Whimsy and Woe

by Rebecca McRitchie, Sonia Kretschmar (Illustrations)

'ADVENTUROUS AND OUTLANDISH, WHIMSY AND WOE WILL HOOK KIDS IN FROM THE FIRST PAGE.'-- Books+Publishing, four stars

After being abandoned by their thespian parents, Whimsy and Woe Mordaunt are left in the care of their austere Aunt Apoline.

Forced to work in Apoline's boarding house, slaving at the beck and call of outlandish and demanding guests, and sharpening the thorns of every plant in the poisonous plant garden, Whimsy and Woe lose all hope that their parents will ever return. Until one day, quite by accident, the siblings stumble upon a half-charred letter that sets them on a course to freedom and finding their parents.

Richly illustrated by award-winning illustrator Sonia Kretschmar, this first book in an exciting new series by talented debut author Rebecca McRitchie is filled with mischief, monocles, mystery and mice.

MORE PRAISE

'Whimsy and Woe has it incredibly courageous children (hooray!), an evil calculating aunt, the ignominious Ignatius Solt (boo!) and a despicable one-legged pirate (hiss!), captivity and misery in a boarding house populated by an outlandish clientele (gasp!) and a heroic escape from a treacherous storm, imprisonment in a swamp and a wolf with razor-sharp teeth ... all told with vivid thespian style and flair.' -- Readings

'Rebecca McRitchie knows what young readers want. McRitchie delivers a fun, energetic read in her debut children's fiction title; it is perfect for fans of Judith Rossell's Withering-by-Sea and Lemony Snicket's 'A Series of Unfortunate Events'. With non-stop plot twists, Whimsy and Woe has the ability to keep the attention of reluctant readers who will want to know what happens next.' -- Books+Publishing, four stars

'Written in a style wonderfully akin to Lemony Snicket, the quaint language and eccentric characters will capture your imagination and keep you up reading late into the night.' -- Goodreads review

AWARDS

Notable Book - CBCA Book of the Year Awards

Shortlisted - 2019 Davitt Awards

Shortlisted - 2018 Speech Pathology Book of the Year Awards

Shortlisted - 2022 West Australian Young Readers' Book Awards

Genres: Middle Grade, Mystery, Childrens, Mystery Thriller

298 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2017

Reviews

[ellie ❦ · Rating 4 out of 5]

favourite character/s: whimsy mordaunt
i read this in year 5 and fell absolutely in love with it. so i needed to re read it. this book is just SO GOOD and was my favourite book for years. this book is not predictable at all, the main characters are so loveable and this book just has a storyline like no other i’ve read. the details and imagery you get to see whilst going on this massive journey is probably the main reason why i love this book. i love the friendships between the characters. this has a similar feel to a series of unfortunate events. i love the way rebecca writes. the only reason it took me a few months to finish this book is because we were moving and all my books were packed up + i had a little bit of a slump. anyways. this is middle grade but i think a lot of ages would like this book. rebecca needs to write more novels.

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel follows the tale of two rather unfortunate children who, after emerging from a game of hide-and-seek, discover that they have been abandoned by their parents. Left in the very incapable hands of their awful Aunt Apoline and forced to attend to the guests of the Idle Slug boarding house, the children doubt their parents will ever return. That is, until the day when they uncover something that leads them on a darkly funny, mysterious and treacherous journey towards finding their parents. The journey includes exploding surprise pies, parleying with pirates, stormy seas, a menacing sludge swamp and a fierce race against time. Written in a style wonderfully akin to Lemony Snicket, the quaint language and eccentric characters will capture your imagination and keep you up reading late into the night.

Suitable for 9+ humour, parent kidnapping, journeys, pirates, adventure, mystery

Teaching notes: www.harpercollins.com.au/978146075304...

[ella ୨୧ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5! found it cute and exciting and liked the ending

[Jaq · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining enough that I kept reading but I did find it overlong, and then a rushed ending with the introduction of a third character feeling like an afterthought. Will be interested to see what happens next.

[ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is incredible. I cant explain how in love I am with this book. This is definitely my all time favourite. The illustrations are perfect, the story is exciting and different and has a lot of mystery, intensity and humour.

I think I read this in 2018 from my schools library and I’m so glad I did. It’s been my favourite ever since. I recommend this for ages maybe 10-11+ as it has some bigger words. If you’re at a higher reading level then you could probably read this at 9. But this book is ageless.

I fell in love with Whimsy and Woes bond, strength, determination and their names of course.

This is an adventure with so many mysteries. I’ve read the full Lemony Snickets ‘A Series Of Unfortunate Events’ and if you enjoy those then you would enjoy this. This book is at a perfect pace and isn’t too long. Rebecca McRitchie did amazing and I have no complaints. Must Read. I’d like to see this book have more recognition as I’ve never seen it in a collection, haul or review… :) I actually can’t believe I don’t own the book! I’ll have to buy it soon because I need to re read.

[Melissa Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Lemony Snicket-esque story about the Mordaunt siblings. Whimsy and Woe's thespian parents go missing after a game of hide and seek. After being left with their horrid aunt Apoline, the siblings live a less than ideal life as servants at the idle slug. Until Mr Solt turns up and their adventure to find their parents begins.

I enjoyed the narrative and the illustrations throughout really made it stand out. I'd probably recommend for 9-11 year old readers who don't mind a bit of a longer book.

[Sean Harding · Rating 4 out of 5]

These kids whose parents disappear or some such guff always seem to end up with relatives and guardians who are perfectly horrendous.
Does no-one have normal relatives?
Anyway apart from the obvious cliches in the story line this was a fun ride and well put together.
It also ends with a cliff-hanger so you ned to get book two.
At least it is not going to be a forced sequel.
Anyway a good read.

[Bec · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was the title and then the beautiful cover art of this book that caught my attention first. I was hooked from the beginning as this gave me A Series of Unfortunate Events vibes. I love the characters of Whimsy and Woe, and found this book very entertaining.

[Willow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book it is about two kids who had a normal life until their parents disappear! Then their life turns upside down and go on many adventures to find their parents. There is also a second book coming out soon which is exciting💜💜💜

[Verity · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun story in a Lemony Snicket-esque vein. I found the shortness of the chapters a little jarring, but for accelerated junior and middle grade readers that might not be the case. A lot of fun with language.

TW: fatphobia

[Sherry Mackay · Rating 3 out of 5]

An odd book. Two young children who have lost their parents are taken in by a wicked aunt; they eventually escape and have lots of adventures on the search for their parents. Lots of mystery and magic and wickedness. I think youngsters would be quite happy to read this.

[Paperchain Bookstore · Rating 4 out of 5]

For fans of a 'Series of Unfortunate Events', this is a perfect follow-up series complete with swamps, conniving relatives and thespians.

[Candii · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

i was after asoue vibes... and boi did i get them

[Noya · Rating 4 out of 5]

An EXCELLENT book full of small and interesting chapters.
This amazing book kept me captivated right to the end!

[charlotte_reads_reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book. It is really interesting. I loved it

[Mali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a whimsical and fanciful story that keeps you hooked right till the very end and then makes you buy the next book because it’s so good. Totally recommend this!

[Mikhaila Tulloch · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Frankie · Rating 5 out of 5]

sooo coool, will definitly read again

[Edie P.S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! It ends on a cliffhanger though so I need the second one!

[Molly Middleton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this when I was like 8 so this review is super unreliable ❤️

[Katie G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and fun, though it basically ends on a note that feels like the middle of the story. No ends are tied up in book one.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

”To be continued...”
If I had known that would be the last line of the book, I would have waiting until The Last Act comes out in few months. I binge read series and the next couple of months is going to be torture.

Sure, I was reminded of The Series of Unfortunate Events, but the well-developed characters, delicious prose and captivating adventures are so delightful that this book deserves to stand on its own as a beautiful children’s book.

I've only read it solo, at the moment, as I won’t put my kids through the ”to be continued” torture, so we’ll wait to read it together later in the year. There are some scary moments (although not as frightening as I remember The Series of Unfortunate Events), so my age guesstimate is 7+ sensitivity dependent as a read-aloud or 9+ for independent readers.