Elliot and the Goblin War

January 17, 2011
Launching a series, this cockeyed farce opens on Halloween night, when eight-year-old Elliot rescues a girl who's being chased by two kids who he thinks want her sack of candy. Turns out the three aren't costumed trick-or-treaters, but residents of the Underworld: Patches is a Brownie and her tormentors are Goblins. Employing some twisted logic, the Goblins decide that even though Elliot humiliated them, they won't declare war on humans, but instead go to war with the Brownies, who they are fond of eating. Three years later, Patches's father proclaims Elliot king of the Brownies when their queen dies, and a Brownie defector named Fudd Fartwick enlists the Goblins' aid to kill Elliot so Fudd can claim the crown. Kendall's grayscale illustrations, imbued with a cinematic polish and liveliness, are a welcome enhancement to Nielsen's story, which sometimes skids with the force of its heavy-handed humor (the author repeatedly inserts warnings to stop reading as to avoid the dismal fates of earlier readers). Still, middle-graders with a taste for the über-silly will likely want to catch the next installment. Ages 8–13.

October 1, 2010

A strong warning from a now-familiar intrusive narrator cautions readers to be "very brave" and "willing to take...chances" because "this is the story that unfolds the mysteries of the Underworld." Book one of this new series begins Halloween night, when unsuspecting reluctant hero Elliot happens to save a real Brownie named Patches from a trio of real Goblins. Elliot's good deed results in his acclamation as King of the Brownies, and these spunky but weak creatures truly need a king to help them end a three-year-long war with the evil Goblins. Nielsen ably draws readers into a tale chock-full of light adventure and humor, as each chapter details the somewhat over-the-top yet entertaining dilemmas Patches and Elliot face to outwit and uncover a traitor, foil the Goblins' attacks and keep it all a secret from Elliot's family. By the title's end, a bully has been confronted and Underworld peace negotiated. Recommended for those who avoid dark and serious fantasies, as it's sure to evoke more giggles than gasps, despite the introductory admonitions. (Fantasy. 9-12)

(COPYRIGHT (2010) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

December 1, 2010

Gr 3-6-This lighthearted fantasy approaches the world of goblins, brownies, and demons with tongue planted firmly in cheek. On Halloween night, eight-year-old Elliot Penster saved a little girl from having her candy stolen by two bullies. Unbeknownst to our hero, she was a magical creature known as a brownie, and the bullies were beastly goblins. With his simple act, Elliot set off a war between these two factions in their Underworld home. Fast forward three years and the brownies are losing badly. When their queen passes away, Elliot, remembered for his former bravery, is chosen king. The first order of business? End the war with the goblins, and keep himself (and his family) alive. While Elliot succeeds in bringing peace, the "Book 1" on the cover ensures that the story will continue. The pacing is brisk, with short chapters to hold readers' interest. Main characters are well developed. The narrator has a gleefully odd (and occasionally sarcastic) sense of humor, opening the book with a warning to readers and sprinkling cheeky asides throughout the story. Themes of growing up and coming into one's own add depth. Occasional full-page illustrations in black and white are sometimes creepy and sometimes grotesque in a funny sort of way, adding to the story's tone. While the book doesn't stand out in a crowded fantasy landscape, it will likely please young fans of the genre looking for something with a lighter mood.-Travis Jonker, Dorr Elementary School, MI

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2010
Grades 3-5 This opens with a warning: only seven children who have read this book lived to tell about it. In truth, this is more silly than scary, though kids might like that, too. Elliot is out trick-or-treating one Halloween night when he runs into a girl in an elf costume being chased by goblins. As it turns out, she really is an elfwell, actually a brownieand the goblins are after her. For reasons that involve the delicious taste of brownies, the encounter leads to a war launched by the goblins against the brownies, into which the human Elliot finds himself dragged. In fact, he becomes king of the brownies and thus responsible for their welfare. Oh dear. Funny names (Fudd Fartwick, Tubs Lawless) and unexpected events (almost being scared to death) tumble through the pages, and Nielsen writes about them with tongue in cheek. Elliot and the goblin on the cover should draw em in.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)