Verne-ian fantasy and reversal of fortune la Dickens willlure readers into this good-vs.-evil series debut.-Kirkus Reviews
Funaro's first book for young readers has all theplayfulness of classic adventures like The Phantom Tollbooth and the intrigue ofnewer steampunk novels, making it a clever mash-up of mystery and merriment,ideal for kids who loved Percy Jackson and Harry Potter. -Booklist
With a dash of Dickens and more than a bit of Rowling, thisfirst book in a proposed series should have no trouble finding an audience.-VOYA
Grubb, age twelve (or thereabouts), has never known anything beyond his miserable existence as a chimney sweep, paid only in insults and abuse by his cruel master.
All of that changes the day he stows away in the coach belonging to a mysterious guest at the inn that he is tasked with cleaning. Grubb emerges from Alistair Grim's trunk and into the wondrous world of the Odditorium. Fueled by a glowing blue energy that Grubb can only begin to understand, the Odditorium is home to countless enchanted objects and an eccentric crew that embraces Grubb as one of their own.
There's no time for Grubb to settle into his new role as apprentice to the strange, secretive Mr. Grim. When the Odditorium comes under attack, Grubb is whisked off on a perilous adventure. Only he can prevent the Odditorium's magic from falling into evil hands-and his new family from suffering a terrible fate.
Grubb knows he's no hero. He's just a chimney sweep. But armed with only his courage and wits, Grubb will confront the life-or-death battle he alone is destined to fight.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful.
A Wonderful Story - Brings Back Memories of Classic Tales for Youth
By Benjamin Thomas
Imagine you want to write a book for today’s youth, say ages 8-12, grades 3-7. It’s a tough assignment, choosing to compete with the multitudes of entertainment options kids have these days. And even if you can capture their attention with the idea of actually reading a book, well, how would you make yours stand out among all the competitors you will have?Gregory Funaro surely thought through these issues when he first made the decision to write such a book. However he developed this project, he succeeded in spades. This one has great characters, both good and evil, that make you really care about what happens to them. It has magic and mystery and humor and loads of adventure. None of it is overdone but rather blends together in a nice old-fashioned rollicking adventure of a story. The illustrations are marvelous as well, reminding me of some of my old favorites from my own youth.The main character of the story is a plucky young lad, known as Grubb (“spelled like the worm but with a double b, in case you plan on writing it down someday”), who is “12 years old or thereabouts.” He’s an orphan, and I know what you’re thinking. Not another book for young people about an orphan! But trust me; it’s crucial for the plot. Grubb is a chimney sweep, learning the profession from his less-than-ideal foster father but it isn’t long before he is off on a dangerous series of adventures with the likes of Alistair Grim and his associates. Central to the story, of course, is the titular “Odditorium” a fascinating construct that houses Mr. Grim’s collection of unusual and inexplicable enchanted oddities. It doubles as the living quarters for Mr. Grim and his friends, complete with an awesome library and a workshop that da Vinci would be at home in.When beginning to write this review I was trying to think how to compare it to other famous stories for kids to try to describe what sort of book this is. I started with a combination of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the Wizard of Oz books. But then I threw in a little of The Phantom Tollbooth except with more rapid-fire adventure. Add a pinch of Harry Potter and a dash of just about any steampunk novel you can name. In the end, I gave up, having realized that it’s really not comparable to anything I’ve read before. It’s uniquely imaginative.As an older reader I can appreciate the themes that the author allows here. Grubb and his friends are rewarded for virtuous actions such as honesty and loyalty, and having the courage necessary to take the more dangerous but correct path. Grubb makes mistakes but works hard to make things right. Another important theme for Grubb is learning how it can be better to use his brain in a fight than any weapon or physical might.This book is ideal to read aloud to kids or to have them read to you. It’s fast paced and will keep the interest level high but also has lots of cool gadgets and magical creatures. I won’t go into any detail on the magic system for fear of spoilers but I was happy to see just how well thought out and interdependent it is.The main storyline concludes in this volume but there are several loose ends which will no doubt, continue to cause further mischief in future volumes in the series. It is very evident that young Master Grubb is just getting started. If you’re looking for an engaging, high quality book for your middle readers, this one’s a winner!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful.A fantastic story!
By Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids Book Reviews
A fantastic story! Alistair Grim's ODDITORIUM takes readers on an unforgettable, fantasy filled adventure. With it's perfect mix of adventure, humor, mystery, and the element of surprise, it didn't take long for me to be hooked with this engaging story. From the characters, to the writing, and the illustrations, everything about this book is great. Alligator Grim's Odditorium is an action packed middle grade book that even the most reluctant reader will enjoy.Set in Victorian London, this story centers around our unlikely hero, Grubb. As he'd tell you, that's Grubb, with two b's. Grubb's unlikely adventure begins when he runs away from his horrible master. He's not destined to clean chimneys nor deal with being treated so poorly. Grubb's destiny is an unimaginable one. It's no accident that Grubb ends up hiding in the chest of a guest who's staying at the inn, that Grubb just happens to be working at. As you'll find out when you read this book, some things happen for a reason. Sometimes destiny has a funny way of happening. Grubb's destiny started when he hid from his master, in the chest that belonged to none other than Mr. Grim himself.Grubb's hiding place takes him to an unusual place, Alistair Grim's Odditorium. It's a peculiar, secretive place, and unlike any place he's ever been to before. Well, it's unlike any place many people have ever been to before. If there was a place like this, I would have loved to visit it as a kid. Actually, who am I kidding, it would be cool to visit it as an adult. As Grubb quickly learns, this is a place that a variety of things, and unusual characters call home. When the Odditorium comes under threat, it's up to Grubb and his new family of sorts, to protect it and the magic found here. Grubb is an appealing character I think readers will enjoy getting to know. He's funny, he's strong when he doesn't think he is, and he doesn't give up. He's the unlikely hero who's easy to cheer on. In the face of adversity, this twelve year old characters some some pretty incredible things. Nothing is simple for Grubb. He has to make his own choices, even if it's a hard one, and the not so popular choice. He is a character who's learning to find his way, and who he is. Being an orphan, he doesn't really know who he is, but he discovers that on his adventure.There is a great cast of characters in this book. They turn out to be great friends to Grub, and help him on his journey. I enjoyed getting to read about each of them, and the role they play in Grubb's story. Grubb learns some valuable lessons during the course of adventure. Like many children's books who have that classic appeal to them, this story is about choices, consequences, choosing the right path, what it means to be a true friends, and loyalty. Full of imagination and magic, fans of all ages will enjoy this unforgettable read.This is an awesome first book in what I think will be a new favorite MG series for many readers. I'm looking forward to finding out what is in store for Grubb and his friends in the next installment in this series exciting new series.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful.
An Engaging Jules Verne, Charles Dickens, Dr. Dolittle Vibe
By Pop Bop
I know that title is a mouthful, but it does fairly describe what you're in for in this magical-steampunk middle grade adventure tale.Our hero/narrator, Grubb, escapes his life as an orphan chimney sweep when he hides in the luggage trunk of a stranger's carriage in order to escape some bullies. The carriage takes off with him inside and he ultimately finds himself transported to Alistair Grim's Odditorium.The book starts a bit slowly, sketching in Grubb's Dickensian existence as a sweep, but that slow start is intentional, serves to set up our hero character, and is rather brief.Once we get to the Odditorium, the story takes off with a bang and we never look back. Grubb has just barely arrived at the Odditorium, (a confounding building filled with pipes, strange contraptions, odd mechanical items, queer people, odd energies, hidden passages, weird mysteries, and various "odditoria"), before attacks put all in peril and action must be taken."Breathless" doesn't really do the story justice, but there are occasional well timed pauses that allow the reader and Grubb to catch up with the action and to develop an understanding of what's going on.On the one hand there is an actual plot and the story makes sense as it unfolds. On the other hand, a great number of developments are fanciful, far-fetched, and exaggerated for amusing effect. This makes the book rather raucous and manic, but it also gives it a bit of gung-ho over-the-top energy that holds the reader's attention.It helps that Grubb is a pretty grounded and practical character. It especially helps that he is a quick study, asks the right questions, and forms correct conclusions based on his observations of the action going on around him. It would be easy, and frustrating, for Grubb and the reader to become lost early on in this story, but the author always pauses to bring the reader along with the developing tale.As a result, this is not only an adventure tale, but also a story of discovery. Orphan Grubb has to learn about who he is, he has to figure out the importance/role of at least five other characters, he has to discover the source and nature of the magic that seems to have a physical basis, he has to figure out who's a good guy and who's a bad guy, and he has to solve problems and accomplish tasks. As I say, this is a busy book.The book is well and clearly written, in a getting-from-point A-to-point B kind of way. Descriptive passages are serviceable, but we aren't going for poetry or deep feeling here. Dialogue is along the same lines. Surprisingly for this sort of book there are some very funny bits and a few of the characters that are there for comic relief are actually very amusing.So, the tale rattles along with gusto, the characters are interesting and/or amusing, the plot is clever, and the story-telling is honest and effective. A nice middle grade find.Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.
