Dr. Dredd's Wagon of Wonders

Coven Tree

by Bill Brittain, Andrew Glass (Illustrator)

Folks said it seemed like a curse had fallen on Coven Tree. Wells were running dry, livestock suffered, great cracks crisscrossed farmers' fields, no crops could be planted. Rain had become more valuable than gold. Then a miracle Dr. Dredd and his Wagon of Wonders came to town, and among his "wonders" was a young boy called Bufu the Rainmaker. At first the townspeople were skeptical -- moments later they were dancing for joy, faces turned up into a driving rain. Then, as quickly as it had begun, the rain stopped. "More rain!" somebody yelled. Dr. Dredd's toothy smile grew wide. Yes, he could command Bufu to make more rain -- but what it would cost Coven Tree, he wouldn't say. Not yet. Those who thought rain would be worth whatever it cost didn't know what Bufu knew. And when fourteen-year-old Ellen McCabe found Bufu cowering in her family's woodshed later that night, seeking sanctuary from his evil master, all of Coven Tree soon would know the terrible wrath -- and frightening powers -- of Dr. Hugo Dredd.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Childrens, Young Adult, Juvenile

181 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

William E. Brittain was an American writer. He is best known for work set in the fictional New England village of Coven Tree, including The Wish Giver, a Newbery Honor Book.
Brittain was born in Rochester, New York. He decided he wanted to be a 5th-grade teacher, and in addition to teaching, used to read stories in mystery magazines. After some time, he decided he could do as good a job at writing as some of the authors he read; he got coaching on writing from Frederic Dannay of Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine (in which, along with Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, most of his mystery stories were published). He wrote two serials from 1964 to 1983, as well as other stories, before moving on to the children's books for which he is better known.
Brittain is also the author of the popular book All the Money in the World, which was adapted as a 1983 movie.

Reviews

[Stephen Kerr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I checked this book out from my public library a few times as a kid, but never owned a copy. Cut to twenty years later, I had long since forgotten the author and the title, but remember really loving this book, as well as the author's other books in this series. I had a hell of a time tracking it down, but finally, after some rigorous eBay searches I finally found it and bought a copy immediately.

Revisiting a story from your childhood, especially one I've mythologized as much as I have this one after losing it for so long, can be dangerous; how often does something that was great as a kid really hold up as an adult (I'm looking at you, He-Man cartoons). Well I was pleasantly surprised that Dr. Dredd's Wagon of Wonders DOES hold-up, at least as a solid children's novel. I had minor issues with plotting, mainly how the premise is that Dr. Dredd has the ability to promise and deliver to a town anything they want (at a steep price, of course) but then the story revolves around Calvin, a boy he owns like a slave who actually has the power. It makes Dr. Dredd seem a little weak that he's so dependent on others to pull off his magical feats.

Nevertheless, this is a really well-written children's book that doesn't talk down to its audience, and features pro-active characters and a great ominous tone. I'm so glad I managed to reconnect with this book and this author. Now to track down the other books in this series...

[Aaron Mays · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The darkest and most evil tale of Coven Tree so far. Three tales down and one to go. Dr. Dredd underestimated the folks of Coven Tree, they stuck together unlike the people of other villages. Good b ate evil.

[Hank · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dr. Dredd recalls Ray Bradbury's Somethign Wicked This Way Comes - A strange man brings a wagon of wonders to a small village. During a display and tour of unusual and mystifying items, he reveals that he can provide what the town needs most - rain - but for an undisclosed price. Dr. Dredd is not a man to be trifled with, and when the boy he uses to bring the rain goes missing, the town of Coven Tree is treated to experience just what darkness Dr. Dredd is capable of unleashing. The author, Bill Brittain seems like he was once hot property in Children's fantasy, but didn't have staying power. Based on this book, I'd say that's fair. Dr. Dredd is a great fantasy narrative, but a little more about the town life or more developed characters would have made this book great.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorites as a kid, I remember making an attempt to transcribe it, realizing after page 3 that it would be easier to just save my allowance and buy a copy. Well, 25 years later, I managed to do that. Children's "horror" is (or at least was) an underrepresented genre, and as an adult, I still enjoyed the quirky townspeople and the voice that Britain uses for his country folk - although I have to say that the accent reads a little more southern than New England. Nonetheless, a fun, imaginative, and kind of scary for a 7-year-old book that recalls Bradbury's Something Wicked this Way Comes and even Professor Marvel of The Wizard of Oz.

[Nate D]

Sort of a children's horror novel that I breathlessly read in a couple days in 3rd or 4th grade, unable to put it down or look away. A sort of traveling circus rolls into a small New Enlgand town, offering aid in a time of drought, but at what cost?

[Katie Cooper · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book because I've been trying to find a story I read years ago about a town in a drought that is saved by a rainmaker. This is not that story, unfortunately. I really hope I didn't dream the story I'm trying to find: the main character is a boy and there's an old man hermit on the outskirts of town (I think he lives on a hill) that has a cloud seeding machine that he uses to make it rain when the town suffers from a drought. Something happens though, and he doesn't turn it off, flooding the town. I've been trying to find this book for years and I cannot find it!
Back to this book though; it's fine. It's a decent semi-scary children's story, though with some strange sexist moments (Ellen, a 14 year old girl, being referred to as "pretty as a picture" and "turning into a fine young woman").

[Linda Spear · Rating 4 out of 5]

Years ago, I went on a Bill Brittain kick and recently decided that I need to re-read his books. I'd forgotten how clever and mysterious his stories are. Next will be The Devil's Donkey; before Dr. Dredd, I revisited The Wish Giver. I see also that I have not read Professor Polish, yet another tale of Coven Tree. Can't wait!

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as a young boy, around age 10-12. It was very imaginative and dark, an excellent aside when I wasn't reading Goosebumps. The nostalgia is strong, it probably doesn't hold up today, but as a kid this was my favorite book at the library for several months straight.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was actually a pretty good story. I picked it up on a whim and read it while I was in a "waiting" situation. It helped pass the time quickly.

[Kit · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, folksy re-read of a book I loved as a kid! It’s still creepy and still a page turner.

[Victoria Wood]

bored at work means hiding out in the children’s section

[Tony Murchison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this book in the 5th grade in the late 80s. Of course it’s not the same feeling in my 40s, but it still holds up as a great story.

[Neil Pladus · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite childhood books

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

i may still have a copy of this. one of the best children's books written. mainly because it wasn't particularly written for children. very strange, and the best of a fairly consistent series of novels about the same new england town.

[Kaleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my absolute favorite book when I was in elementary. I checked this book out of the library so many times that for my birthday my librarian bought me this book. A creepy story about how a wagon rolls into a small town and brings chaos and havoc. Any child bookworm should read this book.

[Reagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

FREAKISH!!!

[Susan Howson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creepy lit for kids. Sounds weird, but I really liked it as a child and I like it now.

[Hilarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that I loved as a child and I enjoyed reading it aloud to my kids who were every bit as entranced as I remember being.

[Elyse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked this book as a child.

[Michelle]

Listed as Q4 = Exceptional!, P4 = A book everyone wants to read

[Rodolfo D · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author was one to have for imagination and fantasy, when you're young. I can't remember the plot, except that it was similar to the Wishgiver (Maybe), but I'd probably reread it as an adult.