Synopses & Reviews
Set in nineteenth-century America,
The Lost Colony takes place on a mysterious island unknown to the rest of the world. No one knows it exists except its citizens, a colorful and outrageous band of capitalists, inventors, hucksters, and freemen. They jealously guard the island's fantastic wealth from the prying fingers of the outside world, even as they attempt to conceal its captivating secrets from one another.
The Lost Colony is a boiling concoction of slavery, patriotism, religion, and greed--in many ways, the story of America itself.
The first in an addictive new series for readers of all ages, The Lost Colony is a self-contained world filled with endearing and memorable characters, whose hilarious foibles overlay a plot that resonates with America's own historical struggles with issues such as profiteering, racism and slavery. Thoughtfully written, richly illustrated, and always hilarious, The Lost Colony welcomes you into a new world. Grady Klein is an award-winning freelance illustrator, designer, and animator. His work, which includes the animated short The Dust Bunny, has appeared in print and on screen all over the world. Set in nineteenth-century America, The Snodgrass Conspiracy takes place on a mysterious island unknown to the rest of the world. Only its citizensa colorful and outrageous band of capitalists, inventors, hucksters, and freemenknow it exists. They jealously guard the island's fantastic wealth from the prying fingers of the outside world, even as they attempt to conceal its captivating secrets from one another. The Lost Colony is a boiling concoction of slavery, patriotism, religion, and greedin many ways, the story of America itself. "At first glance, this novel appears to be a cartoony rendition of America in the nineteenth century, but it quickly proves to be chock full of insight into the controversies of the past. The messages are hidden in plain sight as Klein uses his pictures to tell the real story behind all the words of the characters. A zany cast of slaves, ex-slaves, capitalists, opportunists, inventors, and just plain regular folk lead the way through this colorful and delightful tale. It would be a fantastic addition to public and most school libraries."VOYA
"Historical and contemporary American racial, economic, and social issues lie at the heart of this witty, sophisticated, candy-colored adventure, set in a utopian island community. Bertha (Birdy) Snodgrass, preadolescent daughter of the town banker, throws in her lot with a shady Chinese Mexican wizard, his golem-like assistant, and, finally, with Louis the slave. Readers with a grasp of pre-Jamestown history will have the easiest time understanding the riffs on Puritanism and the various American hypocrisies woven into this story. Racial and cultural slurs are buried beneath the surface of character interactions, and no ethnic group is spared. That, of course, is the point: to see oneself as a possible victim of prejudice, or, like Birdy, work toward changing things and make friends with people who are different. Teens (especially those enrolled in advanced-placement American history classes) as well as many adults will find a lot to enjoy and think about in this brash, fantastic taleand they will look forward to other volumes in the planned series."Booklist
"Edweard Stoop makes his way onto an island that isn't on any maps and proceeds to paper it with posters for an upcoming slave auction. This act and his very presence precipitate a series of hijinx on the part of the residents. The characters are all given amusing ways of talking, and many have a secret agenda in their interactions, but the main point of the story is to provide or provoke a comic perspective on race and slavery, ending in a resolution that literally comes out of a machine . . . The artwork is clever, with marvelous colors and elegantly rendered backgrounds."Benjamin Russell, School Library Journal
Review
"[A] witty, sophisticated, candy-colored adventure....Teens as well as many adults will find a lot to enjoy and think about in this brash, fantastic tale and they will look forward to other volumes in the planned series." Booklist
Synopsis
Set in nineteenth-century America,
The Lost Colony takes place on a mysterious island unknown to the rest of the world. No one knows it exists except its citizens, a colorful and outrageous band of capitalists, inventors, hucksters, and freemen. They jealously guard the island's fantastic wealth from the prying fingers of the outside world, even as they attempt to conceal its captivating secrets from one another.
The Lost Colony is a boiling concoction of slavery, patriotism, religion, and greed in many ways, the story of America itself.
The first in an addictive new series for readers of all ages, The Lost Colony is a self-contained world filled with endearing and memorable characters, whose hilarious foibles overlay a plot that resonates with America's own historical struggles with issues such as profiteering, racism and slavery. Thoughtfully written, richly illustrated, and always hilarious, The Lost Colony welcomes you into a new world.
Synopsis
A mysterious island unknown to the rest of the world, in nineteenth century America.
Its citizens: a colorful and outrageous band of capitalists, inventors, hucksters, and freemen, who jealously guard the island's fantastic wealth from the prying fingers of the outside world, even as they attempt to conceal its captivating secrets from one another.
The ingredients are gathered for The Lost Colony, a boiling concoction of slavery, patriotism, religion, and greed.
A warning, however, to readers young and old: this is an addictive new series you've stumbled onto. The Lost Colony's self contained world teems with endearing and memorable characters, whose foibles speak to America's own historical struggles with its demons.
Skillfully crafted, richly illustrated in almost edible color, and always hilarious, The Lost Colony may soon feel like home...and you might never want to leave.
Synopsis
A colorful and outrageous array of citizens jealously guard a lost island's captivating secrets and fantastic wealth from the prying fingers of the outside world--"and from each other. A boiling concoction of slavery, patriotism, religion and greed, The Lost Colony is a complete and compelling self-contained world--"and the story of America itself.
About the Author
Grady Klein was born on the East Coast, grew up on the West Coast, and married a beautiful gal from the Midwest. He has worked around the country as an editorial cartoonist, animator, teacher, designer, and illustrator. His animation work includes the acclaimed short The Dust Bunny in collaboration with computer music pioneer Paul Lansky.