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The Neddiad: How Neddie Took the Train, Went to Hollywood, and Saved Civilization

by Daniel Manus Pinkwater

The Neddiad: How Neddie Took the Train, Went to Hollywood, and Saved Civilization Cover

 

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

The old powers try to come back, and the planet is plunged into chaos, and civilization is destroyed, and it gets all violent and evil...the old legends tell that a hero...with the sacred turtle, always...

Los Angeles, California. Neddie Wentworthstein is the guy with the turtle. Sandor Eucalyptus is the guy with the jellybean. Sholmos Bunyip wants the turtle...and he'll stop at nothing to get it.

This is the story of how Neddie, three good friends, a shaman, a ghost, and a little maneuver known as the French substitution determine the fate of the world.

Review:

"In Pinkwater's (The Hoboken Chicken Emergency) wonderfully silly book set in the late 1940s, young Neddie Wentworthstein mentions to his father that he wants to eat in the famous restaurant shaped like a hat. Never mind that the Brown Derby is in Los Angeles and the family lives in Chicago — Neddie's eccentric father (who made a fortune selling shoelaces during WWII) also wants to eat there, so he packs up the family for a cross-country train ride to make California their new home. Neddie gets separated from the family in Flagstaff, Ariz., and meets a movie star's son, a friendly ghost and a shaman who gives Neddie a carved stone turtle. Neddie learns that the turtle 'keeps things from getting out of order,' a kind of 'evolutionary compass.' Trailed by the sinister Sandor Eucalyptus (aka Nick Bluegum), the young hero switches the turtle with a fake in a taxidermist's shop but Sandor simply purchases it, not knowing he's snagged the real thing. Police from outer space, and a prehistoric earth spirit figure into the finale of an evil plan concocted in the Hollywood back lots. The author creates secondary roles as interesting as the starring characters. Even if there were no quest at the heart of the tale (and there is a good one) this would be a highly entertaining road trip — thanks to Pinkwater's one-of-a-kind comic sensibility and his uncanny ability to access the language and mindset of boys. Ages 10-up." Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Review:

"Pinkwater is putting up a chapter a week on his website, and should be about halfway along to the mystical climax by the book's publication date. Even confirmed fans might want to stick with the online version, tune out for a month or so and then tune back in to see everyone receive just deserts." Kirkus Reviews

Review:

"Readers looking for a nail-biting thriller won't find it here; but those who do get drawn into Pinkwater's portrait of old Hollywood, embellished with loopy supernatural intrigue, will devour it like a double-chocolate doughnut." Horn Book

Review:

"There are plenty of funny lines and scenes...and fans of Pinkwater will probably enjoy this messy, entertaining enterprise." Booklist

Review:

"Fans of Sid Fleischman will find much to like in this goofy and lovingly nostalgic historical fantasy." School Library Journal
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About the Author

Jill and Daniel Pinkwater have collaborated on numerous popular books for children. Daniel Pinkwater is a well-known commentator on National Public Radio and hosts his own radio program, "Chinwag Theater." The Pinkwaters live in the Hudson Valley of New York.
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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 2 comments:
Ellen Weeks, October 25, 2009 (view all comments by Ellen Weeks)
Wow. This book is so much fun to read out loud to my 8 & 10 year-old that I got on line to see if there is a sequel. Sadly, nothing!

Am am enjoying it as much as they are--it manages to be be both mysterious and humorous. What fun!
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Emma Peabody, July 9, 2008 (view all comments by Emma Peabody)
It was the cover of this book and then Neil Gaiman's review that first drew me to this book. And I'm so glad!

I recommend this book for all ages and definitely adults. It's wise, clever, funny, touching, and spiritually satisfying. This is now one of my favorite books ever!
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780618594443
Subtitle:
How Neddie Took the Train, Went to Hollywood, and Saved Civilization
Author:
Pinkwater, Daniel Manus
Illustrator:
Brown, Calef
Author:
Pinkwater, Daniel
Publisher:
Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Location:
Boston
Subject:
General
Subject:
History
Subject:
Humorous Stories
Subject:
General Juvenile Fiction
Subject:
Turtles
Subject:
Children s-General
Copyright:
2007
Edition Description:
Trade Cloth
Publication Date:
April 2007
Binding:
Hardback
Grade Level:
from 5
Language:
English
Illustrations:
, Y
Pages:
320
Dimensions:
8.25 x 5.5 x 0.81 in 1.1 lb
Age Level:
from 10
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Related Aisles

The Neddiad: How Neddie Took the Train, Went to Hollywood, and Saved Civilization New Hardcover
0 stars - 0 reviews
$16.00 In Stock
Product details 320 pages Houghton Mifflin Company - English 9780618594443 Reviews:
"Publishers Weekly Review" by , "In Pinkwater's (The Hoboken Chicken Emergency) wonderfully silly book set in the late 1940s, young Neddie Wentworthstein mentions to his father that he wants to eat in the famous restaurant shaped like a hat. Never mind that the Brown Derby is in Los Angeles and the family lives in Chicago — Neddie's eccentric father (who made a fortune selling shoelaces during WWII) also wants to eat there, so he packs up the family for a cross-country train ride to make California their new home. Neddie gets separated from the family in Flagstaff, Ariz., and meets a movie star's son, a friendly ghost and a shaman who gives Neddie a carved stone turtle. Neddie learns that the turtle 'keeps things from getting out of order,' a kind of 'evolutionary compass.' Trailed by the sinister Sandor Eucalyptus (aka Nick Bluegum), the young hero switches the turtle with a fake in a taxidermist's shop but Sandor simply purchases it, not knowing he's snagged the real thing. Police from outer space, and a prehistoric earth spirit figure into the finale of an evil plan concocted in the Hollywood back lots. The author creates secondary roles as interesting as the starring characters. Even if there were no quest at the heart of the tale (and there is a good one) this would be a highly entertaining road trip — thanks to Pinkwater's one-of-a-kind comic sensibility and his uncanny ability to access the language and mindset of boys. Ages 10-up." Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)
"Review" by , "Pinkwater is putting up a chapter a week on his website, and should be about halfway along to the mystical climax by the book's publication date. Even confirmed fans might want to stick with the online version, tune out for a month or so and then tune back in to see everyone receive just deserts."
"Review" by , "Readers looking for a nail-biting thriller won't find it here; but those who do get drawn into Pinkwater's portrait of old Hollywood, embellished with loopy supernatural intrigue, will devour it like a double-chocolate doughnut."
"Review" by , "There are plenty of funny lines and scenes...and fans of Pinkwater will probably enjoy this messy, entertaining enterprise."
"Review" by , "Fans of Sid Fleischman will find much to like in this goofy and lovingly nostalgic historical fantasy."
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