Timothy Top: The Yellow Whale

Timothy Top #2

by Gud

In this second book of the series, little Timothy starts to make new friends in school; other kids who are teased for their clumsiness, physical appearances, or peculiar interests. And, it seems, who also have special elemental powers of their own! But even with their hidden talents, they have to deal with bullying . . .Meanwhile, the evil Mr. Plumbee is abducted by aliens who conspire with him to forge a new diabolical plan for yet another attack on the town of Bratisbona, starting with the kidnapping of Timothy's parents and sister . . . !Will Timothy Top be able to save his city and resolve the discrimination in his classroom? Above all: will he succeed in bringing his parents back to planet Earth?

Genres: Graphic Novels

144 pages, Paperback

Published May 7, 2019

Reviews

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite as accomplished, different or coherent as the first book in the series, this is also not terribly easy for any newcomers to get into. Our boy with his farty pig discovered he was super-powered in his efforts to save just one tree, last time out. He'll slowly discover more of his friends have different abilities, but… The evil developer bloke (think Gru but slightly different) has been kidnapped by aliens who admire his wildlife-hating nature, and think he'll be a suitable companion in their anti-chlorophyll quest. This is a more slow-building drama, where our hero has much less agency, as he doesn't even know of the threat developing elsewhere. So instead we'll get morals about friendship and a very heavy-handed anti-bullying section, which wasn't what we signed up for. And just when we see some drama coming into focus, we're told to come back for book three. Gah. Still, for the young reader this is more than adequate, even if some of the more distinguished things that made the original so universally attractive have long gone.

[Sally Wilsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

In book two poor Timothy has a lot to deal with. Making friends with children who are different, the kidnaping or his parents and sister, and the evil Mr. Plumbee. It is a cute story within a story that deals with bullying, the special talents of children who are different and just being a child. I think this book is good to help bring up a wide range of topics for children and parents. Recommended for children 9-12.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.