Goblin Secrets by William Alexander
Released in 2012
Junior fantasy, goblins, witches, orphans, theater
2012 Winner of the National Book Award for Young People
Recommend: Yes
This was a short 5 hour audiobook that caught my eye as I was browsing Libby. It follows an orphan, Rownie, as he tries to escape from a fairy tale Mother Gothel like creature called Graba. He and his fellow orphans or grubs as Graba calls them, are treated poorly and controlled by the witch. Rownie decides to run away and join a goblin troupe of actors. In the fictional city of Zombay where they live, theater is outlawed and the goblins fly under the radar by using magic and masks as they perform. They take Rownie in and help him find his missing older brother and save the city from a coming flood along the way.
This is a well developed story with good characters, but I just didn't love it. As I listened I didn't feel drawn into the story or the characters. I don't have anything bad to say about the story, it is well written and full of adventure and I would recommend it to young readers who like fairy tale adventures with characters who get into precarious situations. There is a sequel which takes place in the same town of Zombay called Ghoulish Song.
No comments:
Post a Comment