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The Wikkeling
by
In the enormous city of the Addition, all children are SAFE, SECURE, and SUPERVISED, and are watched by cameras even while they sleep. Henrietta is unlikable at her competitive school until she meets Gary and Rose. They all share something in common: headaches with an unknown cause. Then, late one night, Henrietta makes a startling discovery when she finds a wounded cat in
...more
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Hardcover, 224 pages
Published
June 14th 2011
by Running Press
(first published May 3rd 2011)
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Community Reviews
Showing 1-30
Recently, I've been in the mood to read a lot of middle grade books for some reason. When life gets stressful, I know I can always count on a great middle grade novel to pull me in, and make life feel magical again. A few days ago, I decided to pick up The Wikkeling because it had been on my TBR for a long time. I regret not reading it sooner. I loved the book.
I have to admit, the reason why I put off reading The Wikkeling for so long wasn't the story line, but the actual book itself. It was ve ...more
I have to admit, the reason why I put off reading The Wikkeling for so long wasn't the story line, but the actual book itself. It was ve ...more
"Henrietta is the main character of this story. The whole book will be about her- and it's worth mentioning at the outset a few things that aren't going to happen to her. She will not become beautiful when someone gives her a new hairstyle. She will not find a miracle cure for her pimples when an angel sees she's a good girl inside. She will not find out that she's actually a princess, and she won't become happy forever when a prince marries her. Those books are out there, and your school librar
...more
I wasn't sure what I would think of this book when I accepted it for review. But it being labeled a dystopian got my attention and I couldn't turn it down. I'm very glad I didn't because this was a fun and unique read. It also had a bit of a quirky tone to it that really made it even better!
This is set in our world in the future and everything is computerized and books are actually considered dangerous (mold can grow on them *gasp*). I got the giggles at times when reading because in school they ...more
This is set in our world in the future and everything is computerized and books are actually considered dangerous (mold can grow on them *gasp*). I got the giggles at times when reading because in school they ...more
Should not have finished this in the middle of the night. Creeeeeeeeepy.
I loved this book, because it is a rare type for kids' fiction. Very creepy, the Wikkeling moves in flashes - straight our of J-horror movies. But the tongue-in-cheek dystopia where everything is super-safe and wired is just great. It's a little sad too, because the clean, safe, super-connected world they live in is too safe, too clean, and too connected. It made me long for things that I still have, like grass, and books, ...more
I loved this book, because it is a rare type for kids' fiction. Very creepy, the Wikkeling moves in flashes - straight our of J-horror movies. But the tongue-in-cheek dystopia where everything is super-safe and wired is just great. It's a little sad too, because the clean, safe, super-connected world they live in is too safe, too clean, and too connected. It made me long for things that I still have, like grass, and books, ...more
an intriguing book. Henrietta lives in a world which seems not so far in the future, where everything is electronic and children don't get to act on their natural curiosity because of all the possible DANGERS involved. Advertisements fill the air so there is little hope of silence, and sidewalks, trees, and grass have given way to roads.
But Henrietta's not your typical child; she meets two other friends who are different, and they discover an attic in her house where relics such as books and ca ...more
But Henrietta's not your typical child; she meets two other friends who are different, and they discover an attic in her house where relics such as books and ca ...more
4.5 stars!
Oh my goodness! I just randomly grabbed this book off the shelf at the library. I had NO idea what a treat I was in for.
The cover looks so old school, which I thought maybe would make readers skip over it, but after reading it- I couldn't imagine a better cover!
I couldn't describe this book any better than how James Dashner did:
"A truly original piece of work. Swinging from funny to creepy to intriguing, it kept me enthralled throughout."
Seriously though! This book had me laughing out ...more
Oh my goodness! I just randomly grabbed this book off the shelf at the library. I had NO idea what a treat I was in for.
The cover looks so old school, which I thought maybe would make readers skip over it, but after reading it- I couldn't imagine a better cover!
I couldn't describe this book any better than how James Dashner did:
"A truly original piece of work. Swinging from funny to creepy to intriguing, it kept me enthralled throughout."
Seriously though! This book had me laughing out ...more
Jun 20, 2011
christina
is currently reading it
I was really sad that I missed the signing for this, as I really wanted to bring Lilly too, as she and are in the middle of this, and I think it would have been a bit of a thrill to meet the real, live author and of course see the toy boats!
We are really enjoying the book very much, and it is gripping very well developed characters an enjoyably vivid (if creepy) description on this other worldly place, we love it.
And Lilly is 12 and I am over 30 lets say, so that just goes to show what a good ag ...more
We are really enjoying the book very much, and it is gripping very well developed characters an enjoyably vivid (if creepy) description on this other worldly place, we love it.
And Lilly is 12 and I am over 30 lets say, so that just goes to show what a good ag ...more
'The Wikkeling' captures beautiful and terrible possibilities with the voice of a smart little girl and a not-unimaginable future. Henrietta, her friends and the world they live in are hyper-analyzed to the point of suffocation, so how could a wild animal be bleeding in the attic? Smart, funny and thought-provoking, with gorgeous illustrations, this mystery unfurls like a plant breaking through concrete: delicate, inevitable, and awesome it its smallness.
Love this cautionary tale about being too over protective of children and what they are capable of learning and doing - it has a very fairy tale/legend type feel too it with a great sense of humor and a bit of scariness. Very enjoyable and quick to read, I would recommend this for 5th grade and up.
I picked this one up because the book design was fabulous. However, there are far too many moving parts in this story for j fiction...even tho there are some really cool bits. As a whole, the book fails, in spite of moments of coolness.
i'm excited and freaked out about this book and the potential it has to give me nightmares about creepers with really long fingers. BECAUSE HAVING REALLY LONG FINGERS IS CREEPY.
This was an excellent book! It had a lot of build up like it might continue into a series (or at least a second book) but as far as I can tell another one never came out. To be honest, the reveal was a bit of a let down because it wasn't as much of a reveal as it could've been. We have a lot of mysteries never solved- who were the two scientists who created the Wikkeling? What was that monster is was supposed to destroy and did it destroy it? What was that creature doing? Why is everything so re
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Every house on Henrietta's street is identical: each one newly made of vinyl and glue with flat roofs sitting behind plastic lawns in their own soundproof and airtight cocoon. Every house, except Henrietta's. Henrietta's house is made of wood, with a sloping roof and an old-fashioned attic. Henrietta's mother thinks that it must be some contaminant in their old house that is causing Henrietta's blinding headaches. But Henrietta knows it isn't the house at all. It's the Wikkeling. Most people can
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The cover of the book caught my eye and the unique story grabbed my attention. It is set in a future where everything is done with computers and things like books, swimming, and running could be considered dangerous. The Wikkeling follows three friends as they struggle to solve the mystery behind a harmful and frightening creature. The characters aren’t super developed - but it is a children’s book. I really enjoyed this story and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a bit of sci-fi a
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More people should read this book. It is enjoyable, kind of creepy, and the fictional town of Addition is creative! There is also some good art that I like.
Maybe I should just start reviewing things right after I read them ... because the whole "postponing reviews for later" thing isn't really working out for me. I don't even want to look at my "to-review" shelf but I'm pretty sure it's like almost 30 books at this point. Yikes.
Anyway, I guess I'll review this now. *Ah hem*
I purchased The Wikkeling at a used book store for like $3 a while ago. It immediately stood out to me on the bookshelf because it's a bit more square-shaped than most books. Upo ...more
Anyway, I guess I'll review this now. *Ah hem*
I purchased The Wikkeling at a used book store for like $3 a while ago. It immediately stood out to me on the bookshelf because it's a bit more square-shaped than most books. Upo ...more
Take the almost satirical look at British school life of early J. K. Rowling and Roald Dahl a la Boy: Tales of Childhood, then add a little Brave New World and garnish with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. That's The Wikkeling, a fun mixed-genre book with beautiful illustrations that don't add a lot to the plot but add to the world-building. Seriously, there's two books here, and they meld pretty well, but in some places it's jarring to go from deconstructing a pristine, sterile dystopia
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The Short of It:
The world that Arnston creates is both scary and magical but most of all…fun.
The Rest of It:
Many of you following me on Facebook or Twitter have probably heard me say (more than once) that The Wikkeling was “strange.” When I first started to read it, I could not shake the creep factor. The cover is freaky and the book itself is not a traditional size. It’s wider, includes lots of handwrtitten script and has creepy illustrations of people without faces. BUT, once I got past the sl ...more
The world that Arnston creates is both scary and magical but most of all…fun.
The Rest of It:
Many of you following me on Facebook or Twitter have probably heard me say (more than once) that The Wikkeling was “strange.” When I first started to read it, I could not shake the creep factor. The cover is freaky and the book itself is not a traditional size. It’s wider, includes lots of handwrtitten script and has creepy illustrations of people without faces. BUT, once I got past the sl ...more
Dystopian visions fill Juvenile shelves these days, and my favorite, so far, is The Wikkeling.
With a view of the not-so-distant future (in which there is a computer on every school desk generating instant scores, indicating instant loss of funding/jobs if the scores don't measure up; constant gridlock on the highways; books as curiosities; hyper-vigilant parents, and gps devices as standard equipment in vehicles)and the author's tongue firmly in cheek, we are introduced to Henrietta Gad-Fly, a ...more
With a view of the not-so-distant future (in which there is a computer on every school desk generating instant scores, indicating instant loss of funding/jobs if the scores don't measure up; constant gridlock on the highways; books as curiosities; hyper-vigilant parents, and gps devices as standard equipment in vehicles)and the author's tongue firmly in cheek, we are introduced to Henrietta Gad-Fly, a ...more
This is not a story where the girl become beautiful or the boy gets the girl. Henrietta gets House Sick, terrible headaches because she lives in an old house, not like the nice plastic ones that have taken over the neighborhood. Things begin to change as Henrietta finally makes a friend at school and then the camera in her bedroom stops working and she finds a trapdoor to an attic where there is a wounded Wild House Cat. What does the cat's presence mean? How is the mysterious Wikkeling creature
...more
This book caught my attention the first time I saw it on the shelf, because its appearance, size, shape, art, and graphic design made it stand out. Appealingly so. That impression continued as I cracked it open, examined the interior artwork and design, and began to read. I was very happy with the beginning, intrigued by the somewhat mysterious story, engaged by the vaguely strange tone, and amused by the clever social commentary.
However, the further I read, the less impressed I became. The more ...more
However, the further I read, the less impressed I became. The more ...more
Henrietta Gad-Fly lives in a world where safety is the number one concern. Her school bus has not only seat belts, but head straps. Her clothes have yellow visibility stripes. Her parents can monitor her 24 hours a day via mobile phone and Bed Cam. That is, until Henrietta's Bed Cam mysteriously breaks, and her adventures into the past begin. Can she and her friends figure out why they get terrible headaches? Or what is going on with the wild house cat in Henrietta's attic? Most importantly, can
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I picked up this Advance Reader Copy at ALA a few weeks ago and wasn't really sure what to expect, but I'm a sucker for images and illustrations (and free things) so I grabbed it up. And I'm glad I did.
Henrietta is a young girl in the near future, where cell phones tell parents when their children get detention, car horns emit advertisements, and health class is about how everything can (and will) kill you. But when technology in Henrietta's house (the oldest house still standing for miles aroun ...more
Henrietta is a young girl in the near future, where cell phones tell parents when their children get detention, car horns emit advertisements, and health class is about how everything can (and will) kill you. But when technology in Henrietta's house (the oldest house still standing for miles aroun ...more
I actually picked this book up for my 15 year old during a library trip. he was not interested. weeks later i found it in a pile behind his bed. realizing it was already overdue i figured somebody should at least read it. So i did. it was very intriguing, at first. It takes place in a time in the not too future where everyone is plugged in all the time, kids watched by computers or their cells in order to be kept safe, ongoing traffic jams everywhere, all houses and cars pre fabricated and the s
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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This book started out as a 5-star delight, but lost steam as it went along. It narrowed from a witty dystopia full of social commentary and interesting story threads to a linear chase scene. If you're wondering about the attic windows, or the Wikkeling's origins, or Henrift Andi ... SPOILER ALERT ... you won't ever really get an answer. And that is incredibly frustrating.
However, I do still love the following lines, because I think American society today is so full of fear and ridiculous safegua ...more
However, I do still love the following lines, because I think American society today is so full of fear and ridiculous safegua ...more
"Henrietta is the main character of this story. This whole book will be about her—and it’s worth mentioning at the outset a few things that aren’t going to happen to her.
She will not become beautiful when someone gives her a new hairstyle.
She will not find a miracle cure for her pimples when an angel sees she’s a good girl inside.
She will not find out that she’s actually a princess, and she won’t become happy forever when a prince marries her.
Those books are out there, and your school librarian ...more
She will not become beautiful when someone gives her a new hairstyle.
She will not find a miracle cure for her pimples when an angel sees she’s a good girl inside.
She will not find out that she’s actually a princess, and she won’t become happy forever when a prince marries her.
Those books are out there, and your school librarian ...more
This book is set in the future and is set around three children: Henrietta, Gary, and Rose. They are all plagued by headaches and nobody knows why they are getting them.
Everything in the future is made out of plastic: houses, books, grass. There are no trees and safety is of the utmost concern. When a child goes to school on the bus they have a lapbelt, two over the shoulder belts, and a harness for their head.
The story follows the three kids in their adventures in Henrietta's attic. Here they ...more
Everything in the future is made out of plastic: houses, books, grass. There are no trees and safety is of the utmost concern. When a child goes to school on the bus they have a lapbelt, two over the shoulder belts, and a harness for their head.
The story follows the three kids in their adventures in Henrietta's attic. Here they ...more
The story is really clever with how it handles the concept of future society much in the same manner the movie Idiocricy had done. The children are constantly subjected to advertisements, even on their school buses, and everything has fallen to oversimplified modernism and education has become nothing more than standardized testing. The children in the book are lively and fun. We want to explore through them through the confinement of their environment. The story actually had me laughing out lou
...more
This is a hard book to describe. Henrietta is a struggling student in a school and a time when everything comes down to the standardized test. OK, so not so far flung, but I love a good satiric rip on standardized testing. Every child in this futuristic world is constantly monitored, and one wonders how the adults in the story are able to fend for not only themselves, but also their families because the children are not allowed any freedom to learn how to take care of themselves. Unless, of cour
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| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What's the Name o...: SOLVED. Childrens or YA novel with creepy thin man-like creature, includes many silhouette illustrations. [s] | 4 | 19 | Jan 25, 2019 05:28PM | |
| Play Book Tag: The Wikkeling by Steven Arntson - 3 stars | 2 | 14 | Jul 22, 2018 01:33PM | |
| What's the Name o...: SOLVED. YA? creepy yellow cover, book about young girl having to take test. [s] | 6 | 41 | May 06, 2018 03:39PM |
