twins who live with their Aunt and Uncle on Rickshaw Street. The house they live in used to belong to a mad scientist, Cato Grubbs. When the twins discover a hidden attic, they find more than a couple dusty old chemistry sets! On the eleventh of the month at 11:11 pm. the twin’s doubts about it being a normal attic become much more than a hunch. In fact they become a Hunchback! Quasimodo, from The Hunchback of Notre Dame, has suddenly appeared in the attic and the twins have no idea what to do with him for the next sixty hours before he can return. During the course of the next three days the twins, along with their new neighbor Walter, must keep Quasi busy while staying unnoticed, which is hard to do when you have a large hunchback who, quite honestly, was downright ugly in appearance. But if you looked past the crooked back, large wart, and everything else he was one of the sweetest guys the twins had ever met. While trying to stay relatively hidden Walter, Quasi, Ophelia, and Linus become friends with a bounty hunter turned priest, Father Lou. Together they try to keep Quasi away from Cato and Frollo, Quasi’s evil stepfather until they can return Quasi back to the book world.
Facing the Hunchback of Notre Dame was a wonderful book that I read in one sitting. It was filled with humor while bringing the story of Quasimodo life in a new way. This is for sure a must read!
Facing the Hunchback of Notre Dame was a wonderful book that I read in one sitting. It was filled with humor while bringing the story of Quasimodo life in a new way. This is for sure a must read!
June 17, 2012
Unforunately, I will not be finishing this book. I felt like a ping pong ball in a chaotic hurricane. And I am being brutally honest when I say I will not recommend this book to others, not even kids. I am slightly confused...is this a kids book? Because the way it is written a kid wouldn't be able to understand the story or plot because of all of the extra STUFF that the author threw in for what reason? it is not explained. The author has huge words that children wouldn't get plus next to the word is the meaning in paranthesis. It's nice that the author wants to educate children or even adults with big words but to have the meaning right next to it is a distraction. The author should have added a gloassary in the back if she wanted to use big words.
Another bit of STUFF that shouldn't be in there are the paragraphs about writing...is this a fiction story or a lesson on writing? And introducing characters when they haven't stepped up to plate yet is really annoying as well. Plus the paragraphs explaining things like what a motar is isn't necessary. If a child doesn't know they can ask a parent but to explain it in the book will only give the reader a headache.
I read three chapters including the intro and that as far as the extra STUFF allowed me to get. Sorry but I don't recommend this book. Glad I won it in the giveaway but it will be on my shelf or packed away unfinished for the rest of my life.
Another bit of STUFF that shouldn't be in there are the paragraphs about writing...is this a fiction story or a lesson on writing? And introducing characters when they haven't stepped up to plate yet is really annoying as well. Plus the paragraphs explaining things like what a motar is isn't necessary. If a child doesn't know they can ask a parent but to explain it in the book will only give the reader a headache.
I read three chapters including the intro and that as far as the extra STUFF allowed me to get. Sorry but I don't recommend this book. Glad I won it in the giveaway but it will be on my shelf or packed away unfinished for the rest of my life.
September 24, 2012
This book is the first in a new series for middle grade readers. Three children in Kingscross, England find a mysterious glowing circle in the floor of their eccentric uncle's attic. They soon realize that this circle is capable of pulling fictional characters out of novels that are placed within the circle.
The children's first adventure involves Quasimodo from Victor Hugo's famous novel. Action, intrigue, and humor follow that are all perfectly appropriate for middle grade readers. Samson tells a fine tale.
The real strength of this series (and my personal favorite feature) is the narrator, a gentle fussbudget janitor who works in the English department of Kingscross University. This janitor narrates the story with wit, humor, and constant interruptions that instruct the reader on the art of storytelling. Literary devices like telling details, back-story, and ending chapters with a 'hook' are all explained even as they are employed by the author. All of this is done without breaking the flow of the story. In addition to introducing young readers to literary classics, Samson has devised a way to teach storytelling too. What a fantastic idea.
Recommended for middle grade readers and those who love them.
(Disclaimer: I work for the publisher of this book. However, I didn't work on this book, and all of my thoughts here are my honest opinion.)
The children's first adventure involves Quasimodo from Victor Hugo's famous novel. Action, intrigue, and humor follow that are all perfectly appropriate for middle grade readers. Samson tells a fine tale.
The real strength of this series (and my personal favorite feature) is the narrator, a gentle fussbudget janitor who works in the English department of Kingscross University. This janitor narrates the story with wit, humor, and constant interruptions that instruct the reader on the art of storytelling. Literary devices like telling details, back-story, and ending chapters with a 'hook' are all explained even as they are employed by the author. All of this is done without breaking the flow of the story. In addition to introducing young readers to literary classics, Samson has devised a way to teach storytelling too. What a fantastic idea.
Recommended for middle grade readers and those who love them.
(Disclaimer: I work for the publisher of this book. However, I didn't work on this book, and all of my thoughts here are my honest opinion.)
April 29, 2012
Let me start by saying that I love middle grade books! This book is written well and I enjoyed that it was told from an outsider’s point of view, a janitor. It was nice how the narrator explained words that a middle grader normally wouldn’t have understood and the way he did it was quite entertaining! The narrator is my favorite character in the story and he isn’t actually in the story, he just tells it. The story itself is interesting with Quasimodo appearing right before Ophelia’s eyes and she has to figure out how to get him back to his “world” safely.
I liked the premise of the book but I felt that the story lacked some excitement to keep me wanting to read it. I could put the book down and walk away from the story without the pull to read more. I wanted more information from the ending; I think the author leaves it this way intentionally so that there can be another story to tell. My one big issue; the story summary says the twins are 12 and in the book they are 14. So is this a typo in the summary or are they trying to market to middle graders and YA readers? This is definitely something that should be addressed. Overall it is a nice read but it just didn’t “wow” me.
I liked the premise of the book but I felt that the story lacked some excitement to keep me wanting to read it. I could put the book down and walk away from the story without the pull to read more. I wanted more information from the ending; I think the author leaves it this way intentionally so that there can be another story to tell. My one big issue; the story summary says the twins are 12 and in the book they are 14. So is this a typo in the summary or are they trying to market to middle graders and YA readers? This is definitely something that should be addressed. Overall it is a nice read but it just didn’t “wow” me.
April 19, 2012
The Enchanted Attic; Facing the Hunchback of Notre Dame is a playful and delightful children's/younger-adult novel. Ophelia and Lewis are sent to live with their aunt and uncle for five years while their parents are off researching on an island. While exploring the house they now inhabit (the upper levels of an antique bookstore) they happen upon a laboratory that belonged to the previous owner.
One night while Ophelia is reading The Hunchback of Notre Dame, at exactly 11:11pm a figure appears in the middle of a circle on the floor. How did Quasimodo get there, how will they get him back and will he survive and cope with the changed world and are Quasi, Cato and others the people they are perceived to be or are looks deceiving?
I enjoyed the telling of this story (through a narrator), however that is a matter of personal preference and others may not like it as much as I did. The book was a fast-paced read that lets the reader imagine what happens in the end. I imagined a slightly different and happier ending to the original novel by Victor Hugo.
4.5 stars
Thanks to Zondervan Z Street Team for providing me with an ARC for my honest review.
One night while Ophelia is reading The Hunchback of Notre Dame, at exactly 11:11pm a figure appears in the middle of a circle on the floor. How did Quasimodo get there, how will they get him back and will he survive and cope with the changed world and are Quasi, Cato and others the people they are perceived to be or are looks deceiving?
I enjoyed the telling of this story (through a narrator), however that is a matter of personal preference and others may not like it as much as I did. The book was a fast-paced read that lets the reader imagine what happens in the end. I imagined a slightly different and happier ending to the original novel by Victor Hugo.
4.5 stars
Thanks to Zondervan Z Street Team for providing me with an ARC for my honest review.
September 5, 2015
I read this in hopes of using it to introduce one of my students to The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, but (not its fault, though) I'm not sure I will. The premise is fun and engaging (who doesn't want to have a literary character swept into their world, especially one as sweet as Quasimodo?) I liked the reversal of the common modern-kid-finds-herself-in-book-world! I have to admit, though, the constant interruptions of the narrator to define vocabulary or explain authors' craft felt more badgering and didactic than informative, detracting from the story (although the tone is similar to Lemony Snicket - I wasn't a fan of his writing but I know so many are- different strokes and all). My annoyance with the narrator's voice, though, doesn't encompass the whole book - I loved certain touches that showed humor and understanding of the source text, like the nod to Jehan Frollo ("he should get a job!") :)
June 5, 2012
I received this as a free ARC book via Zondervan publishing and their Z Street web site.
Absent parents, teens working out problems with a little help from adult relatives and friends, magical/chemistry elements, Quasimodo, helping those less able and friendship.
It was an interesting and fun concept. I got caught up a bit with the constant (continually occurring, persistent) explanation of words throughout the book.
The sentence above showing an example (in parenthesis) of what might be found through the *entire* book. I don't think it really worked so well, because in my mind it caused the flow of reading to stumble. I'm not sure about most kids (yes, this story is for youngsters) but I and the kids I know would rather look up the word either in a glossary at the back of a book or in the dictionary.
Absent parents, teens working out problems with a little help from adult relatives and friends, magical/chemistry elements, Quasimodo, helping those less able and friendship.
It was an interesting and fun concept. I got caught up a bit with the constant (continually occurring, persistent) explanation of words throughout the book.
The sentence above showing an example (in parenthesis) of what might be found through the *entire* book. I don't think it really worked so well, because in my mind it caused the flow of reading to stumble. I'm not sure about most kids (yes, this story is for youngsters) but I and the kids I know would rather look up the word either in a glossary at the back of a book or in the dictionary.
November 18, 2013
Ophelia and Linus Easterday are two twins that have been left in Kingscross with their aunt and uncle, who own a bookstore, for 5 years, due to the fact that their parents left to study butterflies on a small island. So when Linus and Ophelia find a secret passage into the attic that holds many secrets, they are quick to notice a white circle in the middle of the floor. After meeting Walter, a boy from London who attended the school next door, a coincidence lands the trio in a mess. The hunchback of Notre Dame has appeared in the middle of the attic, right out of the storybook! Now they have to safely get the hunchback back into his own book. The plot was interesting, the characters were quirky, and the flow was good. I liked how the author used lots of unusual words, and defined them in parenthesis. This cute fantasy read is a great book overall.
March 4, 2017
This was another First Reads giveaway, and I loved it! Who wouldn't love to meet a character from a book? To see them and talk to them would be amazing, what a great storyline! I loved the way the "author" of the book speaks to you as you are reading it, giving definitions of words that one of the characters thought needed defining. This "author" even goes so far as to include tips on what to do as a writer for those readers that hope to become writers in the future. A very fast paced story that keeps the oldest reader engaged, this is a great young adult book that many enerations will be able to relate to. Can't wait for there to be a second book!
June 18, 2012
When reading this book, it reminded of The Series of Unfortunate Events. The plot is unique, actually having to meet a character from a book is an amazing idea. The characters are enjoyable and fun. There are just some points in the book that didn't quite allow me to completely get into it.
1)The narrator is a bit annoying.
2)Sometimes a bit too much information is explain.
3)The story feels to rushed.
Still it's a really good book, don't wait to pick it up.
Thank you for giving me a free copy.
1)The narrator is a bit annoying.
2)Sometimes a bit too much information is explain.
3)The story feels to rushed.
Still it's a really good book, don't wait to pick it up.
Thank you for giving me a free copy.
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