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The Curious Chronicles of Jack Bokimble and His Peculiar Penumbra
Shortly after Jack is born, strange things are afoot in the Bokimble house--glasses fall from shelves, and nothing seems to be where Mr. and Mrs. Bokimble left it. Jack's parents begin to sense that there's something strange about their son, and it's not long before they realize that he has a secret friend: his magical shadow.
Is Jack's shadow a superpower that he needs to control and master? Or is it a curse that will separate him from others? Travel with Jack on his boyhood journey as he learns not only how to control his magical shadow but what it means to be different--a story that mines the potential for magic and mystery in all of us.
Is Jack's shadow a superpower that he needs to control and master? Or is it a curse that will separate him from others? Travel with Jack on his boyhood journey as he learns not only how to control his magical shadow but what it means to be different--a story that mines the potential for magic and mystery in all of us.
200 pages, Paperback
Published November 7, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 10, 2017
I was ready to adore The Curious Chronicles of Jack Bokimble and His Peculiar Penumbra from the beginning, just for the title alone. Jack is different. He has a magical shadow which he learns to use to explore the world in a way no one else can. He can touch and manipulate items with his shadow, feeling with his physical body and shadow simultaneously. While Jack is shy and fearful, his shadow is not and it cannot feel pain.
Jack’s father, who has a small nose but an exceptionally gifted sense of smell, is excited about Jack’s difference. Jack’s mother, however, who runs an advice website called ILLMAKETHEDECISIONSYOUCANT.COM (unfortunately it’s not a real website - I checked) is concerned, worrying that Jack’s ability will scare people away. Jack’s mother is also a champion farter, smelling up the pages whenever she’s anxious or excited.
This book deals with bullying, being an outcast, friendships, loneliness, wanting to belong, and learning to accept and celebrate your differences. I thought it was wonderful that James DeMonaco explored peoples’ fear of anything or anyone who is different and points out that differences aren’t actually scary after all. There’s some good vocabulary building, often thanks to Louis the Lip, who’s pretty much described as practically perfect in every way (sorry, I love Mary Poppins so had to describe him like that 😊), with the exception of his personality.
I liked Jack as a character. He’s sensitive, intelligent, inquisitive and non-judgemental. He’s a lonely boy who desperately wants friends but is excruciatingly shy. He stands up for what he believes in and wants to use his shadow powers for good. I enjoyed most of the sequence of events and although it’s hinted at several times with one of my pet peeves (see below), I can see this story working as the first in a series.
I enjoyed the quirkiness of Jack’s parent so much and particularly loved the pet names they call each other, always something different so as not to be boring. It’s so hard to pick a favourite pet name for each but I was fond of Sir Spits When He Speaks and Whimsical Wife with Weird Digestion. My favourite character was the lion with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. He was adorable.
I was so annoyed that the only two children not scared of Jack’s abilities are the ones who have personally benefited from them, yet they still allow peer pressure to stop them from being his friend. This makes a really good point about the power of peer pressure but I was so angry with those kids for a while.
It seems that each children’s book I’ve read recently is taking their style or ideas from Roald Dahl. Remember the chalkboard incident in Matilda? It’s pretty much replicated in this book.
Moving on to my irritations, question marks and pet peeve occurrences, some with spoilers so reader beware. While these are plentiful, please don’t think they mean I didn’t enjoy the book. I really did. When I want more or have lots of questions, it means I’m invested in the storyline and I understand that if there is a sequel a lot of my questions may be answered then. Only the first point detracted from my enjoyment of the book.
I found the interjections by the listener and the storyteller discussing the characters and sequence of events really irritating and thought it disrupted the story rather than adding value with it. While I understand the purpose of these exchanges I felt the story would have flowed better without them.
There’s a chapter called Back to School, Not Starring Rodney Dangerfield. While I personally appreciated this nod to one of my favourite movies I doubt any kid reading this would know who Rodney Dangerfield is or would have seen the 1986 film.
🚨 Pet Peeve Alert 🚨
“but that is a different chronicle”
“his story is for another day”
“but that’s a different story”
“That’s for another time”
I don’t know why but sentences like those really bug me, although that’s my problem, not the author’s.
I applaud Jack’s forgiving nature. I think if I was the one treated like a leper because I had a special talent I would have happily slapped every single rotten bully across the face with my shadow hand, but I guess that’s one of the many reasons why I haven’t been entrusted with my very own super shadow. 😜
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley (thank you so much to NetGalley and Inkshares for the opportunity) in exchange for honest feedback.
Jack’s father, who has a small nose but an exceptionally gifted sense of smell, is excited about Jack’s difference. Jack’s mother, however, who runs an advice website called ILLMAKETHEDECISIONSYOUCANT.COM (unfortunately it’s not a real website - I checked) is concerned, worrying that Jack’s ability will scare people away. Jack’s mother is also a champion farter, smelling up the pages whenever she’s anxious or excited.
This book deals with bullying, being an outcast, friendships, loneliness, wanting to belong, and learning to accept and celebrate your differences. I thought it was wonderful that James DeMonaco explored peoples’ fear of anything or anyone who is different and points out that differences aren’t actually scary after all. There’s some good vocabulary building, often thanks to Louis the Lip, who’s pretty much described as practically perfect in every way (sorry, I love Mary Poppins so had to describe him like that 😊), with the exception of his personality.
I liked Jack as a character. He’s sensitive, intelligent, inquisitive and non-judgemental. He’s a lonely boy who desperately wants friends but is excruciatingly shy. He stands up for what he believes in and wants to use his shadow powers for good. I enjoyed most of the sequence of events and although it’s hinted at several times with one of my pet peeves (see below), I can see this story working as the first in a series.
I enjoyed the quirkiness of Jack’s parent so much and particularly loved the pet names they call each other, always something different so as not to be boring. It’s so hard to pick a favourite pet name for each but I was fond of Sir Spits When He Speaks and Whimsical Wife with Weird Digestion. My favourite character was the lion with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. He was adorable.
I was so annoyed that the only two children not scared of Jack’s abilities are the ones who have personally benefited from them, yet they still allow peer pressure to stop them from being his friend. This makes a really good point about the power of peer pressure but I was so angry with those kids for a while.
It seems that each children’s book I’ve read recently is taking their style or ideas from Roald Dahl. Remember the chalkboard incident in Matilda? It’s pretty much replicated in this book.
Moving on to my irritations, question marks and pet peeve occurrences, some with spoilers so reader beware. While these are plentiful, please don’t think they mean I didn’t enjoy the book. I really did. When I want more or have lots of questions, it means I’m invested in the storyline and I understand that if there is a sequel a lot of my questions may be answered then. Only the first point detracted from my enjoyment of the book.
I found the interjections by the listener and the storyteller discussing the characters and sequence of events really irritating and thought it disrupted the story rather than adding value with it. While I understand the purpose of these exchanges I felt the story would have flowed better without them.
There’s a chapter called Back to School, Not Starring Rodney Dangerfield. While I personally appreciated this nod to one of my favourite movies I doubt any kid reading this would know who Rodney Dangerfield is or would have seen the 1986 film.
🚨 Pet Peeve Alert 🚨
“but that is a different chronicle”
“his story is for another day”
“but that’s a different story”
“That’s for another time”
I don’t know why but sentences like those really bug me, although that’s my problem, not the author’s.
I applaud Jack’s forgiving nature. I think if I was the one treated like a leper because I had a special talent I would have happily slapped every single rotten bully across the face with my shadow hand, but I guess that’s one of the many reasons why I haven’t been entrusted with my very own super shadow. 😜
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley (thank you so much to NetGalley and Inkshares for the opportunity) in exchange for honest feedback.
October 15, 2017
The Curious Chronicles of Jack Bokimble and His Peculiar Penumbra is a super fun, middle-grade read. This book delivers all the funtastic elements that a children’s story should – it is silly, it is a bit outrageous, and it is full of imagination! Think fun wordplay, wacky inventions, communicating with animals, and an assembly of zany characters.
I really enjoyed the storytelling element in this book. Throughout, bits of dialogue between the storyteller (an adult) and the audience (a child) weave in and out, playfully interrupting Jack’s adventure. To me, these bits are reminiscent of The Princess Bride and can be a bit tricky to handle but when done well, add a special flavor to the story. James DeMonaco handled this beautifully and delivered yet one more layer for the reader to ponder and enjoy.
Best of all and perhaps most important, we genuinely like Jack! Jack Bokimble is a character that children will want to root for. Despite Jack having a very special power, he is still relatable in enough ways to connect. He’s our champion, our hero! And honestly, what child wouldn’t want to have the special powers that Jack possesses with his incredible shadow!?
Like any good book, The Curious Chronicles of Jack Bokimble and His Peculiar Penumbra is not without its lessons. Jack must learn how to control his shadow and know when to use it. But the truly meaningful lesson is learning what it means to be different. Here’s a little hint… being different can be such a gift!
Funny, whimsical, quirky, curious and I am ten years old again! I loved this story, I adored our fantastic hero, and I hope to see many more adventures with Jack Bokimble and that peculiar penumbra!
Young and old, children of all ages will enjoy this magical story.
We gave The Curious Chronicles of Jack Bokimble and His Peculiar Penumbra 5/5 stars
A special thanks to NetGalley and Inkshares for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I really enjoyed the storytelling element in this book. Throughout, bits of dialogue between the storyteller (an adult) and the audience (a child) weave in and out, playfully interrupting Jack’s adventure. To me, these bits are reminiscent of The Princess Bride and can be a bit tricky to handle but when done well, add a special flavor to the story. James DeMonaco handled this beautifully and delivered yet one more layer for the reader to ponder and enjoy.
Best of all and perhaps most important, we genuinely like Jack! Jack Bokimble is a character that children will want to root for. Despite Jack having a very special power, he is still relatable in enough ways to connect. He’s our champion, our hero! And honestly, what child wouldn’t want to have the special powers that Jack possesses with his incredible shadow!?
Like any good book, The Curious Chronicles of Jack Bokimble and His Peculiar Penumbra is not without its lessons. Jack must learn how to control his shadow and know when to use it. But the truly meaningful lesson is learning what it means to be different. Here’s a little hint… being different can be such a gift!
Funny, whimsical, quirky, curious and I am ten years old again! I loved this story, I adored our fantastic hero, and I hope to see many more adventures with Jack Bokimble and that peculiar penumbra!
Young and old, children of all ages will enjoy this magical story.
We gave The Curious Chronicles of Jack Bokimble and His Peculiar Penumbra 5/5 stars
A special thanks to NetGalley and Inkshares for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
November 27, 2017
Originally posted at Log Cabin Library
It's pretty hard to pass on a book with a title like The Curious Chronicles of Jack Bokimble and His Peculiar Penumbra, it's one of those books you know you just want to read. The story takes the form of an adult telling a story to a young child with a Roald Dahl-like quality that I particularly enjoyed. Jack lives with his parents in New York City, close to Central Park. Jack's parents might be considered slightly peculiar by some. His dad has a heightened sense of smell which comes in handy for his experiments to build a device called the Smelliluminator that if everything goes as planned will make smells visible and give them color. Hopefully, he can also use it as an early warning detection system against his wife's propensity for flatulence when she gets nervous, and she gets nervous a lot. Mrs. Bokimble runs a popular website where she helps people faced with an impossible choice to make the right decision called "I'llMakeTheDecsionsYouCan't.com." Jack's parents also create descriptive nicknames for each other like"Mister Meaty Midsection" and "Lady Large Yet Lovely Nostrils," which changes with their mood for each other on a daily basis. Despite his parents being a bit odd, Jack is a lovely character, he's bright, a tad shy and lonely, and he'd really like to have a friend. I also really enjoyed Jack's magical shadow and appreciated that he tried to use his shadow to do good things. At the beginning of the story, Jack's parents are concerned about all the odd occurrences happening around their house, even thinking the place is haunted, but once they realize that it's Jack and his magical shadow, their opinion on whether this is a good or bad occurrence began to differ. Mr. Bokimble only thought of the fame they could have, while Mrs. Bokimble was concerned that Jack would stand out, be seen as cursed and it could prevent him from having friends. At one point she even considers getting rid of her son's shadow entirely, until Mr. Bokimble convinces her that he can teach Jack to control it by having him learn how to "shadow cast" and "shadow play." Jack learns his shadow is indestructible and has no fear, while also learning the importance of controlling and concealing it from others. At least that is until Jack finds it necessary to use his shadow to help put a bully in his place. I really liked how Jack's shadow touched and interacted with things around him allowing him to physically feel them too. Especially how Jack's shadow could reach into the animal cages at the zoo so he could pet them and provide them comfort. Wouldn't that be cool to feel a lions fur without risking getting eaten? For a fairly short book, it covered a wide range of themes from bullying, feeling different, wanting to belong and make friends and to be accepted for who you are. There is some quirkiness with an interruptive narrator, a random chapter heading with Rodney Dangerfield in the title, mention of the Black Eyed Peas, and an alien named Gulmhot who inadvertently crash lands his ship at the zoo starting a fire, but it all just added to the charm of the story for me. Plus, I really enjoyed the positive message of there's nothing wrong with being different and different can be ok.
Favorite line, " Remember, live with your shadow, not behind it."
**In exchange for an honest review, a review copy was received from the publisher.**
It's pretty hard to pass on a book with a title like The Curious Chronicles of Jack Bokimble and His Peculiar Penumbra, it's one of those books you know you just want to read. The story takes the form of an adult telling a story to a young child with a Roald Dahl-like quality that I particularly enjoyed. Jack lives with his parents in New York City, close to Central Park. Jack's parents might be considered slightly peculiar by some. His dad has a heightened sense of smell which comes in handy for his experiments to build a device called the Smelliluminator that if everything goes as planned will make smells visible and give them color. Hopefully, he can also use it as an early warning detection system against his wife's propensity for flatulence when she gets nervous, and she gets nervous a lot. Mrs. Bokimble runs a popular website where she helps people faced with an impossible choice to make the right decision called "I'llMakeTheDecsionsYouCan't.com." Jack's parents also create descriptive nicknames for each other like"Mister Meaty Midsection" and "Lady Large Yet Lovely Nostrils," which changes with their mood for each other on a daily basis. Despite his parents being a bit odd, Jack is a lovely character, he's bright, a tad shy and lonely, and he'd really like to have a friend. I also really enjoyed Jack's magical shadow and appreciated that he tried to use his shadow to do good things. At the beginning of the story, Jack's parents are concerned about all the odd occurrences happening around their house, even thinking the place is haunted, but once they realize that it's Jack and his magical shadow, their opinion on whether this is a good or bad occurrence began to differ. Mr. Bokimble only thought of the fame they could have, while Mrs. Bokimble was concerned that Jack would stand out, be seen as cursed and it could prevent him from having friends. At one point she even considers getting rid of her son's shadow entirely, until Mr. Bokimble convinces her that he can teach Jack to control it by having him learn how to "shadow cast" and "shadow play." Jack learns his shadow is indestructible and has no fear, while also learning the importance of controlling and concealing it from others. At least that is until Jack finds it necessary to use his shadow to help put a bully in his place. I really liked how Jack's shadow touched and interacted with things around him allowing him to physically feel them too. Especially how Jack's shadow could reach into the animal cages at the zoo so he could pet them and provide them comfort. Wouldn't that be cool to feel a lions fur without risking getting eaten? For a fairly short book, it covered a wide range of themes from bullying, feeling different, wanting to belong and make friends and to be accepted for who you are. There is some quirkiness with an interruptive narrator, a random chapter heading with Rodney Dangerfield in the title, mention of the Black Eyed Peas, and an alien named Gulmhot who inadvertently crash lands his ship at the zoo starting a fire, but it all just added to the charm of the story for me. Plus, I really enjoyed the positive message of there's nothing wrong with being different and different can be ok.
Favorite line, " Remember, live with your shadow, not behind it."
**In exchange for an honest review, a review copy was received from the publisher.**
October 16, 2017
This story is being told by an adult to a child. The love the point of view given and the ability to weave in present day to the store is wonderful. The wacky words and stanza changes remind me of Roald Dahl and several of his works. Through this story we learn that being different is okay, which is a wonderful lesson as this is a middle grades book. The characters are likeable and engaging throughout. It leaves me wanting to cheer for Jack throughout.
I would highly recommend this for all children.
I would highly recommend this for all children.
September 5, 2017
3.5/5 stars
First of all, the title of this book is amazing. That alone would earn 5 stars from me.
Jack Bokimble, the boy with the nursery rhyme name, is a sweet, curious little boy. When he is born, strange things begin to happen in the Bokimble home. His parents at first assume it is a ghost, but quickly learn that Jack's shadow (or penumbra) possesses extraordinary qualities. Jack can control his shadow. It can pick things up, travel places he cannot, and Jack experiences it all as if he is doing it himself.
Mrs. Bokimble worries that other children will not understand his abilities, may even be frightened of him. And when Jack goes to school, he has to figure out for himself whether or not he should tell people about his peculiar ability.
This book was so unique, so quirky, and so funny. It made me think, at times, of Dahl's MATILDA.
The story is being told by an adult to a child, and sometimes their conversation interrupt the story (think THE PRINCESS BRIDE). Unfortunately for me, I found these interruptions to detract from the story. I did not see their purpose, and found myself wanting to skip over them entirely.
I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
First of all, the title of this book is amazing. That alone would earn 5 stars from me.
Jack Bokimble, the boy with the nursery rhyme name, is a sweet, curious little boy. When he is born, strange things begin to happen in the Bokimble home. His parents at first assume it is a ghost, but quickly learn that Jack's shadow (or penumbra) possesses extraordinary qualities. Jack can control his shadow. It can pick things up, travel places he cannot, and Jack experiences it all as if he is doing it himself.
Mrs. Bokimble worries that other children will not understand his abilities, may even be frightened of him. And when Jack goes to school, he has to figure out for himself whether or not he should tell people about his peculiar ability.
This book was so unique, so quirky, and so funny. It made me think, at times, of Dahl's MATILDA.
The story is being told by an adult to a child, and sometimes their conversation interrupt the story (think THE PRINCESS BRIDE). Unfortunately for me, I found these interruptions to detract from the story. I did not see their purpose, and found myself wanting to skip over them entirely.
I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 15, 2017
*thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
1 star.
I wanted to like this, but I didnt. I couldn't get into it. All the odd words kinda put me off. Though I am willing to maybe give this another try in the future so if my view changes I will update this review. But for now, sorry, but it wasnt for me.
1 star.
I wanted to like this, but I didnt. I couldn't get into it. All the odd words kinda put me off. Though I am willing to maybe give this another try in the future so if my view changes I will update this review. But for now, sorry, but it wasnt for me.
September 5, 2018
Ha! What a hoot of a tale! Fans of Roald Dahl will love this story! I've read a few stories where a shadow does what it likes, but this one wins the award! Too fun! Kids, and adults,will enjoy the joy ride! Well-written fun with great characters. Just plain magical story.
I received a Kindle ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
I received a Kindle ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
July 29, 2019
Enjoyable children's fantasy about a boy who can control his own shadow. The story is a fantsy in the vein on Roald Dahl, but what drew me to the book is that it was written by James Demonaco, who also wrote disturbing horror film series The Purge. It's not a classic, but it's an enjoyable short read. SOUNDTRACK TIP: Listen to the Rushmore soundtrack while reading. Fits perfectly!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews