The story is as fun as the cover: Horton Halfpott works in the Smugwick Manor kitchen, and falls right into chaos when one day, Lady Luggertuck (the lady of the manor) decides not to tighten her corset. The Luggernut Lump is stolen, and Horton is accused of the theft. Horton teams up with stable boys Bump, Blight and Blemish to solve the mystery and clear his name.
It took me a little while to get comfortable with the prose, but then found myself laughing at the little jokes and bits of wordplay throughout. The pacing is brisk--perfect for the younger middle-grade reader. In fact, I imagine this book would be fun to read aloud in class or at home, if you're up for the tongue-twisters in this book.
Verdict: Fun book for the younger MG reader who loves fantasy and whimsy.
Mystery Quotient: 4 out of 5; there was a solid whodunit, but the prose and whimsical fantasy overshadowed the mystery a bit.
Another one to put on the list for Elizabeth when she's just a little bit older.
ReplyDeleteThanks for doing this. It helps.
You're welcome :-) This one seems good for the younger crowd, if they like whimsical stuff.
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