The adventure of a lifetime begins between two sofa cushions....
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
19 of 21 people found the following review helpful.
Remarkably Fresh, Original and Engaging
By Pop Bop
I've been reading an awful lot of middle grade fiction lately, and at some point many of the books start to blend together into one sort-of-bland, definitely predictable, mega book, with slightly worn out characters and plots. But every now and then you encounter something that is so fresh, sharp and well done that you just have to pause in admiration. To my mind, that's what you have here.First off, and most importantly, this book pulls off the almost impossible task of having a zany, quirky plot and characters, while still having a narrative voice that is wise, authentic and almost ruefully honest. So, on the one hand you have an over the top plot, and over the top secondary characters, but it's not all just frantic silliness. It is grounded by three heroes, River, Freak and Fiona, who feel real, sound real, and act real. They are also funny, perceptive, creative and engaging. They are distinct, personable and freshly imagined. The book is loaded with funny throwaway lines and perceptive observations and insights about school and middle grade life. And it is grounded by a deadpan delivery and a light authorial touch.And maybe that's what really powers this book. It feels fresh and original. Nothing is forced or manic. Everything is custom made and while it is unpredictable because just slightly off kilter, it is also recognizable and genuine. As a bonus, snappy dialogue is just a bit snappier, and everything - descriptions, little bits of business, snarky or wry asides - is brighter, sharper, and more appealing than you would normally expect.Bear with me while I offer an example of what I mean. There must be some rule that any middle grade book has to have a physical description of the narrator, (age, height, body type and especially hair and eye color), within the first five pages, or the book can't be published. Usually the narrator looks in a mirror. Here, the narrator River observes that people think he must be related to Max Schimmelhorn because Max is short and thin and red-haired. So, our author provides the required description, but in a novel fashion. That's what I mean about the author's approach being new and clever and fresh. He observes all of the conventions, but tweaks them in a very engaging way.For what it's worth, there is a fairly long "Click to Look Inside" sample on the Amazon page. That sample is a fair representation of the style and substance of the book and will give a very good idea of what the book is like. What a nice find.Please note that I found this book while browsing Amazon Kindle new releases. I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful.
A Story with Humor and Heart (and Tessering Sofas)
By K. M. Martin
This story was a combination of fantastical elements and elements common to all middle schoolers. It had a couch with dragon feet that could tesser (Loved the shout out to A Wrinkle in Time!), a talking domino, an inside out universe, and a villain who wants to use mind control enhanced by cell phones and snack food to take over the world. It also had an orphaned main character, a color blind main character who loved science, and a main character who was dealing with an alcoholic and angry father.River, Freak and Fiona are the only kids still living in an abandoned subdivision. An underground coal fire has made the area dangerous. When they come upon an old sofa outside an old and scary mansion, they don't imagine that they will soon be involved with trying to save the world.I liked the sly humor that permeated this story. I also liked River's thoughtful narration. I liked the way he was equally accepting of the magical sofa and his own state as an orphan. He was a typical middle schooler cycling by the moment from child to young adult. He was also courageous and intelligent.The plot which involved a rare zucchini color crayon and a villain with Compulsive Completist Disorder which compels him to drop his plans of world conquest to complete his collections. The story is filled with action that will appeal to middle schoolers. From exploring the dangerous Hellsboro with its underground coal fires to runaway hot air balloons, the action never stops.I think this book will appeal to many upper elementary and middle school students.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful.Great family reading
By Kaelyn Ferland
Read this with my 6 & 8 years old children over summer vacation. We all found it very entertaining. Great family reading!
