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The Incredible Adventures of Absolutely Normal
The kingdom of Gwytthenia is in peril. A plague has festered and has transformed the once beautiful land into one of dearth and danger. After years of exile in His castle and feeling like an unwelcome stranger in his own land, the good King sends trusted emissaries to our world in order to fetch a hero. Enter Samuel Christopher an extraordinary boy who is handsome, brave, smart, well-liked, and everything a hero should be. But this story is not about Samuel. For from the bed where Samuel should be, the king’s emissaries find and abscond with Samuel’s cousin, Albert, a boy who is –by anyone’s estimation, including his own– absolutely normal. When Albert wakes up, he is stranded, hurt, and alone in a snowbank. There, he is discovered by a gruff but loveable penguin named Malarkey. Once he has nursed Albert back to health, Malarkey tells Albert to find the King and ask why he was brought here. This simple, straightforward quest on which Malarkey sends Albert turns out to be, well, malarkey. Instead, Albert finds himself facing one disaster after giant spiders, monsters of many heads, and near starvation in the crossings of a wilderness, among other dangers. Yet, through it all he perseveres, finding friendship and kindness in the uncanny forms of dwarves obsessed with 1950’s Americana, flying bears, fierce warrior women, and many others. The Incredible Adventures of Absolutely Normal is an old-fashioned fairytale, reminiscent of The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings . It lays out for readers the making of a hero and shows them how strength lies within us all, if only we have the courage to look for it.
190 pages, Hardcover
Published May 15, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 4, 2021
I read this back in August. It's kind of a love letter to middle-grade fantasy novel classics written by authors such as CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien. However, it's a little derivative and feels collaged together with a healthy dose of weirdness. I especially appreciated the relationship between Albert and his penguin friend Malarkey. The Christian themes are pretty overt, so take that as you will. It's definitely an option for parents looking for starter fantasy for their kids who want some Christian elements thrown in.
Overall rating: 3.5/5.0 stars.
Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine. http://affairedecoeur.com.
Overall rating: 3.5/5.0 stars.
Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine. http://affairedecoeur.com.
March 23, 2020
In The Incredible Adventures of Absolutely Normal, cousins Samuel and Albert are living together after the death of Albert’s father. Since Albert’s mother needs family support, Samuel’s mom reorganizes their house, moves Samuel to an attic bedroom, and lets Albert use Samuel’s old room. Both boys are 10 to 11 years old, but that’s where the commonalities end. Samuel Christopher McCubbins seems almost perfect, while Albert Robert Thomas Jackson is as ordinary as can be. While the cousins settle into their new routines, the King of a special place called Gwytthenia is looking for a hero to save his land from a horrible evil. He gives a fairy, Moonlor, and her partner, Dewdron, the McCubbins’s home address, and they inadvertently kidnap Albert instead of Samuel as was intended. When something goes terribly wrong with the portal that stormy night, the three are separated, and Albert winds up in the snowy mountains, cold and alone except for the company of a penguin named Malarkey. They live together awhile as Albert recuperates, and when it’s time for him to move on, Malarkey reluctantly agrees to go with him.
Little do Albert and Malarkey know this is the beginning of a long, fantastic adventure that forces them to use their wits. Living off of the natural resources of the land when they can, they camp out most nights and entertain themselves with stories. By day, their goal is to travel north toward the King’s castle. Albert hopes the King will help him get back home. Along the way, he and Malarkey meet all sorts of unusual characters and creatures, many of whom are helpful and friendly. Several warn them that the kingdom is in trouble, and a couple of times, they have to go to battle to save themselves. They’re sidetracked so much that almost every chapter offers a surprise. Some of their experiences are great fun, and others are sad. Throughout the book, both Albert and Malarkey courageously face hurts and fears, and they ultimately learn a lot about life, nature, friendship, and themselves.
Opinion:
I enjoyed reading The Incredible Adventures of Absolutely Normal. It’s an awesome fantasy with many elements of an old-fashioned fairy tale. This is the first book in a series, so it will be interesting to learn how everything works out in the end. The narrative is written in an upbeat, whimsical way, but at the same time it is suspenseful with numerous twists and turns. I like how subtly a few Bible themes are woven into the plot, so the story feels familiar. It’s perfect for 8- to 12-year-olds because it moves along at a steady pace, holds the reader's attention, and has detailed descriptions that bring the story to life. Also, the characters are imaginative and full of personality. I think the best part of the book is that the main characters know they aren’t perfect, but they still strive to do what's right in situations even when they feel uncomfortable or scared.
Little do Albert and Malarkey know this is the beginning of a long, fantastic adventure that forces them to use their wits. Living off of the natural resources of the land when they can, they camp out most nights and entertain themselves with stories. By day, their goal is to travel north toward the King’s castle. Albert hopes the King will help him get back home. Along the way, he and Malarkey meet all sorts of unusual characters and creatures, many of whom are helpful and friendly. Several warn them that the kingdom is in trouble, and a couple of times, they have to go to battle to save themselves. They’re sidetracked so much that almost every chapter offers a surprise. Some of their experiences are great fun, and others are sad. Throughout the book, both Albert and Malarkey courageously face hurts and fears, and they ultimately learn a lot about life, nature, friendship, and themselves.
Opinion:
I enjoyed reading The Incredible Adventures of Absolutely Normal. It’s an awesome fantasy with many elements of an old-fashioned fairy tale. This is the first book in a series, so it will be interesting to learn how everything works out in the end. The narrative is written in an upbeat, whimsical way, but at the same time it is suspenseful with numerous twists and turns. I like how subtly a few Bible themes are woven into the plot, so the story feels familiar. It’s perfect for 8- to 12-year-olds because it moves along at a steady pace, holds the reader's attention, and has detailed descriptions that bring the story to life. Also, the characters are imaginative and full of personality. I think the best part of the book is that the main characters know they aren’t perfect, but they still strive to do what's right in situations even when they feel uncomfortable or scared.
March 31, 2020
I received an Advance Readers Copy of The Incredible Adventures of Absolutely Normal in exchange for an honest review. As someone who enjoys YA fiction along with suspenseful thrillers I have to say this is one of the best YA books I've ever read. It completely swept me away to a world that felt completely real, with a story that will be loved by every kid who's ever felt unequipped to deal with the challenges life sends us. Young Albert's journey in this beautiful and suspenseful story is the first leg of an Odyssey I'll follow until the end. It's one of those books you'll read and share and read again - a perfect, thrilling escape.
August 3, 2023
Albert is not perfect.
He is not even remarkable.
Which makes him incredibly relatable to readers who also find themselves in the not-perfect category.
Despite not being born to greatness, Albert is picked up and dropped into a setting wherein a hero should thrive and learn bit by bit how to become such a hero.
Bedtime readers of C.S. Lewis will likely enjoy The Incredible Adventures of Absolutely Normal.
He is not even remarkable.
Which makes him incredibly relatable to readers who also find themselves in the not-perfect category.
Despite not being born to greatness, Albert is picked up and dropped into a setting wherein a hero should thrive and learn bit by bit how to become such a hero.
Bedtime readers of C.S. Lewis will likely enjoy The Incredible Adventures of Absolutely Normal.
June 30, 2020
Loved it!
The is a great book and I would definitely recommend. Going to have my kids read it next! Awaiting her next release!
The is a great book and I would definitely recommend. Going to have my kids read it next! Awaiting her next release!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews