One Final Firecracker

The Hamlet Chronicles #7

by Gregory Maguire, Elaine Clayton (Illustrator)

It’s the last day of school in Hamlet, Vermont . . . and the last day the Copycats and Tattletales will have Miss Earth as their teacher. But there’s too much going on to be sad. The Sinister Sisters Circus is in town . . . then comes Miss Earth’s wedding to Mayor Grass . . . and then the Fourth of July!

Meanwhile, the mysterious pull Hamlet seems to have on supernatural creatures is hard at work. The beings from the previous books are making their way back into town—the Flameburpers Beatrice and Amos (who technically never left); Rhoda, one of the Four Stupid Cupids; all five of the Five Alien Elves; Baby Tusker from Six Haunted Hairdos; and perhaps most sinisterly, Hubda, the last remaining Siberian Snow Spider. Chaos ensues as the students struggle to keep the various visitors hidden. Meanwhile, Hubda lurks, waiting for the chance to deliver her deadly bite. Don’t miss this satisfying, out-of-this-world wrap-up to a beloved series.

Genres: Fantasy

225 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Gregory Maguire is an American author, whose novels are revisionist retellings of children's stories (such as L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz into Wicked). He received his Ph.D. in English and American Literature from Tufts University, and his B.A. from the State University of New York at Albany. He was a professor and co-director at the Simmons College Center for the Study of Children's Literature from 1979-1985. In 1987 he co-founded Children's Literature New England (a non-profit educational charity).

Maguire has served as artist-in-residence at the Blue Mountain Center, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and the Hambidge Center. He lives in Concord, Massachusetts.

Reviews

[Jen (The Jenerator) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh...a little drawn out in my opinion.

[Rick Stuckwisch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad conclusion to this fun series, but not as good as the previous two or three books. Monica warned us that things got a little weird in this one, and she was right; they did. Still, all in all, the Hamlet Chronicles were a nice diversion while waiting to continue with the Great Brain series. Now, onward!

[Mary]

I can't wait to read this book! Once I finish another book I'll read this one!

[Tacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The series would best be read in order.