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Knights of Wonderland #0
Jabberwocky
How can one young man succeed where an army has failed? Tjaden, a young man who aspires to be an Elite soldier, blames himself when Elora’s beautiful face is disfigured by a bandersnatch. Elora hides behind her scars, feeling unlovable in a world that only confirms her doubts. Before Tjaden has a chance to convince her that scars don’t matter, an even more terrifying monster comes between them—the Jabberwock. Tjaden must risk his life not only to prove his love to Elora but to save her life. If the secrets of the vorpal sword fail, so will Tjaden. Originally published as a novella (39,000 words) in 2011, many readers asked for a longer version of that delved more deeply into the story and subplots. This current version of JABBERWOCKY is a full novel at 69,000 words. It has been completely rewritten and augmented with illustrations by E.K. Stewart-Cook. JABBERWOCKY is the first book in the series, and the characters carry over to HATTER, RED KNIGHT, etc, but they play minor roles. For that reason, JABBERWOCKY is Book 0 and HATTER is Book 1, as it is the launching point for the rest of the books in the series.
257 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 11, 2011
152 people are currently reading
3451 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Coleman
12 books132 followersDaniel Coleman spends his time back and forth between two worlds - the fantastic world of Writing where happy endings are common, and the very real- life world of Firefighting where the outcomes are as varied as the emergencies.
A small farming town in northern Utah is his home, where he resides with his wife, 3 kids and an ever-changing menagerie.
Daniel is the co-host of the CREATE OR DIEpodcast, a weekly podcast for creative-minded individuals seeking a career in The Arts.
A small farming town in northern Utah is his home, where he resides with his wife, 3 kids and an ever-changing menagerie.
Daniel is the co-host of the CREATE OR DIEpodcast, a weekly podcast for creative-minded individuals seeking a career in The Arts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
October 13, 2011
Originally reviewed on my blog, Books from Bleh to Basically Amazing.
Jabberwocky by Daniel Coleman is the story behind the well-beloved poem by Lewis Carrol of the same name. Full of nonsense words, valor and whimsy, the poem Jabberwocky tells of a boy who sets out to fight the might beast and who returns triumphant, bearing the head of the great monster. But the poem doesn't tell us anything about the boy, where he comes from or why he sets out to hunt the Jabberwock and Coleman uses this story here to fill in some of the blanks.
My family has always been involved in theater, and my family reunions often include some form of a talent show, sometimes planned and scripted, other times completely spontaneous. Often in the performances, my dad would go on-stage with my grandpa and together they would perform this poem. My grandpa would stand in front and recite the poem, while my dad stood behind, using his arms, in place of my grandpa's to act out the poem (this included lifting up my grandpa's hair piece when they reached the part of the poem where the boys slays the Jabberwock and removes his head, much to my grandpa's dismay)
So, when I heard about this book, I knew that I wanted to read it. I love that poem, partly because it is brilliant but also because it brings back a lot of wonderful memories of my family. This is a very short book, just over 100 e-pages, and it reads very quickly. However, I don't think it would read as smoothly for someone who is unfamiliar with either nonsense writing or the poem itself.
One of my favorite things about this book is also what I think will be most challenging for most readers. Coleman has taken the words of the poem like 'wabe', 'brillig' and 'mimsy'. None of these words actually means anything, but Coleman took them from the original poem, took the meaning from them that he chose and inserted them into his story and I personally think he did a phenomenal job. Partly because the writing was very smooth, and partly because I'm very familiar with the poem, I found myself without any trouble being able to guess to the meaning of each word as I went through, even if I didn't know exactly what they meant. However, Coleman does include a glossary with the book, so if you think you will have trouble picking up on what the words mean, or you find yourself confused, he does include a way to verify what each word means.
Another thing that I loved about the book was the inclusion of the poem itself. Each section of the book is prefaced by a stanza of the poem, offering some foreshadowing of what is yet to come. I thought it was the perfect way to incorporate the poem into the story without being awkward or forced.
And the story itself was wonderful. Our main character, Tjaden, is the perfect boy to seek the Jabberwock. He is brave, but smart and fiercely determined to prove himself a man. He's a little bit full of himself at times, and he takes life a little too seriously for someone so young but he is also a very likable character, one you would want on your side of life. Honorable and proud, if given the right motivation, he could face the Jabberwock alone.
Honestly, I could not have been happier with how this book turned out. I was almost worried about reading it, because I do have such fond memories of the poem, but I was beyond delighted with how the book turned out. Coleman did a fabulous job combining his own story with the tale from Lewis Carroll and it's one I can see myself reading again.
I will admit that part of why I enjoyed this book so much comes from the memories it brought to surface and the already positive tone I have toward the poem and anything tied to it. I tend to be extremely fond of anything that can bring back positive memories of my grandpa, which means I knew before I started reading that this is a book I would either love or hate.
That being said, however, the happy memories alone were not enough to make me like this book. The story and the writing were able to hold their own and they most certainly did this favored poem a great justice. I'm not always a huge fan of how other people reimagine stories already told but I thought this one was just about as perfect as it gets.
So thank you Daniel Coleman, for writing a story worthy of such a phenomenal poem.
Jabberwocky by Daniel Coleman is the story behind the well-beloved poem by Lewis Carrol of the same name. Full of nonsense words, valor and whimsy, the poem Jabberwocky tells of a boy who sets out to fight the might beast and who returns triumphant, bearing the head of the great monster. But the poem doesn't tell us anything about the boy, where he comes from or why he sets out to hunt the Jabberwock and Coleman uses this story here to fill in some of the blanks.
My family has always been involved in theater, and my family reunions often include some form of a talent show, sometimes planned and scripted, other times completely spontaneous. Often in the performances, my dad would go on-stage with my grandpa and together they would perform this poem. My grandpa would stand in front and recite the poem, while my dad stood behind, using his arms, in place of my grandpa's to act out the poem (this included lifting up my grandpa's hair piece when they reached the part of the poem where the boys slays the Jabberwock and removes his head, much to my grandpa's dismay)
So, when I heard about this book, I knew that I wanted to read it. I love that poem, partly because it is brilliant but also because it brings back a lot of wonderful memories of my family. This is a very short book, just over 100 e-pages, and it reads very quickly. However, I don't think it would read as smoothly for someone who is unfamiliar with either nonsense writing or the poem itself.
One of my favorite things about this book is also what I think will be most challenging for most readers. Coleman has taken the words of the poem like 'wabe', 'brillig' and 'mimsy'. None of these words actually means anything, but Coleman took them from the original poem, took the meaning from them that he chose and inserted them into his story and I personally think he did a phenomenal job. Partly because the writing was very smooth, and partly because I'm very familiar with the poem, I found myself without any trouble being able to guess to the meaning of each word as I went through, even if I didn't know exactly what they meant. However, Coleman does include a glossary with the book, so if you think you will have trouble picking up on what the words mean, or you find yourself confused, he does include a way to verify what each word means.
Another thing that I loved about the book was the inclusion of the poem itself. Each section of the book is prefaced by a stanza of the poem, offering some foreshadowing of what is yet to come. I thought it was the perfect way to incorporate the poem into the story without being awkward or forced.
And the story itself was wonderful. Our main character, Tjaden, is the perfect boy to seek the Jabberwock. He is brave, but smart and fiercely determined to prove himself a man. He's a little bit full of himself at times, and he takes life a little too seriously for someone so young but he is also a very likable character, one you would want on your side of life. Honorable and proud, if given the right motivation, he could face the Jabberwock alone.
Honestly, I could not have been happier with how this book turned out. I was almost worried about reading it, because I do have such fond memories of the poem, but I was beyond delighted with how the book turned out. Coleman did a fabulous job combining his own story with the tale from Lewis Carroll and it's one I can see myself reading again.
I will admit that part of why I enjoyed this book so much comes from the memories it brought to surface and the already positive tone I have toward the poem and anything tied to it. I tend to be extremely fond of anything that can bring back positive memories of my grandpa, which means I knew before I started reading that this is a book I would either love or hate.
That being said, however, the happy memories alone were not enough to make me like this book. The story and the writing were able to hold their own and they most certainly did this favored poem a great justice. I'm not always a huge fan of how other people reimagine stories already told but I thought this one was just about as perfect as it gets.
So thank you Daniel Coleman, for writing a story worthy of such a phenomenal poem.
May 31, 2011
I am a Lewis Carroll Fan. I do not say that, meaning that I've read Alice in Wonderland and think it's cool and hip and I like to argue about the various movies that have been put out about it. I say that because I read his complete works at a young age, including his word puzzles and such. We read Alice in Wonderland in a book club I was in and was mildly annoyed that I was the only one who understood all of the symbolism of it being a story about personal identity as one grows up and passes through various stages in life. I Am A Lewis Carroll Fan.
This book rocks. I was hesitant, and some of the additions of vocab from the original poem at first seemed a little uncomfortable, but I think it was more my defensiveness. The story is captivating and true to the poem. Basically, the author wrote the back story to the poem "Jabberwocky". The story takes place in the Wonderland world, but he makes it more approachable and fills it out to a real place you can envision in your mind. The characters are full and realistic. The writing is excellent and I found at the end of the story wanting more. Lucky for me, the next book, "Hatter" comes out soon!
This book rocks. I was hesitant, and some of the additions of vocab from the original poem at first seemed a little uncomfortable, but I think it was more my defensiveness. The story is captivating and true to the poem. Basically, the author wrote the back story to the poem "Jabberwocky". The story takes place in the Wonderland world, but he makes it more approachable and fills it out to a real place you can envision in your mind. The characters are full and realistic. The writing is excellent and I found at the end of the story wanting more. Lucky for me, the next book, "Hatter" comes out soon!
May 25, 2011
OK, I loved this book. The Jabberwocky poem was always kind of confusing to me and I love that Daniel was able to make some sense of it. I found the glossary in the back of the book quite helpful. I'm not that great at writing reviews. I like to read, not write, I leave that up to the great authors, which Daniel is a part of. I would just like to say that this is a great book and I am recommending it to all of my students. (I teach Junior High kids, I believe they would really enjoy it.)
Read
May 19, 2011Title Thoughts:Well, duh. Of course it fits!
Cover Thoughts:Not crazy about it but I still like it. Sort of.
WARNINGS: None
It didn't take long for me to get caught up in the story. I was surprised at how much I throughly enjoyed it. I could picture everything easily. Although, I never could get a good image of the Jabberwocky in my head. One minute it looked like something and the next, it looked like something completely different. All in my head, of course. Not in the book.
Coleman definitely has a knack for story telling and I definitely wouldn't mind reading more of his work. I liked how each part of the poem was broken down into sections at the beginning of each Part. It gave me a feel of what to look forward to. I enjoyed most of the characters, especially Ollie.
Ollie is a friend I would like to have. He is funny and a good friend. He is an irrestible character. By that I mean that he is someone everyone will like. He is full of personality.
Addict's Last Words: Throughly enjoyed Jabberwocky and I hope to read more by Coleman.
To Buy or To Borrow: If you are familar with the poem, buy. If you aren't, like me, it's still worth it.
Disclosure: I participate in tours with The Teen Book Scene and a copy was provided to me by the author, publisher/publicist, or another third party.. No payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was not any obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed here are entirely mine and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist, or the readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Cover Thoughts:Not crazy about it but I still like it. Sort of.
WARNINGS: None
It didn't take long for me to get caught up in the story. I was surprised at how much I throughly enjoyed it. I could picture everything easily. Although, I never could get a good image of the Jabberwocky in my head. One minute it looked like something and the next, it looked like something completely different. All in my head, of course. Not in the book.
Coleman definitely has a knack for story telling and I definitely wouldn't mind reading more of his work. I liked how each part of the poem was broken down into sections at the beginning of each Part. It gave me a feel of what to look forward to. I enjoyed most of the characters, especially Ollie.
Ollie is a friend I would like to have. He is funny and a good friend. He is an irrestible character. By that I mean that he is someone everyone will like. He is full of personality.
Addict's Last Words: Throughly enjoyed Jabberwocky and I hope to read more by Coleman.
To Buy or To Borrow: If you are familar with the poem, buy. If you aren't, like me, it's still worth it.
Disclosure: I participate in tours with The Teen Book Scene and a copy was provided to me by the author, publisher/publicist, or another third party.. No payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was not any obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed here are entirely mine and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist, or the readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
May 27, 2011
Daniel Coleman has a brilliant take on Lewis Carroll’s poem, Jabberwocky. Bringing to life this story with characters you bond with, was ingenious. You feel, hear and see Tjaden’s world; the sense of family and unity of a small town. His best mate Ollie is everything you expect a young man to be. What he lacks for in size he makes up for in bravery and personality.
Tjaden enters The Academy and proves his valor when the formidable Jabberwocky takes his love, Elora. Of course his best mate is along for the adventure.
Tjaden must discover his strengths in order to go on his quest and save Elora. Deciphering truth and myth about the Jabberwocky, Tjaden takes us on his journey, both in mind and physicality.
This story is filled with magical creatures, bravery, danger, love and betrayal. Kids and adults, alike, will fall in love with this story and wish it would continue in a sequel.
Tjaden enters The Academy and proves his valor when the formidable Jabberwocky takes his love, Elora. Of course his best mate is along for the adventure.
Tjaden must discover his strengths in order to go on his quest and save Elora. Deciphering truth and myth about the Jabberwocky, Tjaden takes us on his journey, both in mind and physicality.
This story is filled with magical creatures, bravery, danger, love and betrayal. Kids and adults, alike, will fall in love with this story and wish it would continue in a sequel.
June 30, 2011
I’ve always been a fan of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, but I must admit I didn’t know much about his poem Jabberwocky until reading Daniel Coleman’s novella. When I saw Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland last year, I was surprised by the appearance of a creature resembling a dragon which the characters referred to as a jabberwocky in the movie. I questioned, “There were dragons in Alice in Wonderland? I don’t remember this in the Disney cartoon!”
Jabberwocky (Lewis Carroll) is featured in Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There. I’ve never read the sequel to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland so you can excuse my being naive of a jabberwocky because of this. I was intrigued by the premise of Coleman’s novella, yet when I looked at the poem I began to scratch my head. Here is an example:
‘Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
“Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!”
Eek! I thought, “How am I going to get through this? How am I going to make heads-or-tails of this utter word play nonsense?” But alas…Coleman vividly and magically makes the poem come alive and makes it easy to understand. If you are looking for an exciting, high-fantasy story with adventure, nail-biting suspense and romance, JABBERWOCKY is for you! I love this little gem of a book.
JABBERWOCKY is broken up into seven parts which in turn are the seven stanzas of the poem. Throughout the story are footnotes for the definitions of words such as brilling, wabe, frumious, etc. so don’t worry! The story starts off in high-gear with two fair maidens who are celebrating their sixteenth birthday in the village of Dehva within the Palassiren kingdom, when out of nowhere the malformed monster, the Jabberwocky, swoops down and takes the girls, killing several people in the process.
The story then moves into the world of Tjaden “Jay” and Ollie, two brothers who are in their family’s orchard discussing the existence of the Jabberwocky. Jay thinks the story isn’t true, but Ollie begs to differ. He believes the myth and tells Jay about the two missing girls.
Jay has better things to do than discuss the non-existent Jabberwocky. He needs to focus on the upcoming Swap and Spar in town, where he can impress the King with his sword-sparring. He wants desperately to join The King’s Elite — the King’s solders — just like his older brothers. But first, he will have to prove himself against a worthy opponent.
On the way into the town of Twining Falls, Jay and Ollie encounter a deadly situation. Elora, a friend of theirs and Jay’s secret crush is caught on a ledge by a bandersnatch, a large beast with claws and horns. The incident forces Jay to help his beloved and makes him the town hero. This also captures the attention of the King and draws Jay into the prestigious King’s Elite….and of course against his most daring opponent yet…the very real and dangerous Jabberwocky.
I was quickly immersed into the world of JABBERWOCKY which is filled with magical beasts who roam the wild lands of the kingdom, quaint villages and equally quaint villagers, plus the strong and un-daunting King’s elite. I definitely could not get enough of this fantastic world!
Each character in the story has their own unique personalities — from Jay who is shy and quiet, but kind and brave; to Ollie who has a wicked sense of humor and some of the best lines in the story; to Elora who is loves Jay and stands by him through thick and thin; and finally, to the Jabberwocky who is frightening and let’s nothing stand in its deadly aim. Minor characters, such as Jay and Ollie’s parents and various members of the King’s Elite are all interesting and well-developed.
I quickly moved through the story. There a few minor grammatical mistakes but all in all JABBERWOCKY is well plotted and thoroughly researched. Many scenes made me chuckle, gasp and even swoon. One of my favorite things about the story is the budding romance between Jay and Elora. I especially love Jay and Ollie’s friendly back-and-forth banter. The battle scenes, though a little lengthy, are visual and descriptive. There’s also some delightful surprises!
Unfortunately, this is not one of my favorite covers. I would have preferred it to be a more colorful cover with Jay sparring against the Jabberwocky, especially because the story is so colorful and exciting. Although, I like the gold shading and font!
Review posted on my blog "That's Swell!" and Copyrighted by Reel Swell Productions.
Jabberwocky (Lewis Carroll) is featured in Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There. I’ve never read the sequel to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland so you can excuse my being naive of a jabberwocky because of this. I was intrigued by the premise of Coleman’s novella, yet when I looked at the poem I began to scratch my head. Here is an example:
‘Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
“Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!”
Eek! I thought, “How am I going to get through this? How am I going to make heads-or-tails of this utter word play nonsense?” But alas…Coleman vividly and magically makes the poem come alive and makes it easy to understand. If you are looking for an exciting, high-fantasy story with adventure, nail-biting suspense and romance, JABBERWOCKY is for you! I love this little gem of a book.
JABBERWOCKY is broken up into seven parts which in turn are the seven stanzas of the poem. Throughout the story are footnotes for the definitions of words such as brilling, wabe, frumious, etc. so don’t worry! The story starts off in high-gear with two fair maidens who are celebrating their sixteenth birthday in the village of Dehva within the Palassiren kingdom, when out of nowhere the malformed monster, the Jabberwocky, swoops down and takes the girls, killing several people in the process.
The story then moves into the world of Tjaden “Jay” and Ollie, two brothers who are in their family’s orchard discussing the existence of the Jabberwocky. Jay thinks the story isn’t true, but Ollie begs to differ. He believes the myth and tells Jay about the two missing girls.
Jay has better things to do than discuss the non-existent Jabberwocky. He needs to focus on the upcoming Swap and Spar in town, where he can impress the King with his sword-sparring. He wants desperately to join The King’s Elite — the King’s solders — just like his older brothers. But first, he will have to prove himself against a worthy opponent.
On the way into the town of Twining Falls, Jay and Ollie encounter a deadly situation. Elora, a friend of theirs and Jay’s secret crush is caught on a ledge by a bandersnatch, a large beast with claws and horns. The incident forces Jay to help his beloved and makes him the town hero. This also captures the attention of the King and draws Jay into the prestigious King’s Elite….and of course against his most daring opponent yet…the very real and dangerous Jabberwocky.
I was quickly immersed into the world of JABBERWOCKY which is filled with magical beasts who roam the wild lands of the kingdom, quaint villages and equally quaint villagers, plus the strong and un-daunting King’s elite. I definitely could not get enough of this fantastic world!
Each character in the story has their own unique personalities — from Jay who is shy and quiet, but kind and brave; to Ollie who has a wicked sense of humor and some of the best lines in the story; to Elora who is loves Jay and stands by him through thick and thin; and finally, to the Jabberwocky who is frightening and let’s nothing stand in its deadly aim. Minor characters, such as Jay and Ollie’s parents and various members of the King’s Elite are all interesting and well-developed.
I quickly moved through the story. There a few minor grammatical mistakes but all in all JABBERWOCKY is well plotted and thoroughly researched. Many scenes made me chuckle, gasp and even swoon. One of my favorite things about the story is the budding romance between Jay and Elora. I especially love Jay and Ollie’s friendly back-and-forth banter. The battle scenes, though a little lengthy, are visual and descriptive. There’s also some delightful surprises!
Unfortunately, this is not one of my favorite covers. I would have preferred it to be a more colorful cover with Jay sparring against the Jabberwocky, especially because the story is so colorful and exciting. Although, I like the gold shading and font!
Review posted on my blog "That's Swell!" and Copyrighted by Reel Swell Productions.
June 3, 2011
Daniel Coleman has created a fantasy story that brings the poem "Jabberwocky" to life for readers.
Each section of this novella begins with a stanza from the poem, and the events mirror the phrasing in the poem. Coleman masterfully weaves the phrasings and ideas into the fantasy storyline in such a way that truly makes it pop off the page. The characterization is strong and well-suited to the length of the story. The author also weaves in extra context from Carroll's classic in the form of a confounding encounter with the Cheshire Cat.
I found the beginning started off somewhat slowly, and I had trouble initially getting into the story. I think the beginning section could have been streamlined a bit to get us into the story faster. The language used in the story is perfect for a fantasy novel, and the author has included a glossary that explains the meaning of some of the words used from the poem. The ending itself offered closure and food for thought, making this a very nicely crafted novella that is at once satisfying and thought-provoking. There were a few jumps in Tjaden's reasoning towards the end that I was slower to follow, but that is why he is an Elite and I'm not, I guess.
Truly irresistible and a quick read, this story is appropriate for adults and youth. This is definitely an author to watch!
4.5 /5 stars -- Full review @ gracekrispy.com (MotherLode review blog)
Each section of this novella begins with a stanza from the poem, and the events mirror the phrasing in the poem. Coleman masterfully weaves the phrasings and ideas into the fantasy storyline in such a way that truly makes it pop off the page. The characterization is strong and well-suited to the length of the story. The author also weaves in extra context from Carroll's classic in the form of a confounding encounter with the Cheshire Cat.
I found the beginning started off somewhat slowly, and I had trouble initially getting into the story. I think the beginning section could have been streamlined a bit to get us into the story faster. The language used in the story is perfect for a fantasy novel, and the author has included a glossary that explains the meaning of some of the words used from the poem. The ending itself offered closure and food for thought, making this a very nicely crafted novella that is at once satisfying and thought-provoking. There were a few jumps in Tjaden's reasoning towards the end that I was slower to follow, but that is why he is an Elite and I'm not, I guess.
Truly irresistible and a quick read, this story is appropriate for adults and youth. This is definitely an author to watch!
4.5 /5 stars -- Full review @ gracekrispy.com (MotherLode review blog)
April 5, 2011
Daniel Coleman takes Lewis Carroll's poem and gives it a life of its own while remaining true to the initial writings. JABBERWOCKY tells the story of a young man named Tjaden. His desire, beyond marrying his childhood sweetheart Elora, is to become an Elite. The Elites are the ultimate fighting force of the kingdom and Tjaden has a good chance of making a name for himself. Now throw in deception, action, mystery, true love, friendship, and not to mention the Jabberwocky itself and you will have an idea of everything this story entails. This novel kept me entertained from the first page to the last.
I wish it could have been just a bit longer, it wasn't because the story felt unfinished but because I wanted to spend more time with the characters. This book is perfect for anyone who is entranced by the world of Lewis Carroll. It is a well written story and is suitable for all ages.
I wish it could have been just a bit longer, it wasn't because the story felt unfinished but because I wanted to spend more time with the characters. This book is perfect for anyone who is entranced by the world of Lewis Carroll. It is a well written story and is suitable for all ages.
June 1, 2011
I had never read the poem, “Jabberwocky” before Daniel Coleman’s book. Or if I had, it must have been too confusing to stay in my memory for long. Being unfamiliar with the poem, I was only looking forward to an exciting, fun story. Coleman delivered such a story with plenty of room to spare! I was very pleasantly surprised, however, to find myself captivated by the poem itself as well as Coleman’s delightful interpretation of it. Full of witty dialogue and clever definitions, Jabberwocky is a tale worth reading! Perhaps if this had been available when I was in high school, I might have paid more attention! I look forward to reading Coleman’s next novel soon!!
May 12, 2011
Coleman does a great job of bringing this book together. I love how he introduces the original poem to the reader at the beginning of the book and then shares the stanza that pertains to a particular section at the head of it. Coleman's use of terminology works well with his story -- which, by the way, is very creative -- and helps to create the proper atmosphere. The explanation of terms found at the back of the book is very useful as well. Overall I'd have to say that I am quite impressed with Daniel Coleman's rendition of "Jabberwocky" and look forward to reading "Hatter" in the future.
July 10, 2011
I may be biased about this book since Jabberwocky has been my favorite poem ever since I had to memorize and recite it in my seventh grade English Lit class. This book was a great read and I would recommend you read the "glossary" at the end of the book first. I really enjoyed reading the back story of such an interesting poem.
May 16, 2015
I thoroughly enjoyed this. It is short, but hard to put down. The underlying plot was a little predictable, but between all of the details in the story and the way the familiar language and characters are used from Alice in Wonderland, my attention stayed glued to the book. It was fun to see so many of the words that Lewis Carroll made up be put to practical use in the storyline.
July 10, 2011
Absolutely awesome! I would never have believed that such a great story could have come from the Jabberwocky poem. I was immediately drawn into the story and couldn't put it down! I wonder if Daniel Coleman's other Alice inspired work Hatter is as good?
April 3, 2012
The enjoyable tale of the story behind Lewis Carroll's poem about the Jabberwocky. Coleman weaves an enchanting story with likable characters, romance and adventure in a whimsical world using many fun new words.
July 21, 2011
very smooth story~sooo enjoyed every single page!
March 31, 2012
Cute, easy, fast and fun. Little more depth to the world of Lewis Carrol. Liked Hatter better but this was still entertaining even if it wasn't fascinating. Just good, clean late-night reading.
December 29, 2011
Read the complete and original review at Word Spelunking
Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland is an iconic world, so to write a story inspired by Carroll’s words and set in his iconic world, must be quite a daunting undertaking. But with Jabberwocky, Daniel Coleman as done just that, and he has done it brilliantly.
“Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!”
-Lewis Carroll
Based on the poem appearing in Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There, Coleman’s Jabberwocky tells the story of one young boy’s journey from farm boy to Elite soldier. Fifteen year old Tjaden and his best friend Ollie have dreams of being among the King’s Elite soldiers, and they get the chance after Tjaden proves himself a worthy candidate to attend the Academy after rescuing a young girl, Elora (whom he has a crush on), from a fearsome Bandersnatch. But soon, Tjaden finds himself having to go up against an even deadlier foe, the Jabberwocky, a foul beast that kidnaps young maidens…and Elora ends up being the beast’s latest victim. So Tjaden sets out to rescue Elora with nothing more than his bravery, love for her, and his vorpal sword.
I absolutely love what Coleman has created with Jabberwocky. Coleman has not simply recreated Carroll’s Wonderland, he’s expanded it and wonderfully so. Like Carroll’s works set in Wonderland, Coleman’s Jabberwocky is whimsical and fantastical, yet also sophisticated and eloquent. Coleman certainly has a captivating way with words.
Jabberwocky is a shorter read at only 145 pages, but it is very much a satisfying read. Perfectly paced, Jabberwocky is gripping and will hold the attention of even young readers from beginning to end. I love how each separate part of the book begins with a stanza from the infamous poem, alluding to what’s to come in that specific part. I was very impressed with Coleman’s creativity and ability to take a poem of merely 28 lines and create an entire story around it.
The world Coleman has created and described is vivid and well developed. This is a world that readers will have no problem simply falling into. The fantasy aspects are light, but very exciting and fun. Coleman’s characters are compelling and charming. Tjaden makes for a believable and likeable hero, Ollie is absolutely endearing as the funny sidekick, and Elora is one kick-butt and graceful heroine. And of course, you have the Jabberwocky himself, who will surprise and thrill you. Coleman’s characterization of the Jabberwocky and the backstory he has given this beast is beautifully rendered.
MY FINAL THOUGHTS: Readers young and old, those familiar with Carroll’s Wonderland and those who have yet to discover it, will be enthralled by Coleman’s words and will find delight in Tjaden’s journey. Daniel Coleman has made splendid sense of Carroll’s spectacular nonsense, and I loved every moment of it. Jabberwocky is a MUST read!
Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland is an iconic world, so to write a story inspired by Carroll’s words and set in his iconic world, must be quite a daunting undertaking. But with Jabberwocky, Daniel Coleman as done just that, and he has done it brilliantly.
“Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!”
-Lewis Carroll
Based on the poem appearing in Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There, Coleman’s Jabberwocky tells the story of one young boy’s journey from farm boy to Elite soldier. Fifteen year old Tjaden and his best friend Ollie have dreams of being among the King’s Elite soldiers, and they get the chance after Tjaden proves himself a worthy candidate to attend the Academy after rescuing a young girl, Elora (whom he has a crush on), from a fearsome Bandersnatch. But soon, Tjaden finds himself having to go up against an even deadlier foe, the Jabberwocky, a foul beast that kidnaps young maidens…and Elora ends up being the beast’s latest victim. So Tjaden sets out to rescue Elora with nothing more than his bravery, love for her, and his vorpal sword.
I absolutely love what Coleman has created with Jabberwocky. Coleman has not simply recreated Carroll’s Wonderland, he’s expanded it and wonderfully so. Like Carroll’s works set in Wonderland, Coleman’s Jabberwocky is whimsical and fantastical, yet also sophisticated and eloquent. Coleman certainly has a captivating way with words.
Jabberwocky is a shorter read at only 145 pages, but it is very much a satisfying read. Perfectly paced, Jabberwocky is gripping and will hold the attention of even young readers from beginning to end. I love how each separate part of the book begins with a stanza from the infamous poem, alluding to what’s to come in that specific part. I was very impressed with Coleman’s creativity and ability to take a poem of merely 28 lines and create an entire story around it.
The world Coleman has created and described is vivid and well developed. This is a world that readers will have no problem simply falling into. The fantasy aspects are light, but very exciting and fun. Coleman’s characters are compelling and charming. Tjaden makes for a believable and likeable hero, Ollie is absolutely endearing as the funny sidekick, and Elora is one kick-butt and graceful heroine. And of course, you have the Jabberwocky himself, who will surprise and thrill you. Coleman’s characterization of the Jabberwocky and the backstory he has given this beast is beautifully rendered.
MY FINAL THOUGHTS: Readers young and old, those familiar with Carroll’s Wonderland and those who have yet to discover it, will be enthralled by Coleman’s words and will find delight in Tjaden’s journey. Daniel Coleman has made splendid sense of Carroll’s spectacular nonsense, and I loved every moment of it. Jabberwocky is a MUST read!
July 18, 2011
I really love the world that Carroll created when he penned down Alice in Wonderland. It's incredibly out there but holds tons of meaning, it's a story that requires thought without bogging you down. As a side thought, I hated Alice as a person. But that's not the point, the point is I really enjoy the world of Wonderland, so the thought of being able to see what another author thought about some of the Jabberwocky's origins as a monster is appealing to me and I can honestly say that I was not disappointed in the least.
Coleman took the poem 'Jabberwocky' and created a whole story around it. If you've read the poem then you know it contains some rather confusing words that hold no true meaning to us and Coleman actually manages to come up with meanings and make them seem normal. At first it was a little uncomfortable reading words like "wabe" and expecting me to in-vision a field of grass that extends way behind...but after a few pages you begin to grasp it and it becomes easier to see. Each section/chapter begins with a stanza from the poem and it gives you some insight into what is going to happen within that chapter, I thought that it was the perfect tie-in both for those who are fans of the poem and those unfamiliar with it. The world that Coleman created was extremely fleshed out and felt like a 'real' place, the characters were likable and relate-able and the writing was excellent.
I didn't expect to get much out of it since it was so short, I got it for free and I'd never heard of it before but this is one of those hidden gems that should get more attention then they do. I totally recommend this. If you've read Alice, or the 'Jabberwocky' you should definitely give this a try. I'm almost positive you'll enjoy it.
Coleman took the poem 'Jabberwocky' and created a whole story around it. If you've read the poem then you know it contains some rather confusing words that hold no true meaning to us and Coleman actually manages to come up with meanings and make them seem normal. At first it was a little uncomfortable reading words like "wabe" and expecting me to in-vision a field of grass that extends way behind...but after a few pages you begin to grasp it and it becomes easier to see. Each section/chapter begins with a stanza from the poem and it gives you some insight into what is going to happen within that chapter, I thought that it was the perfect tie-in both for those who are fans of the poem and those unfamiliar with it. The world that Coleman created was extremely fleshed out and felt like a 'real' place, the characters were likable and relate-able and the writing was excellent.
I didn't expect to get much out of it since it was so short, I got it for free and I'd never heard of it before but this is one of those hidden gems that should get more attention then they do. I totally recommend this. If you've read Alice, or the 'Jabberwocky' you should definitely give this a try. I'm almost positive you'll enjoy it.
June 8, 2011
Jabberwocky by Daniel Coleman is based off of Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll. Each chapter opens with a small segment of the original poem and is followed by Daniel's version of the events that are described. As a person who is not very familiar with the work of Lewis Carroll (outside of the movies based on it) the phrasing used was often very unfamiliar to me. There is a glossary in the back, but I think if it had been located in the front it would have helped me a little bit more.
The characters, mainly Ollie and Tjaden, are well written and easy to relate to. Ollie being an orphan who has no real home of his own, but has formed a bond of brotherhood with Tjaden. Tjaden is a young man who dreams of joining the Elite, a special unit of the military, and serving his land with pride.
This was a quick, fun read that I think anyone can enjoy regardless of how familiar they are with the original work. There are some sneak peeks of other well known characters including the Chesire Cat and the Hatter mixed into the story which can draw in the people who are only casually acquainted with the original works.
The characters, mainly Ollie and Tjaden, are well written and easy to relate to. Ollie being an orphan who has no real home of his own, but has formed a bond of brotherhood with Tjaden. Tjaden is a young man who dreams of joining the Elite, a special unit of the military, and serving his land with pride.
This was a quick, fun read that I think anyone can enjoy regardless of how familiar they are with the original work. There are some sneak peeks of other well known characters including the Chesire Cat and the Hatter mixed into the story which can draw in the people who are only casually acquainted with the original works.
July 6, 2012
First, a confession: I have not read Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland or Through the Looking Glass. I’ve seen the Disney movie, gone on the teacup ride and in the sixth grade our class had to memorize and recite the Jabberwocky poem, but that is limit of my experience.
My lack of knowledge into Mr. Carroll’s Wonderland, however, in no way diminished my enjoyment of Daniel Coleman’s Jabberwocky and Hatter. Coleman does an excellent job in his own right invoking a land of wonder. Carroll’s nonsense words and fictional creatures are so expertly incorporated into Coleman’s work that even a Carroll novice like me was able to pick right up on their intent and allow them to draw me deeper into the world.
Jabberwocky tells the story of a young man’s journey from farm boy to vorpal blade-weilding, galumphing, Jabberwock-slayer. Set before the events of Wonderland, he takes us along with him and introduces us to some of Carroll’s iconic locales and characters.
Jabberwocky was a short, fun read, perfect for the kid’s bedtime story. I’m not sure who among us enjoyed it more.
My lack of knowledge into Mr. Carroll’s Wonderland, however, in no way diminished my enjoyment of Daniel Coleman’s Jabberwocky and Hatter. Coleman does an excellent job in his own right invoking a land of wonder. Carroll’s nonsense words and fictional creatures are so expertly incorporated into Coleman’s work that even a Carroll novice like me was able to pick right up on their intent and allow them to draw me deeper into the world.
Jabberwocky tells the story of a young man’s journey from farm boy to vorpal blade-weilding, galumphing, Jabberwock-slayer. Set before the events of Wonderland, he takes us along with him and introduces us to some of Carroll’s iconic locales and characters.
Jabberwocky was a short, fun read, perfect for the kid’s bedtime story. I’m not sure who among us enjoyed it more.
September 25, 2011
Kids book...3 grade up.
The Jabberwocky has been my favorite poem since I was a kid (of course I bet a lot of people could say that) so I was wondering if this story could live up to expectations for me. Daniel Coleman did a really good job of taking the poem and turning it into a story. If you're ever thinking of reading the Alice books to your child, this would be a great place to start because it gets the reader used to the craziness that is Lewis Carrol.
I read The Annotated Alice about a year ago, and pulled it out to compare Coleman's definitions to the ones given in footnotes in the book. Lewis Carrol apparently wrote the definition of some of the words, but then they differed from his use of them in a story about a Snark, so several of the made up words had two different meanings and Coleman used one of the two.
The Jabberwocky has been my favorite poem since I was a kid (of course I bet a lot of people could say that) so I was wondering if this story could live up to expectations for me. Daniel Coleman did a really good job of taking the poem and turning it into a story. If you're ever thinking of reading the Alice books to your child, this would be a great place to start because it gets the reader used to the craziness that is Lewis Carrol.
I read The Annotated Alice about a year ago, and pulled it out to compare Coleman's definitions to the ones given in footnotes in the book. Lewis Carrol apparently wrote the definition of some of the words, but then they differed from his use of them in a story about a Snark, so several of the made up words had two different meanings and Coleman used one of the two.
March 13, 2012
So, I didn't have high hopes for this one, because I'm very touchy about people messing around with Lewis Carroll. I was nervous at the beginning, because the author didn't miss a single opportunity to throw in one of Carroll's neologisms (wabe, mome, Jubjub, Tweedle, etc.), and it got on my nerves, because it rang false. However, as it moved on, his style became a lot more natural, and I began enjoying the book much more.
I would probably call this a young adult book; it's got some great themes of loyalty, hard work and integrity. It's a little bit predictable, but, again, if it's targeted at young adults, the mystery is probably a little bit more shrouded.
It certainly had its ups & downs, but I would say that overall I've enjoyed it.
I would probably call this a young adult book; it's got some great themes of loyalty, hard work and integrity. It's a little bit predictable, but, again, if it's targeted at young adults, the mystery is probably a little bit more shrouded.
It certainly had its ups & downs, but I would say that overall I've enjoyed it.
July 23, 2011
Loved how this story gives us more details on the various creatures that come from Lewis Carroll's Jabberwocky poem.
In this novella the stanzas have their own fairy tale-like stories to reveal the mysteries behind each. The most interesting one of course was the story of the Jabberwock.
You will cheer for the hero and his lady love. And, you will boo the foe. But then, there is a twisty happening at the end where the foe is redefined.
In this novella the stanzas have their own fairy tale-like stories to reveal the mysteries behind each. The most interesting one of course was the story of the Jabberwock.
You will cheer for the hero and his lady love. And, you will boo the foe. But then, there is a twisty happening at the end where the foe is redefined.
August 4, 2011
I am hooked...good start...can't wait to read more...go to bed kids!! Ha ha ha ha
Wow Dan, you are an amazing author!! I am truly impressed!! Can't wait to read more from you!! Started before my Utah trip, came home & finished in 24 hours!!! This book was bold, brilliant, quirky, humorous & of course, my personal favorite, romance!! Loved Tjaden, our hero 'Jay'...fell in love w/ his passions & friends...becoming an Elite & loved Ollie;))
Wow Dan, you are an amazing author!! I am truly impressed!! Can't wait to read more from you!! Started before my Utah trip, came home & finished in 24 hours!!! This book was bold, brilliant, quirky, humorous & of course, my personal favorite, romance!! Loved Tjaden, our hero 'Jay'...fell in love w/ his passions & friends...becoming an Elite & loved Ollie;))
September 15, 2011
I picked this book up at the Wellsville Founders' Day celebration along with his other book Hatter. I have to admit that the cover art really grabbed and that is why I bought the books. After I read this book in two days, I had a second reason to buy the book. Totally loved the story and it grabbed me immediately and couldn't put it down until the end.
January 2, 2012
Those greatly endeared with Lewis Carroll’s whimsical tales would do well to pick up Jaberwocky by Daniel Coleman. In this expansion of the original poem, readers will discover meaning behind such terms as Bandersnatches and the TumTum tree. All told in a straightforward tale with a manxome twist.
~Amber Argyle
www.amberargyle.blogspot.com
~Amber Argyle
www.amberargyle.blogspot.com
April 15, 2012
A wonderful, whimsical, and incredibly imaginative take on the poem, Jabberwocky. I loved the way the author made sense of Carroll's nonsensical words and turns of phrase. He succeeded in turning the beloved poem into a novel about the lengths people (and creatures) will go to for the ones they love.
August 30, 2011
A. M. A. Z. I. N. G. What does that spell?
July 9, 2011
This was a great story. Brought the poem 'Jabberwocky' to life. This was my favorite poem from Lewis Carroll's book.
July 12, 2011
nice short story, once you get past the made-up words I really liked it.
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