Available:*
Library | Call Number | Status |
---|---|---|
Searching... Salem Main Library | J Funaro, G. | Searching... Unknown |
Searching... Stayton Public Library | JF FUNARO 2 | Searching... Unknown |
Bound With These Titles
On Order
Summary
Summary
"Dive head-, feet-, or face-first into this delicious danger." -- Kirkus Reviews , starred review
When Grubb, an orphan and runaway chimney sweep, entered the wondrous world of the Odditorium, his life changed forever. Apprenticed to the mechanical marvel's strange proprietor, Alistair Grim, Grubb unfortunately must settle into his new position on the lam, as all of England is convinced that Alistair Grim is a villain. Grim, however, has come up with a plan to expose the real villain: Prince Nightshade, a wicked necromancer who wants the Odditorium's power source for himself.
With the evil prince hot on their trail, Grim, Grubb and the rest of the Odditorium's crew embark on a perilous adventure to find the legendary sword Excalibur: the only weapon capable of penetrating Nightshade's magical suit of armor. As expected, their quest turns out to be anything but ordinary. Not only can the Odditorium fly, but it can also swim! And so the crew battens down the hatches and sets off on an underwater voyage to the otherworldly realm of Avalon, home to Excalibur. Along the way, they must battle a banshee assassin, sea monsters, and a witch who seeks revenge on Alistair Grim for stealing her magical objects.
But that's not all. Unbeknownst to Grubb and the others, their fate has been written in an ancient Avalonian prophecy-a prophecy that holds the key to a destiny not even Alistair Grim could have imagined.
Author Notes
Gregory Funaro grew up in Cranston, Rhode Island, and wrote his first story, "The Ghost in the Window,"in the fourth grade. He considers this to be his finest work, but unfortunately it has been lost to time. Following high school, Greg majored in theatre at the University of New Hampshire and, after various acting gigs, received his AM in theatre arts from Brown University and an MFA in acting from the FSU/Asolo Conservatory. Greg teaches drama at East Carolina University and is busy working on the next book in the Odditorium series.
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-6-Grubb and his fantastical companions return for more magical high jinks in the second volume of the series. Grubb has come a long way from a runaway orphan to the heir of a flying ship but is still adjusting to life with his father and his new friends. This sequel continues the quest to destroy the evil Prince Nightshade with an underwater trip to Avalon in search of Excalibur. Though the page count is high, the rapidly firing adventures with a focus on plot should keep even struggling readers enthralled. Balancing the text are frequent spot and plate illustrations, complemented by generously large text and margins. The sketchy simplicity of the pictures still seems to undersell the potential of such a fanciful world but may help keep the book accessible and nonthreatening for middle grade readers. Perhaps due to the limits of an action-packed plot and the metaphoric fight between good and evil, depth of characterization is not a strong point, and Funaro focuses instead on a cast of characters with a diverse array of abilities, if predominantly white and male. The hodgepodge of motifs-from Arthurian legend to Greek fable-is somewhat bewildering, especially as the appropriations are not tied together. Several entangled morals underlie the story, but their simplicity can be written off as a side effect of the allegorical form of fantasy. Despite revealing the tantalizing answers to several mysteries, Funaro leaves enough to sustain further volumes, complete with an arcane prophecy to be fulfilled. VERDICT A fun, fantastical adventure with enough invention for juvenile readers to thoroughly enjoy, even with chaotic commandeering of a variety of storytelling motifs.-Erin Reilly-Sanders, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
With help from old friends, banshees, and Excalibur, Grubb and his recently discovered father, Alistair Grim, continue their quest to defeat evil necromancer Prince Nightshade, who is searching for animus, a magical power source. This follow-up to Alistair Grim's Odditorium doesn't stand alone, but fans of the first book's (hodgepodge) fantastical elements, action, and mystery will find more of the same here. Final illustrations unseen. Glos. (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
If it's fear that keeps the senses sharp, all five of Grubb Grim's must be knives. Grubb now knows his last name is Grim and, like his father, Alistair, has a knack for attracting danger, adventure, and Odditoria. In this second installment of the series, the Odditorium (a steampunk ship controlled by pipe organ) and all of its residents are fugitives after taking the rap for Prince Nightshade's path of destruction in London. To defeat the now-nowhere-to-be-found prince, Grubb, his father, and the crew must find the secret nautical gate to an otherworldly kingdom in order to "borrow" Excaliburthe only thing that can destroy Nightshade's impenetrable armor. Finding the famed sword is only the tip of the odd-berg as Grubb discovers his life is part of an unfolding prophecy. As in series opener Alistair Grim's Odditorium (2015), Grubb speaks directly to the audience. Where this narrative technique paired with the saturation of character introductions was distracting in Book 1, here it finds its footing. Demons, murder, dark hearts, and a toothy sea serpent keep any hopes of permanent sunshine dim (thank goodness). Finding power in the ordinary may be the overarching message, but why to befriend a bounty-hunting banshee, what drives a beautiful witch mad, where Excalibur is hidden, and how to stop time are all supplementary lessons in sorcery in this romp. Dive head-, feet-, or face-first into this delicious danger. (character list) (Fantasy. 10-13) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
After the madness of the public unveiling of the Odditorium, Alistair Grim and his apprentice and long-lost son, ex-chimney sweep Grubb, are on the lam. Everyone in London wants them imprisoned for inciting mass hysteria, and evildoer Prince Nightshade, Grim's rival collector, is hot on their trail and intent on unleashing an army of the dead. On their way to Ireland via the sea, Grubb trains to inherit the Odditorium and all its creatures and possessions. Familiar faces complicate things, especially when Grim decides to seek out Excalibur, King Arthur's fabled sword. Funaro's amusing style continues in this sequel, and Vivienne To's illustrations add charm to the delightfully wild adventure. Suggest to fans of Obert Skye, as well as those eager to know more about the fate of the Odditorium.--Comfort, Stacey Copyright 2015 Booklist