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Magnificent tales of misadventure #1
Blue in the Face: A Story of Risk, Rhyme, and Rebellion
A rollicking and humorous tale from the author of A Whole Nother Story--with black-and-white illustrations--about a most reluctant hero.
When Elspeth Pule, an eleven-year-old brat, wakes up one day in a strange forest, she finds some familiar faces around her--those of the nursery rhyme characters she grew up reading about. But as she soon learns from Humpty Dumpy, a suave, tuxedo-wearing egg, what she knows is a twisted version of the truth concocted by the evil Old King Krool--and none of the characters are what she thinks.
Elspeth couldn't care less, but she soon gets pulled into the fight against Krool's tyranny. And if she wants to get home, she'll need to learn some compassion--and teach the characters that sometimes a good old-fashioned tantrum is exactly what's necessary.
Told in a hilarious voice and with black-and-white illustrations throughout, this "revolutionary" tale is perfect for fans of Pseudonymous Bosch and Lemony Snicket.
When Elspeth Pule, an eleven-year-old brat, wakes up one day in a strange forest, she finds some familiar faces around her--those of the nursery rhyme characters she grew up reading about. But as she soon learns from Humpty Dumpy, a suave, tuxedo-wearing egg, what she knows is a twisted version of the truth concocted by the evil Old King Krool--and none of the characters are what she thinks.
Elspeth couldn't care less, but she soon gets pulled into the fight against Krool's tyranny. And if she wants to get home, she'll need to learn some compassion--and teach the characters that sometimes a good old-fashioned tantrum is exactly what's necessary.
Told in a hilarious voice and with black-and-white illustrations throughout, this "revolutionary" tale is perfect for fans of Pseudonymous Bosch and Lemony Snicket.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published January 12, 2016
8 people are currently reading
411 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
February 27, 2016
[4.75 stars]
I will forever refer to this book as the story in which my favorite character is a four-foot-tall talking wheel of cheese. (True fact.) I adore it. Anyone who has ever enjoyed a nursery rhyme will enjoy it. The anticipation alone from wondering which beloved character will be imagined next is enough for me to give this book high marks. That's not even covering the humor, the imaginative spins, or Elspeth herself. Go check out the book and thank me later.
I will forever refer to this book as the story in which my favorite character is a four-foot-tall talking wheel of cheese. (True fact.) I adore it. Anyone who has ever enjoyed a nursery rhyme will enjoy it. The anticipation alone from wondering which beloved character will be imagined next is enough for me to give this book high marks. That's not even covering the humor, the imaginative spins, or Elspeth herself. Go check out the book and thank me later.
November 29, 2018
1.5 stars
January 6, 2026
Everything a juvenile fantasy fairy tale parody should be. It gives Jen Calonita vibes and is pretty cute.
May 8, 2018
Swallow, Gary Blue in the face, 308 pages. Middle Grade Fiction (5th-8th grade) Bloombury Publishing, 2016.$17 Language: G (0 swears, 0 F’s) Mature Content: G Violence: PG 13
Elspeth has a hard time listening to her parents. She is transported to a world where signs talk and fairy tale characters live. In order to get back to her home (which she could have sworn she was just in) Elspheth has to defeat the evil King Krool. She makes friends along the way, including the famous Humpty Dumpty. King Krool wants to find Elspheth so he can make sure she doesn't stop him, so she sticks close to her friends and learns the real stories, not the ones that put her to bed every night. From that point on she goes on a magical journey through the stories she had been told before bed, and finds out some things that were kept hidden on the stories.
I liked the book because it showed the original stories, it also had adventure. After each chapter there is a poem summarizing the chapter. This way the reader know exactly what they need to know. Some things I liked about the book included the original fairy tales and some of the character were portrayed in an interesting way. The book had a way of making things very important. It also tried to foreshadow some of the upcoming events, this made the reader think more. My favorite part of the book was when Elspeth learns that even though it isn't her world she can still make friends there.
EL - ADVISABLE 7th Grade Student Reviewer GF
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...
Elspeth has a hard time listening to her parents. She is transported to a world where signs talk and fairy tale characters live. In order to get back to her home (which she could have sworn she was just in) Elspheth has to defeat the evil King Krool. She makes friends along the way, including the famous Humpty Dumpty. King Krool wants to find Elspheth so he can make sure she doesn't stop him, so she sticks close to her friends and learns the real stories, not the ones that put her to bed every night. From that point on she goes on a magical journey through the stories she had been told before bed, and finds out some things that were kept hidden on the stories.
I liked the book because it showed the original stories, it also had adventure. After each chapter there is a poem summarizing the chapter. This way the reader know exactly what they need to know. Some things I liked about the book included the original fairy tales and some of the character were portrayed in an interesting way. The book had a way of making things very important. It also tried to foreshadow some of the upcoming events, this made the reader think more. My favorite part of the book was when Elspeth learns that even though it isn't her world she can still make friends there.
EL - ADVISABLE 7th Grade Student Reviewer GF
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...
October 31, 2017
Very clever use of nursery rhymes: our versions are the twisted propaganda of the evil King Krool; our heroine, spoiled Elspeth—who holds her breath to get her way— is actually Jacqueline Jillson, the daughter of Jack and Jill. The king threw her down a well as an infant, to keep her from fulfilling a prophesy and overthrowing him. When Elspeth holds her breath to get her (secretly) adoptive patents to give her an alpaca, she blacks out and returns to her homeland.
Not sure today’s kids will be familiar with all the rhymes, although Elspeth often recites parts of them and is then corrected. I’d have liked a list at the end.
My favorite: the three visually challenged mice Earl Grey, James Brown and Barry White.
Not sure today’s kids will be familiar with all the rhymes, although Elspeth often recites parts of them and is then corrected. I’d have liked a list at the end.
My favorite: the three visually challenged mice Earl Grey, James Brown and Barry White.
January 8, 2018
An interesting spin on some classic rhymes with a slightly less than sympathetic protagonist who eventually redeems herself by the tale's end. Little bits of humor and one liners pop up and make for memorable dialogue for a book that is ultimately a one time read.
March 16, 2017
Decently written and fast paced, this book plays on altered nursery rhymes as Elspeth, a terribly misbehaved eleven year old, passes out in a tantrum and gets transported to the magical kingdom of King Willie Winkie. Except it's no longer his kingdom, and Elspeth is the foretold hero of the kingdom. She can't believe that this is happening and goes on a long adventure, which will require an attitude adjustment aping the way. Enjoyed the play on the nursery rhyme characters, decent character development, good world building.
March 16, 2017
Overall, this was a very creative and fun read. Loved the quirky characters and ideas and thought the writing itself was exceptional.
My only criticism was with the main character. She seemed overly coerced to fit the story rather than the story fitting her. I suppose for a fiction tale that's neither good nor bad. I just wasn't able to relate well to her, nor did her almost immediate transformation seem believable. Toward the middle to the end, she didn't act or seem like an 11 year old girl, rather she seemed like a highly mature adult leader. It just didn't fit for me.
My only criticism was with the main character. She seemed overly coerced to fit the story rather than the story fitting her. I suppose for a fiction tale that's neither good nor bad. I just wasn't able to relate well to her, nor did her almost immediate transformation seem believable. Toward the middle to the end, she didn't act or seem like an 11 year old girl, rather she seemed like a highly mature adult leader. It just didn't fit for me.
September 14, 2017
3.5 stars
Blue in the face is the only book I've read until now that deals with Nursery Rhymes only. This is a nursery rhyme retelling, without an ounce of fairytale clues. This is to say that while it didn't blow my mind overall, just because of its uniqueness it is so cool!
Even though going further it became a bit boring to me, it is a honestly funny and well written novel with a protagonist who is annoying because the author meant to write her as annoying, to create a comic relief effect, as opposed to other fairytales retellings.
So, while it is not one of my absolute favourite retellings, it's a great and original addition to my bookshelf.
Blue in the face is the only book I've read until now that deals with Nursery Rhymes only. This is a nursery rhyme retelling, without an ounce of fairytale clues. This is to say that while it didn't blow my mind overall, just because of its uniqueness it is so cool!
Even though going further it became a bit boring to me, it is a honestly funny and well written novel with a protagonist who is annoying because the author meant to write her as annoying, to create a comic relief effect, as opposed to other fairytales retellings.
So, while it is not one of my absolute favourite retellings, it's a great and original addition to my bookshelf.
December 14, 2017
This book was a hilarious twist on the original fairy tales, full of spunk and crazy characters. I loved the plot twist when Elspeth finds out that Jack and Jill are her long-lost parents. The rhymes in-between the chapters really helped put the story into place and were very funny. The characters along with the extraordinary and hilarious setting, where very entertaining and enjoyable. Finding out what changes were in the original fairy tales made it very enjoyable. I loved this book and I hope to read more about Elspeth and her adventures.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2016
Eleven-year-old Elspeth Pule is a true example of an impertinent brat whose full blown temper tantrums always earn her whatever she desires. Her latest demand is for a real alpaca, and her folks as usual agree to buy her one, until their appointment with the famous Dr. Fell. He advises them to ignore Elspeth and let her cry instead. Since he is such a well respected doctor, the Pules do just that. While she holds her breath, Elspeth's usual ploy for getting her own way, she realizes it isn't working her parents are ignoring her. Before long she blacks out and wakes up in a magical kingdom of nursery rhyme characters, who are a bit different than the ones in the official Mother Goose book. Old King Cole is a vicious tyrant who is really Old King Krool, the three blind mice, Earl Gray, James Brown, and Barry White, are described as "visually impaired," and also missing their tails. They become important characters in this clever combination of nursery rhyme characters who suffer together from oppression. As Elspeth begins to discover the extreme danger of evil King Krool her selfish tendencies begin to change, and her strong willed aggressive demeanor finds a new outlet. This rollicking nursery rhyme adventure promises to delight. The ending hints at a sequel, which I hope is as good as the first.
May 19, 2016
It's a bit Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle and a bit Jasper Fforde and a bit classic Narnia, so I'm pretty in love. I had a few quibbles with pacing towards the latter half of the book, and I'm a little uneasy with how Elspeth's weight is handled, but other than that I loved everything.
Also, just have to say--I was honestly expecting to be burned regarding .
Also, just have to say--I was honestly expecting to be burned regarding .
April 14, 2016
This was a very cute book about fairy tale characters who live in fear from Old King Krool, who is changing the fairy tales. After Elspeth Pule accidentally enters the fairy tale world, she gets roped into rebelling against the King. This book is very clever, with a talking wheel of cheese that says "The Cheese stands alone," and Humpty Dumpty as a British spy with vertigo. I overall liked this book.
April 18, 2016
What if a brat could become the heroine in a story? What if the nursery rhymes we thought we knew turned out to be lies? What if you found out that your parents might not be your real parents?
This is Elspeth's story, a story in which she discovers her true destiny.
Fans of Rump and other retold and fractured fairy tales will enjoy this one.
This is Elspeth's story, a story in which she discovers her true destiny.
Fans of Rump and other retold and fractured fairy tales will enjoy this one.
November 25, 2016
This was an amusing mix-up of nursery rhymes that was fun to read. It was a little on the long side, I'm not sure it will hold the attention of its target group for the entire book.
Recommended for grades 4-6.
Recommended for grades 4-6.
dnf
March 7, 2016Pages read: 8
Middle grade is hit or miss, and, based on this first chapter, I'm not going to be laughing when I'm meant to, so this one is probably going to be a miss.
Middle grade is hit or miss, and, based on this first chapter, I'm not going to be laughing when I'm meant to, so this one is probably going to be a miss.
November 6, 2015
Very funny take on fairy-tale characters.
February 4, 2016
I desperately wanted to love this book, but so much of the humor and puns was redundant and not at a child's level understanding that by the end I was simply anxious for it to be done already.
February 20, 2016
After reading this I feel like I need to read up on nursery rhymes. Enjoyed the book and the humour with some definitely funny parts.
July 11, 2016
A book for 3rd through 5th graders that has good character development. Very good general story that references nursery rhyme characters with a new twist.
July 21, 2016
I read the "Whole Nother Stories" to my children and we loved them. Blue in the Face did not disappoint. Just a fun read.
August 31, 2016
If wishes were horses, then beggars would ride,
Until they got hungry enough to eat those horses.
Then no more rides.
Until they got hungry enough to eat those horses.
Then no more rides.
Want to read
February 20, 2017I received a copy of this book from Bloomsbury USA Children's Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 28, 2016
Lots of adventure. Elspeth enters a nursey rhyme land and eventually makes lots of friends while planning to over throw the kingdom. I really liked this story.
April 2, 2017
Fun, quirky, and a pretty quick read!
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews