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Secrets of Topsea #1
A Friendly Town That's Almost Always by the Ocean!
Welcome to Topsea, the strangest place you'll ever visit. In this town, the coves are bottomless and the pier has no end in sight. There's a high tide and a low tide... and a vanishing tide. Dogs are a myth, but mermaids are totally real. And seaweed is the main ingredient in every meal-watch out, it might just start chewing you back!
New kid Davy definitely thinks Topsea is strange. His mom keeps saying they'll get used to life in their new town-it's just the way things are on the coast! But after his first day at Topsea School, Davy finds himself wondering: Why is his locker all the way at the bottom of the school swimming pool? Why can't anyone remember his name? (It's Davy!) And why does everyone act like all of this is normal?!
Through newspaper articles, stories, surveys, notifications, and more, follow Davy and the rest of Ms. Grimalkin's fifth grade class through the weird world of Topsea. (Whatever you do, don't make eye contact with the rubber ducks.)
New kid Davy definitely thinks Topsea is strange. His mom keeps saying they'll get used to life in their new town-it's just the way things are on the coast! But after his first day at Topsea School, Davy finds himself wondering: Why is his locker all the way at the bottom of the school swimming pool? Why can't anyone remember his name? (It's Davy!) And why does everyone act like all of this is normal?!
Through newspaper articles, stories, surveys, notifications, and more, follow Davy and the rest of Ms. Grimalkin's fifth grade class through the weird world of Topsea. (Whatever you do, don't make eye contact with the rubber ducks.)
208 pages, Hardcover
First published April 17, 2018
14 people are currently reading
268 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
December 3, 2017
Practically Perfect Middle Grade Bizarro
It's very hard to find a good bizarro middle grade book. There are silly books, and wacky books, and nutsy books, and, or course, farty and poopy books, but good bizarro is rare. By "bizarro" I mean deadpan, tongue in cheek, low key, understated, unpredictable inside/out books. And that's what you get here.
And it's a singular and unapologetically odd book. The premise, though, is straightforward, which is the best way to set up a bizarro book. Davy and his Mom have moved to a new town to start a new life. A sadness has followed them. Davy is anxious about fitting in and just wants to be normal. That's all very familiar. But wait. It turns out no one and nothing in Topsea is normal, so Davy's quest to be "normal" is doomed before it starts. The underlying message of the book, which is rarely made explicit but which informs every element, is that when no one is normal then the whole idea of "normal" is meaningless. There are more important things than normalcy - like kindness, generosity, good humor, courage and loyalty.
Here's the best part. All of the usual conventions of middle grade books are subverted, ignored, or parodied, with a bit of a wink and a smile. There is no bully. No mean girls. All of the kids at Davy's school are friendly, open and interesting. (These kids all get substantial storylines and page time of their own, which is also unusual.) The teachers are kind and patient. Davy's Mom is smart, loving, competent and supportive. When we do come to an old chestnut, (say, bad cafeteria food), it is presented as so over the top it becomes fresh again. And that's especially so when everything else is even more over the top. Gravity is turned off once a year for routine gravity maintenance. Of course mermaids are real, but dogs are mythical. Topsea has five different seasons. And what's up with those menacing cats? And so the weirdness goes, sometimes as a big set piece, sometimes just as a single throwaway line.
The narrative structure is ideal for the nature of the book and for a young reader. The flow is broken up with news articles, bulletins, excerpts from books about Topsea, and so on, which makes the whole book comfortably bite size for the ambitious but still pretty new reader. The narrator doesn't indulge in any of the arch or coy or cutesy narrative tics that can be so annoying in similar books. This works because the weirdness has to be plausible and the jokes can't be obvious. Davy is confused but game, just like the reader will be, and Davy and the reader get to figure out together how everything works.
I have to add, even though I don't usually find comparisons to be helpful, that this book struck me as best described as a middle grade variation on "Welcome to Night Vale", either the book form or, even better, the podcast. They both have the same weird, deadpan, strange, but somehow upbeat and full of wonder sort of feel. That's the highest praise I can offer. This was a great find.
(Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
It's very hard to find a good bizarro middle grade book. There are silly books, and wacky books, and nutsy books, and, or course, farty and poopy books, but good bizarro is rare. By "bizarro" I mean deadpan, tongue in cheek, low key, understated, unpredictable inside/out books. And that's what you get here.
And it's a singular and unapologetically odd book. The premise, though, is straightforward, which is the best way to set up a bizarro book. Davy and his Mom have moved to a new town to start a new life. A sadness has followed them. Davy is anxious about fitting in and just wants to be normal. That's all very familiar. But wait. It turns out no one and nothing in Topsea is normal, so Davy's quest to be "normal" is doomed before it starts. The underlying message of the book, which is rarely made explicit but which informs every element, is that when no one is normal then the whole idea of "normal" is meaningless. There are more important things than normalcy - like kindness, generosity, good humor, courage and loyalty.
Here's the best part. All of the usual conventions of middle grade books are subverted, ignored, or parodied, with a bit of a wink and a smile. There is no bully. No mean girls. All of the kids at Davy's school are friendly, open and interesting. (These kids all get substantial storylines and page time of their own, which is also unusual.) The teachers are kind and patient. Davy's Mom is smart, loving, competent and supportive. When we do come to an old chestnut, (say, bad cafeteria food), it is presented as so over the top it becomes fresh again. And that's especially so when everything else is even more over the top. Gravity is turned off once a year for routine gravity maintenance. Of course mermaids are real, but dogs are mythical. Topsea has five different seasons. And what's up with those menacing cats? And so the weirdness goes, sometimes as a big set piece, sometimes just as a single throwaway line.
The narrative structure is ideal for the nature of the book and for a young reader. The flow is broken up with news articles, bulletins, excerpts from books about Topsea, and so on, which makes the whole book comfortably bite size for the ambitious but still pretty new reader. The narrator doesn't indulge in any of the arch or coy or cutesy narrative tics that can be so annoying in similar books. This works because the weirdness has to be plausible and the jokes can't be obvious. Davy is confused but game, just like the reader will be, and Davy and the reader get to figure out together how everything works.
I have to add, even though I don't usually find comparisons to be helpful, that this book struck me as best described as a middle grade variation on "Welcome to Night Vale", either the book form or, even better, the podcast. They both have the same weird, deadpan, strange, but somehow upbeat and full of wonder sort of feel. That's the highest praise I can offer. This was a great find.
(Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
April 20, 2018
This was absolutely adorable. Review coming tomorrow because I'm on the blog tour.
November 27, 2017
This was simply one of the most charming books I've read in a while. At first it felt very absurd, but I realized something - it felt like how a kid might view the world.
It reminds me of stories my dad says I told as a kid, or stories my (7 year old) niece tells about her day or how some of the girls in her girl scout troop explain the world as they understand it.
It was also surprisingly touching, considering throughout Davy finds it hard to adjust to his new home, not just because it's so different, but because the little things remind him of his father which hurts.
Davy's classmatea are fun and varied - from Quincy who records every question he hears and doesn't care about the answers to Talise who doesn't understand why everyone isn't obsessed with the ocean. While Davy was the primary focus, we'd see Interludes with each classmate as they went about their (mostly) normal routines.
I'd definitely recommend this to any reader who enjoyed Pippi Longstocking, Wayside Stories, Heidi Schultz or lots of humor.
Just please sure to warn about the rock cats and rubber duckies okay?
It reminds me of stories my dad says I told as a kid, or stories my (7 year old) niece tells about her day or how some of the girls in her girl scout troop explain the world as they understand it.
It was also surprisingly touching, considering throughout Davy finds it hard to adjust to his new home, not just because it's so different, but because the little things remind him of his father which hurts.
Davy's classmatea are fun and varied - from Quincy who records every question he hears and doesn't care about the answers to Talise who doesn't understand why everyone isn't obsessed with the ocean. While Davy was the primary focus, we'd see Interludes with each classmate as they went about their (mostly) normal routines.
I'd definitely recommend this to any reader who enjoyed Pippi Longstocking, Wayside Stories, Heidi Schultz or lots of humor.
Just please sure to warn about the rock cats and rubber duckies okay?
February 21, 2024
This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
This book is extremely quirky. And all sorts of fun! It’s filled with crazy creatures and even crazier adventures. Don’t expect a terribly cohesive plot—the book is more about the setting (and the zany kids who live in Topsea). Even though Davy’s not too sure about his new town right away, kid readers are sure to love it. And they won’t find another story like this anywhere! I honestly don’t even know what else to say about this, except that it’s a fun read that keeps you guessing—you have no idea what sort of crazy shenanigans are right around the corner!
This book is extremely quirky. And all sorts of fun! It’s filled with crazy creatures and even crazier adventures. Don’t expect a terribly cohesive plot—the book is more about the setting (and the zany kids who live in Topsea). Even though Davy’s not too sure about his new town right away, kid readers are sure to love it. And they won’t find another story like this anywhere! I honestly don’t even know what else to say about this, except that it’s a fun read that keeps you guessing—you have no idea what sort of crazy shenanigans are right around the corner!
February 4, 2019
Welcome to TopSea, beware the tides, the rubberduckies (especially those with rubbed-out eyes), and oh hey is that a seaweed on your shoulder that is winking at me?
I had the happy opportunity to participate in the Blog Tour for book 2, and that is what led to me wanting to read this series. So here I am, just finished book 1 and loving it to bits. It was weird, it was magical, it was confusing, it was fun. It reminded me, the writing style that is, a lot of Lemony Snicket's stories. It was just as weird, but then on the other hand so serious. I loved it.
I first thought that we would only see the weird town from the new boy's POV, but instead we see all his friends. Which made me happy, it gave us a chance to see the other characters who don't find Topsea weird, but instead find it fabulous and who find the things Davy find normal weird. Yep.
I wasn't sure how I felt on how Davy was treated by his new friends. Why why did they get his name wrong? And not just his new friends, but EVERYONE. I thought we would get some reason why, but nothing. Plus, I was very confused, because at one point, near the end, they do get his name right, and then he is confused because that is not his name? Um? Did I miss something?
While I did love that his locker was at the bottom of the sea, um pool, I do wonder why that was done by the school? I get the whole Davy Jones locker thing but it seemed weird. For a long moment I thought there was something going on with Davy, but I guess not. It would have been fun if there was a big twist about him, but it seems he is just normal, not Topsea normal, but normal normal. :P
I am happy that Davy eventually got more and more into Topsea and while he still found it strange, he learned to go with the flow. Just be open to new things. That is also what we see with the surveys, they change each time and I was happy to see that change.
Plus, I am happy that he was able to find friends, and that he was finally opening up more to them.
It was fun to get to know Quincy, Runa, Finn, Jules, Nia. See what made them tick. From pigs to writing down all the questions to tall tales. I was even getting excited to see who would be the MC for the next chapter. Was it Davy? Was it Quincy? Was it someone else? Oh my! And what kind of things would they do, what adventures would they have. It was also fun to see their interactions and friendships and how they lived their lives in this weird and unique town.
I loved the inbetween parts with posters, information on the town, newspapers, PTA stuff, what tide was happening (yep, this town has tons of different tides!). I got to know the town more and more through those parts and I was eager to find out what other tidbits we would find out over the course of the book.
Oh man, I just want to live in Topsea now. It seems weird and strange, but I love the uniqueness of it all, and I want to find out all the secrets and stories.
I also need to discuss the art, it was just great, I so love the style and how well it fits with this unique stories. There was one illustration that didn't seem to match with the description. Namely, on page 167 we see Quincy and his sister floating around, however on page 169 we read that the highchair, which is floating on that illustration, is actually bolted down.
All in all, I so so need the second book in this series. Let's see if I can wait until the paperback comes out or if I give in and buy the hardcover. I would highly recommend this unique and weird and funny book to everyone.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I had the happy opportunity to participate in the Blog Tour for book 2, and that is what led to me wanting to read this series. So here I am, just finished book 1 and loving it to bits. It was weird, it was magical, it was confusing, it was fun. It reminded me, the writing style that is, a lot of Lemony Snicket's stories. It was just as weird, but then on the other hand so serious. I loved it.
I first thought that we would only see the weird town from the new boy's POV, but instead we see all his friends. Which made me happy, it gave us a chance to see the other characters who don't find Topsea weird, but instead find it fabulous and who find the things Davy find normal weird. Yep.
I wasn't sure how I felt on how Davy was treated by his new friends. Why why did they get his name wrong? And not just his new friends, but EVERYONE. I thought we would get some reason why, but nothing. Plus, I was very confused, because at one point, near the end, they do get his name right, and then he is confused because that is not his name? Um? Did I miss something?
While I did love that his locker was at the bottom of the sea, um pool, I do wonder why that was done by the school? I get the whole Davy Jones locker thing but it seemed weird. For a long moment I thought there was something going on with Davy, but I guess not. It would have been fun if there was a big twist about him, but it seems he is just normal, not Topsea normal, but normal normal. :P
I am happy that Davy eventually got more and more into Topsea and while he still found it strange, he learned to go with the flow. Just be open to new things. That is also what we see with the surveys, they change each time and I was happy to see that change.
Plus, I am happy that he was able to find friends, and that he was finally opening up more to them.
It was fun to get to know Quincy, Runa, Finn, Jules, Nia. See what made them tick. From pigs to writing down all the questions to tall tales. I was even getting excited to see who would be the MC for the next chapter. Was it Davy? Was it Quincy? Was it someone else? Oh my! And what kind of things would they do, what adventures would they have. It was also fun to see their interactions and friendships and how they lived their lives in this weird and unique town.
I loved the inbetween parts with posters, information on the town, newspapers, PTA stuff, what tide was happening (yep, this town has tons of different tides!). I got to know the town more and more through those parts and I was eager to find out what other tidbits we would find out over the course of the book.
Oh man, I just want to live in Topsea now. It seems weird and strange, but I love the uniqueness of it all, and I want to find out all the secrets and stories.
I also need to discuss the art, it was just great, I so love the style and how well it fits with this unique stories. There was one illustration that didn't seem to match with the description. Namely, on page 167 we see Quincy and his sister floating around, however on page 169 we read that the highchair, which is floating on that illustration, is actually bolted down.
All in all, I so so need the second book in this series. Let's see if I can wait until the paperback comes out or if I give in and buy the hardcover. I would highly recommend this unique and weird and funny book to everyone.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
June 25, 2018
A Friendly Town That's Almost Always by the Ocean is a middle grade novel written by Kir Fox, M. Shelley Coats. It was illustrated by Rachel Sanson. In Topsea the coves are bottomless and the pier has no end in sight. There's a high tide and a low tide and a vanishing tide. Dogs are a myth, but mermaids are totally real. And seaweed is the main ingredient in every meal-watch out, it might just start chewing you back!
New kid Davy definitely thinks Topsea is strange. His mom keeps saying they'll get used to life in their new town-it's just the way things are on the coast! But after his first day at Topsea School, Davy finds himself wondering: Why is his locker all the way at the bottom of the school swimming pool? Why can't anyone remember his name? (It's Davy!) And why does everyone act like all of this is normal?! Through newspaper articles, stories, surveys, notifications, and more, follow Davy and the rest of Ms. Grimalkin's fifth grade class through the weird world of Topsea. (Whatever you do, don't make eye contact with the rubber ducks.)
A Friendly Town That's Almost Always by the Ocean is a story that is not only about a very strange town, and the unusual activity in it. It is also about finding your interests and yourself. I like that Davy seems like a perfectly normal boy, just trying to deal with all the recent changes in his life and move forward. He needs to deal with the loss of his father, and moving to a new town- something that many will be able to relate to in one way or another. However, to make settling in a bit harder the town and school are more than a little odd. A school locker at the bottom of the swimming pool, creepy cats, odd classes, and dogs being a myth are only the start of the oddities. Normal problems like being heard when you are small and friends with bigger personalities, being believed when you like to exaggerate, and other friendship dynamics are all within the pages as well. The balance of mundane and ridiculous keep the story fun and forward moving while still getting to the heart of the matter with fitting in and friendships. The artwork adds an extra layer of fun and details to the story, engaging readers even further in the story. I think this will be a great read, and think it might appeal to struggling or reluctant readers as well as more advanced readers.
A Friendly Town That's Almost Always by the Ocean is a fun and quirky read. I enjoyed the odd little town and unique characters. I think I need to explore this series further.
New kid Davy definitely thinks Topsea is strange. His mom keeps saying they'll get used to life in their new town-it's just the way things are on the coast! But after his first day at Topsea School, Davy finds himself wondering: Why is his locker all the way at the bottom of the school swimming pool? Why can't anyone remember his name? (It's Davy!) And why does everyone act like all of this is normal?! Through newspaper articles, stories, surveys, notifications, and more, follow Davy and the rest of Ms. Grimalkin's fifth grade class through the weird world of Topsea. (Whatever you do, don't make eye contact with the rubber ducks.)
A Friendly Town That's Almost Always by the Ocean is a story that is not only about a very strange town, and the unusual activity in it. It is also about finding your interests and yourself. I like that Davy seems like a perfectly normal boy, just trying to deal with all the recent changes in his life and move forward. He needs to deal with the loss of his father, and moving to a new town- something that many will be able to relate to in one way or another. However, to make settling in a bit harder the town and school are more than a little odd. A school locker at the bottom of the swimming pool, creepy cats, odd classes, and dogs being a myth are only the start of the oddities. Normal problems like being heard when you are small and friends with bigger personalities, being believed when you like to exaggerate, and other friendship dynamics are all within the pages as well. The balance of mundane and ridiculous keep the story fun and forward moving while still getting to the heart of the matter with fitting in and friendships. The artwork adds an extra layer of fun and details to the story, engaging readers even further in the story. I think this will be a great read, and think it might appeal to struggling or reluctant readers as well as more advanced readers.
A Friendly Town That's Almost Always by the Ocean is a fun and quirky read. I enjoyed the odd little town and unique characters. I think I need to explore this series further.
March 21, 2018
If you know kids who are still a little too young for Night Vale, perhaps consider a visit to Topsea, instead. It's a town where you may find your locker at the bottom of the swimming pool. Where ice cream comes with surprises—some of them bees. Where the shady and sinister PTA is always trying to spoil your fun. Where the seaweed can be a bit aggressive. And where sometimes the gravity needs adjusting.
This first series entry is a fun, slightly surreal middle grade adventure for readers with an appreciation for the odd.
This first series entry is a fun, slightly surreal middle grade adventure for readers with an appreciation for the odd.
May 5, 2018
It's like Welcome to Nightvale but for middle graders.
Where Nigthvale has the weather, Topsea has the tide reports. Where Nightvale has the hooded figures, Topsea has the PTA. Nightvale has the Dog Park; Topsea has a Water Park. Beware of old oak doors in Nightvale, likewise basements and sub-basements in Topsea. I could go on and on with comparisons, but you get the idea.
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2018/comm...
Where Nigthvale has the weather, Topsea has the tide reports. Where Nightvale has the hooded figures, Topsea has the PTA. Nightvale has the Dog Park; Topsea has a Water Park. Beware of old oak doors in Nightvale, likewise basements and sub-basements in Topsea. I could go on and on with comparisons, but you get the idea.
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2018/comm...
February 13, 2018
What a fun, creative tale for kiddos--nothing feeds young imaginations like an upside-down, topsy-turvy world! A delight to read and share with my children--we are loving our time in Topsea ;) Thanks for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This is a brilliant book.
August 29, 2024
I love whimsy and nonsense and bizarre happenings in books. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass were some of my favorite childhood books because of that.
This book was a delight to read with unique, fun characters and a writing style I very much enjoyed
This book was a delight to read with unique, fun characters and a writing style I very much enjoyed
January 8, 2019
This is like "A Series of Unfortunate Events" meets "Welcome to Night Vale" for kids.
April 27, 2018
Quirky middle grades book that reminds me a lot of Sideways Stories fe m Wayside School. It’s fun and would keep the interest of middle grade readers. It would make a great read aloud for the classroom. I was sent a copy of this book for review.
July 9, 2021
This was one of those books best read aloud with someone. I read it aloud with my Mum. I kept insisting to her that it was an Eldritch comedy. She was not familiar with the word. So of course she googled it.
"Eldritch: A word that means eerie, unearthly, weird, ghastly, foreign, strange, or otherworldly."
It’s full of references to things such as, “Davy’s Jones Locker”. I’m sure I missed several of them. It would be cool if I knew what all the references were.
When I was younger and would have a sleepover with my cousins we would all gather around and listen to my mom and sometimes my Dad read a whole novel over two nights. We would pull the mattress out the door and drop it on the flat-ish roof and read under the stars while munching popcorn. My Mom would do very bad voice acting - giving the big ogre a squeaky high voice and so on. (She had only 3 voices she could do - all of them bad)
After an hour she would start complaining that she needed a break and we would allow her one as long as she promised to finish before the sleepover ended.
This book would have been perfect for one of those sleepovers.
It was fun to just think of the conversations it would have spun.
The length was pretty good. Often I find so many middle grade novels tend to be overly long. According to the Kindle reader, it takes the average reader 2 hours and 10 minutes to finish Topsea. Mind you it took us longer since we both needed to stop so often for conversations.
Once finished according to my schedule I was to move onto another book. Instead I moved onto book 2.
April 18, 2018
It has been too long since I have read an interesting quirky middle-grade book just for fun! Full of interesting diverse characters, a magical world that kept getting better and better... and, a very smart and endearing watch-hog! (Have you ever heard of a watch-hog? Me either! And now I'm sure you'll want to find out what one is...)
Davy and his mom have moved to Topsea to start fresh, and Davy is doing his absolute best to adjust and fit in. However, Topsea is not like any place he's ever been to or heard of - according to everyone who lives here - Mermaids are extinct, dogs are myths, seaweed may be the main ingredient in ALL of your foods and your school locker may be found at the bottom of the swimming pool!
Davy soon begins to realize that what is not normal to him is actually normal here. And once you start to accept what is happening, no matter how odd and out of place it may seem, it's actually not. This makes Davy feel better, as he used to be the odd one back at home and now he's the most normal person at Topsea. While Davy starts to accept his new normal, he also begins to mourn and accept the loss of his father.
The writing and flow of the story are so wonderfully unique! Our main character is Davy and we see Topsea mostly from his perspective. But, we also get to see Topsea through his new friends too, the local kids who have lived here their entire lives and don't see Topsea as weird. Included are the school's newspaper and local alerts letting us know what is happening in school and in the town - weather and other local news. The authors also include some "history" of Topsea through excerpts of what I believe may be a book called "Everything You Need to Know About Topsea" which helps the reader gain knowledge to understand why Topsea is the way it is before Davy does.
The illustrations fit the story so well! Amusing and quite charming, each sketch and image brought the book to life!
Another fun little tidbit about this book - adults will absolutely love all of the jokes and symbolism that the authors threw in; as most kids in this age group may not know who Davy Jones or Jo King were... this is the perfect book to "buddy read" with your child or class and then discuss!
This book is for the overly imaginative dreamer! Topsea is the place to go to when you want to let go of everything you believe in and just "go with the flow"... it's meant to be light-hearted and whimsical quick fun read.
*A hardcover copy was sent to me by the publisher, Disney-Hyperion, for an honest review.
Davy and his mom have moved to Topsea to start fresh, and Davy is doing his absolute best to adjust and fit in. However, Topsea is not like any place he's ever been to or heard of - according to everyone who lives here - Mermaids are extinct, dogs are myths, seaweed may be the main ingredient in ALL of your foods and your school locker may be found at the bottom of the swimming pool!
Davy soon begins to realize that what is not normal to him is actually normal here. And once you start to accept what is happening, no matter how odd and out of place it may seem, it's actually not. This makes Davy feel better, as he used to be the odd one back at home and now he's the most normal person at Topsea. While Davy starts to accept his new normal, he also begins to mourn and accept the loss of his father.
The writing and flow of the story are so wonderfully unique! Our main character is Davy and we see Topsea mostly from his perspective. But, we also get to see Topsea through his new friends too, the local kids who have lived here their entire lives and don't see Topsea as weird. Included are the school's newspaper and local alerts letting us know what is happening in school and in the town - weather and other local news. The authors also include some "history" of Topsea through excerpts of what I believe may be a book called "Everything You Need to Know About Topsea" which helps the reader gain knowledge to understand why Topsea is the way it is before Davy does.
The illustrations fit the story so well! Amusing and quite charming, each sketch and image brought the book to life!
Another fun little tidbit about this book - adults will absolutely love all of the jokes and symbolism that the authors threw in; as most kids in this age group may not know who Davy Jones or Jo King were... this is the perfect book to "buddy read" with your child or class and then discuss!
This book is for the overly imaginative dreamer! Topsea is the place to go to when you want to let go of everything you believe in and just "go with the flow"... it's meant to be light-hearted and whimsical quick fun read.
*A hardcover copy was sent to me by the publisher, Disney-Hyperion, for an honest review.
January 28, 2018
A BIG Thank You to Netgalley and Disney-Hyperion for providing me an advanced reader copy of “A Friendly Town That's Almost Always by the Ocean!" by Kir Fox, M. Shelley Coats in exchange for my honest review.
Am I the only one who had mixed feelings about this book? I am seeing quite a lot of five star reviews out there for “Secrets of Topsea”, and the only term that comes to my mind for summing up this book is “meh”.
Don’t get me wrong. I love reading strange, bizarre books, particularly directed towards middle grade/YA that keeps you wondering on what’s going to happen next. This shows how creative the author is, and how far they will go out of the book to keep your attention to the story. This book had so many strange story arcs that included mermaids, missing dogs, trolls, anti-gravity and other quirky things to make it a memorable read. However, somewhere along the line, I started losing interest towards what was happening.
The main problem I had with this book was there was no plot or consistency. It is just random events that happen to Davy and his friends. I feel like the overall plot of the story was for Davy to adjust and come to terms with being accepted at Topsea, so it would have made sense for the author to just focus on his bizarre interactions with each of his friends. Instead, we get a separate stories of Talise looking at tide pools, and Quincy’s questions being stolen, that doesn’t have anything to do with Davy at all! Having said that, I did enjoy some of these small story arcs that didn’t have anything to do with the main character, like when Finn meets Billy under the boardwalk, or when Finn gets stuck in the chewing gum wall and Runa saves him. But again, looking back, these just seemed like fillers for the author to add on to the book to cover for the weak plot.
The illustrations by Rachel Sanson are cute and whimsical and compliment to the storylines. I also liked how each chapter begins or ends with snippets from the school newspaper or the survey form that Davy fills out.
I am sensing that this is not a standalone, but the first book in the series, from how the author has ended it. Maybe in the follow up we would get more answers as to what happened to the ice cream man and the Water Park. Hopefully, they author will make the story more consistent and interesting in book 2.
Overall, this was an average read that I would easily forget.
Am I the only one who had mixed feelings about this book? I am seeing quite a lot of five star reviews out there for “Secrets of Topsea”, and the only term that comes to my mind for summing up this book is “meh”.
Don’t get me wrong. I love reading strange, bizarre books, particularly directed towards middle grade/YA that keeps you wondering on what’s going to happen next. This shows how creative the author is, and how far they will go out of the book to keep your attention to the story. This book had so many strange story arcs that included mermaids, missing dogs, trolls, anti-gravity and other quirky things to make it a memorable read. However, somewhere along the line, I started losing interest towards what was happening.
The main problem I had with this book was there was no plot or consistency. It is just random events that happen to Davy and his friends. I feel like the overall plot of the story was for Davy to adjust and come to terms with being accepted at Topsea, so it would have made sense for the author to just focus on his bizarre interactions with each of his friends. Instead, we get a separate stories of Talise looking at tide pools, and Quincy’s questions being stolen, that doesn’t have anything to do with Davy at all! Having said that, I did enjoy some of these small story arcs that didn’t have anything to do with the main character, like when Finn meets Billy under the boardwalk, or when Finn gets stuck in the chewing gum wall and Runa saves him. But again, looking back, these just seemed like fillers for the author to add on to the book to cover for the weak plot.
The illustrations by Rachel Sanson are cute and whimsical and compliment to the storylines. I also liked how each chapter begins or ends with snippets from the school newspaper or the survey form that Davy fills out.
I am sensing that this is not a standalone, but the first book in the series, from how the author has ended it. Maybe in the follow up we would get more answers as to what happened to the ice cream man and the Water Park. Hopefully, they author will make the story more consistent and interesting in book 2.
Overall, this was an average read that I would easily forget.
January 13, 2018
I read this aloud to my 7 and 9 year old— great fun!!!
T says Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library is a readalike.
T says Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library is a readalike.
July 23, 2018
I kept getting frustrated with this book while I was reading it; that's why it's only 3 stars and not 4 stars. I thought that I would LOVE it, but I only liked it. I kept wanting resolution, and not getting it, and I felt like the authors were just being weird for the sake of trying to be weird and clever and show-off-y and not for the sake of forwarding the story.
*sigh* Now it sounds like I didn't like this at all, and that isn't the case. I would read the sequel, but with hesitation. I wouldn't rush out to get it is what I am saying. This was unique, but just left to many things unfulfilled.
*sigh* Now it sounds like I didn't like this at all, and that isn't the case. I would read the sequel, but with hesitation. I wouldn't rush out to get it is what I am saying. This was unique, but just left to many things unfulfilled.
January 1, 2018
The Nitty-Gritty:
I absolutely love bizarre middle grade novels. Most of the time they do such a fantastic job of capturing the wild imagination of a ten-year old child. And A Friendly Town definitely checks off all of the bizarre boxes. There are several strange vignettes, and having Davy (Jones – yes, I see what you did there with his locker at the bottom of the pool) as the new kid in town the reader has a channel for their endless questions. We have several fascinating characters – a boy who collects questions, a girl with a teacup pig/watch hog, a young bathymetrist, a star fifth-grade reporter – who fill out the town.
That being said, I found the story as a whole a little lacklustre. It felt a little bit like the authors couldn’t decide whether they wanted one narrative arc or several smaller ones. The vignettes made the story feel disjointed, and rather than provide the world with more depth and understanding, the news reports and letters and flyers throughout just seemed to add to the confusion. We didn’t get enough time with any of the characters to develop an attachment to any of them. And as a result of all of these things, the stakes never felt high enough.
I really think that Topsea would work much better as a television show. The vignettes seemed much more suited to an episode-of-the-week style cartoon, and I think that Topsea would have felt more like a magical, odd, curious place, rather than a strange, incohesive madhouse.
The Verdict:
I think that this would be a great read for a middle-grade child who struggles to read novels or who is dealing with some sort of attention deficit. The vignette style and constant switching of character perspectives would be helpful for someone who finds it hard to focus on one narrative for an entire novel
I absolutely love bizarre middle grade novels. Most of the time they do such a fantastic job of capturing the wild imagination of a ten-year old child. And A Friendly Town definitely checks off all of the bizarre boxes. There are several strange vignettes, and having Davy (Jones – yes, I see what you did there with his locker at the bottom of the pool) as the new kid in town the reader has a channel for their endless questions. We have several fascinating characters – a boy who collects questions, a girl with a teacup pig/watch hog, a young bathymetrist, a star fifth-grade reporter – who fill out the town.
That being said, I found the story as a whole a little lacklustre. It felt a little bit like the authors couldn’t decide whether they wanted one narrative arc or several smaller ones. The vignettes made the story feel disjointed, and rather than provide the world with more depth and understanding, the news reports and letters and flyers throughout just seemed to add to the confusion. We didn’t get enough time with any of the characters to develop an attachment to any of them. And as a result of all of these things, the stakes never felt high enough.
I really think that Topsea would work much better as a television show. The vignettes seemed much more suited to an episode-of-the-week style cartoon, and I think that Topsea would have felt more like a magical, odd, curious place, rather than a strange, incohesive madhouse.
The Verdict:
I think that this would be a great read for a middle-grade child who struggles to read novels or who is dealing with some sort of attention deficit. The vignette style and constant switching of character perspectives would be helpful for someone who finds it hard to focus on one narrative for an entire novel
February 6, 2018
Topsea definitely is a friendly little town, the positive characters, relationships, and interactions are what make this book great. Everyone is genuinely helpful and kind, the narrative doesn’t rely on tense characterization, conflict, or competitiveness to drive character relationships. The narrative is focused on just how weird Topsea is, and it takes that weirdness completely seriously. Basements with basements (that one should probably never go in), lockers at the bottom of swimming pools, gravity maintenance, and a (possibly) living bubblegum wall are all just part of the scenery as the kids in Topsea go about their daily lives. There is a lot of setup in this volume, I’m assuming this is the beginning of a series, with introductions to all the interesting kids and glimpses into their lives. I’m amazed by how much character exploration is achieved in such a short space, the kids come across as whole and multifaceted. I would have liked this one a bit better if there had been one overarching plotline that had resolved in the end, overall the book is made up of interconnected stories about each kid, which is very well done, I just kept expecting more to happen with some of the setup. I look forward to more in this series!
I received a digital ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
I received a digital ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
June 6, 2024
“…her heart so filled with love the entire solar system was playing pinball inside her chest, zinging and zapping and sparkling with comets and meteors and supernovas. That’s how it felt to Nia, anyway.)”
Seaside is a cute & humorous book for about a 5th graders. I love that it brings the weirdness & playfulness of “Welcome to Nightvale” into a sunny, seaside town. There are lots of details & inside jokes that come in like a lapping tide and encourage you to pay attention to details. I especially like the lore about mysterious basements & a mischievous ice cream man.
You can tell that this was probably written with an eye for TV and it’s all the worse for it. The structure just crashes about half way through the book & the result is some great episodes you’re glad you tuned into and some that you want to switch off. And occasionally it’s painfully apparent these kids are written by very concerned adults.
I like that it subverts conventions for this age group. Any time you think a romance or bully is about to strike, it inevitable turns into something very kind or wacky. In that way Seaside preserves the best of childhood even as it drifts off into the murky waters of adolescence. Where there are loving mentors, earnest friends, and the occasional loss of gravity, kids can make it just fine.
Seaside is a cute & humorous book for about a 5th graders. I love that it brings the weirdness & playfulness of “Welcome to Nightvale” into a sunny, seaside town. There are lots of details & inside jokes that come in like a lapping tide and encourage you to pay attention to details. I especially like the lore about mysterious basements & a mischievous ice cream man.
You can tell that this was probably written with an eye for TV and it’s all the worse for it. The structure just crashes about half way through the book & the result is some great episodes you’re glad you tuned into and some that you want to switch off. And occasionally it’s painfully apparent these kids are written by very concerned adults.
I like that it subverts conventions for this age group. Any time you think a romance or bully is about to strike, it inevitable turns into something very kind or wacky. In that way Seaside preserves the best of childhood even as it drifts off into the murky waters of adolescence. Where there are loving mentors, earnest friends, and the occasional loss of gravity, kids can make it just fine.
April 3, 2019
A very strange, yet still fairly entertaining read. There isn’t much of a plot, but instead a lot of jumping around to different characters and side stories. You learn a little about the town of Topsea but not enough in my opinion. It’s a little bit confusing (especially with the lack of plot) and while I understood some of the humor (Davy Jones with a locker at the bottom of the pool for example) I’m not sure middle grade readers would. I’m having a hard time thinking of any students at my school who I could recommend this to. It was a quick read and I liked it overall, but it’s not my favorite and probably not one I’d purchase for my library.
April 17, 2018
A fun, imaginative read. This book is mix of a variety elements that make up a charming, yet very unique middle grade story. Like Davy and his classmates discover, the harder you try to figure out anything that's happening in Topsea, the harder it is to understand all that's going. That's the part of what makes this story so fun to read. The trick is to just go with the flow when reading this story. Trust us!
FULL REVIEW https://mundiekids.blogspot.com/2018/...
FULL REVIEW https://mundiekids.blogspot.com/2018/...
January 5, 2019
This quirky book was a fun quick read. Filled with interesting characters and wacky circumstances, Topsea is the kind of book that will make you laugh and wonder. Davy, the main characters is pretty confused when he moves to this new town and his locker is at the bottom of the pool...but he has to "adjust." The story follows Davy's journey as he figures out the town and how to make friends. By the end he's figured out who he really is. At least we think he has. This book keeps you guessing until the very end. Great middle grade read.
February 1, 2019
This quick book is a fun change of pace. When I picked it up, I wasn’t thinking topsy-turvy but it is every bit of that... in the veins of Sideways Stories or the fun Weird School series. These clever characters with unique attributes (like the love of questions) make the story super fun to read - you never know WHAT could happen next. Stars might fall out of ice cream, what is normal is abnormal, and what is abnormal is hilarious. Looking forward to book #2.
January 29, 2019
My Review: This was such a cute story that made us laugh so much. This is just one of those books that even kids that hate reading would find so funny and dive right in. I know we did! We read this together for three nights in a row and well most likely read it again tonight. Dont let this one pass you by!
April 1, 2019
A little too goofy for me, but my daughters (8 & 11) loved it. They laughed out loud everytime someone called Davy by the wrong name. For me there was not enough of a plot, just one weird incident after another, and the shifting of the perspective from one character to another constantly was confusing.
May 9, 2018
I loved this. It's like if Sideways Stories from Wayside School met Welcome to Night Vale. It's funny and weird and creepy and heartwarming. I loved how the kids always triumphed and how friendships are portrayed.
December 3, 2018
A Wayside-school type fantasy with a main character who is new to the quirky town and helps ease the reader into the world of strange tides, oddly behaved crabs, a tragic dog legend, and an abandoned arcade. It would make for a fun read-aloud, although the bits about the dead dad are a downer.
January 31, 2019
Sandy fun
A good middle school reader. It s a story about a kid that moves to a new town and finds friends immediately so it’s definitely fiction. Designed for wacky fluff with a hint of mystery .
A good middle school reader. It s a story about a kid that moves to a new town and finds friends immediately so it’s definitely fiction. Designed for wacky fluff with a hint of mystery .
April 22, 2019
This book full of seaside mysteries, keeps one guessing until the end. Nothing is as it seems for newcomer Davy Jones in the mysterious town of Topsea. The friends he meets along the way keep his hope alive. The illustrations work beautifully with this somewhat wacky tale.
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