FICTION

The Kidnap Plot

by Dave BUTLER
304p. (The Extraordinary Journeys of Clockwork Charlie). ebook available. Random. Jun. 2016. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780553512953; lib. ed. $19.99. ISBN 9780553512960.
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Gr 4–7—Charlie Pondicherry, the son of an inventor, lives a cloistered life in a back alley of London until his father is kidnapped and he is thrown headfirst into a series of adventures as he tries to rescue him. As Charlie travels through London, he meets a colorful cast of characters and learns that he might not be quite the boy he thinks he is (hint: the spoiler is in the title). The story is action packed and throws readers right in, but the world-building can feel overly busy, particularly since this version of steampunk London is populated not just by humans but also pixies, trolls, hulders, kobolds, and more, each with their own particular habits, dialect, and political subplots. An open ending promises more to come.
VERDICT A page-turning adventure for ambitious readers who don't mind a bit of a learning curve.
Reviewed by Eliza Langhans, Hatfield Public Library, MA
When Charlie Pondicherry's father, a clockwork machinery expert, is kidnapped, Charlie and companions--including a troll lawyer and his pixie assistant--scour a steampunk version of Victorian London for him. Along the way, they uncover a deadly plot and a secret truth about Charlie. Outlandish characters and their backstories, twists and turns, and plenty of action make this an ambitious, entertaining series-opener.
 , May 01, 2016

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