The Wordsmith

by David Malone

Twelve-year-old Evie sine Wittington craves adventure… as long as it is safely contained between the covers of one of her fairy tales. But when Evie unwittingly discovers that nearby Babeltown’s Wordsmith has been kidnapped by the mythical Wordragon, she is thrust into an adventure of her own. Armed with the Wordsmith’s magic dictionary, Evie and Babeltown’s apprentice baker, Myles von Wicker, depart on an adventure across the Great Kingdom to rescue the crotchety old coot. Evie quickly realizes real life is not a fairy tale. She cannot hide from danger by closing a book. She cannot rescue the Wordsmith by skipping ahead. A happy ending is not guaranteed. Evie must face and conquer any dangers that confront her (like, say, a sentient forest and a curious gatehouse guarding an upside-down mountain), lest the Wordsmith remain imprisoned forever.
Oh, and the Wordragon? He continues to grow larger and fouler with every word he consumes.

260 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2023

About the author

David Malone is a writer and editor who lives in Arlington Heights, Illinois with his wife and sons. When not writing about himself in the third person, David enjoys sports, losing himself in any available means of storytelling, and, of course, writing.

Reviews

[Shannon Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smart. That is how I sum up, The Wordsmith by David Malone. This middle-grade fantasy novel immediately grabs you with a quirky narrator, Mr. Rupert Oratorius, who ultimately controls the tale. He does a fantastic job of making the reader feel included throughout the story. The cast of characters, except the fantastical Wordragon, are likable, and I found myself rooting for them from start to finish.

This book is full of adventure, humor, heroism, and kindness. And words. Numerous vocabulary words for the average reader. While there is a glossary at the back of the book, the frequency at which the terms appear is perfect for a reader who seeks a challenge. In addition to the myriad of new words introduced throughout the text, the scattering of footnotes amidst the chapters is informative and entertaining.

Since words in this story are a source of power, this novel lends itself perfectly to a book club where members can dissect the new vocabulary and strategize how to implement the words into their daily lives.

And as a footnote of my own, I appreciate the inclusion of anxiety by some of the characters and how they faced their fears.

Thank you to Orange Hat Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do I love this book more than Harry Potter…?! I think I do!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Everyone loves to hear a good story,” and MAN, was this a great one! The Wordsmith written by David Malone is a middle grades chapter book about a team of adventurers on a mission to rescue their friend as well as language, both written and spoken, as we know it. Not only has the Wordsmith been taken, but the Wordragon is also becoming more powerful as he steals words from those who get in his way. Something I absolutely ADORED about this book was the point of view from which the story was told. Rupert Oratorius is, in my opinion, THE best narrator! The way in which Malone wrote his narrator’s description of the story and dialogue with readers kept me engaged and literally laughing out loud as he connected with readers, went on tangents, pulled at heartstrings, and alluded to other stories he could tell that related to the plot of this book. I also really enjoyed the ongoing vocabulary building throughout the book as Malone chose certain words to print in bold. These keywords highlighted academic, content, or more complex English vocabulary that readers may not be familiar with as well as fictional words that were invented by the characters in the story all of which can be found in the glossary at the back of the book. My favorite quote, besides the opening of this review, was a piece of advice from the Wordsmith: “Knowledge is no different than music. It is meant to be heard and enjoyed by others; it is meant to be used and amended. It is beautiful. Perhaps not in the same way as a symphony or a sunset, but beautiful in its application, nonetheless.” I wonder if David Malone would consider writing a sequel or spin-off of The Wordsmith to tell more stories that were alluded to in the book because I would ABSOLUTELY read it (or them if he writes multiple, I hope)!

Overall, I would give The Wordsmith 5 out of 5 stars because it has an amazing cast of characters including a strong girl protagonist, heroes fighting for language, literacy, and the lesson that we can always add new words to our own “dictionary” (all of which I adore as a language teacher, reader, and storytelling fan), and THE best storytelling voice thanks to the beloved narrator, Rupert Oratorius, to tell this superb story.

I recommend The Wordsmith if you:
a) enjoy stories told by characters that break “the fourth wall” to speak and connect directly with you as a reader,
b) like tales of adventure, fantasy, and friendship,
c) are a teacher and want to inspire your middle grades students to see the value in language (both written and spoken) as they enjoy the adventure,
and d) if you are looking for a joyful, suspenseful, and light read that also touches on deeper themes like love, loss, and literacy.

The Wordsmith by David Malone has definitely jumped to the list of my favorite books EVER read!
From one lover of literacy to another, THANK YOU, David, for writing this masterpiece (and please feel free to write more. I’m sure Rupert Oratorius would LOVE to spin another yarn for his readers).

[Maddie Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Wordsmith takes place in a unique and enchanting world rivaling that created by Dr. Seuss. It’s pages are filled with lovably goofy characters and tackles important topics like facing your fears and being yourself even when you feel you’re the odd one out. The novel utilizes footnotes and a dictionary at the end to introduce young readers to new vocabulary, and teach about etymology through words created by the author. Filled with Easter eggs which will make adults chuckle, this book provides a wonderful opportunity for families to read and learn together, and would be a fantastic addition to a school curriculum. Highly recommend this book which will be sure to charm children and adults alike.

[OpenedBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t expect to have so much fun with this book. It starts with the narrator introducing himself as Rupert Oratorius, a wittingly humorous person who guides us through the events that lead Evie and Myles through an adventurously created world. Rupert gave unexpected facts and backstories. He made you feel like sitting with a friend giving you the latest gossip. He made me smile and appreciate this style of writing. Evie is a fantastic character who goes above and beyond to follow her righteous path of saving the wordsmith. I enjoyed her journey and the transformation she experienced very much. Myles was a rather flat character, and I would have liked a little more of him, but Sir Red made up for his flaws. This book doesn’t lack any unique, quirky characters that make the story so much more relatable and moving. A must-read for everyone who loves adventures with unexpected turns, eccentric characters, and wit.

[Nicole Ricken · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Malone is an extraordinary storyteller. The Wordsmith is an imaginative, intelligent, clever read, replete with fantastical escapades and chimerical encounters that appeal to the child within. The Wordsmith is original in both concept and style, yet it can be likened to the works of great fantasy writers, past and present, in its ability to enrapture, challenge, and delight. Hats off to Mr. Malone. I’m hoping for a sequel or a series!

[Sean Malone · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a charming adventure for younger readers- the Wordsmith himself is my highlight for the book, to the extent I wish that he was in it more. There is a good deal of nuance to be found in the created setting, as well as a noble aspiration in the book's message of learning, vocabulary, and bravery. It does conform to an expected narrative arc, but in its own way. A romp!

[Therearenobadbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Wordsmith is a great homage to classics and language collecting the best of our favorites when it comes to children with caricatured horrible parents or mysteriously missing ones going on a journey to save the Wordsmith, meeting many challenges and new characters on their way. It's up to Myles and Evie to accept this challenge and journey of growing up.

The narrator is a peculiar character who speaks directly to the reader, this breach of the fourth wall adds a lot of humor, delays information for suspense, and adds all extra funny information from local to real scientific facts, and thoughts as footnotes that I advise not to skip. Some are hilarious. A lot is happening in this adventure, some events are silly, and some characters who the children encounter are even sillier, but it's so well written that all will stay in our minds for a while. The type of book we keep quoting among friends making private jokes.

The author is quite creative and there are a lot of invented but fun words added to the glossary at the end with the ones that are meant to improve our vocabulary. Throughout the novel, these words are formatted in bold to stand out.

Fun, adventurous, educational, a fun mix of Terry Pratchett's humor and world-building, Lemony Snicket's adventure with a good pinch of Lewis Carroll for magic.

Thank you Orange Hat for this ARC.

[Pamela Malone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to read this little gem of a book in its earliest stages, and was immediately drawn in by the fun, quirky characters. The story takes us on a riveting voyage filled with fantasy, humor, and a little bit of magic. David Malone's writing enchants, challenges and leaves us wanting more. Hoping for a sequel!

[Alyssa Ricken · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Wordsmith is such a treat for all ages. Delightful, imaginative, clever. David Malone's voice and storytelling are incredible. He is going places!