Jim Hedgehog and the Lonesome Tower

Jim Hedgehog

by Russell Hoban, Betsy Lewin (Illustrator)

Jim Hedgehog, who likes heavy metal music, buys a cassette tape and a musical instrument from Mr. Strange, which lead him to a haunted castle.

42 pages, Hardcover

First published September 27, 1990

About the author

Russell Conwell Hoban was an American expatriate writer. His works span many genres, including fantasy, science fiction, mainstream fiction, magical realism, poetry, and children's books. He lived in London, England, from 1969 until his death. (Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Samuel]

Bizarre and charming, with lovely illustrations and a surreal flavor that reminded me a bit of Daniel Pinkwater, this book traces the adventures of Jim Hedgehog, heavy metal fan and beginning recorder player.

I loved it -- but then again, I love hedgehogs, I love the surreal, and I'm a sucker for the kind of nostalgia that this book now evokes in me.

[Cheryl]

What an original little treasure! You'd think hedgehogs would only work in cute stories, but this is a dramatic mystery in an advanced leveled reader. Not many will like it, but those who do will treasure it. Openlibrary.org.

[Janie Dee]

This was my favorite book to read to my son when he was small. Someone asked about children’s books on Reddit and I remembered Jim. Jim was always on the lookout for new heavy metal groups.

Jim Hedgehog liked his music loud and he liked it heavy. He listened to Giant Squid and Crashing Boars and Really Disgusting Things from the Deep Swamp.

[Melanie]

This is cute.