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Guests | May 6, 2013
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More copies of this ISBNThis title in other editionsThe Kneebone Boyby Ellen Potter
AwardsStaff Pick
When their artist father must leave suddenly on business, three children, ostracized since the mysterious disappearance of their mother, find their way to a great aunt's holiday residence in a castle keep. There, they attempt to rescue the "Kneebone Boy," a legendary prisoner of the castle, and, in doing so, discover secrets about their own family. Told with delightful wit and attitude by one of the three children (who is honor-bound not to reveal his/her specific identity), this book is both a wonderful mystery and a poignant tale of sibling affection. Synopses & ReviewsPublisher Comments:Life in a small town can be pretty boring when everyone avoids you like the plague. But after their father unwittingly sends them to stay with an aunt who's away on holiday, the Hardscrabble children take off on an adventure that begins in the seedy streets of London and ends in a peculiar sea village where, legend has it, a monstrous creature lives who is half-boy and half-animal...
In this wickedly dark, unusual, and compelling novel, Ellen Potter masterfully tells the tale of one deliciously strange family and a secret that changes everything. Review:"With a dark, witty absurdity suggestive of Lemony Snicket, Potter (the Olivia Kidney books) draws readers into this compelling mystery-adventure about a missing mother. 'worn on pain of torture' not to reveal which of the quirky Hardscrabble children he or she is, the narrator writes in third-person with wry first-person asides: 'Note to reader: if you ever want your life to turn topsy-turvy, say, "Things will go on just as they always—" Oops, I almost said it.' Things certainly do go awry for Otto (mute, after his mother's disappearance), take-charge Lucia, and clever Max, when their father sends them to stay with an aunt who's on vacation. Danger follows them to the village of Snoring-by-the-Sea, home to an eccentric great-aunt, an eerie castle, a half-human boy held prisoner — and perhaps the answer to what happened to their mother. Potter's voice is distinguished by sharp, humorous, and poignant observations: 'was so solemn. So sad. Was he always like that and she had never noticed?' Often laugh-out-loud funny, this tale quietly solves a deeper mystery: how to heal the hearts of this immensely likable trio. Ages 9–12. (Sept.)" Publishers Weekly (Copyright PWyxz LLC)
Review:"Narrated quite personably by one of the Hardscrabbles who refuses to be identified but is obvious, the story is fresh, funny and surprising. The sibling dynamics — alternately testy and touching — are believable, as are the wonderfully odd characters....A quirky charmer." Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Review:"Hilarious and heartbreaking, wild and down-to-earth....The combination of fantasy and realism makes a compelling story, and young people will relate easily to the characters' struggles." Booklist
Review:"Metafictional flourishes ('If there are illustrations in this book, I'd prefer that this last part not be shown') keep us amused and on our toes as Potter tackles some (at book's end) serious topics from a position both gothic-cheeky and compassionate." The Horn Book
Review:"The gentle melancholy that limns all of Potter's books tinges the humor in this one as well, as if all of the oddities and quirks are both a distraction from and a response to a world rendered absurd by pain and loss. Appealing voice, setting, character, a surprise ending, and a touch of sweetness all add up to a delicious read." Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Synopsis:In this wickedly dark, unusual, and compelling novel, Potter masterfully tells the tale of one deliciously strange family and a secret that changes everything.
Synopsis:A dark, clever, finely crafted tale about three peculiar children and a shocking family secret. Synopsis:When the Hardscrabble children wind up in London alone, they find they have a mystery or two on their hands. Will they discover what has become of their mum? And who is the Kneebone Boy living in a nearby castle? Synopsis:Life in a small town can be pretty boring when everyone avoids you like the plague. But after their father unwittingly sends them to stay with an aunt whos away on holiday, the Hardscrabble children take off on an adventure that begins in the seedy streets of London and ends in a peculiar sea village where, according to legend, a monstrous half-beast boy roams the woods. . . . In this wickedly dark, unusual, and compelling novel, Ellen Potter masterfully tells the tale of one deliciously strange family and a secret that changes everything. Synopsis:Life in a small town can be pretty boring when everyone avoids you like the plague. But after their father unwittingly sends them to stay with an aunt whos away on holiday, the Hardscrabble children take off on an adventure that begins in the seedy streets of London and ends in a peculiar sea village where legend has it a monstrous creature lives who is half boy and half animal. . . . In this wickedly dark, unusual, and compelling novel, Ellen Potter masterfully tells the tale of one deliciously strange family and a secret that changes everything. About the AuthorEllen Potter lives in Upstate New York and is the author of many highly praised books for children including Slob, a Junior Library Guild selection, and the bestselling Olivia Kidney series.
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