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Leven Thumps #2
Leven Thumps and the Whispered Secret
Traveling from Foo to free Geth and restore him to his rightful place as heir of the kingdom, Leven Thumps and his companions must fight the creatures of the Swollen Forest in order to reach him in this adventurous, fantastical tale filled with hidden dangers and dark forces.
407 pages, Hardcover
First published September 27, 2006
191 people are currently reading
3900 people want to read
About the author
Obert Skye
48 books883 followersObert Skye read his first book at age two. He wrote his first story at age four. And he was nearly trampled by a herd of water buffalo at age six. For a short time, he lived on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, where he spent time as a candy-taster. Several years ago, Obert Skye says, he discovered the existence of Foo. Publishing his story as a fictional series was not Obert’s first choice. Nevertheless he is content that the “history” is being told.
Hobbies and other interests: Collecting old maps, water polo, roller coasters.
Hobbies and other interests: Collecting old maps, water polo, roller coasters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 545 reviews
November 7, 2014
Tedious. Tedious, tedious, tedious.
Like the first book, The Whispered Secret managed to pick up the pace at the end, but that did not make up for the first three quarters.
Perhaps it would be a better read as a part of a nightly tradition in which you read a chapter or two to your children. That would break up the tedious repetition of the same plotline.
I'm amazed I feel this apathetic about the book, because I do like the storyline and the setting. The writing and the world of Foo itself are magnificently creative and interesting, but oh my, shoot me dead with all of the mini-adventures. First one person gets separated from the group because something bad happens. Then that person finds the group again just as something bad is happening, and someone gets separated again. I was very DONE with the idea of the group separating and uniting after the fourth reunion.
And the toothpick jokes were old in the first book and ancient in the second. We get it--it's silly. It's a weird situation to be talking to a toothpick. Toothpicks are odd objects that people typically overlook. They can't do normal things. I get it.
Like the first book, The Whispered Secret managed to pick up the pace at the end, but that did not make up for the first three quarters.
Perhaps it would be a better read as a part of a nightly tradition in which you read a chapter or two to your children. That would break up the tedious repetition of the same plotline.
I'm amazed I feel this apathetic about the book, because I do like the storyline and the setting. The writing and the world of Foo itself are magnificently creative and interesting, but oh my, shoot me dead with all of the mini-adventures. First one person gets separated from the group because something bad happens. Then that person finds the group again just as something bad is happening, and someone gets separated again. I was very DONE with the idea of the group separating and uniting after the fourth reunion.
And the toothpick jokes were old in the first book and ancient in the second. We get it--it's silly. It's a weird situation to be talking to a toothpick. Toothpicks are odd objects that people typically overlook. They can't do normal things. I get it.
December 7, 2018
After the crazy quest in the first book Leven is back and finds out that he is a part of huge destiny between four heroes to stop mass chaos. After going through the earth and making it to the land of Leven must fix Geth and return him to the King he once was. The book was enjoyable to me because it was a fast paced fantasy read that I always enjoy just like the first one. Winter a girl cursed with silver blonde hair goes on her own to find the source of her powers. A young boy on a mission to save the world from an unknown evil. Clover is Leven's guardian and has over seen him since birth and serves as the guide throughout the adventure. A small creature with leaf like ears. He returns back to his own kind to try and find information about the land they don't know anymore. Foo has drastically changed from what they know and now Geth is a mighty hero is still a tree. When the tree is cut down you see the trials and tribulations of the mighty Geth. He gets turned into a toothpick and they try to turn him to his former self. They all try to bring Geth back and survive in the land of Foo. Recommended for anyone who enjoys fantasy stories or an easier read with plenty of action.The entire series is a wild ride and can get very crazy.
Read
November 30, 2022DNF 29%.
Brak we mnie jakiegokolwiek zainteresowania dalszymi przygodami bohatera i chęci, by kontynuować tą przygodę. Przykro i Leven, ale być może gdybyśmy się spotkali dziesięć lat temu byłabym bardziej chętna.
Brak we mnie jakiegokolwiek zainteresowania dalszymi przygodami bohatera i chęci, by kontynuować tą przygodę. Przykro i Leven, ale być może gdybyśmy się spotkali dziesięć lat temu byłabym bardziej chętna.
April 15, 2008
Geared to ages 10 and up
Start with a base from J.K. Rowling, add a dash of Lemony Snicket, a bit of J.R.R. Tolkein and a whole lot of Lewis Carroll, and you may end up with a story much like “Leven Thumps and the Whispered Secret”, book two in a series about 14-year-old orphan Leven Thumps who was whisked away from the Reality you and I live in to discover himself in the dreamland of Foo.
This second book of this non-LDS series by Obert Skye opens in the world of Foo, a place where human dreams are manipulated and where nothing is as expected. In the words of one character who lives in Foo:
“ ‘Listen, Leven Thumps, the sooner you realize that you understand nothing, the better off you will be. Nothing is the same here as in Reality. All that you have known is now different. The air you are breathing is different. You think the sun will rise tomorrow?’ Farrow challenged.
“Leven nodded cautiously
“ ‘Ha!’ Farrow scoffed, letting go of Leven’s shirt. He wobbled and grabbed onto Leven’s sleeve. ‘The sun might rise tomorrow and it might not. Maybe you’ll grow older, and maybe not. Either way, you would be better off to forget what you know.’”
Leven is joined in his journey by his friend Winter and his mentor/protector Geth (the heir to the throne of Foo who spends much of his time in this book trapped in the form of a talking toothpick until he ends up cast into a fire). The three protagonists begin their journey through Foo with the goal of restoring Geth to his natural humanoid form, but are sidetracked by evil birdlike creatures who dig gaping chasms, a swollen forest filled with the remnants of bad dreams and an entire mountain made of people’s regrets – all overseen by a dark lord who is half-possessed and deformed by Reality’s human dreams. Leven’s personal guide throughout the journey, the “sycophant” Clover, provides comic relief along with some real life-saving tricks and unusually practical practical jokes.
If readers can get through the first half of the book (a quick reading of the glossary and a high tolerance for simile and bad puns will help), by the time the climactic chase scene shows up, the story is interesting enough to urge a few more page turns to the finale. A boy or girl in the fourth or fifth grade who’s not super interested in the subtlety or development of characters, would have no problem getting to this point in the book. Readers more interested in books more firmly grounded in reality, with less reliance on fantastic ways of escape or in three-dimensional, complex characters might have a tougher time of it. Nearly all of the characters in the book are depicted as completely good or completely bad, with the “bad guys” seeming to wear the proverbial black hats (often in extra-large size to fit their fat heads). This broad, obvious characterization simplifies both villains and heroes into caricatures, but since the book is specifically geared toward children as young as 10 years old, the lack of complexity may be overlooked.
Skye scatters historical facts from the first book in the series (“Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo”) throughout the second book, making it possible for readers who haven’t read the whole series to understand the actions and characters in the Whispered Secret a bit more clearly.
Leven’s adventures in Foo remind him who he is – the grandson of Hector Thumps, and a person “essential to Foo and the dreams of all mankind.” Leven discovers that knowing his heritage and understanding who he really is is the key to his success in Foo: Fate hands him his life journey and draws him to his destiny, and his mind and body are literally enlarged and enlightened as he grasps the hand of fate and steps bravely forward to do what must be done.
Just as Leven comes to terms with himself and adjusts to his new role, life and status in Foo, the whispered secret that has followed him across the dreamland catches up with him in the final chapters, setting the stage for book three in the series.
Start with a base from J.K. Rowling, add a dash of Lemony Snicket, a bit of J.R.R. Tolkein and a whole lot of Lewis Carroll, and you may end up with a story much like “Leven Thumps and the Whispered Secret”, book two in a series about 14-year-old orphan Leven Thumps who was whisked away from the Reality you and I live in to discover himself in the dreamland of Foo.
This second book of this non-LDS series by Obert Skye opens in the world of Foo, a place where human dreams are manipulated and where nothing is as expected. In the words of one character who lives in Foo:
“ ‘Listen, Leven Thumps, the sooner you realize that you understand nothing, the better off you will be. Nothing is the same here as in Reality. All that you have known is now different. The air you are breathing is different. You think the sun will rise tomorrow?’ Farrow challenged.
“Leven nodded cautiously
“ ‘Ha!’ Farrow scoffed, letting go of Leven’s shirt. He wobbled and grabbed onto Leven’s sleeve. ‘The sun might rise tomorrow and it might not. Maybe you’ll grow older, and maybe not. Either way, you would be better off to forget what you know.’”
Leven is joined in his journey by his friend Winter and his mentor/protector Geth (the heir to the throne of Foo who spends much of his time in this book trapped in the form of a talking toothpick until he ends up cast into a fire). The three protagonists begin their journey through Foo with the goal of restoring Geth to his natural humanoid form, but are sidetracked by evil birdlike creatures who dig gaping chasms, a swollen forest filled with the remnants of bad dreams and an entire mountain made of people’s regrets – all overseen by a dark lord who is half-possessed and deformed by Reality’s human dreams. Leven’s personal guide throughout the journey, the “sycophant” Clover, provides comic relief along with some real life-saving tricks and unusually practical practical jokes.
If readers can get through the first half of the book (a quick reading of the glossary and a high tolerance for simile and bad puns will help), by the time the climactic chase scene shows up, the story is interesting enough to urge a few more page turns to the finale. A boy or girl in the fourth or fifth grade who’s not super interested in the subtlety or development of characters, would have no problem getting to this point in the book. Readers more interested in books more firmly grounded in reality, with less reliance on fantastic ways of escape or in three-dimensional, complex characters might have a tougher time of it. Nearly all of the characters in the book are depicted as completely good or completely bad, with the “bad guys” seeming to wear the proverbial black hats (often in extra-large size to fit their fat heads). This broad, obvious characterization simplifies both villains and heroes into caricatures, but since the book is specifically geared toward children as young as 10 years old, the lack of complexity may be overlooked.
Skye scatters historical facts from the first book in the series (“Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo”) throughout the second book, making it possible for readers who haven’t read the whole series to understand the actions and characters in the Whispered Secret a bit more clearly.
Leven’s adventures in Foo remind him who he is – the grandson of Hector Thumps, and a person “essential to Foo and the dreams of all mankind.” Leven discovers that knowing his heritage and understanding who he really is is the key to his success in Foo: Fate hands him his life journey and draws him to his destiny, and his mind and body are literally enlarged and enlightened as he grasps the hand of fate and steps bravely forward to do what must be done.
Just as Leven comes to terms with himself and adjusts to his new role, life and status in Foo, the whispered secret that has followed him across the dreamland catches up with him in the final chapters, setting the stage for book three in the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2019
I was expecting this one to be better than its predecessor. I was wrong. Very wrong.
After getting to Foo, I thought, "Okay, now things are gonna get good, since we're done travelling to Foo." No, I was wrong. Winter gets kidnapped, and what does Leven do? Instead of going after her like a good hero should, he keeps tramping on to save Geth. Oh wait! Geth has a dark side named Ezra! He teams up with what's left of the villain from the first book! Was I worried or scared? No. I was confused. It's like playing whack-a-mole, only the moles go down too fast and you can't even understand half of what's going on.
Another thing that bugged me was that the descriptions of all of Clover's candy to me seemed like the author sitting at his desk going, "What would be funny? Oh yeah! I'll have him blow up like a balloon! No, I'll have him pull out a pink jump rope! Haha!" Let me say it right now: there are no orginal jokes in this book. The humor falls flat.
As in the last book, Good guys get exploited for being good, bad guys plot to rule the world blah blah blah.
Thing number two that bothered me: Winter loses her powers, but the only real sorrow is, like, one line of narration going something like "Winter was very sad she had lost her powers." COME ON!! Losing Magical powers is like losing your arm: you don't ever get over it completely. You learn to live with it, but you find reminders of "oh yeah, I could do that...when i had magical powers." If I were Winter, I'd be in a state of deep depression, not "very sad." Of course, the now restored Geth (was I worried Leven wasn't going to make it? No. Another thing this book lacks: suspence) promises that they'll find a way to bring her powers back.
Oh get this, once Geth comes back, his whole kingdom comes out of nowhere like an inflatable toy. Um, I'd like it better if people complained about Geth being gone, and all in full hearing range of Geth the toothpick, which would dishearten our wooden friend. But no, Geth is all "I believe in fate" and skips off to certain doom/destruction. But no, since Geth is...well, I forgot entirely what he is but he's "special" Fate is a good friend to our toothpick.
Really, more of the same drabble as in the first book.
And as for the secret: More foreshadowing would be nice. Instead of gradually getting worse, it should have started out as unintelligible nonsense, progressing into the actual secret. Something like "Kill" "how" "this" "scyophant".
and what's with metal objects having to be reported anyways? It's like...one of those stupid rules that makes no sense whatsoever.
After getting to Foo, I thought, "Okay, now things are gonna get good, since we're done travelling to Foo." No, I was wrong. Winter gets kidnapped, and what does Leven do? Instead of going after her like a good hero should, he keeps tramping on to save Geth. Oh wait! Geth has a dark side named Ezra! He teams up with what's left of the villain from the first book! Was I worried or scared? No. I was confused. It's like playing whack-a-mole, only the moles go down too fast and you can't even understand half of what's going on.
Another thing that bugged me was that the descriptions of all of Clover's candy to me seemed like the author sitting at his desk going, "What would be funny? Oh yeah! I'll have him blow up like a balloon! No, I'll have him pull out a pink jump rope! Haha!" Let me say it right now: there are no orginal jokes in this book. The humor falls flat.
As in the last book, Good guys get exploited for being good, bad guys plot to rule the world blah blah blah.
Thing number two that bothered me: Winter loses her powers, but the only real sorrow is, like, one line of narration going something like "Winter was very sad she had lost her powers." COME ON!! Losing Magical powers is like losing your arm: you don't ever get over it completely. You learn to live with it, but you find reminders of "oh yeah, I could do that...when i had magical powers." If I were Winter, I'd be in a state of deep depression, not "very sad." Of course, the now restored Geth (was I worried Leven wasn't going to make it? No. Another thing this book lacks: suspence) promises that they'll find a way to bring her powers back.
Oh get this, once Geth comes back, his whole kingdom comes out of nowhere like an inflatable toy. Um, I'd like it better if people complained about Geth being gone, and all in full hearing range of Geth the toothpick, which would dishearten our wooden friend. But no, Geth is all "I believe in fate" and skips off to certain doom/destruction. But no, since Geth is...well, I forgot entirely what he is but he's "special" Fate is a good friend to our toothpick.
Really, more of the same drabble as in the first book.
And as for the secret: More foreshadowing would be nice. Instead of gradually getting worse, it should have started out as unintelligible nonsense, progressing into the actual secret. Something like "Kill" "how" "this" "scyophant".
and what's with metal objects having to be reported anyways? It's like...one of those stupid rules that makes no sense whatsoever.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 15, 2008
This book starts right where the last one left off. Again, I enjoy the use of language, and, again, I am not fond of the reliance on fate and coincidence.
Leven and his friends are separated when Jamoon, one of Sabine's minions, attacks them with a flock of rovens. Leven is torn between rescuing Winter and taking Geth to the turrets where he can reclaim his seat as leader of Foo. If they delay in reaching the turrets, Geth will die. There is an interesting image of a mountain made of rocks representing the sins and transgressions of the people of Foo. (Fooites? Foovians?) But the storyline that really held my interest was the one still on earth. Ezra, who was also formed from the tree that housed Geth's spirit in Oklahoma, holds the dark side of Geth's heart--all the anger and jealousy and bitterness and resentment. He finds a willing dupe in Dennis, a janitor who has been overlooked his entire life. Dennis is compelled to help Ezra return to Foo, but once in Berchtesgaden they encounter the remains of Sabine. At the same time, Tim, an old neighbor and friend of Winter, is searching for her and his path leads him to Dennis, Ezra and Sabine. I will be very interested in following their story.
This is turning out to be a series that has to be read in order, and this volume ends on a cliffhanger that demands that you read the next book, Leven Thumps and the Eyes of the Want.
Leven and his friends are separated when Jamoon, one of Sabine's minions, attacks them with a flock of rovens. Leven is torn between rescuing Winter and taking Geth to the turrets where he can reclaim his seat as leader of Foo. If they delay in reaching the turrets, Geth will die. There is an interesting image of a mountain made of rocks representing the sins and transgressions of the people of Foo. (Fooites? Foovians?) But the storyline that really held my interest was the one still on earth. Ezra, who was also formed from the tree that housed Geth's spirit in Oklahoma, holds the dark side of Geth's heart--all the anger and jealousy and bitterness and resentment. He finds a willing dupe in Dennis, a janitor who has been overlooked his entire life. Dennis is compelled to help Ezra return to Foo, but once in Berchtesgaden they encounter the remains of Sabine. At the same time, Tim, an old neighbor and friend of Winter, is searching for her and his path leads him to Dennis, Ezra and Sabine. I will be very interested in following their story.
This is turning out to be a series that has to be read in order, and this volume ends on a cliffhanger that demands that you read the next book, Leven Thumps and the Eyes of the Want.
January 4, 2013
Pretty good, but somewhat a hodgepodge of other popular kids' fantasy books. That being said, my son really enjoyed it, and I appreciated its lack of swear words and such.
October 26, 2008
I struggle with Leven Thumps. I felt like the first book dragged on forever. I started reading the second to see if it was just one of those "first book" things. So far it's a bulldozer, plowing ahead. There is just something that keeps me from really enjoying Leven. I think part of it is because it seems really disconnected. Most books feel like the author had a decent idea of the general outline of the story (even if they didn't.) So far Leven feels like the author sat down, picked some random word, made up some new weird thing, wrote about it for a few pages, then started with a new thing. It feels random and purposeless.
Finally finished. I could only read this one a few pages at a time, which is not a good sign for me. It finally got better by the end when Leven actually seems to have some purpose. However, I still yet to figure out why. He starts to suddenly come into his powers as he finally decides to act for himself,(finally but ironically is dubbed "following fate") and then starts thinking about how everyone who abused him in the past has helped to give him strength. It was abrupt and a bit confusing. All in all, crazy insanity that I can't seem to enjoy very much.
Finally finished. I could only read this one a few pages at a time, which is not a good sign for me. It finally got better by the end when Leven actually seems to have some purpose. However, I still yet to figure out why. He starts to suddenly come into his powers as he finally decides to act for himself,(finally but ironically is dubbed "following fate") and then starts thinking about how everyone who abused him in the past has helped to give him strength. It was abrupt and a bit confusing. All in all, crazy insanity that I can't seem to enjoy very much.
November 7, 2008
I really want to like these books better than I do. The ending of this one was good--the pace picked up, there was drama and purpose, and we actually got some useful information about the big picture. But the first 3/4 of the book was tedious, too many characters, and the same kinds of plot lines over and over. I'm tired of the following: bad event happens to character, author explains ad nauseum exactly what some new object or event means in Foo, character barely escapes bad event, everything is ok for about 5 minutes, then next bad event occurs. I'm rereading these right now to get to the new 4th book--I'm hoping it will be better.
December 2, 2021
This tried to be better than the first. I think it may be that I'm not as imaginative as I was when I was younger because it seems anything that happens, happens just because. There's no good reason why the protagonists are so lucky and are able to get away from whatever they need to. I think this series would have been better if the author wrote the backstory he's trying to tell in this one first. There's too much I'm supposed to just assume happened.
July 15, 2019
3 Stars.
This did have some dull parts but most of it was good. I've heard that book 3 is better.
I really like Clover and my interest in Winter is rising. She's going to be a bit of a tough chick I think in the rest of this series, which I am so in the mood for!
This did have some dull parts but most of it was good. I've heard that book 3 is better.
I really like Clover and my interest in Winter is rising. She's going to be a bit of a tough chick I think in the rest of this series, which I am so in the mood for!
October 10, 2011
Synopsis:
You must be ready to join Leven Thumps, Clover Ernest, and Winter Frore as they journey across Foo to free Geth from his existence as a toothpick and restore him as the rightful heir to the throne. It won't be easy. Foo is in chaos, and Leven must overcome several adversaries and survive the Swollen Forest to save his friends and keep hope alive. As fate would have it, bad goes to worse when Leven digs up a buried secret -- one that stalks him, determined to whisper a truth that could be deadly in the wrong hands. Will Leven master control of his power, or will Foo crumble under a dark, new enemy?
Review:
So, read, is not exactly true. Partially read is more accurate. I couldn't finish it. After not liking the first book very much, but hearing so many people that liked them, I decided to give the series another try. I couldn't make it past chapter three. It's just way to plodding and nothing about the characters makes me care about them one way or another. So I guess this is one series I will never finish.
You must be ready to join Leven Thumps, Clover Ernest, and Winter Frore as they journey across Foo to free Geth from his existence as a toothpick and restore him as the rightful heir to the throne. It won't be easy. Foo is in chaos, and Leven must overcome several adversaries and survive the Swollen Forest to save his friends and keep hope alive. As fate would have it, bad goes to worse when Leven digs up a buried secret -- one that stalks him, determined to whisper a truth that could be deadly in the wrong hands. Will Leven master control of his power, or will Foo crumble under a dark, new enemy?
Review:
So, read, is not exactly true. Partially read is more accurate. I couldn't finish it. After not liking the first book very much, but hearing so many people that liked them, I decided to give the series another try. I couldn't make it past chapter three. It's just way to plodding and nothing about the characters makes me care about them one way or another. So I guess this is one series I will never finish.
June 20, 2012
So I approached this book with a little trepidation after reading book one, wondering if it would be worth my time reading. Right in the first couple of pages I ran in to a discrepancy - when Jamoon was described as being well over six feet tall, but when he was introduced in book one, he was only five-ten. As I continued in the story, which at times was tedious, I concluded that the reason I don't really get into the story is that it is so far removed from any known reality that I don't have any point of reference to relate it to.
I think the one thing that kept me going was I started to develop an appreciation for the author's creativity and imagination, and by the end of the book I wanted to read the third book to see what happens with the characters. I guess it's growing on me.
I think the one thing that kept me going was I started to develop an appreciation for the author's creativity and imagination, and by the end of the book I wanted to read the third book to see what happens with the characters. I guess it's growing on me.
May 2, 2008
Talk about overwhelming!
Seemingly millions of creatures with odd names, exceptionally weird concepts and one to many characters.
I found it was almost like the author kept having writers block, and so every time he did, he threw in something new for Leven to run into.
I admit I haven't read book 1 because my library never seems to have it in, so maybe that is why its confusing?
If you're an Alice in Wonderland person, then you'd probably like this, otherwise, its rather a waste of time.
I perfer books that leave you with the sense of 'Ahhhh, that was a good story!' This one didn't for me, unfortunately.
Seemingly millions of creatures with odd names, exceptionally weird concepts and one to many characters.
I found it was almost like the author kept having writers block, and so every time he did, he threw in something new for Leven to run into.
I admit I haven't read book 1 because my library never seems to have it in, so maybe that is why its confusing?
If you're an Alice in Wonderland person, then you'd probably like this, otherwise, its rather a waste of time.
I perfer books that leave you with the sense of 'Ahhhh, that was a good story!' This one didn't for me, unfortunately.
August 8, 2009
I normally don't believe in rating books I don't finish, but I'll make an exception for this book. First of all, this author's literary devices drive me absolutely crazy--in my opinion, he's just a bad writer. Second of all, his ideas are completely off the wall. Don't get me wrong--I like zany or creative--but this guy's books (particularly this one) read like indigestion-induced dreams: just when you think it can't get weirder or more random, it does. I got over 250 pages into this book (I read it with my husband), and we both thought it was a frustrating waste of time--frustrating because we wanted the story to get better and make sense and move forward, but it never did.
March 1, 2019
I think the best part of revisiting this series after so much time is that I have forgotten so much that it is like rediscovering everything all over again. I remember vague things but mostly I'm completely caught up in the story like I was the first time I read it. Foo is awesome with it's beauty, it's possibility, it's wonder, and even the darker sides to even it out though it is sad. The characters grow and learn and new mysteries are afoot!
Can't wait to delve into the next book!
Can't wait to delve into the next book!
April 15, 2015
I really loved this book. It is a perfect sequel to the first goes along very nicely with it. The detail and description are great, and I especially loved the imagination of the writer. An great overbook but however, it is a bit overly long. If you can get past the length, then you will be fine with it. The book itself lived up to my expectations completely.
September 27, 2008
This was good. It is neat to see a Fantasy book that is completely original. Obert Skye is an inventor, and it's worth reading to just feel the raw fun creativity. Plus, if you don't care what happens to Leven, Winter, and Tim . . . you're really missing something.
February 16, 2008
I LOVE this book. It's not as good as the third, but that's just my opinion. It doesn't get too good till towards the end.
November 21, 2008
This book, although better than the first, is still just a little bit to weird and ADD for me to give it more than three stars.
June 26, 2009
Barely got through this book and I couldn't even start on the third book...thus I didn't finish the series.
September 7, 2012
Although I didn't especially like the first book, now the writing is starting to flow more and the author's personality is showing through.
October 4, 2023
It okay
May 29, 2013
Leven Thumps and The Whispered Secret
By Obert Skye
Year 2006
421 pages
The intended audience of this book is young adults who like fantasy.
After escaping a deranged dream-master and destroying the hidden gateway, Leven Thumps and his band of travelers must now journey across Foo and restore Geth from his shape as a toothpick to the rightful king he once was. But Foo is still in chaos, and Leven must overcome several adversaries and survive the Swollen Forest in order to save his friends and keep hope alive. As fate would have it, nothing goes as planned, and even Geth begins to wonder if they will succeed. Bad goes to worse as Leven digs up a long buried secret- one that stalks him, determined to whisper a truth that could be deadly in the wrong hands. Through it all, Leven finds the courage to do what is right and continues to discover an inner strength and a power he never thought possible.
The characters are Leven Thumps: Leven is fourteen years old, and he is an offing. He is the grandson of Hector Thumps, who was the maker of the gateway between reality and Foo. Leven can manipulate the future with his offing gifts. Leven is often called Lev, and his eyes burn gold when he uses his gift. He has a patch of white hair, which his guardians said had come when he had been frightened out of his wits one night. Lev had been born on October fifteenth, at 2:30 in the morning. His mother, Maria Thumps, died in childbirth, shortly after naming him. His father had died in a car accident a week before Leven had been born. As he lay as an orphan, the nurses and doctors had debated on what to do with him. Then his mother's half-sister, Addy Graph, came by to pick him up. She had been snappy and mean, and took him away. Even then, Clover had been with him.
His new parents wouldn't stand to hear Leven talk or fuss. So from when he was little, he had slept in an old bed at the back porch of their trailer house. He didn't really care, though. He enjoyed counting stars and tracing long branches of the tree that was Geth. Since Addy had been terrified of Leven's possible friends coming to steal from her, Leven had been forbidden to hang around with other kids, so he had been alone for a long time - until he met Clover, which was the first domino in a set of dominoes that were adventures in his life. Then he met the love, and best friend of his life, Winter. They later realized their true destiny in the world.
Winter Frore: Winter is a nit, which means she has a special talent (the talent of freezing things). She was born in Reality, but when she was young, she was accidentally sent to Foo. Later, she was spirited away to Earth by Amelia. She had remembered Foo before, but had forgotten it, only to have it remain dormant in her mind. She has pale skin, white-blond hair and deep green eyes. Winter's given name is actually Judy. Before she had been born, Winter's father had left months ago, and her mother wasn't exactly overjoyed with her child. Her adoptive mother, Janet, wasn't exactly the parenting type, either. She had smiled twice in her life, and was bitter most of the time. Her adoptive mother was terribly cruel, and Winter was stuck living with her. She usually spent her time in the library, having no friends.
The only light in her dim life was a family called the Tuttles. They lived in a small, ramshackle house two blocks away from Winter and Janet. Tim Tuttle was a garbage man, and Wendy Tuttle was a kind woman, with two boys, Darcy and Rochester, who were eight and six. They were the only happiness in Winter's life. However, Janet did not approve of her going over to their house, so she had forbidden those visits. But Winter sneaked out and still visited.
On her thirteenth birthday, Winter realized her talent, and later set upon a journey. She runs away with Leven, Geth, and Clover to the mystical world of Foo. She also has a burning love for Leven that is thoroughly recognized when they accidentally let a longing lose.
Geth: Geth is the rightful ruler of Foo. His soul was placed into a seed of a Fantrum tree by Sabine and was left for the birds, but Antsel rescued him and took him to our world. He is a lithen, meaning he believes Fate will decide everything. Currently, he is in the shape of a toothpick. However, at the end of the book, he is taken to the Fire of Turrets where he is restored to his powerful self. Geth is very wise and is rarely afraid because he is a lithen. He was formed into a toothpick after the seed he was in grew into a tree, and was cut down by Leven Thumps "father". Unfortunately, half of Geth's soul went into another toothpick named Ezra. The part of Geth that is not connected to rest of itself is his anger, which means that Ezra is one confused, angry, little toothpick.
Sabine: The darkest and most evil being in Foo. He is the antagonist of the book. He, as well as Winter, are Niteons, or Nits are they are more commonly called. Both of them have the same power, the ability to freeze objects and people. But, in book one, Sabine blown into little bits and pieces, with one half in Foo and the other in Reality. In this form Sabine no longer has the abitlity to freeze things like Winter.
Clover Ernest: Clover is a wise-cracking sycophant from Foo, sent to look after Leven, who is his burn. He constantly tries to find a nickname for Leven (many of which include Chief and Big Man), as Winter calls Leven or Lev. Clover has the power to over shadow other people, and as a sycophant there is only one way that he can die, but only the sycophants know what that is. At the end of the book, however, Leven is told a secret that may be the key to killing sycophants. Sycophants wear silver robes at all times, this gives them the power to turn invisible when the hood is pulled up. In this hood they also have one pocket, but this pocket is like a void. It continues to amaze Leven every time Clover pulls more and more things out of this "void".
Jamoon: Jamoon is a rant who is one of Sabine's minions. He has now become the main villain of the story as some particles of Sabine were eaten by birds which soon died and yet still lived on. As Jamoon's minions and source of all his power, they cannot be killed and are determined to do Jamoon's command.
Tim Turtle: Tim Tuttle was at one point Winter's neighbor. He has cared for her over the years. Once she goes missing, he searches for her. When he goes to the rude mother, she acts like she doesn't care.
Dennis Wood: He just happened to have one messed up life. Yet he runs into Geth's evil half, Ezra. And so he travels to find the gateway to Foo. Along the way he runs into the evil remants of what used to be Sabine.
Ezra: Tatum Company cut Geth's soul in half, and so his angry evil side was transferred into another toothpick. Ezra seduced Dennis into working for him, but Ezra is using him. He lives to kill Geth. Ezra is a long, fancy toothpick used to hold sandwiches together. He has a purple frill on his head and only one eye.
I would recommend this book to people who like fantasy stories, with characters that have awesome powers, but mostly people who like descriptive stories that have an author that writes in sort of a poetry way in some parts of the book. But also people who like a very visual book out of what your reading without pictures. The setting is Foo without it they would not have there incredible journeys together. These are the quotes I really liked Page 37- as usual you look like you hove the weight of the world on your shoulders.
Page 378- Of course, the little puppy had no idea where he had come from or where he was heading. The theme for this book is you can over come obstacles with anything. I recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy. I rated it 4 stars because I really liked all of the creatures in it.
By Obert Skye
Year 2006
421 pages
The intended audience of this book is young adults who like fantasy.
After escaping a deranged dream-master and destroying the hidden gateway, Leven Thumps and his band of travelers must now journey across Foo and restore Geth from his shape as a toothpick to the rightful king he once was. But Foo is still in chaos, and Leven must overcome several adversaries and survive the Swollen Forest in order to save his friends and keep hope alive. As fate would have it, nothing goes as planned, and even Geth begins to wonder if they will succeed. Bad goes to worse as Leven digs up a long buried secret- one that stalks him, determined to whisper a truth that could be deadly in the wrong hands. Through it all, Leven finds the courage to do what is right and continues to discover an inner strength and a power he never thought possible.
The characters are Leven Thumps: Leven is fourteen years old, and he is an offing. He is the grandson of Hector Thumps, who was the maker of the gateway between reality and Foo. Leven can manipulate the future with his offing gifts. Leven is often called Lev, and his eyes burn gold when he uses his gift. He has a patch of white hair, which his guardians said had come when he had been frightened out of his wits one night. Lev had been born on October fifteenth, at 2:30 in the morning. His mother, Maria Thumps, died in childbirth, shortly after naming him. His father had died in a car accident a week before Leven had been born. As he lay as an orphan, the nurses and doctors had debated on what to do with him. Then his mother's half-sister, Addy Graph, came by to pick him up. She had been snappy and mean, and took him away. Even then, Clover had been with him.
His new parents wouldn't stand to hear Leven talk or fuss. So from when he was little, he had slept in an old bed at the back porch of their trailer house. He didn't really care, though. He enjoyed counting stars and tracing long branches of the tree that was Geth. Since Addy had been terrified of Leven's possible friends coming to steal from her, Leven had been forbidden to hang around with other kids, so he had been alone for a long time - until he met Clover, which was the first domino in a set of dominoes that were adventures in his life. Then he met the love, and best friend of his life, Winter. They later realized their true destiny in the world.
Winter Frore: Winter is a nit, which means she has a special talent (the talent of freezing things). She was born in Reality, but when she was young, she was accidentally sent to Foo. Later, she was spirited away to Earth by Amelia. She had remembered Foo before, but had forgotten it, only to have it remain dormant in her mind. She has pale skin, white-blond hair and deep green eyes. Winter's given name is actually Judy. Before she had been born, Winter's father had left months ago, and her mother wasn't exactly overjoyed with her child. Her adoptive mother, Janet, wasn't exactly the parenting type, either. She had smiled twice in her life, and was bitter most of the time. Her adoptive mother was terribly cruel, and Winter was stuck living with her. She usually spent her time in the library, having no friends.
The only light in her dim life was a family called the Tuttles. They lived in a small, ramshackle house two blocks away from Winter and Janet. Tim Tuttle was a garbage man, and Wendy Tuttle was a kind woman, with two boys, Darcy and Rochester, who were eight and six. They were the only happiness in Winter's life. However, Janet did not approve of her going over to their house, so she had forbidden those visits. But Winter sneaked out and still visited.
On her thirteenth birthday, Winter realized her talent, and later set upon a journey. She runs away with Leven, Geth, and Clover to the mystical world of Foo. She also has a burning love for Leven that is thoroughly recognized when they accidentally let a longing lose.
Geth: Geth is the rightful ruler of Foo. His soul was placed into a seed of a Fantrum tree by Sabine and was left for the birds, but Antsel rescued him and took him to our world. He is a lithen, meaning he believes Fate will decide everything. Currently, he is in the shape of a toothpick. However, at the end of the book, he is taken to the Fire of Turrets where he is restored to his powerful self. Geth is very wise and is rarely afraid because he is a lithen. He was formed into a toothpick after the seed he was in grew into a tree, and was cut down by Leven Thumps "father". Unfortunately, half of Geth's soul went into another toothpick named Ezra. The part of Geth that is not connected to rest of itself is his anger, which means that Ezra is one confused, angry, little toothpick.
Sabine: The darkest and most evil being in Foo. He is the antagonist of the book. He, as well as Winter, are Niteons, or Nits are they are more commonly called. Both of them have the same power, the ability to freeze objects and people. But, in book one, Sabine blown into little bits and pieces, with one half in Foo and the other in Reality. In this form Sabine no longer has the abitlity to freeze things like Winter.
Clover Ernest: Clover is a wise-cracking sycophant from Foo, sent to look after Leven, who is his burn. He constantly tries to find a nickname for Leven (many of which include Chief and Big Man), as Winter calls Leven or Lev. Clover has the power to over shadow other people, and as a sycophant there is only one way that he can die, but only the sycophants know what that is. At the end of the book, however, Leven is told a secret that may be the key to killing sycophants. Sycophants wear silver robes at all times, this gives them the power to turn invisible when the hood is pulled up. In this hood they also have one pocket, but this pocket is like a void. It continues to amaze Leven every time Clover pulls more and more things out of this "void".
Jamoon: Jamoon is a rant who is one of Sabine's minions. He has now become the main villain of the story as some particles of Sabine were eaten by birds which soon died and yet still lived on. As Jamoon's minions and source of all his power, they cannot be killed and are determined to do Jamoon's command.
Tim Turtle: Tim Tuttle was at one point Winter's neighbor. He has cared for her over the years. Once she goes missing, he searches for her. When he goes to the rude mother, she acts like she doesn't care.
Dennis Wood: He just happened to have one messed up life. Yet he runs into Geth's evil half, Ezra. And so he travels to find the gateway to Foo. Along the way he runs into the evil remants of what used to be Sabine.
Ezra: Tatum Company cut Geth's soul in half, and so his angry evil side was transferred into another toothpick. Ezra seduced Dennis into working for him, but Ezra is using him. He lives to kill Geth. Ezra is a long, fancy toothpick used to hold sandwiches together. He has a purple frill on his head and only one eye.
I would recommend this book to people who like fantasy stories, with characters that have awesome powers, but mostly people who like descriptive stories that have an author that writes in sort of a poetry way in some parts of the book. But also people who like a very visual book out of what your reading without pictures. The setting is Foo without it they would not have there incredible journeys together. These are the quotes I really liked Page 37- as usual you look like you hove the weight of the world on your shoulders.
Page 378- Of course, the little puppy had no idea where he had come from or where he was heading. The theme for this book is you can over come obstacles with anything. I recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy. I rated it 4 stars because I really liked all of the creatures in it.
December 16, 2019
Leven is now in Foo and must work with Winter and Clover in order to restore Geth to his previous self. Now that Sabine is gone it should make things much easier for them. If not for Jaboon. The rant has now taken Sabine's place and nothing will stop him from his quest to merge reality with Foo. Their quest will take them through most of Foo and separate them; hopefully Fate can help them along the way. If not all of Foo could lose the fight against the darkness.
One of my favorite fantasy series so far. So much fantasy and reality mixed in together it is like a whorl-wind but thankfully it never deters from the plot. I want to know what the old woman said to Tim Tuttle the first time. We find out what she said the second time but no idea of the first time. Beyond that I love how no matter how dire things get Obert always ends the book on a bitter-sweet note. Giving you a warm feeling for a moment before snatching it away and making you need the next book. Thankfully I have the entire series. If you are a fan of teen fantasy then you will love this. Just keep in mind this is book 2 so start with 1 or you will miss so much!
One of my favorite fantasy series so far. So much fantasy and reality mixed in together it is like a whorl-wind but thankfully it never deters from the plot. I want to know what the old woman said to Tim Tuttle the first time. We find out what she said the second time but no idea of the first time. Beyond that I love how no matter how dire things get Obert always ends the book on a bitter-sweet note. Giving you a warm feeling for a moment before snatching it away and making you need the next book. Thankfully I have the entire series. If you are a fan of teen fantasy then you will love this. Just keep in mind this is book 2 so start with 1 or you will miss so much!
December 12, 2017
This series stretches your imagination and I think thats why im still interested in it, the plot of the story is some what interesting and keeps me wanting to find out how it will end.
In the first book we had a talking walking toothpick that was always upbeat and positive and saying we will let fate lead the way. In book two we have another walking talking toothpick, hes a party favor toothpick with a purple tassel, he is very angry and negative and hates the world and everyone in it, he is looking for the good guy toothpick. My imagination is picturing two toothpicks dueling it out. see why im so intrigued?
The animated drawings they have in these stories kind of ruined it for me because their drawings of the creatures dont match what my imagination pictured them as...
Dont know why, but im looking forward to seeing what kind of creatures will be in the next book and have to see if the toothpicks meet up and have a duel...lol
In the first book we had a talking walking toothpick that was always upbeat and positive and saying we will let fate lead the way. In book two we have another walking talking toothpick, hes a party favor toothpick with a purple tassel, he is very angry and negative and hates the world and everyone in it, he is looking for the good guy toothpick. My imagination is picturing two toothpicks dueling it out. see why im so intrigued?
The animated drawings they have in these stories kind of ruined it for me because their drawings of the creatures dont match what my imagination pictured them as...
Dont know why, but im looking forward to seeing what kind of creatures will be in the next book and have to see if the toothpicks meet up and have a duel...lol
December 15, 2024
Okay, folks.
Foo is wild. Spoiler for the first book, but yeah. Secrets personified (or is that anthropomorphized?), the land wanting to kill you? A slew of other beings that seem to be out for blood, just because, and then another cadre of beings who are out for your blood, particularly.
Wow. Again, what a ride. I still like Leven, and I still want him to be okay, so I kind of ate this up.
I picked this series up because I saw the books at the Half Price Books warehouse sale. And there they sat. I am really glad I finally dipped into them. They were just what I needed at a particularly difficult time - something wildly fantastical that took my mind right away from real life, but didn't require me to pull together complex worldbuilding.
Highly recommend this series for anyone. Kids down to maybe 8 or 10, depending.
Foo is wild. Spoiler for the first book, but yeah. Secrets personified (or is that anthropomorphized?), the land wanting to kill you? A slew of other beings that seem to be out for blood, just because, and then another cadre of beings who are out for your blood, particularly.
Wow. Again, what a ride. I still like Leven, and I still want him to be okay, so I kind of ate this up.
I picked this series up because I saw the books at the Half Price Books warehouse sale. And there they sat. I am really glad I finally dipped into them. They were just what I needed at a particularly difficult time - something wildly fantastical that took my mind right away from real life, but didn't require me to pull together complex worldbuilding.
Highly recommend this series for anyone. Kids down to maybe 8 or 10, depending.
February 2, 2020
This book took me a while to get into. I had read the first one a while ago, so part of it was that I couldn't remember a lot of the people or events from the last book. Additionally, because of the target age range for readers, some of the metaphors are a little heavy-handed, which was a little irritating or distracting at times. That being said, once I got used to it again--and once the multiple plot lines started converging more, I started enjoying it a lot more. I really like some of the characters (the main four, mostly) and the world is fun and inventive, even if it sometimes verges on a too non-sensical for my tastes. It's a fun series that I bet kids (or parents reading with their kids) would enjoy and I look forward to reading more.
June 5, 2024
Make sure to read the first book first or else the second book will not make sense.
A fun story, I like the characters, but they are a bit one-sided. It's mostly okay, they serve their purposes well, but it does mean that there isn't always a lot of depth or growth. Even so, the main characters do experience some growth, especially Winter. Winter went through a lot!
The plot does wander quite a bit from about the beginning of the second quarter to the last quarter, and it can be a bit boring, but at the same time, you get to explore the world of Foo. Foo is amazingly unique and imaginative! I've never seen a fantasy world like it before.
I don't know if all the books are illustrated, but mine is, and the illustrations are amazing!
A fun story, I like the characters, but they are a bit one-sided. It's mostly okay, they serve their purposes well, but it does mean that there isn't always a lot of depth or growth. Even so, the main characters do experience some growth, especially Winter. Winter went through a lot!
The plot does wander quite a bit from about the beginning of the second quarter to the last quarter, and it can be a bit boring, but at the same time, you get to explore the world of Foo. Foo is amazingly unique and imaginative! I've never seen a fantasy world like it before.
I don't know if all the books are illustrated, but mine is, and the illustrations are amazing!
July 15, 2018
Have you ever been haunted by a secret? Was it your own or someone else's? This story finds our protagonist and his friends in Foo, seeking each other and hoping fate guides their feet to the right place at the right time. Obert Skye introduces more unique creatures and characters to entertain the reader while bringing the Clover, Winter, Leven, and Geth close to either their end or another beginning. He continues to use a flair for description that can bring giggles even as he reader glances back over the last few sentences to be sure they were read correctly. And the ending entices the reader to pick up the next book in the series and find out more.
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