Book review: A boy called M.O.U.S.E

Title: A Boy Called M.O.U.S.E

Author: Penny Dolan

Illustrator: Peter Bailey

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Publication Date: 1^st December 2011

(From the press release: recommended for readers ages 9 and up.)

We all know the story of the farm boy raised by a loving Ma who discovers he's not a farm boy, and his real family are important and wealthy. We also know the story of the boy that survives the horrors of wicked uncles, cruel headmasters, and schoolyard bullies, but runs away and survives through his wits on the mean streets of the city.  

                A Boy Called M.O.U.S.E. takes us on this familiar path of adventure in a Victorian setting with a cast of appropriately caring aunts, talented dogs, fairy dancers, wise clockwork-makers and theatre-folk – all towards an expected but somewhat unconventional conclusion. Mouse is a quick-witted, intelligent, likable hero supported by a strong cast of diverse and charming characters, while his foil Scrope is a conflicted-but-not-wholly-evil uncle who comes to an appropriate end, backed and betrayed by the real villain of the piece, Mr Button.

                Dolan's strength lies in ensuring that bad deeds get their karmic reward, but also in never allowing her characters to settle at the cheap happily-ever-after ending – reunions with unknown blood relatives are complicated and difficult. The reader walks away with the sense that while family is important, the family you make for yourself is just as valuable.

For adults reading to their children, or just wanting to read an enjoyable yarn, the magic lies in Mouse's determination, the way Nick Tock and Vanya scheme to make the Albion Theatre a success, and the interweaving of A Midsummer Night's Dream and other Shakespearean devices – both on the stage and off. For children, it's the misery at Murkstone Hall, the puppets, and Mouse's high-wire escapades.

The real star of the book, for young and old, is the wonderful and devoted Amazing Dog Toby.

Review by Kim Cook

Book Review: The Wide-Awake Princess

The Wide-Awake Princess

E.D. Baker

Bloomsbury Publishing, London 2010

Cleverly written and incorporating many classic fairy tales, The Wide-Awake Princess, is an original recant of Sleeping Beauty.

It’s Princess Gwendolyn’s sixteenth birthday and in keeping with the myth of fairy tales, the Royal family is on high alert for anyone trying to ‘sneak’ in a spinning wheel that would put the Princess into a deep sleep. Measures are taken to ensure that this does not happen, though as much as caution is taken, of course, in fairy tales, as in real life-things don’t always go according to plan.

Blessed with stunning looks and mannerisms, Princess Gwendolyn is the most beautiful Princess in the land. Her sister, Princess Annie, has not received these blessings, however, she holds a power that she soon discovers will render her just as important as Gwendolyn, if not more so. Perhaps, finally the King and Queen will believe that their youngest daughter is just as viable to the kingdom, as their eldest.

Magic has no hold on Annie, and those who do have magical powers, lose those powers when they are in Annie’s company. Although, Annie has not thought much of this before, she soon realises that everyone is special in their own way and for the first time, she is more important than her sister Gwendolyn. After all, it is up to Annie to save her sister and seal the kingdom’s fate.

Despite everyone’s attempts in keeping Princess Gwendolyn safe, a minute spinning wheel conspicuously hidden in a jewel brings the myth to life. The entire castle is put to sleep and it is up to Annie to save not only her sister, but the entire Royal family and entourage.

With the help of a fairly plain Royal guard, who hides his true identity, until the right time, he and Annie embark upon a quest to bring back Princes from different kingdoms, with the hope that they are Princess Gwendolyn’s true love. Upon that kiss-Gwendolyn will awaken and seal their ‘true love’. Only with true love’s first kiss will the entire castle return to normal.

Their adventure is spurted with mini adventures that they solve along the way. Hansel and Gretel are still held captive by the evil witch, but are rescued by Annie and soon reunite with their father. The frog Prince although has been turned back into a Prince, still awaits for his true love, after his Princess ran off with another and Princesses really can tell when they are sleeping on a pea stacked upon a heap of mattresses. The most important thing we learn though and that is typical of a fairy tale, is that true love is found, but that it can be found in the most unlikely of places, certainly the cliche’-’right beneath your nose’ runs true for this story.

A fairy tale ending wouldn’t be a fairy tale ending, but in The Wide-Awake Princess, it is lovely to see that not only the beautiful Princesses have their dreams come true, but, that beauty can come in many different ways and inner beauty leaves a much more lasting impression on people and is rewarded accordingly.

The Wide-Awake Princess is a refreshing young adult novel that does leave you with the feeling that anything is achievable with a clear mindset, a desire to help others and most importantly that you should never doubt the power, strength and determination you have, as it is just as important as anyone else’s.

by Maria Vavala