In Search of Goliathus Hercules

January 14, 2013
Roald Dahl meets Franz Kafka in this charming and unpredictable debut novel, which is set in the 1890s. While staying with his eccentric great-aunt in America, 10-year-old British boy Henri Bell discovers that he can communicate with insects. He soon parlays this ability into a job as a flea wrangler with a circus, leaving his great-aunt’s home to see the world—and attempt to discover the fate of his father. Three years earlier, George Bell mysteriously vanished in the jungles of British Malaya while hunting the legendary giant beetle known as Goliathus hercules. At every turn, Henri is stalked by the malevolent Agatha Black, who revels in torturing insects; furthermore, Henri appears to be turning into an insect himself. Angus, a visual artist who extensively uses insects in her work, breathes life into her characters (both six- and two-legged) and color into her Victorian-era world, giving the story a sense of wonder and an air of danger. With respect and clever characterization, she makes fleas and other creepy-crawlies downright sympathetic, leaving readers to rethink their relationship with the insect world. Ages 8–12.

February 1, 2013

Gr 4-6-Henri Bell lives with his Great-Aunt Georgie on a farm in America in 1890. His father has been missing for three years, last seen in Malaya, and his mother has stayed in London. There is little there for him to do except look through Georgie's button collection, at least until he discovers that he has a secret: he can talk to insects. With the help of Dom, a Musca domestica (common housefly), he learns of a vicious new species in the insect world: Goliathus hercules. Soon after, Henri joins Maestro Antonio's traveling flea circus, where his secret is soon found out. He also finds himself on the run from his great-aunt's evil neighbor, who is following him. He searches for Goliathus hercules, which takes him on a quest halfway around the world, hoping to be in time to stop the species from being used in a sinister plot. This book is well thought out and a joy to read. Children will find Henri and all of his insect friends to be relatable characters. It is a grand adventure, one full of excitement and plenty of questions to keep readers engaged.-Wayne R. Cherry, Jr., First Baptist Academy Lib., Houston, TX

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2013
In this Victorian adventure, Henri discovers that he can talk to insects and decides to travel to British Malaya to find his father and capture the elusive, man-eating insect, Goliathus hercules. Henri's father had disappeared in British Malaya some years earlier, coincidentally in the same area that Goliathus hercules has been spotted. Where other searchers have failed, Henri is certain his newfound talent will lead to success. He joins a colorfully depicted traveling flea circus, planning to make his way from America to Southeast Asia. On his three-year quest, Henri acquires friends both human and insect, the support of the scientific community, and a villainous rival, Mrs. Black. Unfortunately, an underdeveloped back story and poor plotting mar this debut. The human characters are stock, especially Mrs. Black, whose evil master plan is never made clear. However, Angus, an artist who creates installations using bugs, excels with her insect characters. They liven things up with their often-humorous commentary and fierce loyalty to Henri. In a cleverly creepy but inexplicable development, Henri's increasingly heightened senses--is he undergoing a metamorphosis?--aid him in his hunt. Archival images are used to add interest. Many readers will guess the link between Henri's father and Goliathus hercules long before Henri does, but the final twist may surprise all. An uneven effort, but bug enthusiasts may latch on. (Fantasy. 8-12)

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April 1, 2013
Grades 3-6 In 1890 England, 10-year-old Henri discovers that not only can he communicate with insects but that he, too, is among their tribe. Debut author Angus builds this fantastical premise with well-placed scenes in which Henri's own deep skepticism cleverly encourages the reader to join willingly in his discoveries, which include a housefly that can read and members of a flea circus whose performance improves when Henri translates the ringmaster's orders. Even as his concerns become increasingly concentrated on the small world of insects, his world seems to grow. The disappearance of Henri's father creates a framing mystery that builds on the themes of identity and metamorphosis and wraps up in a satisfying and original denouement. Illustrated with period postcards and other historical images, this moving, well-conceived novel blends the spirit of Franz Kafka and the sly humor of Eva Ibbotson and is accessible for new fantasy readers while offering something different to established fantasy fans.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)