The Hidden Boy

January 18, 2010
Berkeley's (the Wednesday Tales trilogy) first offering in the Bell Hoot Fables series is a whimsical fantasy adventure in the tradition of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
and Pippi Longstocking
. No one in Bea Flint's family claims to remember entering the raffle that has won them a “Blue Moon Once-in-a-Lifetime Adventure Holiday,” but they jump at the chance for a free trip. Despite skepticism about traveling on an amphibious “busmarine” that departs from a local car wash, they soon find themselves in the land of Bell Hoot. But Bea's seven-year-old brother, Theo, has disappeared during the journey, and as Bea, a girl who “was more often to be found reading encyclopedias than anything else,” searches for him, she finds herself growing into abilities she never dreamed of. Meanwhile, one of nine local clans, the Ledbetters, is just as determined to find Theo, to whom they have laid claim according to custom. Berkeley's prose and plotting gleam with humor and originality; this fast-paced tale should readily win over readers, who will be eager for a return visit to Bell Hoot. Ages 8–12.

April 1, 2010
Gr 4-8-Little do Bea and her family know what they're in for when they win "the trip of a lifetime" to Bell Hoot. While on their way to their destination, Bea's brother mysteriously disappears. As they search for Theo in Bell Hoot, they learn that the Ledbetters, an outcast clan, want to find him just as much as they do. It seems that it's their turn to foster the eldest son of a newly arrived family. But Bea doesn't think that is such a great idea, so it's a race to find who's holding Theo captive and why. Berkeley has created an alternative world that buzzes with excitement. Bell Hoot, while small enough for everyone to know everyone else, is expansive enough to house numerous secrets and hiding places. While the setup raises a lot of unanswered questions, and the story's foundation lacks a firm basis, the quirky characters mature throughout the novel and learn to find their own gifts while coming to value one another. Bea learns that she's important and has a voice, and that she has a special talent, which is instrumental in rescuing Theo. "Hidden Boy" will appeal to imaginative readers and will lead them to want to know more about these unusual people."Delia Carruthers, Roxbury Public Library, Succasunna, NJ"

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2009
Grades 3-6 The Flint family, believing theyve won a vacation in a lottery none of them remembers entering, are instead transportedwith their neglected neighbor, Phoebeto a magical and preposterously confusing land. At the center of the tale is Bea, a gritty girl determined to find her little brother, Theo, who seems to have disappeared as the magic tour bus entered Bell Hoot. To do so, she must mount a fight against warring clans, learn the language of honeybees, and dream about another mysterious boy named Ike. Her parents help by reading and making tattoos. Berkeleys arch writing and his characters hilarious, pathos-inspiring temperaments and abilities make this magical stew both compelling and delightful. His jokes are within the grasp of a third-grader but will also delight adults reading this aloud to children. The world-building is just right for the target readers, who will definitely want more from the Bell Hoot Fables series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)