Review - The Assassination Of Brangwain Spurge, by M. T. Anderson

The Assassination Of Brangwain Spurge, by M. T. Anderson

Candlewick Press - 2018
Fantasy - Teen
Audiobook (with supplemental PDF of illustrations by Eugene Yelchin)
Narrated by Gildart Jackson

5 Hours, 58 Minutes
Finalist, National Book Awards 2018 for Young Peoples Literature

My Rating (out of 5)

⭐⭐⭐⭐

A quirky little story that was fun!

Brangwain Spurge is an Elvin historian on a mission. Being shot by crossbow from his home in Elfin territory over the mountains and into Goblin territory, delivering a gift as a peace offering to the Goblin overlord, and oh yeah, spying on the goblins and reporting back to his Elvin leaders. No big deal - but no Elf who has ventured into Goblin territory on a diplomatic mission in the last 100 years has ever returned!

After landing the Goblin territory he becomes a guest of Werfel, a Goblin archivist. While these two should get along famously, things get lost in cultural translation, and through a series of misunderstandings and missteps they soon find themselves offended by one another. Before long, it is apparent that there are political wranglings going on that neither was aware of, and that they must find a way to work together to avoid war or even their own deaths. 

Written for a younger audience, it is a good story to foster consideration or conversation on the effect of perspective and cultural differences in relating to other individuals; but the story can easily be enjoyed by an older audience as satire, social commentary, or just a pleasant and light diversion. 

The story was performed by Gildart Jackson. Animated, with a good range of character, I couldn't imagine it being performed by anyone else. He was a perfect choice to narrate this story. 

Unfortunately, I use my Android phone to stream audiobooks, and I cannot access the PDF of the illustrations by Eugene Yelchin, but they are wonderful and I would suggest to anyone choosing to listen to the audiobook to take the time and look at them, - even if, like me, you are unable to look at them until after you have finished listening. 

An amusing story that will delight teens and adults alike.

Happy Reading,

Christine

On This Day - September 13th - Roald Dahl Day

Beloved Children's author Roald Dahl was born on this day September 13, 1916.

While Dahl also wrote stories for adults, he is best known for the numerous children's stories he wrote. Most notable titles written by Dahl include CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (which was not once, but twice made into movies - first starring the Gene wilder, and more recently starring Johnny Depp), MATILDA, JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH, THE WITCHES, BFG, THE FANTASTIC MR. FOX, and more.

Dahl's trademark was the using new and inventive words known as Gobblefunk.

His whimsical stories have enchanted generations of children, with worldwide sales for his books being around 250 million copies! He is known as one of the greatest children's storytellers of the 20th century.

So raise your glass of frobscottle in salute of one of the greatest children's storytellers of all time!

Happy Reading,

Christine

The Fabulous Flight - Robert Lawson

The Fabulous Flight - by Robert Lawson
Dover Publications
Originally Published in 1949, re-publish April 2018
Illustrated by the author

This digital copy provided by Dover publications via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My rating (out of 5)
⭐⭐⭐⭐

A deightful, fantastical, classic tale for children.

Peter Peter Peeabody Pepperell III was a normal boy.  Then one day he stopped growing up, and started growing down. As he became smaller and smaller, his parents remove him from school for his safety, because he is just too small.  But as small as he is, he is not too small to team up with friendly seagull Gus, and depart on the most adventurous flight!

The illustrations are whimsical and wonderfully detailed.

This book would make for wonderful bedtime reading to a child who, although perhaps old enough to read to themselves, still alows someone to read to them.  I say this because having been written so long ago, some aspects of the story may need some minor interpretation. For example, I doubt many young children today would know what a "phonograph" is. This by no means detracts from the story though!  I for one, enjoy bedtime story bonding with my son, and will probably be reading him this story some time in the not so very distant future.

Happy Reading,
Teenie K