The Lost Boy

July 22, 2013
Readers of Ruth’s picture books, which include A Pirate’s Guide to Recess and Red Kite, Blue Kite, are already familiar with his cinematic brand of artwork. He brings the same detail and drama to this chilling graphic novel, which spans more than 50 years. The story opens as a boy named Nate moves to a new town and discovers a tape recorder hidden underneath the floorboards of his bedroom. The action shifts back several decades as Nate listens to recordings left by Walter Pidgen, an outcast boy who disappeared without a trace. Along with a neighbor, Tabitha, Nate is drawn into a supernatural battle involving the denizens of an ancient woodland kingdom, which include talking toys and insects, monstrous wooden soldiers, and a terrifying tree creature called the Vespertine (some violent sequences may disturb younger, more timid readers). The dialogue is often drily funny (especially where Tabitha is involved), if occasionally melodramatic, but Ruth’s jaw-droppingly gorgeous artwork makes up for any narrative shortcomings. The final pages suggest that Ruth has more to say about this creepy fairy-tale world. Ages 8–12. Agent: Allen Spiegel, Allen Spiegel Fine Arts. (Sept.) ■

January 1, 2014

Gr 4-7-Nate has recently moved to town. He's resistant to his new situation until he finds an old reel-to-reel tape recorder under the floorboards. Through a series of recordings, he learns about Walt, who once lived in the house. Soon Nate and his new friend, Tabitha, are in the middle of a sinister web that began with Walt's disappearance 50 years ago. The friends have no choice but to venture into The Kingdom, a dangerous world populated by talking animals, "buglings," worn-out toys, and the evil Vespertine. The first part of the story alternates between the present-day world and the recordings made by Walt in the 1960s. Nate and Tabitha's journey into The Kingdom comprises the second part. The fast-moving plot has several scary elements, and many of the characters have unsettling dark sides. The story culminates with a satisfying battle between good and evil, but also reveals that there are more evil forces to be dealt with and that this is the start of a series. Although the fantasy elements are intriguing, the dialogue often seems contrived and the attempts at sarcastic humor are uneven and forced. The detailed and realistic black-and-white illustrations use a variety of angles to create a visually exciting, cinematic atmosphere. Though the shifts in perspective can be sudden, confusing, and disruptive to the flow of the story, this creepy volume will still find an audience among tweens.-Amy Seto Musser, Denver Public Library

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