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Mulrox and the Malcognitos
"An original and witty adventure that celebrates the imagination”-Kirkus Reviews "A fun read for all ages that's funny, charming, and an all-around delight" -Readers’ Favorite 5 Star Review"Her sentences and dialogue bounce along, telling the story with sharp clarity and seemingly boundless imagination" -The BookLife Prize
A bad idea is nothing to worry about… until it knocks on your door.
Mulrox the ogre harbors a secret desire to become the world's greatest poet. Unfortunately, all of his ideas are rotten.
But when his terrible ideas come to life, Mulrox soon finds himself on a quest to protect the very ideas he loathes, the malcognitos as they call themselves. Accompanied by his sassy pet toad, quirky neighbor, and a hoard of mischievous bad ideas, Mulrox must travel to the malcognitos' realm, uncover the mystery of the beast hunting them, and return home in time to deliver the best poem of his life.
A wildly fun adventure about friendship, imagination, and embracing your imperfections for ages 8-12. Fans of The Phantom Tollbooth, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz will delight in this wacky and insightful children’s fantasy novel.If you like prophetic rodents, spellbinding sneezes, and ferocious sheep, you'll love this book. Join Mulrox and his friends for a wild ride full of antics, strange new creatures, and lots of bad poetry.
A bad idea is nothing to worry about… until it knocks on your door.
Mulrox the ogre harbors a secret desire to become the world's greatest poet. Unfortunately, all of his ideas are rotten.
But when his terrible ideas come to life, Mulrox soon finds himself on a quest to protect the very ideas he loathes, the malcognitos as they call themselves. Accompanied by his sassy pet toad, quirky neighbor, and a hoard of mischievous bad ideas, Mulrox must travel to the malcognitos' realm, uncover the mystery of the beast hunting them, and return home in time to deliver the best poem of his life.
A wildly fun adventure about friendship, imagination, and embracing your imperfections for ages 8-12. Fans of The Phantom Tollbooth, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz will delight in this wacky and insightful children’s fantasy novel.If you like prophetic rodents, spellbinding sneezes, and ferocious sheep, you'll love this book. Join Mulrox and his friends for a wild ride full of antics, strange new creatures, and lots of bad poetry.
- GenresMiddle GradeFantasy
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 29, 2020
5 people are currently reading
180 people want to read
About the author
Kerelyn Smith
1 book11 followersKerelyn Smith is a writer of literary, speculative, and children’s fiction. By day she is a software engineer, but she gets up in the wee hours of the morning to write. She lives in Seattle, WA, with her partner and dog, and enjoys hiking, gardening, and overcomplicating things. Mulrox and the Malcognitos is her first novel. Find out more at: kerelynsmith.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
May 29, 2021
What a charming, unique, magical story! Didn’t know what to expect w/a story mainly focused on ogres, but I really enjoyed it! Mulrox the ogre harbors a secret desire to become the world's greatest poet. Unfortunately, all of his ideas are rotten.
But when his terrible ideas come to life, Mulrox soon finds himself on a quest to protect the very ideas he loathes-the malcognitos as they call themselves. Accompanied by his sassy pet toad(Geraldine), quirky neighbor(Yahgurkin), & a hoard of mischievous bad ideas, Mulrox must travel to the malcognitos' realm, uncover the mystery of the beast hunting them, & return home in time to deliver the best poem of his life. It’s hard not to love Mulrox. Such a caring, soft-hearted soul, who feels left out, & like something is wrong w/him b/c he’s different from the other ogres. That makes him even more special though-who wants to be like everyone else? Yahgurkin has my heart. Such a kind soul, also different & an outcast, but so herself. Her heart is so big too. I’d have to say that Tork also has my heart. That thing is so sweet! Even Groxor grew on me, & had me liking him! All the characters are great. The main ones, & even the side characters. The Malcognitos were such a unique idea, & I loved all of them. Each character(including each Malcognito)is so different from the other, & easily identifiable. So much creativity from each character, & even the type of characters(sheep & grinders is what I will leave you w/to think about lol), to the world, the plot, the details, & the magic that’s in the story. The world & story build up pretty nicely too. It was nice seeing Mulrox grow & learn some important lessons. All ideas are good ideas, & we should embrace our “imperfections”. This is full of antics, humor, adventure, magic, & charm. The setbacks the characters keep facing help build the story & the suspense to a nice level as well. Absolutely loved the ending, & I hope we will see more from Mulrox & friends in the future! Absolutely beautiful cover by the amazing Matt Rockefeller too!💜
But when his terrible ideas come to life, Mulrox soon finds himself on a quest to protect the very ideas he loathes-the malcognitos as they call themselves. Accompanied by his sassy pet toad(Geraldine), quirky neighbor(Yahgurkin), & a hoard of mischievous bad ideas, Mulrox must travel to the malcognitos' realm, uncover the mystery of the beast hunting them, & return home in time to deliver the best poem of his life. It’s hard not to love Mulrox. Such a caring, soft-hearted soul, who feels left out, & like something is wrong w/him b/c he’s different from the other ogres. That makes him even more special though-who wants to be like everyone else? Yahgurkin has my heart. Such a kind soul, also different & an outcast, but so herself. Her heart is so big too. I’d have to say that Tork also has my heart. That thing is so sweet! Even Groxor grew on me, & had me liking him! All the characters are great. The main ones, & even the side characters. The Malcognitos were such a unique idea, & I loved all of them. Each character(including each Malcognito)is so different from the other, & easily identifiable. So much creativity from each character, & even the type of characters(sheep & grinders is what I will leave you w/to think about lol), to the world, the plot, the details, & the magic that’s in the story. The world & story build up pretty nicely too. It was nice seeing Mulrox grow & learn some important lessons. All ideas are good ideas, & we should embrace our “imperfections”. This is full of antics, humor, adventure, magic, & charm. The setbacks the characters keep facing help build the story & the suspense to a nice level as well. Absolutely loved the ending, & I hope we will see more from Mulrox & friends in the future! Absolutely beautiful cover by the amazing Matt Rockefeller too!💜
April 14, 2020
I just finished reading Kerelyn Smith’s debut, Mulrox and the Malcognitos. It has been an amazing journey these last few weeks as I have greatly enjoyed being part of Mulrox’s adventures. This is a story like no other, a unique fantasy that will fill your heart with adventure.
Mulrox is an ogre that is an outcast in his small town of Ulgorprog- It’s been his dream to be an amazing poet, but he just can’t seem to write anything good, and mostly everyone knows this. Soon, all of his terrible ideas-known as Malcognitos- come to life and now Mulrox, his toad, an ogress, the malcognitos, and others are on a quest. A wild cast of enemies follow Mulrox and his group in order to prevent their quest. Great messages throughout this story as well about overcoming weaknesses, building self-esteem, recognizing your talents and especially, growing through your mistakes. One of my favorite quotes is on page 135: “But ideas aren’t like that. They like company. Where there’s one idea, there’s bound to be a gaggle of others. A good idea won’t wander into town on its own, all shiny and perfect. They are wilder. They grow and change as you tend to them. Bad to good, good to bad. Like in a garden. Sure, there are pests that will wreak havoc, but you try to get rid of all of them and nothing will grow right.” Kerelyn’s debut is definitely a top favorite of mine that I enjoyed so much. My reading heart is full.
Mulrox is an ogre that is an outcast in his small town of Ulgorprog- It’s been his dream to be an amazing poet, but he just can’t seem to write anything good, and mostly everyone knows this. Soon, all of his terrible ideas-known as Malcognitos- come to life and now Mulrox, his toad, an ogress, the malcognitos, and others are on a quest. A wild cast of enemies follow Mulrox and his group in order to prevent their quest. Great messages throughout this story as well about overcoming weaknesses, building self-esteem, recognizing your talents and especially, growing through your mistakes. One of my favorite quotes is on page 135: “But ideas aren’t like that. They like company. Where there’s one idea, there’s bound to be a gaggle of others. A good idea won’t wander into town on its own, all shiny and perfect. They are wilder. They grow and change as you tend to them. Bad to good, good to bad. Like in a garden. Sure, there are pests that will wreak havoc, but you try to get rid of all of them and nothing will grow right.” Kerelyn’s debut is definitely a top favorite of mine that I enjoyed so much. My reading heart is full.
March 24, 2021
This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
I wasn’t sure what to expect from a book about ogres, but I was surprised how much I ended up loving Mulrox! It’s a fun and unique story with a lovely reinforcement of the message that “no idea is a bad idea.” Mulrox wants nothing more than to be a poet, but he just can’t manage to write anything he likes. He’s got a whole notebook full of rejected poems and scribblings, but none of it will win him the big competition so he can save his home. When a bunch of crazy characters called malcognitos show up, they send him off into the forest and then into a strange realm where he has to save them from disappearing. The story feels a teensy bit long in the middle, but I quickly forgave it that flaw because it’s full of quirky characters and madcap adventures, and shows that creative inspiration can come from anywhere!
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher in order to read it for the Cybils Awards. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
I wasn’t sure what to expect from a book about ogres, but I was surprised how much I ended up loving Mulrox! It’s a fun and unique story with a lovely reinforcement of the message that “no idea is a bad idea.” Mulrox wants nothing more than to be a poet, but he just can’t manage to write anything he likes. He’s got a whole notebook full of rejected poems and scribblings, but none of it will win him the big competition so he can save his home. When a bunch of crazy characters called malcognitos show up, they send him off into the forest and then into a strange realm where he has to save them from disappearing. The story feels a teensy bit long in the middle, but I quickly forgave it that flaw because it’s full of quirky characters and madcap adventures, and shows that creative inspiration can come from anywhere!
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher in order to read it for the Cybils Awards. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
March 24, 2020
A fantastical tale with depth, adventure, and humor. The characters are distinct and idiosyncratic and wonderful. I hope to see more of them! The descriptive language is often poetic that hits a sweet spot -- neither high-brow nor overly simplistic, the author just knows how to turn a phrase. The plot winds a bit in the first half, but it's fun to travel along with the characters as layers are added to the world and their place in it. Some of the abstract concepts toward the end are a bit mind-bending and thus I think it better suited to an upper MG audience, but I would still recommend this to my 9-year-old just as much my 12-year-old. And after we read the book, we'd watch the movie -- I can imagine Pixar or Dreamworks optioning it. This book is quirky and unique and full of warmth in all the right ways.
I received an ARC copy from the author and this is my honest review.
I received an ARC copy from the author and this is my honest review.
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March 9, 2020Thank you to the author for an eARC of this book.
Mulrox desperately wants to be a poet, but he's just not happy with anything that he writes. His great aunt comes to live with him after he hurts her hip, and life for Mulrox becomes unbearable. She threatens to send him away and take over his home unless he places first in The Beatific Behemoth contest. But Mulrox is soon distracted when he meets the malcognitos, his bad ideas come to life, and he must go on a quest to return them to their home in Sounous before his big performance. Along the way he encounters many obstacles, but makes some new friends who both help and hinder his progress. Can Mulrox find his best idea in time, or will he find something even more valuable in the process?
This story is filled with imaginative characters set in a magical world. Mulrox encounters one challenge after another, but I love to see his confidence grow over the course of the story. He has some very supportive companions, and I like the comparison to The Wizard of Oz (and I'd cross that with The Hobbit). I'll be very curious to hear what young readers think of this story.
Mulrox desperately wants to be a poet, but he's just not happy with anything that he writes. His great aunt comes to live with him after he hurts her hip, and life for Mulrox becomes unbearable. She threatens to send him away and take over his home unless he places first in The Beatific Behemoth contest. But Mulrox is soon distracted when he meets the malcognitos, his bad ideas come to life, and he must go on a quest to return them to their home in Sounous before his big performance. Along the way he encounters many obstacles, but makes some new friends who both help and hinder his progress. Can Mulrox find his best idea in time, or will he find something even more valuable in the process?
This story is filled with imaginative characters set in a magical world. Mulrox encounters one challenge after another, but I love to see his confidence grow over the course of the story. He has some very supportive companions, and I like the comparison to The Wizard of Oz (and I'd cross that with The Hobbit). I'll be very curious to hear what young readers think of this story.
December 24, 2020
Mulrox is not a normal ogre. Instead of loving to smash and destroy, he dreams of becoming the world’s greatest poet. Great Aunt Griselda the Gruesome has other plans for Mulrox, however, and her arrival marks the beginning of a series of unpleasant events that lead Mulrox to the adventure of a lifetime. Banding together with another misfit ogre named Yahgurkin, his trusty toad Geraldine, and a group of spirited creatures called malcognitos, Mulrox finds himself deep in the Woods Murcurial looking for a way to get the malcognitos home. What they find along the way is more than any of them ever expected.
Fantasy and humor come together in this lighthearted story about friendship and learning to believe in oneself. Much like in The Lord of the Rings or Willow, Mulrox is the unsuspecting hero who has adventure thrust upon him when it is the last thing he is looking for. Established in an unfamiliar world, readers must get to know Mulrox’s home and how everything connects within it. By about halfway through the book, each of the independent parts have come together so it is easier to recognize the relationships among them.
Talking animals and creatures add to the fantastic nature of this story even as the themes are familiar to human readers. Rhyming poems appear throughout the book and bring with them an enjoyably silly respite from the rest of the narrative. Readers of all ages will enjoy the thorough and vivid descriptions of each scene, inspiring imaginative imagery without actual pictures.
Middle grade readers and adults who enjoy fantasy adventures will embrace Mulrox’s story and the lessons he learns along the way.
Fantasy and humor come together in this lighthearted story about friendship and learning to believe in oneself. Much like in The Lord of the Rings or Willow, Mulrox is the unsuspecting hero who has adventure thrust upon him when it is the last thing he is looking for. Established in an unfamiliar world, readers must get to know Mulrox’s home and how everything connects within it. By about halfway through the book, each of the independent parts have come together so it is easier to recognize the relationships among them.
Talking animals and creatures add to the fantastic nature of this story even as the themes are familiar to human readers. Rhyming poems appear throughout the book and bring with them an enjoyably silly respite from the rest of the narrative. Readers of all ages will enjoy the thorough and vivid descriptions of each scene, inspiring imaginative imagery without actual pictures.
Middle grade readers and adults who enjoy fantasy adventures will embrace Mulrox’s story and the lessons he learns along the way.
July 3, 2021
This upper MG fantasy is centered around an ogre who doesn't fit it. Instead of raiding and smashing, he prefers to fill his notebook with poems and bad ideas, harboring a secret desire to become the world's greatest poet. His bad ideas, malcognitos, come to life, hurtling Mulrox on an unexpected quest. Although not fast-paced, this book IS a one-of-a-kind adventure, filled with twists, turns, roadblocks, quirky one-liners, goofy poetry, and a host of very endearing characters. I loved the concept of the malcognitos! Each one was unique with opinions and a mind of its own. The world building was fantastic, and like all great middle grade novels, the story wraps up nicely with a plot twist and a happy ending. A great read for aspiring poets, lovers of literature and quirky adventures.
October 20, 2020
With grand ambitions to become an epic poet, Mulrox is painfully aware that his amateur scribblings can't compete. Bad ideas are the last thing he needs with a high-stakes contest to prepare for, so when a plague of them arrive at his doorstep, Mulrox is determined to be swiftly rid of the Malcognitos.
Reasons to read Mulrox and the Malcognitos:
~the wise and true toad
~a frustrated poet
~glamourous sheep
~glowing mushrooms
~personified ideas
A perfect pick for young D&D fanatics looking for books with non-human characters, writerly word-nerdish types in need of some creative encouragement, and voracious readers who love a substantial Fantasy adventure.
Reasons to read Mulrox and the Malcognitos:
~the wise and true toad
~a frustrated poet
~glamourous sheep
~glowing mushrooms
~personified ideas
A perfect pick for young D&D fanatics looking for books with non-human characters, writerly word-nerdish types in need of some creative encouragement, and voracious readers who love a substantial Fantasy adventure.
March 15, 2021
What an immersive and highly imaginative fantasy unlike one I've read before! Poor Mulrox is an ogre who loves to write poetry and hates smashing and pounding, things ogres should love to do. From an overbearing and rude aunt to a pestering group of sheep to his bad ideas literally coming to life, readers will go on a quest filled with eccentric characters, challenging obstacles, descriptive landscapes, and fun to read poems in a race against time as Mulrox has to guide his bad ideas home and write the best piece of poetry he's ever written! MULROX AND THE MALCOGNITOS by @kerelynsmithauthor is a book kids and adults alike will enjoy!
June 1, 2020
Wow wow wow was this a delight! Mulrox was born to be a poet... but all his ideas are terrible. When his bad ideas come to life in the form of malcognitos, he sets off on a quest with them
This was truly a gem. The world was richly descriptive. Each of the creatures was dynamic, unique, creative. The writing was witty and clever--reminded my quite a bit of Roald Dahl. Mulrox was such a lovable ogre. And the poetry was fantastic! Aspiring poets especially will be charmed by this novel! ABSOLUTELY charming
This was truly a gem. The world was richly descriptive. Each of the creatures was dynamic, unique, creative. The writing was witty and clever--reminded my quite a bit of Roald Dahl. Mulrox was such a lovable ogre. And the poetry was fantastic! Aspiring poets especially will be charmed by this novel! ABSOLUTELY charming
May 15, 2020
It's hard not to fall in love with the ogre Mulrox who from the start is besieged by his overbearing great aunt who steals his house out from under him, his bad ideas come to life (a writer's worst nightmare), and a roaming band of ferocious sheep that won't leave him alone. I know kids will be laughing along like I was as Mulrox overcomes all his setbacks that get in the way of what he really wants -- to write poetry.
January 15, 2021
Imagination is important! Authors are like children, we know imagination is important. Kerelyn Smith shows us in Mulrox and Malcognitos that there are really no bad ideas just partially formed ones. Although written with children in mind I found this book a delight. Mulrox seems like the writer in all of us facing all the ideas we have every day and wondering is this really good?
May 9, 2020
The description of places, events and characters in this book were incredible! Young readers will LOVE this novel. It is full of fantasy, adventure and laughs! Mulrox, the ogre, wants to be a poet, but none of his work is acceptable to him. His ailing aunt comes to live with him and this adds additional problems to Mulrox's life. His aunt threatens to take over his house and send him away unless he places first in The Beatific Behemoth contest! To add to his stress, Mulrox's bad ideas, the malcognitos, come alive and he must return them to their home. It's a race against time for Mulrox to produce his best work ever! The characters are fun and whimsical. Themes of self-confidence, learning through mistakes and working through obstacles abound in this book. Definitely buying for my fifth grade ELA classroom!
January 18, 2022
So imaginative and fun!
The book has a delightful premise, with ideas coming to life, evolving, and taking on personalities of their own! I love strong world building, and this book delivered, with some fun and imaginative details. There is also some clever word play and some fantastic character names (I am a sucker for great names!).
The book has a delightful premise, with ideas coming to life, evolving, and taking on personalities of their own! I love strong world building, and this book delivered, with some fun and imaginative details. There is also some clever word play and some fantastic character names (I am a sucker for great names!).
June 16, 2020
Quirky, imaginative and delightful! What a wonderful story. Kerelyn Smith's first book is a winner. She has created a fantasy world filled with believable characters and a solid plot. The author writes beautifully, and has created a spellbinding story that carries us along as Mulrox seeks to rid himself of his bad ideas and achieve his dream of becoming a poet. This is a perfect read for upper elementary/middle school students who love fantasy fiction...or want to try it out for the first time!
December 17, 2020
Mulrox is a fantastic character that is relatable and loveable. This journey is filled with laughter and insight into the trials of growing up and growing into yourself and would be enjoyable for people of all ages. The writing is witty and provides twists and turns that keep you guessing and engaged! It also provides self-growth without being overt, and the world created is magical and original. I fell in love with the concept of malcognitos and am very excited to see what might come next for mulrox and his crew!
April 4, 2020
I loved Mulrox and the Malcognitos! This book is so delightful, I felt happy every time I picked it up. The plot and characters keep you interested, and just when you think you know what's happening there's a fun new twist. I love how relatable Mulrox is; even though I've never been followed around by my own bad ideas come to life, seeing him face his problems and solve them makes me feel like I can do the same. It's a feel-good adventure with a magical forest, enchanted creatures, bullying ogres and friendly misfits. Can't recommend it enough! I hope Kerelyn Smith writes more soon!
April 6, 2020
An absolutely charming fantasy with imagination and heart. I don't read a lot of fantasy adventure books, so I fear I haven't the right vocabulary for a proper review, but Mulrox sucked me in with its world building and kept me in with its compelling characters and unique, imaginative details and plot twists. A poetry-loving ogre? Fantastic. And how can you not adore a pet toad named Geraldine? Highly recommend for advanced middle graders.
June 27, 2020
Paperback copy from #bookposse
Reading Mulrox and the Malcognitos was such a unique and FUN experience. The creativity and imagination of Kerelyn Smith is astounding, and at many points of the story I was reminded of reading books such as The Phantom Tollbooth that are both simple on the surface and have layers of complexity and metaphor. Mulrox is an ogre who doesn't quite fit in with the others in his village. Instead of feeling the need to smash and destroy things, all he wants to do is write poetry and become the most famous poet of his time. His parents were sent away when we was younger for something that Mulrox had done, and this inner guilt shows up throughout the story and Mulrox's journey. (I would have liked to see this part with his parents a little more developed since I drew a connection between this and Mulrox's lack of confidence.)
When his somewhat evil and greatly insufferable great aunt comes to stay with him while she nurses an injured hip back to health, she decides that Mulrox needs to go to a school where he will learn to act more like a proper ogre; which is the last thing Mulrox wants to do. As a result, he makes a deal with her that if he wins an upcoming competition, he can stay in his home and she will leave.
While Mulrox begins preparing his first place worthy poem for the competition, he runs into a bit of a problem when the malcognitos invade his life! He discovers that these crazy creatures are all of this bad ideas come to life! What ensues is an epic journey that includes a cast of characters that the reader will fall in love with and love to hate (Groxer).
With themes of friendship, believing in yourself, and learning to see both yourself and others for who they really are, Mulrox and the Malcognitos won't disappoint! I can't wait to get this title into the hands of my middle schoolers who love fantasy.
Reading Mulrox and the Malcognitos was such a unique and FUN experience. The creativity and imagination of Kerelyn Smith is astounding, and at many points of the story I was reminded of reading books such as The Phantom Tollbooth that are both simple on the surface and have layers of complexity and metaphor. Mulrox is an ogre who doesn't quite fit in with the others in his village. Instead of feeling the need to smash and destroy things, all he wants to do is write poetry and become the most famous poet of his time. His parents were sent away when we was younger for something that Mulrox had done, and this inner guilt shows up throughout the story and Mulrox's journey. (I would have liked to see this part with his parents a little more developed since I drew a connection between this and Mulrox's lack of confidence.)
When his somewhat evil and greatly insufferable great aunt comes to stay with him while she nurses an injured hip back to health, she decides that Mulrox needs to go to a school where he will learn to act more like a proper ogre; which is the last thing Mulrox wants to do. As a result, he makes a deal with her that if he wins an upcoming competition, he can stay in his home and she will leave.
While Mulrox begins preparing his first place worthy poem for the competition, he runs into a bit of a problem when the malcognitos invade his life! He discovers that these crazy creatures are all of this bad ideas come to life! What ensues is an epic journey that includes a cast of characters that the reader will fall in love with and love to hate (Groxer).
With themes of friendship, believing in yourself, and learning to see both yourself and others for who they really are, Mulrox and the Malcognitos won't disappoint! I can't wait to get this title into the hands of my middle schoolers who love fantasy.
August 31, 2020
A complex adventure full of bad ideas, good ideas, and self-doubt.
I love the world-building of this novel, filled with great dialogue infused with humor. It made me want to turn the pages and find the next scene with more of their interaction.
The build-up has many relatable themes, especially for those who deal with writing, love for poetry, artist block, self-doubt... Simultaneously, the author gave us a unique journey with unique characters and a great premise.
I love the world-building of this novel, filled with great dialogue infused with humor. It made me want to turn the pages and find the next scene with more of their interaction.
The build-up has many relatable themes, especially for those who deal with writing, love for poetry, artist block, self-doubt... Simultaneously, the author gave us a unique journey with unique characters and a great premise.
June 11, 2020
I read a lot of middle grade, and I can honestly say that I've never read something like this. Highly imaginative. Enjoyed the themes of embracing our ideas and working through self-doubt.
July 8, 2022
It took me a little bit to get into this story, but once I did, I thought it was brilliant! I described to my teen son the hook, a character afraid to write because he idolizes the ideal of producing one perfect, "very best idea" -- in this case a poem. But my son immediately related it to his music writing / composing, and how sometimes he's so disappointed with the music he writes because it isn't exactly the way he hears it in his head. He likened it to being paralyzed by perfectionism, which I thought was a great way to connect with the story.
Mulrox is a poetry-writing ogre, and he comes up with some terrible ideas when he's trying to rhyme: "like a tree with frog legs," "death with a kiss," and "rock like skin."
His truly horrible Aunt shows up one day, discovers his poetry notebooks, and declares he's a disgrace to ogres and she's taking the little hut his missing parents left him away from him, to use as her own.
He's very unhappy about it, flops around on his bed and confides in his pet toad, Geraldine, but there's really nothing he can do about it. But if he can win the upcoming poetry contest, with the perfect idea, the best idea he's ever had (but hasn't had yet), then he might redeem himself.
Then these weird creatures show up, including one named Yvwi. They plead for Mulrox's help. They've escaped the Sounus into the real world, "Veralby," because they're being wiped, erased by a creature called the Vaccus. And only Mulrox can save them. They want to take him to a portal in the forest so he can fight the fearful creature on their behalf.
But Mulrox doesn't want to be considered any more a failure as an ogre than he already is. He just wants the creatures to go away.
Then Yvwi sneezes on the town's ogre-bully, Groxor, and he runs screaming into the Wild Woods, where no ogre ever goes. Mulrox's neighbor, Yahgurkin, who isn't exactly a shining example of an ogress herself, as she plants a garden and is into healing herbs and things, convinces Mulrox Groxor's illness is partially his fault and he should go with her to find Groxor and cure him.
All the while, Mulrox just wants the bad ideas -- because that's what the creatures who've found him are, they're all his bad ideas, come to life -- to go away. (Yvwi is short for Your very worst idea.)
As they get closer to the portal, they find Groxor but they can't cure him. Then a herd of enchanted sheep camouflaging a buzz-saw like creature chases and tries to kill them. When they get to where Yvwi swears the portal should be, there's nothing but a teeny, tiny hole. They can't get into the Sonous that way.
But it's like the old saying, "you can never go home again." Mulrox inadvertently cures Groxor, who does head home, post-haste, to encounter a town mesmerized by an entity that wants everything just so -- absolutely perfect -- for her arrival. At the poetry contest.
And that meant, getting Mulrox out of town. Permanently.
I won't spoil the twists still coming. It's quite a complicated plot, but never without laughs, and it gets better as you get deeper into the story. The ending was what clinched it for me. I thought it was fantastic!
Enjoy!
For Teachers: Please make sure to bookmark the author's web pages. There's a really good set of teaching materials for this, including comprehension questions by section and even a recipe for the "snot" featured in the book (that infects Groxor). It's a fantastic teaching unit and the message of the book is such a wonderful literary metaphor. She also offers an audio book version of the first chapter, and if you book an author visit, I have it on good authority she does a great activity with the plants featured in the book, too!
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
Mulrox is a poetry-writing ogre, and he comes up with some terrible ideas when he's trying to rhyme: "like a tree with frog legs," "death with a kiss," and "rock like skin."
His truly horrible Aunt shows up one day, discovers his poetry notebooks, and declares he's a disgrace to ogres and she's taking the little hut his missing parents left him away from him, to use as her own.
He's very unhappy about it, flops around on his bed and confides in his pet toad, Geraldine, but there's really nothing he can do about it. But if he can win the upcoming poetry contest, with the perfect idea, the best idea he's ever had (but hasn't had yet), then he might redeem himself.
Then these weird creatures show up, including one named Yvwi. They plead for Mulrox's help. They've escaped the Sounus into the real world, "Veralby," because they're being wiped, erased by a creature called the Vaccus. And only Mulrox can save them. They want to take him to a portal in the forest so he can fight the fearful creature on their behalf.
But Mulrox doesn't want to be considered any more a failure as an ogre than he already is. He just wants the creatures to go away.
Then Yvwi sneezes on the town's ogre-bully, Groxor, and he runs screaming into the Wild Woods, where no ogre ever goes. Mulrox's neighbor, Yahgurkin, who isn't exactly a shining example of an ogress herself, as she plants a garden and is into healing herbs and things, convinces Mulrox Groxor's illness is partially his fault and he should go with her to find Groxor and cure him.
All the while, Mulrox just wants the bad ideas -- because that's what the creatures who've found him are, they're all his bad ideas, come to life -- to go away. (Yvwi is short for Your very worst idea.)
As they get closer to the portal, they find Groxor but they can't cure him. Then a herd of enchanted sheep camouflaging a buzz-saw like creature chases and tries to kill them. When they get to where Yvwi swears the portal should be, there's nothing but a teeny, tiny hole. They can't get into the Sonous that way.
But it's like the old saying, "you can never go home again." Mulrox inadvertently cures Groxor, who does head home, post-haste, to encounter a town mesmerized by an entity that wants everything just so -- absolutely perfect -- for her arrival. At the poetry contest.
And that meant, getting Mulrox out of town. Permanently.
I won't spoil the twists still coming. It's quite a complicated plot, but never without laughs, and it gets better as you get deeper into the story. The ending was what clinched it for me. I thought it was fantastic!
Enjoy!
For Teachers: Please make sure to bookmark the author's web pages. There's a really good set of teaching materials for this, including comprehension questions by section and even a recipe for the "snot" featured in the book (that infects Groxor). It's a fantastic teaching unit and the message of the book is such a wonderful literary metaphor. She also offers an audio book version of the first chapter, and if you book an author visit, I have it on good authority she does a great activity with the plants featured in the book, too!
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
February 21, 2021
“Hold on to those terrible ideas. The good ones change others, but the bad, they change you. There’s nothing more powerful than that.”
What a charming book! The Malcognitos were so cute and fun, and they carried such a heartfelt message. I really enjoyed watching Mulrox’s journey through this twisting adventure as he finally discovers the power of his own ideas. And with a supporting cast of the quirky Yagurkin, the reluctantly rhyming Groxor, and, of course, Geraldine (my personal favorite), this is really a fresh, enjoyable read that will appeal to Middle Grade lovers of any age. I loved the descriptive prose, and would definitely read more from this author.
What a charming book! The Malcognitos were so cute and fun, and they carried such a heartfelt message. I really enjoyed watching Mulrox’s journey through this twisting adventure as he finally discovers the power of his own ideas. And with a supporting cast of the quirky Yagurkin, the reluctantly rhyming Groxor, and, of course, Geraldine (my personal favorite), this is really a fresh, enjoyable read that will appeal to Middle Grade lovers of any age. I loved the descriptive prose, and would definitely read more from this author.
March 21, 2021
What a sweet middle-grade fantasy! Once I started reading, I was hooked.
Mulrox is an ogre with a desire to become a poet--a quest I could easily imagine myself in... The tone and language is just right for kid readers, with a sense of whimsy and humor, while still having plenty of depth in the adventure and desires of Mulrox.
Highly recommend this for fantasy readers, and lovers of Roald Dahl for the whimsical yet straightforward language. Hope to see more of Mulrox!
Mulrox is an ogre with a desire to become a poet--a quest I could easily imagine myself in... The tone and language is just right for kid readers, with a sense of whimsy and humor, while still having plenty of depth in the adventure and desires of Mulrox.
Highly recommend this for fantasy readers, and lovers of Roald Dahl for the whimsical yet straightforward language. Hope to see more of Mulrox!
March 22, 2021
What would you do if your bad ideas came to life?!? My fellow authors will relate to poor Mulrox, a gentle ogre who prefers writing poetry and collecting interesting words to smashing things. I loved traveling with him through the Woods Mercurial in this funny, original, sweet, well-crafted fantasy story! Perfect for upper-middle-grade readers looking for something a little different.
February 11, 2021
This book brought me so much joy. I could hang out with Mulrox and his friends (I feel like Mulrox would frown on calling them his friends, but Yahgurkin would insist) anytime! In fact, I’m ready to head off on another adventure with them right now!
February 8, 2025
Very silly. I had some problems with the internal logic of it (in a society that hates creative expression, WHY would there be a famous, revered poet for the main character to look up to...?). But not terrible.
April 12, 2021
A very fun book with a good message.
April 22, 2020
A richly imagined fantasy that will leave you rooting for the underdogs and an army of bad ideas.
This book has a great message for all of us, students and adults alike. There's value in all of our ideas - the good, the bad and the tree-with-frog-legs!
This book has a great message for all of us, students and adults alike. There's value in all of our ideas - the good, the bad and the tree-with-frog-legs!
November 3, 2021
A complex adventure full of bad ideas, good ideas, and self-doubt.
I love the world-building of this novel, filled with great dialogue infused with humor. It made me want to turn the pages and find the next scene with more of their interaction.
The build-up has many relatable themes, especially for those who deal with writing, love for poetry, artist block, self-doubt... Simultaneously, the author gave us a unique journey with unique characters and a great premise.
I love the world-building of this novel, filled with great dialogue infused with humor. It made me want to turn the pages and find the next scene with more of their interaction.
The build-up has many relatable themes, especially for those who deal with writing, love for poetry, artist block, self-doubt... Simultaneously, the author gave us a unique journey with unique characters and a great premise.
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