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The Inkwell Chronicles #3
Operation Bungaree
Mystery and danger abound in book three of The Inkwell Chronicles, a fast-paced middle-grade fantasy series about magic ink, a secret society, and a boy who learns to make his mark. In Operation Bungaree, book three of The Inkwell Chronicles, Everett and his little sister Bea find themselves drawn even more deeply into the secret world of the Inklings, those who seek to protect the world's rapidly diminishing supply of magic Ink. Everett, separated from the group in an improbable, perilous predicament, fights to find his way home. Meanwhile, Bea and the other Inklings search desperately for ways to help him, as increasingly clever enemy operatives close in from all sides. With time and Ink dwindling, will Everett find his way back home? Fans of The Silver Arrow, The Bookwanderers, and Inkheart will love this classic battle of good and evil that pits creativity against the forces that would seek to blot it out for good.
- GenresMiddle GradeChildrens
352 pages, Hardcover
Published September 10, 2024
2038 people want to read
About the author
J.D. Peabody
4 books37 followersJ.D. Peabody has always loved stories, and his career has been spent improving his ability to write and tell them. For nearly two decades, he wrote in the context of advertising and public relations agencies, where he gained an appreciation (or at least a tolerance) for being edited. He then switched fields entirely, attending seminary, helping start a new church and learning the discipline of writing for weekly sermon deadlines.
Along the way, he tried his hand at writing poetry and song lyrics, which met with some success and taught him the difference between connecting emotionally and just being clever with words. He published articles that required attention to word count. He also wrote multiple screenplays that honed his sense of dialog and plot development.
After years of writing and rewriting, his first two books are both arriving on shelves within months of each other in 2022, one for grown-ups and one for young readers (or at least the young at heart).
A friend once told him, "Keep your head down and keep chopping wood." He hopes to keep chopping away at more books.
J.D. is a native of the Pacific Northwest, where he lives with his wife, who offsets the perpetually cloudy skies.
Along the way, he tried his hand at writing poetry and song lyrics, which met with some success and taught him the difference between connecting emotionally and just being clever with words. He published articles that required attention to word count. He also wrote multiple screenplays that honed his sense of dialog and plot development.
After years of writing and rewriting, his first two books are both arriving on shelves within months of each other in 2022, one for grown-ups and one for young readers (or at least the young at heart).
A friend once told him, "Keep your head down and keep chopping wood." He hopes to keep chopping away at more books.
J.D. is a native of the Pacific Northwest, where he lives with his wife, who offsets the perpetually cloudy skies.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 10, 2024
About this book:
“Mystery and danger abound in book three of The Inkwell Chronicles, a fast-paced middle-grade fantasy series about magic ink, a secret society, and a boy who learns to make his mark.
In Operation Bungaree, the third and final book in The Inkwell Chronicles, Everett and his little sister Bea find themselves drawn even more deeply into the secret world of the Inklings, those who seek to protect the world's rapidly diminishing supply of magic Ink. Everett, separated from the group in an improbable, perilous predicament, fights to find his way home. Meanwhile, Bea and the other Inklings search desperately for ways to help him, as increasingly clever enemy operatives close in from all sides. With time and Ink dwindling, will Everett find his way back home? Fans of The Silver Arrow, The Bookwanderers, and Inkheart will love this classic battle of good and evil that pits creativity against the forces that would seek to blot it out for good.”
Series: Book #3 in “The Inkwell Chronicles”. Review of Book #1 Here! and Book #2 Here!
Spiritual Content- A few Scriptures are mentioned & remembered; A couple hymns are played; Everett & his family live in a vicarage as his father (Marcus) is a Reverend; Everett recalls his father’s sermon on the Israelites wandering the desert for forty years (which he can’t recall the lesson his dad drew from the Bible story); Bea recalls her father giving a sermon about the lost sheep (which made her happy that the little lamb was rescued); Everett remembers a Scripture about “turning to the left or to the right” and how his father added “You know, Ev, at times there is no right path until you take a first step. You never see the trail when you’re the one blazing it.”; Bea tells someone that she is still talking to Everett in case he can hear her & saying her prayers every night, but doesn’t understand why nothing is working; Towards the end, Marcus is angry with God for not answering his prayers & yells at the sky; Mentions of hymns (Marcus plays many in hopes that Everett can hear them); Mentions of churches/cathedrals & church going; Mentions of an abbey/nunnery (which has an invisible building the Inklings created to avoid the Blotters); A few mentions of those & events in the Bible; A few mentions of prayers, praying, & saying prayers; A mention of a Sunday service & homily;
*Note: The special Ink in this story is what is behind all the greatest creative works (stories, paintings, music, etc.), that it unlocks someone creativity when used (also said to be the source of all the stories where good triumphs over evil); Some people can use Ink to heal others’ injuries (by applying it) and it’s mentioned a few times; Ink is used in multiple ways, mainly for someone to draw something (typically in the air) to help them on their mission; Those that use Ink are called “Inklings”; Bea hears the Ink tell her that Everett is okay because he did “Leap Reading” into the comic book page; “Leap Reading” is when Everett focuses on a page and is able to go into the book (introduced in Book #2); An adult says that an “outside force” must have orchestrated those events where Everett is willed into the stories; Someone gives Bea and a friend an “Inkourager” which are two halves of a whole that you can send good wishes or a “positive sensation” to the other; One new character says that rescuing a soul (in this case, Everett’s) is a battle & that they fight with Ink rather than fire; A side character, Marigold, an Elemental Fomentori who is connected to the earth, went into dormancy in Book #2 and in this book, Bea plants her seedpod into the ground which makes a tree grow very fast (Bea goes to talk to her often; *Spoiler* ); Because of her connection to nature, Marigold is able to feel the earth and if there is Ink hidden underground (including hearing from the ground if they can take the Ink or not); Other Fomentori are introduced including a grizzly bear, a harp that can play itself, and other humans; Someone refers to a cord of three strands (recognizing it as a Scripture) and says that three of the Fomentori characters are those strands for their mission to bring Everett back; A side character says that love is “the most powerful force in the universe”; *Spoiler* ; “Blotters” are the villains in this story who are creatures that have inhuman eyes, despise the Ink (since they hate all that is good and creative, they called it “the Stink” and their pupils change once they smell it), and some of them have batlike wings between their shoulder blades and can fly; Blotters and other creatures cannot enter into a house of worship as that is a safe place for those trying to flee from them (if they enter, they will instantly become gargoyles); The villains have created a new type of Ink called “Inkanto” which changes people’s personalities and brings out the worst in them or corrupts an item; Inkanto is also used to wake up “swamp dragons” the villains have & un-freeze Blotters that were touched by Ink (up to semi-detailed); A side character learns how to do “The Loud Quiet” which harms Blotters’ ears, but wears the musician out; Blotters use “Mind Murk” to makes humans not see their true appearance and forget about seeing them; A Blotter sends his shadow into the church to plant a listening device by sending his shadow with the device into the building (up to semi-detailed); Blotters use “fire crystals” to communicate with each other (by throwing these crystals into a fire, they can then see the blotter they wish to talk to; Done once on-page); Everett uses the “dowsing sticks” to find his way (He uses them on-page by touching “the ends of his sticks together for any indication of which way to go. They pulled Everett directly into a wall.”; Book #1’s spoiler tells more about these sticks; A villain calls them the “Witching Sticks”); A side character uses a hair from his mustache as a way to connect to Ink (energy) Waves and uses it to create a storm; A side character thinks that Everett could have fell into a portal to another universe; A sea monster argues and grounds his disrespectful son; Bea asks someone if her old book is a “book of spells” (because she likes magic tricks; it is not); A few mentions of “Pinches” in the universe that “could bring far-apart places closer together”; A few mentions of people going through different dimensions when traveling; A couple mentions of “magic” items; A couple mentions of Martin Luther; A mention of prehistoric fossils.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘dumb’ and two ‘bah’s; A few mentions of curses (by villains, said, not written); Some eye rolling & Sarcasm (mostly by villains); Almost being taken by a villain, Being threatened, Pain, Passing out, & Being stuck in quick-sand-like Inkanto (up to semi-detailed); This book starts right after the ending of Book #2 where Everett falls into a volcano (the villains are glad about it as it’s one less Inkling they have to deal with, but Bea and the others are very upset; Bea, however, knows that Everett went into a comic book page and they are all determined to rescue him; *Spoiler* ); Everett feels relieved that he “cheated death once again”, but is concerned that he won’t find his way home, will starve to death, sobs with sadness, gets very angry, & has some negative thoughts because of the Inkanto (which tells him that he isn’t worth caring about and is a failure); *Spoiler* ); The villains in this series are fine with harming and killing Inklings (including our main characters which are children); The villains threaten harm, withhold needed Inkanto, push and hit, and are mean and belittling to each other (It’s said that Blotters are backstabbers and self-serving); One of the Blotters hates the Inklings and wants revenge on the one that caused him to cut off his foot; A villain’s minion threatens to harm others for him; A villain tries to do a heist and grab a hostage, but it doesn’t work out for him; A side character struggles with continuously remembering seeing Everett being pushed into the volcano; Two minions of the villains accidentally push their boss (who was turned into stone) into the ocean (another sees this and compliments them, but they correct him and get their boss back); Marcus (Everett and Bea’s father) has lost weight and is under a stress with what has happened to Everett (Bea catches him crying at one point and he has a weight of grief on him); Everett thinks of his father’s negative view on pinball machines as he considers them a “negative influence linked to gambling halls” (Everett thinks that some of his friends who play pinball do not seem to have ill effects, but when he gets sucked into playing, he realizes the dangers of it being addicting); A sea monster argues with and grounds his son (on-page arguing and disrespect); Mentions of grief & the passing of a loved one; Mentions of a ferryman who takes “dearly departed blotters” to “the other side”/”the netherworld” (which he calls the “rubbish heap in the far reaches of [his] cave”); Mentions of pain & passing out; Mentions of fires; Mentions of stealing, stolen items, & thieves; Mentions of prisons & arrests; Mentions of eavesdropping; Mentions of a wine bottle; A few mentions of wars/battles; A few mentions of fights & fighting; A couple mentions of crimes; A couple mentions of blackmail; A couple mentions of lies & lying; A couple mentions of nightmares; A couple mentions of pies & smoking; A mention of a villain’s breath having the “scent of death” in it;
*Note: Everett has a bit of PTSD (not named) when falling because it brings back memories of other times he nearly fell to his death; Mentions of writes, books, & fictional characters (such as Euripides, Archytas, Edgar Allen Poe, ‘The Door in the Wall’, ‘Peter and Wendy’, ‘The Wizard of Oz’, & Winnie-the-Pooh); Mentions of songs (‘O Danny Boy’ and ‘I’ll Be Seeing You’ by Bing Crosby); A few mentions of Sophie Germain and how she couldn’t “pursue the career she wanted because society at the time considered a woman’s work to be in the kitchen, not in academia.”; A few mentions of brand names (Cartier, Dior, and Tiffany & Co.).
Sexual Content- Bea is excited to be told a story that has an engagement because she’s “always eager for details when it came to romance”; A side character has an obvious crush on another (they both blush); A mention of a sweetheart in a song.
-Bea
-Everett, age 12 (?)
P.O.V. switches between him, Bea, & others (including villains and their minions)
Set in 1953
352 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- Three Stars
New Teens- Four Stars
Early High School Teens- Four Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars
As I started this book, I did have a time trying to remember who everyone is! Some backstory would have been nice, but if you binge read these books it can be nice that there’s no catch-up in the way. But a little explanation would have been nice too for those who had some time in-between books. I was able to pick up on the details of past events as this third book continued, but it definitely would be best to read them back-to-back.
The family aspect and how tight knit the three Drakes are is probably my favorite thing about this series. It’s really shown in this book especially, as they try hard to get Everett back.
This is going to be a series that some Christian families will really like and some may avoid because of the magic and items in this fictional world. Me? I’m a little undecided. I like the middle-grade whimsy charm of this series, but I’ll admit to not loving all the magical content. I think if a family is okay with broad magic/fantasy content then this series may be okay for them. I didn’t care for a couple comments/suggestions towards the end about three special characters (called Fomentori) as the three strands of a cord that they need to save Everett. I understand where they were coming from, but it felt disrespectful to the Scripture.
It sounds like this is the final book in the series, which is a bit disappointing as it’s left very open ended. That’s not a bad thing—particularly if there isn’t any more books coming out, but it would have been nice to have a few more of the villains truly defeated.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Author for this honest review.
“Mystery and danger abound in book three of The Inkwell Chronicles, a fast-paced middle-grade fantasy series about magic ink, a secret society, and a boy who learns to make his mark.
In Operation Bungaree, the third and final book in The Inkwell Chronicles, Everett and his little sister Bea find themselves drawn even more deeply into the secret world of the Inklings, those who seek to protect the world's rapidly diminishing supply of magic Ink. Everett, separated from the group in an improbable, perilous predicament, fights to find his way home. Meanwhile, Bea and the other Inklings search desperately for ways to help him, as increasingly clever enemy operatives close in from all sides. With time and Ink dwindling, will Everett find his way back home? Fans of The Silver Arrow, The Bookwanderers, and Inkheart will love this classic battle of good and evil that pits creativity against the forces that would seek to blot it out for good.”
Series: Book #3 in “The Inkwell Chronicles”. Review of Book #1 Here! and Book #2 Here!
Spiritual Content- A few Scriptures are mentioned & remembered; A couple hymns are played; Everett & his family live in a vicarage as his father (Marcus) is a Reverend; Everett recalls his father’s sermon on the Israelites wandering the desert for forty years (which he can’t recall the lesson his dad drew from the Bible story); Bea recalls her father giving a sermon about the lost sheep (which made her happy that the little lamb was rescued); Everett remembers a Scripture about “turning to the left or to the right” and how his father added “You know, Ev, at times there is no right path until you take a first step. You never see the trail when you’re the one blazing it.”; Bea tells someone that she is still talking to Everett in case he can hear her & saying her prayers every night, but doesn’t understand why nothing is working; Towards the end, Marcus is angry with God for not answering his prayers & yells at the sky; Mentions of hymns (Marcus plays many in hopes that Everett can hear them); Mentions of churches/cathedrals & church going; Mentions of an abbey/nunnery (which has an invisible building the Inklings created to avoid the Blotters); A few mentions of those & events in the Bible; A few mentions of prayers, praying, & saying prayers; A mention of a Sunday service & homily;
*Note: The special Ink in this story is what is behind all the greatest creative works (stories, paintings, music, etc.), that it unlocks someone creativity when used (also said to be the source of all the stories where good triumphs over evil); Some people can use Ink to heal others’ injuries (by applying it) and it’s mentioned a few times; Ink is used in multiple ways, mainly for someone to draw something (typically in the air) to help them on their mission; Those that use Ink are called “Inklings”; Bea hears the Ink tell her that Everett is okay because he did “Leap Reading” into the comic book page; “Leap Reading” is when Everett focuses on a page and is able to go into the book (introduced in Book #2); An adult says that an “outside force” must have orchestrated those events where Everett is willed into the stories; Someone gives Bea and a friend an “Inkourager” which are two halves of a whole that you can send good wishes or a “positive sensation” to the other; One new character says that rescuing a soul (in this case, Everett’s) is a battle & that they fight with Ink rather than fire; A side character, Marigold, an Elemental Fomentori who is connected to the earth, went into dormancy in Book #2 and in this book, Bea plants her seedpod into the ground which makes a tree grow very fast (Bea goes to talk to her often; *Spoiler* ); Because of her connection to nature, Marigold is able to feel the earth and if there is Ink hidden underground (including hearing from the ground if they can take the Ink or not); Other Fomentori are introduced including a grizzly bear, a harp that can play itself, and other humans; Someone refers to a cord of three strands (recognizing it as a Scripture) and says that three of the Fomentori characters are those strands for their mission to bring Everett back; A side character says that love is “the most powerful force in the universe”; *Spoiler* ; “Blotters” are the villains in this story who are creatures that have inhuman eyes, despise the Ink (since they hate all that is good and creative, they called it “the Stink” and their pupils change once they smell it), and some of them have batlike wings between their shoulder blades and can fly; Blotters and other creatures cannot enter into a house of worship as that is a safe place for those trying to flee from them (if they enter, they will instantly become gargoyles); The villains have created a new type of Ink called “Inkanto” which changes people’s personalities and brings out the worst in them or corrupts an item; Inkanto is also used to wake up “swamp dragons” the villains have & un-freeze Blotters that were touched by Ink (up to semi-detailed); A side character learns how to do “The Loud Quiet” which harms Blotters’ ears, but wears the musician out; Blotters use “Mind Murk” to makes humans not see their true appearance and forget about seeing them; A Blotter sends his shadow into the church to plant a listening device by sending his shadow with the device into the building (up to semi-detailed); Blotters use “fire crystals” to communicate with each other (by throwing these crystals into a fire, they can then see the blotter they wish to talk to; Done once on-page); Everett uses the “dowsing sticks” to find his way (He uses them on-page by touching “the ends of his sticks together for any indication of which way to go. They pulled Everett directly into a wall.”; Book #1’s spoiler tells more about these sticks; A villain calls them the “Witching Sticks”); A side character uses a hair from his mustache as a way to connect to Ink (energy) Waves and uses it to create a storm; A side character thinks that Everett could have fell into a portal to another universe; A sea monster argues and grounds his disrespectful son; Bea asks someone if her old book is a “book of spells” (because she likes magic tricks; it is not); A few mentions of “Pinches” in the universe that “could bring far-apart places closer together”; A few mentions of people going through different dimensions when traveling; A couple mentions of “magic” items; A couple mentions of Martin Luther; A mention of prehistoric fossils.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘dumb’ and two ‘bah’s; A few mentions of curses (by villains, said, not written); Some eye rolling & Sarcasm (mostly by villains); Almost being taken by a villain, Being threatened, Pain, Passing out, & Being stuck in quick-sand-like Inkanto (up to semi-detailed); This book starts right after the ending of Book #2 where Everett falls into a volcano (the villains are glad about it as it’s one less Inkling they have to deal with, but Bea and the others are very upset; Bea, however, knows that Everett went into a comic book page and they are all determined to rescue him; *Spoiler* ); Everett feels relieved that he “cheated death once again”, but is concerned that he won’t find his way home, will starve to death, sobs with sadness, gets very angry, & has some negative thoughts because of the Inkanto (which tells him that he isn’t worth caring about and is a failure); *Spoiler* ); The villains in this series are fine with harming and killing Inklings (including our main characters which are children); The villains threaten harm, withhold needed Inkanto, push and hit, and are mean and belittling to each other (It’s said that Blotters are backstabbers and self-serving); One of the Blotters hates the Inklings and wants revenge on the one that caused him to cut off his foot; A villain’s minion threatens to harm others for him; A villain tries to do a heist and grab a hostage, but it doesn’t work out for him; A side character struggles with continuously remembering seeing Everett being pushed into the volcano; Two minions of the villains accidentally push their boss (who was turned into stone) into the ocean (another sees this and compliments them, but they correct him and get their boss back); Marcus (Everett and Bea’s father) has lost weight and is under a stress with what has happened to Everett (Bea catches him crying at one point and he has a weight of grief on him); Everett thinks of his father’s negative view on pinball machines as he considers them a “negative influence linked to gambling halls” (Everett thinks that some of his friends who play pinball do not seem to have ill effects, but when he gets sucked into playing, he realizes the dangers of it being addicting); A sea monster argues with and grounds his son (on-page arguing and disrespect); Mentions of grief & the passing of a loved one; Mentions of a ferryman who takes “dearly departed blotters” to “the other side”/”the netherworld” (which he calls the “rubbish heap in the far reaches of [his] cave”); Mentions of pain & passing out; Mentions of fires; Mentions of stealing, stolen items, & thieves; Mentions of prisons & arrests; Mentions of eavesdropping; Mentions of a wine bottle; A few mentions of wars/battles; A few mentions of fights & fighting; A couple mentions of crimes; A couple mentions of blackmail; A couple mentions of lies & lying; A couple mentions of nightmares; A couple mentions of pies & smoking; A mention of a villain’s breath having the “scent of death” in it;
*Note: Everett has a bit of PTSD (not named) when falling because it brings back memories of other times he nearly fell to his death; Mentions of writes, books, & fictional characters (such as Euripides, Archytas, Edgar Allen Poe, ‘The Door in the Wall’, ‘Peter and Wendy’, ‘The Wizard of Oz’, & Winnie-the-Pooh); Mentions of songs (‘O Danny Boy’ and ‘I’ll Be Seeing You’ by Bing Crosby); A few mentions of Sophie Germain and how she couldn’t “pursue the career she wanted because society at the time considered a woman’s work to be in the kitchen, not in academia.”; A few mentions of brand names (Cartier, Dior, and Tiffany & Co.).
Sexual Content- Bea is excited to be told a story that has an engagement because she’s “always eager for details when it came to romance”; A side character has an obvious crush on another (they both blush); A mention of a sweetheart in a song.
-Bea
-Everett, age 12 (?)
P.O.V. switches between him, Bea, & others (including villains and their minions)
Set in 1953
352 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- Three Stars
New Teens- Four Stars
Early High School Teens- Four Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars
As I started this book, I did have a time trying to remember who everyone is! Some backstory would have been nice, but if you binge read these books it can be nice that there’s no catch-up in the way. But a little explanation would have been nice too for those who had some time in-between books. I was able to pick up on the details of past events as this third book continued, but it definitely would be best to read them back-to-back.
The family aspect and how tight knit the three Drakes are is probably my favorite thing about this series. It’s really shown in this book especially, as they try hard to get Everett back.
This is going to be a series that some Christian families will really like and some may avoid because of the magic and items in this fictional world. Me? I’m a little undecided. I like the middle-grade whimsy charm of this series, but I’ll admit to not loving all the magical content. I think if a family is okay with broad magic/fantasy content then this series may be okay for them. I didn’t care for a couple comments/suggestions towards the end about three special characters (called Fomentori) as the three strands of a cord that they need to save Everett. I understand where they were coming from, but it felt disrespectful to the Scripture.
It sounds like this is the final book in the series, which is a bit disappointing as it’s left very open ended. That’s not a bad thing—particularly if there isn’t any more books coming out, but it would have been nice to have a few more of the villains truly defeated.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Author for this honest review.
May 26, 2025
Although I’m sad that this is the last book in the Inkwell Chronicles, this book was the perfect way to end it. I love Peabody’s writing style and the historical and literary references hidden in the book. I do love that there are Christian themes and references in the book as well. I thoroughly enjoyed this series.
September 26, 2024
Note: Operation Bungaree is third in a series, so this review contains spoilers for the first two books. If you haven’t read those, I recommend starting with "The Ink of Elspet," because this review builds on elements introduced in the first books.
Scripture Connection
"…even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast."
Psalm 139:14
Spiritual Themes
In "Operation Bungaree," Everett finds himself in a helpless place, unable to achieve his desired outcome—getting home. Although Everett expresses frustration and desperation, he is not nearly as “alone” as he believes himself to be.
"Operation Bungaree" concludes Peabody’s Inkwell Chronicles with a powerful message of love. Juxtaposed with Everett’s feelings of aloneness, narration frequently comments on the great effort expended by a large group of people— all for Everett’s sake.
Overlaying this theme, albeit more subtly, is the message that God has not abandoned Everett. Although it’s not deeply fleshed out in this mainstream book, Christian readers can recognize that the help Everett receives from those he loves is an indication of God’s presence with him.
In the section on “Dimensions,” I’ll expound further on Christian/allegorical elements.
What I Liked
Inkwell Chronicles is a highly imaginative series. The expository Ink of Elspet introduces an inventive group of characters— some fictional and some factionalized versions of real people, with the ability to work with Ink. The ink of Peabody’s world, readers learn, possesses abundant and peculiar properties, from forming three-dimensional structures to enabling swift long-distance communication. It does some of the things that we’re used to ink doing, but in bigger ways, or with its traditional, metaphorical qualities taking on literal significance (i.e., One could say that ink builds worlds through stories and art– here we see that happening literally).
All of this is a bit to get used to in one book, and book two expanded my familiarity with the ink and characters of Peabody’s world. By book three, I was more prepared for the strange elements, as I was accustomed to ink doing unexpected things. Plus, it was fun to revisit some now-familiar characters, especially the main family.
Family Dynamics
Everett and Bea, who have not always gotten along (especially on Everett’s part), have become a team over the past few books. It’s really sweet to see how much they are now missing each other and the sacrifices they are willing to make to be reunited.
Dimensions
The book also delves more deeply into the idea of leap reading, which is first introduced in the second book. This is one of those instances of the metaphorical taking on literal implications: Everett survived a dire situation by escaping into the pages of a book. Now he is in an entirely different world, where structures are unfamiliar and geometric, highly reminiscent of Abbott’s "Flatland." Like "Flatland," "Ink of Bungaree" could potentially be used in a discussion about dimensions.
Adding to the sci-fi/dimension quality is reference to the tesseract, depicted just as it is in Madeleine L’Engle’s "Wrinkle in Time."
But while I’m discussing dimensions, in addition to the time/space dimensions, "Operation Bungaree" also offers food for thought in terms of spiritual dimensions. While Inkwell Chronicles is not an allegory and is marketed to a mainstream audience, Everett’s visit to another dimension is a great springboard for spiritual discussion.
In this world where he feels very alone, it becomes evident that his own efforts are not going to save the day. Even when he feels abandoned, he is being helped. And just as allegories offer us insight into our own world, Everett’s experience between the pages is a good illustration of what it is like to be helped, supernaturally. (As a note, ink is not portrayed as equivalent to God, but it is personified. We also see characters praying– to God, not ink. And, there’s a quick discussion about this on page 27 between “Ronald” Tolkien and Dorothy Sayers).
Everett’s father, Marcus, also shares the story of George Matheson’s hymn, “O Love that Will Not Let Me Go,” assuring his daughter that even when we “feel most alone and uncertain, [we] are still loved” (p. 155). This is a more clear indication of Who it is that is not leaving Everett alone. (And, there’s a sweet, if brief, discussion about surrender, later on).
The concept of “Inkorporation” can also be understood to illustrate a spiritual principle. Just as ink “inkorporates” by “surround[ing] something negative until it is repurposed and transformed,” we know that God “works all things for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose” (pp. 105-106 and Rom. 8:28).
Content Notes
There are a number of references to an ancient bottle of wine, as it features into a strategy as a decoy. The wine is not being consumed. (Adults may briefly reference drinking; I don’t honestly recall the details, but this would be a fair representation of the real-life Inklings. If the adults do drink, it’s in moderation.)
This is somewhat a personal preference, but Edgar Allan Poe is referred to, by first name, as an Inkling. (In the world of the series, the term Inkling applies not only to Tolkien and Lewis’ literary circle, but also to other creatives who used ink to create… usually good things. Poe is not my favorite “model” author, per se.
Recommendation Status
Recommended for readers who enjoy imaginative adventure with a bit of silliness mixed in. For those who have an ear, "Operation Bungaree" presents a sweet and powerful message about God’s nearness and protection. It’s a message that has stuck with me: Like Everett, I am not alone.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher. Opinions expressed are my own.
Scripture Connection
"…even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast."
Psalm 139:14
Spiritual Themes
In "Operation Bungaree," Everett finds himself in a helpless place, unable to achieve his desired outcome—getting home. Although Everett expresses frustration and desperation, he is not nearly as “alone” as he believes himself to be.
"Operation Bungaree" concludes Peabody’s Inkwell Chronicles with a powerful message of love. Juxtaposed with Everett’s feelings of aloneness, narration frequently comments on the great effort expended by a large group of people— all for Everett’s sake.
Overlaying this theme, albeit more subtly, is the message that God has not abandoned Everett. Although it’s not deeply fleshed out in this mainstream book, Christian readers can recognize that the help Everett receives from those he loves is an indication of God’s presence with him.
In the section on “Dimensions,” I’ll expound further on Christian/allegorical elements.
What I Liked
Inkwell Chronicles is a highly imaginative series. The expository Ink of Elspet introduces an inventive group of characters— some fictional and some factionalized versions of real people, with the ability to work with Ink. The ink of Peabody’s world, readers learn, possesses abundant and peculiar properties, from forming three-dimensional structures to enabling swift long-distance communication. It does some of the things that we’re used to ink doing, but in bigger ways, or with its traditional, metaphorical qualities taking on literal significance (i.e., One could say that ink builds worlds through stories and art– here we see that happening literally).
All of this is a bit to get used to in one book, and book two expanded my familiarity with the ink and characters of Peabody’s world. By book three, I was more prepared for the strange elements, as I was accustomed to ink doing unexpected things. Plus, it was fun to revisit some now-familiar characters, especially the main family.
Family Dynamics
Everett and Bea, who have not always gotten along (especially on Everett’s part), have become a team over the past few books. It’s really sweet to see how much they are now missing each other and the sacrifices they are willing to make to be reunited.
Dimensions
The book also delves more deeply into the idea of leap reading, which is first introduced in the second book. This is one of those instances of the metaphorical taking on literal implications: Everett survived a dire situation by escaping into the pages of a book. Now he is in an entirely different world, where structures are unfamiliar and geometric, highly reminiscent of Abbott’s "Flatland." Like "Flatland," "Ink of Bungaree" could potentially be used in a discussion about dimensions.
Adding to the sci-fi/dimension quality is reference to the tesseract, depicted just as it is in Madeleine L’Engle’s "Wrinkle in Time."
But while I’m discussing dimensions, in addition to the time/space dimensions, "Operation Bungaree" also offers food for thought in terms of spiritual dimensions. While Inkwell Chronicles is not an allegory and is marketed to a mainstream audience, Everett’s visit to another dimension is a great springboard for spiritual discussion.
In this world where he feels very alone, it becomes evident that his own efforts are not going to save the day. Even when he feels abandoned, he is being helped. And just as allegories offer us insight into our own world, Everett’s experience between the pages is a good illustration of what it is like to be helped, supernaturally. (As a note, ink is not portrayed as equivalent to God, but it is personified. We also see characters praying– to God, not ink. And, there’s a quick discussion about this on page 27 between “Ronald” Tolkien and Dorothy Sayers).
Everett’s father, Marcus, also shares the story of George Matheson’s hymn, “O Love that Will Not Let Me Go,” assuring his daughter that even when we “feel most alone and uncertain, [we] are still loved” (p. 155). This is a more clear indication of Who it is that is not leaving Everett alone. (And, there’s a sweet, if brief, discussion about surrender, later on).
The concept of “Inkorporation” can also be understood to illustrate a spiritual principle. Just as ink “inkorporates” by “surround[ing] something negative until it is repurposed and transformed,” we know that God “works all things for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose” (pp. 105-106 and Rom. 8:28).
Content Notes
There are a number of references to an ancient bottle of wine, as it features into a strategy as a decoy. The wine is not being consumed. (Adults may briefly reference drinking; I don’t honestly recall the details, but this would be a fair representation of the real-life Inklings. If the adults do drink, it’s in moderation.)
This is somewhat a personal preference, but Edgar Allan Poe is referred to, by first name, as an Inkling. (In the world of the series, the term Inkling applies not only to Tolkien and Lewis’ literary circle, but also to other creatives who used ink to create… usually good things. Poe is not my favorite “model” author, per se.
Recommendation Status
Recommended for readers who enjoy imaginative adventure with a bit of silliness mixed in. For those who have an ear, "Operation Bungaree" presents a sweet and powerful message about God’s nearness and protection. It’s a message that has stuck with me: Like Everett, I am not alone.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher. Opinions expressed are my own.
August 2, 2024
What worked:
The whole series revolves around Ink, a magical substance found inside the earth. Inklings want to use it to enhance creativity while blotters have more dastardly plans. The plot has two main antagonists with opposing schemes that put them in competition with each other. Cyno wants to use Ink to amass power while Eddie is only concerned about making money and killing Ev, a main character. Eddie’s scientist has already invented a synthetic Ink called Inkanto but the formula requires some of the real substance. Eddie finds a tree full of Ink in the first chapter but he learns the hard way that he can’t simply cut it down to transport and extract the substance. Ink is a very rare element and all of the subplots involve locating a major deposit somewhere in the world.
The first page jumps into the main problem as Ev falls into an active volcano. He only manages to survive by Leap Reading into one of his father’s comic books. His sister Bea is the only one who truly knows he’s still alive but the author adds a complication that will make him harder to rescue. Ev has landed in a manual that’s inside the comic book so Bea doesn’t have a clear way of locating him. Ev encounters an imaginary world he’s not experienced before so readers will accompany him as he tries to figure out a way to escape. He meets a robot caretaker named Archie who shares information and adds humor to the story.
The author shifts the setting to describe Ev’s adventure inside the comic book, Bea’s efforts to rescue her brother, and the nefarious activities of the two villains. The author has fun with the imaginative world inside the comic book by playing with the writing process and creative freedom. Bea enlists the help of her father and friends and blends their talents to come up with an innovative rescue plan. The plan involves a rocket scientist so you know there will be some higher order thinking. The bad guys do their best to thwart Bea’s efforts while clashing with each other. Cyno’s minions fearfully follow orders and their antics add humor to the book. The author also provides levity by incorporating (inkcorporating) the word ink into different words used in the story, like Inkubator.
What didn’t work as well:
There are too many settings that can affect the flow of the main conflict and keeping track of all of the characters is more challenging. Anything over three settings isn’t necessary and can be incorporated into other subplots.
The final verdict:
You need to read the previous books to fully understand what’s happening. The author has invented an imaginative world where Ink is a valuable, rare, and powerful resource. Ev’s suspenseful predicament will keep readers engrossed while the determination of his sister and the villains supply plenty of twists to the tale. I recommend you give this series a shot.
The whole series revolves around Ink, a magical substance found inside the earth. Inklings want to use it to enhance creativity while blotters have more dastardly plans. The plot has two main antagonists with opposing schemes that put them in competition with each other. Cyno wants to use Ink to amass power while Eddie is only concerned about making money and killing Ev, a main character. Eddie’s scientist has already invented a synthetic Ink called Inkanto but the formula requires some of the real substance. Eddie finds a tree full of Ink in the first chapter but he learns the hard way that he can’t simply cut it down to transport and extract the substance. Ink is a very rare element and all of the subplots involve locating a major deposit somewhere in the world.
The first page jumps into the main problem as Ev falls into an active volcano. He only manages to survive by Leap Reading into one of his father’s comic books. His sister Bea is the only one who truly knows he’s still alive but the author adds a complication that will make him harder to rescue. Ev has landed in a manual that’s inside the comic book so Bea doesn’t have a clear way of locating him. Ev encounters an imaginary world he’s not experienced before so readers will accompany him as he tries to figure out a way to escape. He meets a robot caretaker named Archie who shares information and adds humor to the story.
The author shifts the setting to describe Ev’s adventure inside the comic book, Bea’s efforts to rescue her brother, and the nefarious activities of the two villains. The author has fun with the imaginative world inside the comic book by playing with the writing process and creative freedom. Bea enlists the help of her father and friends and blends their talents to come up with an innovative rescue plan. The plan involves a rocket scientist so you know there will be some higher order thinking. The bad guys do their best to thwart Bea’s efforts while clashing with each other. Cyno’s minions fearfully follow orders and their antics add humor to the book. The author also provides levity by incorporating (inkcorporating) the word ink into different words used in the story, like Inkubator.
What didn’t work as well:
There are too many settings that can affect the flow of the main conflict and keeping track of all of the characters is more challenging. Anything over three settings isn’t necessary and can be incorporated into other subplots.
The final verdict:
You need to read the previous books to fully understand what’s happening. The author has invented an imaginative world where Ink is a valuable, rare, and powerful resource. Ev’s suspenseful predicament will keep readers engrossed while the determination of his sister and the villains supply plenty of twists to the tale. I recommend you give this series a shot.
September 16, 2024
This is the third book in the series and the final book. He does leave the ending open just in case the characters were to return soon for a fourth adventure. The book begins with a drawing of the robot, Archytas-17 and how he is designed. Deep down in her heart, Bea knew that Everett had to still be alive in the comic book. She heard the special ink telling her that he was trapped when he did leap reading. He had fell into a crater that turned out to be a volcano. She tried to shake the page and shouted his name like she had done in the past. This time, he wouldn’t come back despite all of her efforts. Everett fought with Eddie Montbanks and he was telling him how much he hated him for ruining his life. He kicked him and forced him to travel down into the empty space and he heard the comic book page tearing away. This is when he realized that he could do the lead reading and go to the very last page of the comic. Everett is trapped in the manual hidden within the comic book alongside a robot named, Archyatas-17. He has no idea how to get out or communicate with the outside world. There are two main villains in the book, Cyno and Eddie, which one of them is trying to kill him and the other is searching for power and money. The villains added a mixture of conflict and made readers wonder how Everett would make it out alive.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has read the previous book and I think it does help to read them all in order to follow along. I think the series would be great for ages 6-10. It’s written as a chapter book and could help them to improve their reading skills. It was reading interesting to read about the communication between Bea and Everett and how they did discover a secret way to connect using music. I enjoyed the humor the robot brought to the story and how attention-grabbing this character was to the plot. The inking concept brings something magically to the story and instills creativity to the reader.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has read the previous book and I think it does help to read them all in order to follow along. I think the series would be great for ages 6-10. It’s written as a chapter book and could help them to improve their reading skills. It was reading interesting to read about the communication between Bea and Everett and how they did discover a secret way to connect using music. I enjoyed the humor the robot brought to the story and how attention-grabbing this character was to the plot. The inking concept brings something magically to the story and instills creativity to the reader.
August 22, 2024
The Inkwell Chronicles: Operation Bungaree (Book 3) is a wonderful conclusion to the trilogy. Peabody does leave the door open, however, for a future fourth book.
I loved watching Everett's perseverance develop and his growing awareness of how so many other people were genuinely, lovingly, truthfully involved in his life. Also Bea's confidence that things would work out - her faith - in what was utterly unseen, yet she knew it was there.
Parallels to 'real life' abound in this book (the series as a whole), which are well worth investing the time and energy in contemplating. Yes, there are fantastical elements, but it doesn't detract from the supportive companionship demonstrated by the variously aged group of friends and family.
Well worth and such an enjoyable read!
I received an ARC; this is my honest review.
I loved watching Everett's perseverance develop and his growing awareness of how so many other people were genuinely, lovingly, truthfully involved in his life. Also Bea's confidence that things would work out - her faith - in what was utterly unseen, yet she knew it was there.
Parallels to 'real life' abound in this book (the series as a whole), which are well worth investing the time and energy in contemplating. Yes, there are fantastical elements, but it doesn't detract from the supportive companionship demonstrated by the variously aged group of friends and family.
Well worth and such an enjoyable read!
I received an ARC; this is my honest review.
September 29, 2024
Another great book in this series!
Want to read
October 10, 2024My 10 year old daughter loved this book. She read it up in about two weeks. She giggled and said it was a fun story.
October 11, 2024
A great middle-grade adventure! Fun characters and history mixed in. This is the third book, so I’ll need to read the first two to catch what was missed!
November 6, 2024
This was a wonderful wrap-up to the Inkwell Chronicles series! I am truly so sad to see it end.
January 12, 2025
Loved this book! May be my favorite in the series. And my Dad wrote it! Good job, Dad. Fun, creative, adventurous. 10/10
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