Travels of Thelonious (1)

Thelonius große Reise #1

by Susan Schade, Susan Schade

In a world of talking animals, there is one burning question: Did humans ever exist? Thelonious Chipmunk believes he has proof that they did: a postcard showing a building made of concrete and glass. But his sister thinks the postcard's just a dumb piece of paper, and that humans are only make-believe.

Then one day a flash flood carries Thelonious away. When he comes to, he's in a strange world that looks something like his postcard, but not quite. Then he realizes that this is the city on his postcard, only crumbling and decaying. But if this means humans did exist, where did they go? Thelonious, along with some new friends, sets off to find out.

And thus, the adventure begins!

Genres: Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Fiction, Adventure, Animals, Comics

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Susan Schade is the author of over forty children's books, including the Fog Mound series, written in collaboration with her husband, Jon Buller. She lives in Lyme, Connecticut.

Reviews

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karen and I recently saw this book at McNally Jackson. We were there with Tommy and when we saw Simon and Schuster published it, she said that she would get it for us. When she received the book she told us that the book looked dumb, or stupid or bad, or something like that. Tommy must have been temporarily crazy, or else confusing this book with another.

First off, the book looks pretty. It is designed in a Chris Ware sort of way, you know Acme Novelty style. Mixed with the Ware-esque aesthetics there is a sort of (you know the graphic novel I'm thinking of but can't remember, Karen just let me know that I'm thinking of Pluck and Fuzz by Ted Stern) feel to the drawing style of the characters (I might be really offbase with this comparison). But this book is for kids, and hopefully the intended audience won't have any frame of reference to say that this looks like Chris Ware, because seriously if kids are reading Ware they are going to grow up to be depressed little shits, and they should be out there enjoying their last fleeting moments of enjoyment in life before they realize what a cruel joke it all really is.

Anyway, this is part graphic novel, part traditional novel. The story is about a talking chipmunk who thinks he knows better than his sister and mom and chooses to live in a tree decorated with a postcard with a picture of a skyscraper on it. Early in the book though the little chipmunk is punished for his hubris of living in a tree instead of in the ground. During a rainstorm his tree gets washed away. When his tree finally comes to dry land he finds himself in a post-human New York City that is populated by a variety of talking critters. Talking animals on adventures in books are a guilty enjoyment of mine. I love Tailchasher's Song and Watership Down, although the world of Brian Jacques freaks me out a little, I've never read a Redwall novel. Add pictures of cute chipmunks and grumpy porcupines (but where the fuck are the foxes? huh? They are mentioned on several occasions, but where are the fucking foxes? Put them in!!) and how can any infantile thirty-six year old guy not think this book is just adorable (especially when the book looks like a Chris Ware production, which makes it 'cool' for a chubby bespectacled guy nearing his middle ages to like).

Also did I mention that the book has that, books are magical and awesome, moral in it? Even though it's cheap to stick this moral into books for kids I'm still dreamy enough about books to find the message charming.

Ok, the story itself is a little weak. There isn't the best development and the characters overcome difficulties easily, but for an hour or so reading on a Saturday morning this book was adorable enough for me to want to read the further adventures of Thelonious the talking chipmunk.

[Eun Sol · Rating 3 out of 5]

5th grade book club w/ Salina AHHH
Gave it a big old sideways thumb way back when, so I’m assuming it’s a 3/5 from me.

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually think this book would have been stronger as a complete graphic novel rather than switching back and forth, but it's an interesting concept. There's nothing particularly bad about it, either, so I couldn't be too harsh here.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it is rad how a chickmunk finds himself in the city of ruins. It's also funny when he says "thank you barbie". By Kip

[Aurumora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ich denke das wäre das perfekte Buch für junge Leser. Genau die richtige Mischung aus Bilderserien und Text-Kapiteln. Außerdem sind sprechende Tiere und eine große Reise immer ein Abenteuer wert.

PS: Diese Ilustrationen *.*

[Magnús Jochum Pálsson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sæmileg barnabók með mjög góða grunnhugmynd en ekki alveg jafn góða sögu. Margir vannýttir möguleikar.
Skemmtileg fyrir þær sakir að hún flakkar á milli þess að vera teiknimyndasaga og hefðbundin saga. Það flakk heppnast ágætlega.

[Bill Fish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting premise. The future is home to many talking animals. The idea of humans is considered (in the untamed forest) mostly myth. So we follow Thelonious the Chipmunk (Thelonious Monk?) to the ancient ruins of human habitation, and discover many strange things. Very fun story with an overarching mystery - what happened to the human race? If I ever stumble upon book 2, I will look forward to reading it!

[Reza Aleeya · Rating 4 out of 5]

not bad... some adventure

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Travels of Thelonious / Susan Schade /
Genre: fiction
Format: juvenile fiction/ almost graphic novel

Plot Summary: At a time when animals only know myths about the talking humans who once dominated and nearly destroyed the world, a young chipmunk escapes danger in the City of Ruins and, with new friends, finds the Fog Mound, where all creatures live in peace and harmony.

Considerations: suspenseful overtones

Review Citation: School Library Journal, vol 52, issue 7, p129
"Written in chapters that alternate between traditional prose and comic-book format, the story is a gentle introduction to graphic novels. The illustrations are delightfully cartoonlike, and they are tinted in a soothing blue that beautifully complements the postapocalyptic setting."

Selection Source: School Library Journal
Recommended age: 9-12

[Andréa · Rating 4 out of 5]

5/11/2022: Just as fun and enjoyable as the first time around! I really like the art style, and the graphics / text combo is pretty unique.

[alexander shay · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rated up for intrigue and that I'm probably judging it too harshly seeing as it's a kid's book

I came across this book entirely by chance at the library. I read the back and the idea seemed really interesting. I didn't know until I opened it today that it's actually half comic book and half novel, alternating between the two every chapter. The art is greyscale, a bit sketchy but not messy, with a flat blue background as the only color. I liked the style, because the animals looked realistic rather than cartoonish, other than maybe the lizard.

The prose, even for a kid's book, is a little basic. I mean that in the sense that many 'paragraphs' are less than one line long. It makes for a faster read, but also less detail. Lots of -ly adverbs and incorrect breaking up of dialogue while the same person is speaking. I think I prefer the comic portions for that reason.

Nit-picking aside, though, and acknowledging the very obvious plot points (to the adult's eye, anyway), it's still an interesting idea and the concept is something I'm interested in regardless of the age level of the book. Since it's only a trilogy I think I'll try the next one and see where it goes.

[By Book and Bone (Sally) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

Travels of Thelonious started off slow character-wise, though the story trundles along quite well. Thelonious isn't a very good protagonist for over half the book. For a book named after his travels, he doesn't have any agency for the most part. He doesn't even speak aloud in most of the conversations the other characters have about their plans. He thinks but doesn't voice his wants or ideas. Towards the end of the book, he suddenly wakes up and takes part in the group.
I loved the other characters, so they make up for Thelonious early book.

The illustrations are fantastic and I loved how the book is structured with the partial novel, partial graphic novel gimmick. I'd be happy to read a lot more books like this.

The last 100 pages are great and I really got into the flow of the story. Even though its a bit rough around the edges, I enjoyed Travels of Thelonious and will be reading the next in the series.

[Carol Chu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, the art is amazing! It was consistent, charming and pleasing to the eye.

However, there are unbelievable stuff in the world building as in why the hell the canned foods and things like clothes or clothes from Barbies or weaponry or whatever haven't already all been taken by someone. I feel like it'll be more believable if all the good things were already taken by someone and to get them you need to trade with other things. So in that sense it was a bit unbelievable that Fitz and Thelonius just walk in and take. Also all the good stuff just lying around. I mean, what??

Also it's comical how so easily they overcome the Dragon lady I'm bored.

Other than that, I feel this appeals to me more when I'm age 12 when I'm less cynical and less world-weary, though I do enjoy reading this, I guess it could be better.

No regrets in reading this, though!

[Lilia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ce livre est tout simplement adorable. Un astucieux mélange de récit sous forme de roman et BD à la fois. Les personnages sont hyper attachants, l'action s'enchaîne très rapidement et on n'a pas le temps de s'ennuyer. Pour un livre à l'intention des enfants, il est bien élaboré et très agréable à lire même pour un adulte. Au-delà de l'aventure principale (où on suit les personnages pas à pas avec carte et tout), il y a des leçons de vie et matière à réflexions: qu'ont fait les humains pour saccager ainsi la planète? À tel point qu'ils ont disparu de la terre, ne laissant que des ruines aux animaux survivants?

En tout cas, je suis vendue pour lire la trilogie pour en apprendre davantage!

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars! This book is part regular text and part graphic novel about animals who live after the times when humans lived. I like the concept. The characters are fine, but the text doesn't go deep. We can see what the characters are doing, but there isn't a lot of time dedicated to individual characters beyond Thelonius the chipmunk, Olive the bear, and Fitzgerald the porcupine. Still, this caught my attention and I ordered the 3 book series to see if it was something that I might consider reading with my Children's Lit class. I read the first book in 2 days. It was good, but I wish it had gone deeper... I will read the entire series.

[Linden Seaman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was cute. I enjoyed the shift from graphic novel to text and back between chapters. I may or may not read the 2 sequels. It’s been on my shelf for awhile and I finally got to it and it was a quick read. An interesting fiction based on what might happen to the world when humans make Earth uninhabitable for humankind, but maybe not the rest of nature’s inhabitants.

[Martha]

This is a fun middle grade book. I really enjoyed the hybrid novel/graphic novel format. I would read more books written this way since the text lets you into the characters' thoughts. It also covers more plot that maybe doesn't need to be illustrated. The origins of this dystopian world with talking animals and a tiny human are still a mystery, so I'm looking forward to finishing the series.

[Corrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really fun bridging book for reluctant readers or trying to get kids away from graphic novels and more into chapter books. Humans are gone and animals can talk and use tools and live in harmony or disharmony depending on where they are. Honestly - a great book with some graphic novel chapters and some written chapters.

[Elsabeat Hernández · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a lovely story, now I'm about to travel to live somewhere else, first I left my hometown and now I'm leaving my country, this story is about traveling, leave your hometown, meet different people with different lifes. This is about us.

[Arris (areesespieces) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the shortest books I've ever read in my whole entire life. I like how the author decided to mix both a graphic novel and a normal novel to make one creation. I also like the story I just wish there was a little more detail in the story.

[Ellen]

Cute, dystopian graphic novel/novel hybrid which follows the adventures of a talking chipmunk who ventures beyond his forest to meet new creatures and maybe learn the truth of his post-human world's history.

[Sarah Ruiz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Creative little book. The writing is a bit simplistic and the plot is somewhat random but perhaps it’s meant for an even younger reader than I’d assumed. It’s part of a series but even so the ending is too abrupt. But the world is interesting and it had an unexpected climate and environment twist.

[Alanah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting idea, but the writing isn't great. It's a great one for kids though! The simple language is definitely geared towards them.

[that weird kid Ezra · Rating 5 out of 5]

great illustrations i enjoyed it!

[Lynn Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this post-apocalyptic tale told from the point of view of animals. Charming, exciting and lovable.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Très sympathique, j'ai hâte de lire la suite ^^

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is fun and the drawing interact with the text in a interesting manner. I am going to checkout the next title "Faradawn".

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute graphic novel/prose hybrid

[Chinasa Izeogu · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the first book of this dystopian trilogy, Thelonious chipmunck is wisked away from his home in the Unnamed Forest and must outsmart villanous lizards and make friends with unlikely predatory animals to get home. In the City of Ruins, the animals have taken over the buildings, wear clothes, and survive on what is left since the Human Occupation. WIll Thelonious and his friends, Olive the flying bear, Fitzgerald the porcupine and the Brown lizard, a deserter of the greedy despot Dragon Lady fly safely to Fog Mountain? You'll be swept away in this part comic, part chapter book adventure.

This book is a great selection for teachers to use as introductions into English and Science lessons.

English concepts: language, grammar and homonyms (homophones) p. 145 (bare, bear)
The animals make a distinction between talkers, using low language of grunts and growls. Teachers could discuss proper English, slang, pidgen English etc.
Science concepts: hibernation, ectothermal, lichen, conservation, greenhouses

This book is a great selection to use in a book club. It's a quick read and would entertain youth ages 9 - 11.

****Spoiler Alert****
In this illustrated (part comic, part chapter book) dystopian tale, a young chipmunk name Thelonious discovers that the folklore he has believed in all lhis life is actually true. Thelonious Chipmunk from the Untamed Forest is wisked away down tthe river during a terrible rainstorm. He awakens at the beach in the City of Ruins and sees a bear wearing human clothing. Fearful of this obnivorous creature, Thelonious flees into the city ruins where he is approached by a shady lizard named Brown. The lizard is one of the ratsmink of the Dragon Lady, the greedy despot ruling the City of Ruins. Brown lizard almost leads Thelonious into servitude to her Ladyship, but he escapes into the sewer system.

Emerging above ground again, he discovers a bookshop where Fitzgerald the porcupine lives. Fitzgerald spots him and invites him in. Thelonious is given shelter and eats his first human food: canned peaches. Fitzgerald learns of Thelonious's plight to return to the Untamed Forest and vows to help in any way possible. With the help of Fitzgerald's friend Wally the porcupine, they learn about the flying bear named Olive. She is from the Fog Mound. She crashed in the City of Ruins, but has a velocicopter, which she plans to use to return home. She offers to take Thelonious home.

Thelonious is apprehensive but then he spots the lizard who has been eavesdropping. He knows it only a matter of time before the Dragon Lady invades the hanger and steals the velocicopter for herself. He agrees to fly home.

Unfortunately, the attack comes before they are prepared and they make a hasty get-a-way leaving Olive's sister's journal and the maps she drew of the area and of the secret passageway into fog mountain. The building catches fire and Olive hopes the sensitive documents were burned before the ratminks saw it.

On the journey home. Thelonious discovers a stowaway. The Brown lizard has climbed aboard to escape the Dragon Lady. Thelonious gets home, but decides to go on to Fog Mound with Olive, Fitzgerald and Brown.

As they approach Fog Mound they are attacked by Eagles who drop stones on the velocicopter in an attempt to protect their nest. The travels crash into a tree and are unable to repair their aircraft.

They continue on their journey piecing together the directions to find the secret passageway into the Fog Mound. They narrowly escape the fog and emerge in the basement of Olive's house. They discover a frozen human scientist who they dethaw.

Olive's friends settle in to life on the Mound.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't decide if this should get 3 or 4 stars. I decided on 4 because it was very readable, the story moved seamlessly between illustrations and text, and I immediately picked up the second book in the series because I wanted more. My hesitation stems from the start of the book: it was only in the last half of the book that I felt fully immersed in the story.

The story itself has some troubling social commentary; I'm not sure if the authors were intentional in this commentary. The story is set in the future, in a post-human era, when some animals have evolved to speaking, wearing clothes, and adopting the tools, food, and shelters that remain from the human era. Those animals that have not adopted these human conventions are perceived to be lesser beings as evidenced by terms like "low language" to describe growls, grunts, and other animal sounds. This hierarchy reinforces the status of humans as superior since human-like living/behaviors are idealized and seen as desirous by most characters.



As the story progresses, we learn that some humans created ecosystems and species' mutations to create utopic spaces for these animals, free of the carnage of predator-prey relationships. In this aspect, the story reminds me of Lois Lowry's "The Giver" or even Margaret Atwood's "Oryx and Crake" trilogy, the only difference is the advanced species isn't humans but a menagerie of animals who all know their role in society and are obliging to the rules without ever questioning them. Like Atwood's Crakers, these creatures seem to be focused on their most immediate needs (food, shelter) and are unable to question apparent inequities in society. Further, both ecosystems have been created by a human whose apparent God-like foresight allowed this "perfect" community to be created and exist in harmony. I kept hoping Thelonious, an outsider invited to live in this utopic space, would realize the limitations of life on the Fog Mound, but when he finally does leave, I'm not sure if it was because he missed the autonomy he had before or because he had succumbed to the proselytizing.

The authors challenge this hierarchy from time to time, as in this scene between Thelonious and Jenny, a bird, in the second book:
"Did Mary (a human) make genetic changes in the birds so they could speak?"
"Why would she do that?" Jenny asked. "Birds could always speak. Mary just taught them the human language."
This passage - among others - suggests that this human-centric/human-as-savior perspective shouldn't be blindly accepted. I just wish there were more of them as they are the real gems in the book.

I look forward to reading the final book in the trilogy.