Tag Archives: Harper Collins

The Hunchback Assignments, Arthur Slade

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I’m not a big fan of the steampunk genre. I tried it once with a manga from the library, and thought it was all right, but didn’t enjoy it as much as the martial arts manga I’d also checked out. So take this review of Arthur Slade’s The Hunchback Assignments from someone unfamiliar with the genre — I love, love, love this book!

Fourteen year old Modo is a hunchbacked orphan in Victorian London, who has the ability to change his appearance. When he was a year old, he was adopted by Mr. Socrates and trained to become a secret agent. In his first assignment, he works with fellow agent Octavia Milkweed to stop a secret society who has been kidnapping children and working with Dr. Hyde to turn them feral. I have to admit, when I first heard the name Modo, I was a bit turned off by what I saw as a gimmicky similarity to the Disney movie. But when I found out that “Modo” is Latin for “formed,” I actually like the significance of the difference from the Disney name Quasimodo.

Modo is absolutely lovable. Taught from a young age that his natural form is ugly, he wears a mask to go out in public and creates a handsome knight appearance when dealing with Octavia. Modo’s crush on the beautiful Octavia is just heart-wrenching. Octavia is an intelligent, witty girl, and as she grew up an unloved orphan forced to pick pockets, she also understands how it is to not be wanted. So I think she would accept, and maybe even love, Modo in his true appearance, but because she is so beautiful, Modo is ashamed to remove his mask or his false knight’s face around her. The way he reacts whenever she shows up just makes my heart melt, and I’m not usually romantic.

The mystery about the kidnapped children, at least one of whom has been hypnotized to attack his own father, is exciting and fast-paced. Modo, while mostly innocent of the real world, is physically strong and a quick thinker. I also love how Octavia is a Buffy-esque heroine, strong enough to fight her own battles, and savvy enough to wear pants under her skirt so she can run faster. But the power of Slade’s story isn’t really in the twists and turns; it’s in the very tangible emotions he reveals in his characters, whether the heroic agents or the child victims. The ultimate solution to the mystery, while action-packed enough to imagine on the big screen, is also heartfelt, and that adds to its wallop.

Hunchback Assignments is an intriguing science-based mystery set in Victorian London. More than that, however, it’s about not fitting in, about wanting to be an even better person for love and yet being limited by something beyond your control. It’s inspirational, but not in a sappy you-can-do-anything-if-you-try way. Modo doesn’t completely overcome his appearance or learn to live with it. Rather, he finds a community of people who also don’t fit in. Everyone is an outcast, in some way, even the beautiful Octavia, and if you’ve ever felt unworthy, unloved, or just plain lacking in some way, or, heck, even if you just enjoy a good mystery with a bit of romance, definitely, definitely read this book.

Dust, Arthur Slade, Book 50 of @SavvyReader’s #50BookPledge

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Savvy Reader’s 50 Book Pledge is one New Year’s Resolution I knew I would have no trouble keeping. (My poor gym membership card, on the other hand, is gathering dust somewhere. I’m sure I’ll find it in time for my next round of New Year’s Resolutions.) I promise to read books, lots and lots of books — how fun is that! Anyway, since it was Harper Collins Canada who came up with such a fantastic idea in the first place, I thought it would be only fitting to do one of their CanLit titles for the big five-oh. I’d been meaning to read Arthur Slade’s Hunchback Assignments for a while, so when I discovered a signed copy (I admit, I’m a sucker for signed copies) of his earlier novel Dust, which is set in Saskatchewan and has won various Canadian book awards, including the Governor General’s Award, I knew I’d found the perfect Book 50.

Eleven year old Robert lives in Depression-era Saskatchewan, where residents would sell their soul, literally, for the drought to end. So when pale-skinned Abram Harsich promises them a rainmill, the townspeople are thrilled and sign up to work for him. Only Robert, his book-loving Uncle Alden and a police officer remain suspicious. Why do Robert’s parents seem to have forgotten about Matthew, Robert’s seven-year-old brother who disappeared recently? Why do the townspeople seem unconcerned when other kids go missing? And why, when other people saw rain in Abram’s magic mirror, did Robert and Uncle Alden see a relative who’d died in battle and who said only the word “Evil”?

I have to admit, I usually prefer my books a bit more action-packed, and I sometimes found the descriptions and Robert’s fascination with words a bit overdone. That being said, however, Slade does a wonderful job creating and maintaining an eerie, trance-like atmosphere. Reading Dust is like being in a nightmare — like Robert, we have a constant sense of foreboding, and yet can’t place our finger on why, which just adds to the creepiness. Even Robert, who most sees the truth behind Abram, sometimes falls under his spell.

Slade dedicates his book to W.O. Mitchell, Wallace Stegner, and Ray Bradbury, and I have to admit I haven’t read any of them, so I wouldn’t know how Dust compares. The idea of “dust” however, did remind me of Philip Pullman’s Dark Materials trilogy, and the actual dust in the Saskatchewan setting makes the mysterious, magical aspects of the book feel more real. The eerie, magical yet gritty atmosphere Slade creates also reminded me of Neil Gaiman.

Slade’s writing is as mesmerizing as Abram’s sales pitch. Even in the climactic scenes, I wouldn’t call this book heart pounding or thrilling. Rather, Dust creeps into you, an eerie, chilling tale that hints at a much larger mythology. Like Robert, we may not understand everything that’s going on, but we feel its power, and that’s what makes Dust such a compelling read.

Blog Tour: Switch, Tish Cohen #50BookPledge

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Have you ever wished you were someone else? I have. During the royal wedding fever, I thought about how amazing it would be to be Kate Middleton. Reading Harry Potter or The Hunger Games, I think of how it must feel to be J.K. Rowling or Suzanne Collins and know that you’ve touched the lives of so many readers. Heck, I look at people in my karate class who can easily do spinning back kicks without falling on their butt and wish I had their ability.

Andrea Birch, in Tish Cohen’s Switch, is no different. The only biological child of a foster family, she’s overwhelmed by responsibility (she gives up a modeling gig and free clothes to buy baby formula, reluctantly but otherwise without complaint) and wishes she could be Joules Adams, only child of rock star Nigel Adams. Andrea describes Joules as “not exactly human… This polish of what I can only describe as authenticity that covers every inch of her being like fairy dust.” Plus, Joules’ boyfriend is the love of Andrea’s life, Will Sherwood. So it’s easy to see why Andrea wishes to be her. Unlike us, however, Andrea does get her wish, and, as usually happens in this type of story, ends up learning that in many ways, she’s actually the lucky one.

Switch is a fun, entertaining read, and definitely a fresh take on the classic Freaky Friday story. I love that Cohen chooses to keep this book only within Andrea’s perspective, rather than switching back and forth between Andrea’s and Joules’ accounts. This makes the story more about how Andrea changes rather than how both girls have to adapt to very different lifestyles, which may have been more comedic (spoiled rich girl having to deal with diapers and half a dozen foster kids!), but might also have been less touching.

Real is an odd word to use about a book that has teenagers switching bodies, but Andrea’s problems are very real. Foster parenting is a difficult undertaking, and I applaud those who give so much of themselves to take care of other people’s children. Lots of books have also talked about the difficulties of being a foster child. But Switch has made me think about what it must be like to be the only biological child in such a family. Sure, Andrea is the only one allowed to call her parents Mom and Dad, but her parents also take it for granted that she has a perfect life, and so lavish more attention on the foster kids. It also struck home how Andrea could never allow herself to form strong friendships with the foster kids, because sooner or later, they’ll be transferred to another family.

There are a couple of things about Switch that I didn’t really like. Andrea just seemed too perfect. Immediately after she switched bodies with Joules, she already wanted to switch back and help her mom out with the kids. I agree that this is within her character — she really is super responsible — and shows how much she really loves her family. I also understand how she might worry that Joules is a completely incompetent baby-sitter and won’t be able to take care of the kids. But I kept thinking, if I were in her shoes, I’d totally spend at least a day or so living it up as Joules Adams. Andrea does enjoy having Will as her boyfriend, but I thought she’d enjoy having no kids around a bit more.

Even though I like that Cohen chose to focus on Andrea’s narrative, I’m also very interested in Joules’ story. She struck me as a very complex, possibly more interesting character, and by the end of the book, she ends up having to change so much more than Andrea does. I’d love to know what happens to her after the events of Switch. Those who’ve read the book, anyone agree with me?

Overall, a very good book. Even though Andrea sometimes comes off as too good, she does change after the switch, and becomes much more appreciative of her life. Nigel Adams is a rich, compelling character. I love how Cohen hints that, despite Andrea’s rose-coloured glasses view of him for most of the book, he actually has a lot of his own issues, and Joules has had to deal with those her whole life. I also love how, despite his issues, Nigel clearly very much loves Joules, and how it takes Andrea in Joules’ body to notice it. I love the quirky grandmother, and love how she gives only Andrea the weird things she picks up on her travels. Andrea doesn’t usually appreciate them, but they’re totally my kind of gift.