Dakota of the White Flats

by Philip Ridley

When Dakota Pink decides to find out the truth about Medusa's baby monster it is the beginning of a quest that will lead Dakota and her best friend, Treacle, away from the White Flats to Dog Island and the Fortress. Will they manage to escape the mutant killer eels to discover what lies behind the barbed wire of the Fortress and who the mysterious Lassitter Peach is?

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens, Fiction, Young Adult

139 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Daria · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this book up with pretty high expectations after seeing the sparkly cover and a few of the beautiful illustrations inside and it was SO close to being a wonderful story.
The characters are reminiscent of Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events, the plot moves a good pace and I really enjoyed the few dark themes peppered through.

However, there is one thing I hate seeing in books for children/teens (and especially without some sort of redemption arc) and that is characters being mean for no damn reason. The main character, Dakota Pink, is constantly bullying and insulting her best friend, Treacle. I'm sure it's intended as funny and the insults are indeed very poetic, but this annoyed me to no end. If you're gonna be mean, at least be mean to the antagonists.

Would have been a 4.5/5 without the absolutely pointless bullying.

[Francesca~]

Dnf

[Kelly Mannion · Rating 5 out of 5]

My all time favourite book!! Been reading this book several times a year since I was 10 and even though knowing absolutely everything about the book - it does not bore me. Excellent, fun mystery. Aimed at younger readers but can be enjoyed by all. Lovely illustrations :-)

[Busisiwe Radebe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first 'big book' I read from cover to cover in one sitting as a child. My mom would take us to get books from the library on Saturdays and then would drive us to some spot in our small town where we would get a headstart on the week's reading, sitting in the car and munching on snacks. It was in one of those car reading sessions that I read 'Dakota of the white flats' from cover to cover and boy was I proud!

Re-reading it as an adult, the book is just as magical as it was back then. As a child I read the 'first layer' of the book. I loved the adventure and absurdity of it all - giant eels, jewel-covered turtles, Lucy's couch on casters, fat silverfish that eat toothpaste etc. As an adult, themes of lost dreams, depression, the ordinariness of life, cowardice and reclaiming your life, came through stronger. A theme constant in both my child and adult reading of the book however, was that of life being full of adventures and the invitation to (no matter how scared you are) go on some of those adventures because chances are you won't regret it.

Would highly recommend this book to adults and children (9 years and up) alike!

[Eeva Maria al-Khazaali]

This book (and the adaption for a play back in the 2000's in the City Theater of Kuopio, Finland) were a huge inspiration for a rebellious little me in high school. As an anarchist, the story resonated to me and now, over 20 years later, I'm still reading this book.

This book inspired me to name my future poetry collection. More of that later. Now gotta find the perfect quote for the book motto. :)

Thank you for the book!

[Tony Rees · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember reading and loving this as a child, so now my own children are old enough I’ve taken great pleasure in reading it to them again

[Surajit · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a fun story to read. The story is all about an exciting adventure of two best friends. I liked it.

[Linnea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Siihen taitaa olla syynsä, että kaikkiin lapsuusajan kirjoihin ei kannata palata vaikka periaatteessa Ridleyn Dakota oli ihan mukiinmenevää luettavaa. Hämmennyin kuitenkin nimihenkilön ärsyttävyydestä paljon, mitäköhän olen tästä aiemmin ajatellut? Olen nimittäin lukenut kirjan useita kirjoja ja tapahtumat olivat melko hyvin muistissa juurikin tätä luonneasiaa lukuunottamatta. Välipalalukemisena kuitenkin ihan mukiinmenevä teos.

[Ben G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this aged about 9/10. Though not what I'd term fantasy, it does combine some completely inconceivable ideas with a backdrop of a fairly rational, economically deprived area and its locals.

Very entertaining and comical, though perhaps dealing with slightly more issues such as relationship breakups, but I guess kids are quite aware of these nowadays.

[Clint · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't really remember much about this book, because i read it when i was little, but i remember it was very odd!

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book about three or four times when I was younger cos I loved it so much. Philip Ridley was one of my favourite childhood authors.

[Gadgette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my childhood favourite read! Had to add as I have find memories of it.

[Alessandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Irresistibilmente comico, non riuscivo a smettere di leggerlo! Colpo di scena piuttosto prevedibile, ma vabbè.

[Gaiaaaa84 · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Ti prometto che non mi farò mai più intrappolare da una cuccia." <3

[Nathalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read about adventurous girls!

[Pamzina]

Re-read of childhood fave book and I must say the Italian translator took something already cool and quirky and made it awesome using a funky but also elevated language suitable for kids that added to their vocabulary without being too hard: for once, hats off to a translator making something even better 🙌