Goblins - Hardcover

Reeve, Philip

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0545222206 ISBN 13: 9780545222204

Publisher: Scholastic Press, 2013

Synopsis

From the renowned author of Here Lies Arthur and No Such Thing As Dragons, the adventures of a goblin outcast who must save his world from the rise of a dangerous dark magic...

Welcome to a wild world of magical creatures and heroic adventure! The squabbling goblins that live in the great towers of Clovenstone spend their time fighting and looting. Only clever young Skarper (who happens to be in exile) understands that dark magic created by a vanquished sorcerer is rising again. With the help of a wannabe-hero, a middle-aged princess, and a few bumbling wizards, Skarper must fight to save their world.

About this title

About the Author

Philip Reeve is the bestselling author of the Predator Cities quartet and the award-winning Fever Crumb series. His other books include the highly acclaimed HERE LIES ARTHUR and NO SUCH THING AS DRAGONS. He lives in Dartmoor, England with his wife and son. Visit him online at philip-reeve.com.

Reviews

Gr 4-7-A great romp through fantasy and fable, Goblins delivers a highly descriptive and suspenseful tale that, in the end, proves the power of friendship. The story chronicles the adventures of a too-clever-for-his-own-good goblin and a handsome but hapless hero-wannabe human as they join forces to fight a troll, rescue a princess who doesn't want to be rescued, and thwart the efforts of three inept sorcerers intent on restoring the powers of the evil Lych Lord. At times funny, at times dark, and with just enough gore to keep it interesting, Goblins is a great read.-Kathy Kirchoefer, Henderson County Public Library, NCα(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journal. LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Skarper, a goblin ejected by catapult from his tribe, and Henwyn, a cheese maker’s son and aspirant knight who has been cast from his home after exploding the family factory, form an unlikely duo who rescue a princess, discover hidden tunnels, and save a kingdom. This is a delightful romp through towers, passageways, marshes, and fog, with characters that are lovable but flawed, and a sense of humor that forever lurks near the surface like the troll under the proverbial (and actual) bridge. Reeve has created a charming world where location and character names—Dungnutt, Knobbler, Libnog—are only a few of the details that add snap to the story. He cracks a few stereotypes along the way, starting with a princess in middle age, rather than dewy youth, who goes by the name of Ned. Engaging, assured writing on Reeve’s part makes this an excellent read-aloud for home or school. Conflicts are resolved, but the ending is open enough that a sequel remains a welcome possibility. Grades 3-5. --Cindy Welch

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

The highest of the seven towers of Clovenstone is called the Blackspike. Although it is dwarfed by the great mass of the Keep behind it, it is still taller than any tower in the lands of men. From its snow-flecked battlements to the ground at the crag's foot is a very long drop indeed . . . And that was bad news for Skarper, because he had just been catapulted off the top of it.“Aaaaaaah!” he screamed, rising up, up, up, pausinga moment, flailing for handholds on the empty air, and then beginning his long fall. “Aaaaaaaaa . . .” But after the first thousand feet or so he realized that he wasjust going “ . . . aaaaaaaaaaaa . . .” from force of habit, so he stopped, and from then on the only sounds were the whooshing of the cold air past his ears and the occasional cottony rustle as a cloud shot by.Of course it's not so much the falling that bothers me, thought Skarper, as the ivied stones and mean little windows of the Blackspike rushed past him. It's the hitting the ground that's the trouble . . . Below him– now that he had got used to the feeling that the wind was pushing its thumbs into his eyes– he could see plump white clouds dotting the middle air like sheep. Below them the bleak buttresses of Meneth Eskern spread out like the fingers of a splayed stone hand, with ruined buildings clustering between them. Weeds and little trees had rooted themselves in the rotting roofs and between the flagstones of the silent streets, and as the land sloped downward toward the Outer Wall, five miles away, the trees grew thicker and thicker, forming a dense wood, from whose canopy old bastions and outbuildings poked up like lonely islands.This was Skarper's world, and as he looked down upon it he was interested to notice several details that Stenoryon's Mappe of All Clovenstone had got wrong. But not that interested, because the details were rushing toward him at great speed, and long before he could tell anyone of his discoveries he was going to be splattered all over them like a careless delivery of raspberry jam.

Edition details

• Publisher: Scholastic Press
• Publication date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0545222206
• ISBN 13: 9780545222204
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 352