School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-7-Rownie and other "stray" children live with Graba, a Baba Yaga-type witch with mechanical, chickenlike legs. His older brother, Rowan, lived with him until he became an actor and disappeared since their city outlaws acting. Rownie, anxious to find him, runs away, much to the ire of Graba. He meets a troupe of goblin actors who teach him their craft and the secrets of the masks they wear and make. He learns to trust the goblins and thinks they will help in the search for his brother. Written in "Acts" and "Scenes" as in a staged drama, the story weaves a many-webbed tale, rich in imagination with a fairy-tale feel. However, it seems as though something important is missing in the connections among the many situations as well as the story as a whole. Also, the characters, except for Rowan, seem one dimensional without much importance in the plot. True fans of fantasy or science fiction may enjoy this book but it's additional at best.-D. Maria LaRocco, Cuyahoga Public Library, Strongsville, OH (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Young Rownie is on a quest to find his actor brother, who disappeared from the town of Zombay, a place where acting is outlawed. His search finds him joining a troupe of goblin actors who teach him things about the world he will need in his journey. As a narrator, William Alexander turns in a solid performance. He reading is well paced. He lends drama to his young adult novel and ably creates distinctive character voices. However, his narration doesn't always capture the tone of the book. His voice is soft and slightly nasal and he sometimes overpronounces words-and this will prevent some listeners from getting lost in the fantasy. Ages 8-12. A Margaret K. McElderry hardcover. (Jan.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
Theater is outlawed for the humans of Zombay. But when orphan Rownie flees witch Graba's custody, he joins a performance troupe of goblins he hopes can help locate his brother (who disappeared after illegally acting); the goblins hope Rownie can prevent catastrophe from befalling the city. Rownie's journey is obscured by too many fantastical elements, but the setting is imaginative. (c) Copyright 2012. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
(Fantasy. 9-13)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Readers of Alexander's debut are immediately thrust into a precarious situation as young Rownie is rudely awoken from sleep. He's an orphan who's been taken in by the witch Graba, but she is a crafty soul who wants things from the children she shelters. Doing her errands while fighting off hunger, Rownie also searches for his missing older brother. Alexander loads Rownie's plight and his flood-imperiled city with unnerving details: Graba's loft is filled with gray and mangy pigeons, and many citizens have limbs made of gears, chains, and springs. The narration is likewise distinctive, spiked with amusing dialogue between Rownie and the odd individuals around him. The most appealing creatures are a theatrical troupe of goblins who end up giving Rownie the home for which he's been searching. At times the story feels stitched together and a bit claustrophobic (the action is mostly confined to the city of Zombay), and the magic of masks and performance doesn't always come through. Still, Rownie and his very strange allies prove to be strangely charming.--Nolan, Abby Copyright 2010 Booklist