Ursula Vernon has had a bizarre career.
She wrote the underground comic, Digger, which was a Hugo award winner. Not too many epic comics about a wombat, a hyena, and Ganesha. But this is a grown-ups book.
She wrote the novel Seven Brides, under the pseudonym T. Kingfisher. It's creepy. About a miller's daughter. And hedgehogs. And ravens. And scary supernatural Barons.
She wrote a BUNCH of kid's books, the Danny Dragonbreath series. Max adores these. They are silly and hit his 8 year old humor JUST right. They are not for me.
I just finished Castle Hangnail.
It's on the same reading level as the Danny Dragonbreath but instead of the manga/ninja infused world of DD, Castle Hangnail is set against magic and minions. The story of a castle and its minions in need of a Master else they will be decommissioned, Molly takes the place as Master. Not an Evil Sorceress or Mad Scientist or Vampire Lord, etc., she's just a 12 year old girl learning to be a witch (possibly a Wicked Witch for standards of wickedness that are just this side of slightly naughty).
If you like Eva Ibbotsen's (Island of the Aunts, Which Witch, etc.) or Cornelia Funke's (Igraine the Brave) books for young readers, this is a good bet. (Publisher recommends to also Roald Dahl fans but I think more those who liked the BFG than those who like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory).
I won't write my own note about this (which means I have to find another V) but I'll chime in that I adored the thing.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
-E.