What-the-Dickens: The Story of a Rogue Tooth Fairy

by Gregory Maguire

From the author of the best-selling WICKED, a transporting tale-within-a-tale about the strange world of skibbereen — aka tooth fairies — and the universal need to believe.

A terrible storm is raging, and ten-year-old Dinah is huddled by candlelight with her brother, sister, and cousin Gage, who is telling a very unusual tale. It’s the story of What-the-Dickens, a newly hatched orphan creature who finds he has an attraction to teeth, a crush on a cat named McCavity, and a penchant for getting into trouble. One day he happens upon a feisty girl skibberee who is working as an Agent of Change — trading coins for teeth — and learns that there is a dutiful tribe of skibbereen (call them tooth fairies) to which he hopes to belong. As his tale of discovery unfolds, however, both What-the- Dickens and Dinah come to see that the world is both richer and less sure than they ever imagined.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Young Adult, Fairy Tales, Childrens, Middle Grade, Audiobook

295 pages, Paperback

First published September 11, 2007

About the author

Gregory Maguire is an American author, whose novels are revisionist retellings of children's stories (such as L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz into Wicked). He received his Ph.D. in English and American Literature from Tufts University, and his B.A. from the State University of New York at Albany. He was a professor and co-director at the Simmons College Center for the Study of Children's Literature from 1979-1985. In 1987 he co-founded Children's Literature New England (a non-profit educational charity).

Maguire has served as artist-in-residence at the Blue Mountain Center, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and the Hambidge Center. He lives in Concord, Massachusetts.

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finished reading this book a couple of weeks ago and I'm still thinking about it...which is usually a good sign.

First, let me reacknowledge that Maguire is not for everyone. This book continues that trend.

The overall concept sounds fairly airy and fun but at its heart, it's a lot darker than you might imagine.

There are two story threads going on throughout the novel and each one is very intriguing. The threads sometimes intertwine and even when they don't directly touch, you find yourself wondering about the balance between the two.

The story arc of the fairy creatures is highly imaginative and really a lot of fun. The reader is placed directly alongside other characters in the novel who are "hearing" the fairy tale at the same time that we're reading it. This juxtaposition of character and reader truly helps bring the reader into the second story arc and relate to the turmoil going on.

The second story arc, that of the children in the midst of a violent storm, is not entirely spelled out and leaves a lot to the reader's insight and imagination. I really enjoyed this aspect of the novel...the fact that Maguire trusts his readers to be smart enough to read between the line and to develop the characters and situations of the "real world" rather than rely on him to spell out every little detail.

The themes of hope, imagination and a world spoiled by adult influence are all presented very well. But it never feels like Maguire is preaching to us or standing on a soap box condemning the adults and unimaginative pessimists of the world. Rather, he is exploring the hopes and dreams of children even within bleak circumstances.

This isn't a fairy tale you should read when you're looking for a pick-me-up, but it's definitely something I'd recommend to those looking for a thought provoking story and entertaining writing.

[Olivia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Merged review:
This book made me want to unlearn how to read, which is a lot harder than it sounds. I almost didn't finish it, and now kind of wish I didn't. The story is very mundane, as is the dialogue, but never ending! The characters are hokie and contrived. Blah...blah...etc.

[Kristen Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this book was marked as J Fiction at my library, it would definitely not be understood unless by a high level reader. The author doesn't seem to dumb down his story at all for children, but it still has that young adult feel to it. It was an interesting read, even if it left me wanting at the end. Beautifully written and a great tale, I recommend it for lovers of fantasy.

[Mary Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a difficult book to review. I adore What-the-Dickens and Pepper, and much of his/their story is extremely charming and sweet. The narrative about Dinah and her siblings and Gage, however, was simply hard to get into and doesn't make a lot of sense. It also takes up way too much of the book without any kind of satisfactory character or plot development or even a decent resolution. In addition, I'm rather disappointed in Mr. Maguire because it would seem that he modeled the children after religious and homeschooling stereotypes without a lot of first-hand knowledge of such lifestyles. The reason I say this is because not every homeschooling family breeds religious fanatics, a family's religion or faith is not always the motivation for homeschooling, and homeschooled is not necessarily synonymous with antisocial. To be honest, I'm not sure what his point is regarding the children's upbringing because the story would be much greater served without all of the extra religious/sheltered angst.

The story Gage tells about the skibbereen, on the other hand, is fun, magical and feels much more like a proper fairy tale. I love old Mrs. Gangster and her collection of morbid books (gifts from her family), the mama grisset and her maternal affection for What-the-Dickens, and the tooth-achy Bengal tiger, Maharajah. The skibbereen are an awesome and very imaginative creation, and What-the-Dickens and Pepper, what with their evolution and growth throughout the story, have enormous potential for further adventures.

Unfortunately, in addition to the problems mentioned above there is an awkward disjointedness between the two stories, absolutely unbelievable dialogue among the children and Gage, more cheesy and inept adults than you'll find in an episode of Scooby-Doo, and long dull stretches that interrupt and ruin the suspense and magic of What-the-Dickens' story. As much as I enjoyed the fairy tale bits, I had a hard time mustering up enough enthusiasm to even give this book two stars. I am very disappointed in What-the-Dickens and to be honest, I can't think of anyone I would recommend it to.

[GoldGato · Rating 2 out of 5]

How can you not like a title that has the word, "Dickens" in it? How can you not like a book about tooth fairies? How can you...

Okay, I didn't like it. Just as I was pulled in and disappointed by Maguire's previous work, I found this book rather boring, which, given the "Dickens" and the Tooth Fairies, should not be.

The story unfolds as a story within a story. While waiting out some kind of bad weather situation (which should have led to something else, but not), we get the story about the Tooth Fairies as a story told by a babysitter. Yup, that's about it. Whoopee.

I also disliked the modern-day usage of language that is apparently used by suburbanites. Like, totally. Really? It dates this book immediately. There is little suspense, characters don't seem to serve a purpose. How can you screw up such a great premise? Tooth Fairies, for bloody sake!!

The languages of animals were kept secret from human and skibbereen alike.

The idea is great (Maguire has that going for him), but it desperately needs a Potter or a Barrie or a Rowling to make the magic happen. One star for the title (which, by the way, is not Charles related, but Shakespeare originated) and one star for the idea.

Maybe I should just move to the suburbs. Like, OMG.

Book Season = Winter (when the magic should happen)

[Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hands down the most delightful book that Maguire has written in years, this book is a quick read (a fast reader might pull it off in a day- I took two) and a fun little piece of fantasy, somewhere on the border between young adult fiction and regular old adult fantasy. It's more original than most of Maguire's other books- the story is based on the Tooth Fairy legend, but has no real literary pre-text. In its best moments it recalls such young adult classics as THE RATS OF NIHM and THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH, with delightful characters, a few life lessons to be learned, and an ending that is both happy and sad, satisfying and yet still mysterious. Thoughtful, almost profound, a good vacation read for the thinking man looking to rest his or her brain without completely kicking out for the day, and also the kind of thing you could read to smart kids over a summer break.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I almost gave this four stars. The first part of the story of a tooth fairy named What-the-Dickens is utterly charming. His ignorance, his misplaced love for a cat who would as soon eat him as anything, his meeting with a crotchety old woman and his overwhelming desire for her set of false teeth---all delightful. The beginning is witty and fun to read aloud; I read this beginning section to Bennett, who laughed several times. If the book would have kept me relishing it as I did in the beginning, I would rate it with four, maybe five, stars. But once What-the-Dickens met with the other fairies, somehow the book lost a lot of its charm for me, though it was still often clever. Maybe I found myself less entertained by Maguire's fairy world and its problems, maybe I was just enjoying the misadventures of this confused fairy and felt pulled into a bigger picture that wasn't as interesting to me. Also, the back story of a family weathering a disaster and listening to this tale of a tooth fairy has potential and some poignancy, yet it didn't quite grab me and often felt distracting. On the whole, though, an enjoyable read.

[Nicole Romine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, this novel was not at all what I expected it to be. After reading some of Maguire's work, including "Wicked," I expected a grim retelling of the tooth fairy myth. "What-the-Dickens," however, is not dark at all. It's actually a story full of hope about the power of belief and imagination. Although, Maguire does get a bit preachy at times, especially about "annoying adults" who sully the world. Still, the reframing of the tooth fairy story was clever and fun. This novel definitely had a younger feel and would be quite appropriate to read to young children during bed time. I wish I had started this novel with the right expectations, as I felt strangely disappointed that I wasn't reading a frightening fractured fairy tale even though the novel was actually quite good.

[Staceyj · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan. Love this author's imagination and the wild rides he takes me on.

[Brandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I suggested this book for the bookclub that I am in to share the joy of Gregory Maguire among my book loving friends. I certainly did not introduce them to the Maguire that I know.

When I went into this book, I expected the writing style to be the same of his other "popular books" such as that of the Wicked series. I have read all of his other books in regards to the re-imagining of storybook characters. I was extremely disappointed in the beginning.

After I truly entered the story of the rogue tooth-fairy, I found myself enjoying the book. His writing style is different than the aforementioned books; however, he was still able to grab me a tiny bit. At the end of the book, I did not feel as if it was a "waste" of time. I did enjoy the story and Maguire's descriptive writing - even though it was less descriptive than what I am accustomed to.

All in all, if you love his storybook re-imagining books then you may not love this one as much. If you love this book and have not read his others, I highly suggest that you do so; however, you need to be prepared for a truly different writing style.

[Tracy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was expecting some great twist or ah-ha at the end. But there was none. If I had kids, this would be perfect for them because it could fuel the tooth fairy myth. It took me a week to read the 300 page book. For my dear friends, you know I read the last book of Harry Potter--700+ pages--in less than 24 hours. I have read 900 page books in 2 (maybe 3) weeks if I take my time. :-) So, it was not a page turner. It was not bad . . . it just wasn't really good. I mean when you see on the cover "Rogue Tooth fairy" you (or at least I) expect some great roguish behavior from the tooth fairy. What-the-Dickens ended up being a bit of a hero. Then again, given the book is written for 8 years and up who have tooth fairies taking teeth, you don't want your kids thinking tooth fairies can be involved in some criminal affairs. In general the writing was good. In some areas I thought maybe the editing could have been better. But again, what 8 year old is going to say, "Really, a split infinitive? The verbosity in this section is unneccasary." Nope, just us critical adults. Happy Reading.

[Greg · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was thoroughly disappointed in this book. Maguire sets up many pieces to this book, then never goes back to explore them. For example, the parents (who we never see) are strict Christians who hide their children away from society, but this is never developed or explained, which left me thinking, "So what?". There are several reference to the children being kept from the world, so obviously Maguire thought it was important, but it adds absolutely nothing to the story.

The tooth fairy story (which is a story within a story) is dull and drags on forever. Character development is weak, and the story is just not engaging. Several times I considered putting the book down, but it wasn't that bad (thus 2 stars instead of 1).

Although I loved Wicked, I have found Maguire's other books completely lacking. I believe this will be my last journey with Maguire.

[Brandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty firm "eh" on this one. The basic story--an orphaned tooth fairy makes his way in the strange world--is fun enough, but the frame around it--a man telling a story to his young cousins while they're stranded during a hurricane--doesn't make a lot of sense around it. The two bits of story don't weave together smoothly, and the book as a whole doesn't gel.

And it's written by Gregory Maguire, with his usual love affair with adjectives. I'm all for description, but when the sheer volume of adjectives jumps off the page, demanding recognition, it's too much.

[Joseph Gagnon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twilight

Hrm. This is an interesting start to an odd story. I love the feel of this intro ... and I am very interested to heard the kind of story Gage tells to his two super-religious cousins. The mother and father are off ... somewhere. I'm not exactly sure what is going on in the world of the story. I assume that is something that will be revealed to us over time. I assume Gage's story will have something to do with explaining it as well, but probably in a fictional, magical sort of way that goes against what the "real" story is about.


What-the-Dickens

Chapter One

Well if this isn't a neat little tale already. Our protagonist is an unknown, tiny creature. He's "not much to look at" therefore constantly missed. Like all fairies, I am assuming. I mean, this is a story about the Tooth Fairies, right?


Chapter Two

A fairy adopted by a bird. Interesting. I suppose it is better than being brought up by wolves!


Chapter Three

Hrm. There are really two stories going on here. The one Gage is telling, for which the story is title, and the one involving Gage and the kids. I am almost interested in THAT story more. I wonder if the two relate at all in more ways than just in the magic story being an allegory for their situation? Hrm.

The whole innocence of What-the-Dickens is fun, but I wonder how fast he might start to grow up. He's going to need to.


Chapter Four

This poor confused fairy ... What-the-Dickens. I wonder how long it is going to take him to figure out that this cat is NOT his friend, and it likely to be lunch, like he was almost lunch to his now adopted gibbet siblings. Except it seems we are finally rid of the birds.

It is true, what Gage said about going back to childhood haunts. I've tried, and failed.


Chapter Five

What-the-Dickens just pulled out a tiger's sore tooth ... what a crazy bugger. Of course, he didn't know any better, and luckily the tiger was drugged and and ready for his tooth to be removed, but still. Silly.

I want to know more about what is going on with Gage and the kids!


Chapter Six and Seven

At least What-the-Dickens is over being a pet. As a fairy, he learns quite quickly, but his limited experience has him very confused by his surroundings. I wonder what could be in store for him in the next section. Something cohesive needs to be coming together. We know that normally he would have lots of siblings ... why is he on his own? Where did he come from? What is going on?

Also, what is going on with Gabe and the kids? Especially the parents. So far, this part of the story reminds me of "Bedknobs and Broomsticks" ... the brother's attitude toward everything. He's at the age of not believing.


Midnight

Part two of the story is about to begin, and we find out a little bit more about what caused the children's parents to depart. Some kind of disease. And they truly believe it to be the end times. They cannot start the generator, and there is a storm raging outside. They also haven't seen any other people in a very long time. Hrm... what could this be adding up to?


Hidden Forbidden

Chapter Eight and Nine

Yeah, something has definitely clicked for me in these two chapters. I think it was the introduction of Pepper. Now, seeing an "normal" fairy to compare What-the-Dickens to, it makes understanding him a bit easier. Though, are all fairies ready for the job by day two? Haha. I wonder. I guess we shall see, because we're headed home.

There are lots of little references to other fairytales in this story. You can tell Maguire grew up with all these old stories. They so infuse his work. I love them, too, and appreciate every reference.


Chapter Ten

I love Old Flossie. She seems like someone who's going to show What-the-Dickens the right path. At least the one that'll take him to the next part of the story.

One problem I am having with this story ... it can't decide whether it's British or American. I'm all for Americans writing stories set in British settings ... but this story is trapped between. It is confusing my brain.


Chapter Eleven and Twelve

In which we learn a whole lot more about the tooth fairies in this world, and how they came about. That was interesting. I like how we got to see it in the form of a musical play. That was entertaining. It still has that stuck between two worlds vibe ... but maybe it works for this story. I don't know. It's both gloomy and light ... there are so many juxtaposing forces at work here.


Chapter Thirteen

Just when he thought he found somewhere he belonged, What-the-Dickens is cast out ... simply because he is a stranger. That is sad. At least Pepper is coming with him. For now. She'll probably be planning to head back and ditch him like she was instructed to do. She might even do it too ... but I bet she comes back for him!

I am also worried about what it happening to Gage and the kids. There seems to be intruders as this chapter came to a close. Hrm. I wonder.


The Witching Hour

We spent a lot of time with Gage, Dinah, Zeke, and Rebecca Ruth, but we don't really learn that much more about them. We knew that mom and dad fled for some emergency. I THINK it had to do with mom. Possibly something medical. It hasn't been specified yet.

I'm still not exactly sure where this story takes place, either. Somewhere that there are hurricanes. Which makes me think somewhere south of the Mason-Dixon ... hrm. This STORY is making me say "what the dickens" and I am not sure for the right reasons.


The Tooth Fairy Fights Back

Chapter Fourteen and Fifteen

Growing teeth into birthday candles that grant wishes ... that is beautiful. What a nice image that is. I want to see the glow of these candle plants in the light of the full moon. This whole fairy society feels very Jim Henson. Maybe that is just how my mind is painting the characters though.


Chapter Sixteen

Huh, so McCavity belonged/s to Gage, and Gage was the one who maned What-the-Dickens. Interesting ... nad probably the beginning of some greater involvement in the story. At least, I hope so. I want to see more of how this related to Gage's situation with the kids. I am just too curious.

I am also tired, folks. I should be in bed, sleeping, but I am working ... therefore, reading. I need to go do jumping jacks or something. Maybe have a small cup of coffee. I need my brain working so I can keep reading!


Chapter Seventeen and Eighteen

Gage ... caught Pepper ... this is not good! Well, the cat caught her ... her wing is torn. It's all kinds of not good. I will admit, I am having a hard time with the notes of this book, because I am using it to keep myself awake at work right now ... It's not really helping. I'm not bored with the story ... I just need sleep.

"Battling" the grandmother again was fun. As much as I was routing for What-the-Dickens, I still ... kinda want to meet the old, departing lady. I want to hug her. I want her to know that she is seen. I wonder if What-the-Dickens will do this ... or young Gage.


Chapter Nineteen and Twenty

Things are looking bleak for the captured Pepper, but I am not too nervous, as there is still the whole final part of the story. The last part is the shortest, so I assume a lot of action is about to happen. Indeed, a lot of action went on in the second of these two chapters. We got to revisit a few more of the earlier characters, and discovered that What-the-Dickens can speak to animals. He's the Doctor Dolittle of Tooth Fairies! Haha! Oh, this is a good little tale.


Dawn

Oh, so THAT is what is going on with the parents. I've been so confused. Perhaps, because life has been so full this week, and I've been half dead while reading most of this book. Any fault I find in it might be my own fatigue. Tonight, I am refreshed, and I see here that the problem with the parents was the mother being a diabetic, and out of insulin. And the storm is an actual hurricane. It's not the literal end of the world.

We still don't know the fate of the children's parents, which is a little concerning, seeing as we are nearly at the end of the book. There are only two chapters left, and we've got buckets to resolve before we're through. I expect much action.


Chapter Twenty-One

Ack! The fairies are under attack! Or so it seems. Now is What-the-Dickens' chance to prove himself yet again. We also need a daring rescue of ... oh wait. She was spilling the beans, wasn't she? She's back with Gage, isn't she?! ISN'T SHE?! AAAAAAAH!


Chapter Twenty-Two

A satisfying, if slightly anti-climactic ending. I get what Maguire was trying to do here. I liked, to an extent, what he did to. I wish we were able to see more of either one of the two stories presented in this book. Maybe, if the book were 100 pages or so longer, and we were able to go a bit deeper with either half of the cast. I think I would have preferred Gage to have found a way to remember. Instead, we are left up in the air, with only Dinah believing in the possibility that the whole thing could have been true.
I probably would have enjoyed this book a thousand times more as a child, but it was missing a dash of this and a peppering of that for me. Perhaps it has to do with how tired I was while reading it as well. So I guess, at the end of the day, I can't fault the book.

[Meredith Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

What-the-Dickens by Gregory Maguire is the story of ten-year-old Dinah, a girl caught in a terrible storm with missing parents and her cousin Gage left to care for her and her two siblings. To help pass the time, Gage tells the tale of a skibbereen (a tooth fairy if you will) called What-the-Dickens. He's a curious sort who doesn't know who he is or where he came from. That is, until he meets a girl skibberee who helps him find his way. As Dinah listens to the story, she finds out she and What-the-Dickens have a lot to learn about the world around them.

I've read and own several of Gregory Maquire's books and love them all. What-the-Dickens is probably at the bottom of that list. It's not a bad story, it just didn't leave me with any of the fun feelings a good book usually does. I will say, my favorite part was Gage's telling of What-the-Dickens and the lives of tooth fairies. What-the-Dickens is a fun inquisitive character that kids will love to know and probably see a little of themselves in as well. The world of a skibberee is magical and interesting to say the least and kids will enjoy the adventure What-the-Dickens takes them on.

The parts of the book that were focused on Dinah and her family were a little frustrating to me because there situation wasn't quite clear. I knew they were in a storm that forced their parents to go missing and they were trying to survive until they returned. Even by the end of the book, I felt like I didn't have any closure about their situation. Maybe this is how it was meant to be. I'm hoping it means there will be a second book if only so I can find out what happens to Dinah and her family. Overall, this is a great introduction type of book to Gregory Maguire and his style of writing for kids in upper elementary to middle grade. I read this solo, but I think it would be a great book for the family to read together.

[Dark-Draco · Rating 4 out of 5]

After being disappointed by 'Wicked' I was slightly reluctant to pick up another book by the same author, but I needn't have worried. This story suits his writing style and I found myself completely taken in by both story lines.

Dinah, her brother, sister and cousin, Gage, are huddling away from a severe storm (or is it the end of the world? War? Something else dire?), with no food, electricity and nothing to do. Gage starts telling them a story of an orphan tooth fairy, who is born alone and has to find his odd little way in a world that he doesn't understand.

In some ways, Dinah's story is the more intriguing - what is going on? Where are her parents? Why is Gage with them instead? You sort of work out in your own head what could be happening, but the author cleverly never confirms one way of another.

The story of 'What-the-Dickens' is quite cute as far as fairytales goes, although there are a couple of dark twists to his tale. The whole society of tooth fairies doesn't actually seem that nice a prospect, and I like the fact that him and Pepper end up turning their backs on them. I do love the whole history of how tooth fairies came into existence and what they do with the teeth once they've collected them.

[Ashley Lambert-Maberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This popped up in Goodreads, and I was delighted because I've read it, but hadn't added it to my Goodreads' great long list. In fact, I'd entirely forgotten it. Which gets it 3 stars, because if I'd loved it, I'd remember (I had to read The Last Unicorn about five times before it held in my memory, I don't know why, but I knew I loved it always), and if I hated it, believe me, I'd remember.

(Note: I'm a writer, so I suffer when I offer fewer than five stars. But these aren't ratings of quality, they're a subjective account of how much I liked the book: 5* = an unalloyed pleasure from start to finish, 4* = really enjoyed it, 3* = readable but not thrilling, 2* = disappointing, and 1* = hated it.)

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gregory Maguire has given us some magical novels in Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, Mirror Mirror, and Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister, so I was interested in seeing what he would do at the YA level, and I was not disappointed.

I found a review on Amazon that helps me explain this double-leveled story:

"The book follows two plotlines: in the first, three children and their older cousin are waiting out a hurricane while their parents are out seeking medical attention for their diabetic mother. With the terrible storm, the place has been evacuated, and the children are nearly out of food. Much of the details of this emergency are withheld and revealed slowly, increasing suspense. To pass the time without electricity or any other comforts, their older cousin tells the story of a tooth fairy, the second plotline. [The correct name for "tooth fairies" is "skibbereen".]

What I liked most was how the two initially unrelated tales (the storm and the tooth fairy) end up mirroring each other, both explicitly and implicitly. In both plots, the characters face a dangerous and unfair world, and the only way to persevere is to bend the rules. There are sweet moments of magic in it, scary moments of darkness, and even poetic moments asking the reader to reflect on his/her own life."

As a retired English teacher, I really appreciated Maguire" little touches of allusions that enriched the story for anyone who knows them :-) Gage (the cousin) is now 21, and tells Dinah (age 10) that we can't go back to our childhood places. When she asks where his home had been, he says, "Fern Hill...It was my tenth year to heaven." I love Dylan Thomas' poem "Fern Hill" http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/pr.... The second part paraphrases a line from another Dylan work, "Poem in October", which starts, "It was my thirtieth year to heaven." Gage is a literature teacher, so these allusions are just lovely.

We meet a 96 year old crochety (and very lonely) old woman, Lee Gangster, who thinks the orphan skibbereen "What-the-Dickens" is the Angel of Death; she comes back in the end of the story, and while she is funny, she brings great poignancy to the isolation and fear of the aged. Her family ignores her, except to give her books--one of which is One Hundred Years of Solitude. And she angrily points to a line in another book that reads, "At ninety-six I had lived enough, that is all." She yells at "What-the-Dickens", "This is supposed to cheer up an old sinner? I don't think so." The line comes from the poem "Lucinda Matlock", found in Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters. http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/pr...

Later, Dinah asks Gage if he doesn't get tired of quoting, and he says: "No...quoting reminds me that there are other people in the world besides only me. And other thoughts besides mine, and other ways of thinking." Even the awful cat that nearly eats What-the-Dickens is named Macavity, from Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot (the book on which the musical CATS was based). "Macavity, Macavity, there's no one like Macavity,/
For he's a fiend in feline shape, a monster of depravity."

I know I'm going on and on about these allusions--but they are used so well and really enriched the book for me. I especially appreciated the reference to Kubla Khan; or, A Vision in a Dream by Samuel Taylor Coleridge: "The skibberee sailed off down a pungent stream, through caverns measureless to man, since man can't fit in anything that small." And I also like that we are left without answers! Do What-the-Dickens and Pepper, his friend, survive when they leave the skibbereen community? Do the children's parents make it back? This type of open-ended conclusion drives some readers crazy, but I love being able to finish the story in my head :-)

At the very end, Gage says: "I believe in story. Zeke believes in prayer. Dinah believes in magic...Who is to say that any single one of us is wrong?"

[Tisha (IG: Bluestocking629) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.50 Stars

I don't know how to review this book. The entire time I was reading this book I was thinking, as I was loving it, that it was a four star book. Then I get to the ending...wait...that was no ending! It was like watching a TV show and seeing To Be Continued at the end of the show then finding out your show was cancelled. Yeah that's how I feel.

The.Book.Had.No.Ending

I'm so disappointed.

I suppose I'll just have to make up my own ending. Grrr Argh.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this book on CD. It got my attention in the beginning, but I have to say by the end I was a little bored. I also did wished Maguire would have wrapped the story up better by telling us more about the children's mother and father coming back. Overall it was a bit forgettable. I did enjoy the literary references throughout the book, and the quote:

"You lie, cheat and steal and call it courtesy, cunning and thrift."

[Brett Bumeter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this while reading on a plane to a beach vacation and while at the beach.
It was a nice grounding book and story although not nearly as developed as Wicked and it’s sequel.
It had some interesting key insights in a few different places that reminded me more of Paulo Coelo’s writing even if this was a tail about an orphan tooth fairy.

I had had this book for several years and happy I saved it for this specific purpose.

[Vida · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has been awhile since I read anything from Maguire and I forgot how delightfully he treats them. The
“tooth fairy” is real or tooth fairies, because after all how can one fairy serve all those children losing teeth. Substory, a big storm, children alone without their parents, electricity out, and …

[R.M. Archer · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read most of Gregory Maguire’s books. This was not his best, but I enjoy his writing immensely, and he is an excellent storyteller.

[Carol Townsend · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved the read as I do like most of Maguire books

[Jen Hunt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This felt more like a writing prompt than a thought out story. I’m sure it’s fun for children.

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed sharing this with my children. What-the-Dickens is a wonderful character and the whole concept of the tooth fairies as presented in this book is wonderful. Maguire has a way with fairy tales and turning them on their heads.

We might revisit this one again in the future because we all enjoyed it.

[Ceallaigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Why can’t you just wake him up and do this transaction in public?” asked What-the-Dickens.
She shot him a look. “And be seen? And be caught? And be caged? And be sold? And maybe be tortured? And betray our colony? And our mission? And deprive the world of the possibility of wishes that really might come true? What kind of world do you want to live in, anyway? That’s the big question, ain’t it?”

On a dark-and-stormy-night, a young man comforts his small cousins with a Real Story™ from his own childhood & illuminates a world of hope & light & friendship against all odds & expectations, teaching all of us that the power of our imagination—the soil in which is nurtured the seed of our deepest wishes, dreams, & desires—is the first step towards creating a better future, a better world for all of us.

Click here to read my full review of WHAT-THE-DICKENS complete with my full thoughts, further reading suggestions, & more of my favorite quotes, notes, & annotations!

★ ★ ★ ★ .75

CW // dystopian climate disaster, some stressful situations with animals

[Kit★ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this one up at a yard sale last summer for like, 25 cents, for this trade paperback in brand new condition. I grabbed it right away because ever since I read Wicked a few years ago (which, my hardback of that got ruined not long after I read it when an a/c above the shelf it and other books were sitting on started leaking water all over the place ) I've had Maguire's back-list on my wishlist. So when I saw this one I had to get it, no second thoughts. So it came time to pick what to read next, and I was wanting something sort of fairy-tale like, like a story from a story-teller, sort of childlike and yet with teeth. (What I was really, really wanting to read was The Eyes of the Dragon, but I wasn't feeling up to mounting an expedition to the mountain of boxes in the basement and digging for it.) So I spotted this sitting in the TBR and thought it'd be a good one to go with. It turned out to be the right choice, as I surged through it in only a few hours, even with distractions. I was immediately drawn into the 'mythology' of the Skibereen, and I liked What-the-Dickens himself from the start, I wanted to like, lol, be his friend, poor little lost fairy, all unlearned and funny-looking, even to his own kind. I liked his encounters with the different animals, and the way he quickly picked up on things, even if his ideas weren't always right or smart. He's sort of a hapless kinda guy, but sweet and well-meaning. I gotta say this story was sort of nicer than I was expecting with the stormy, moody, sort of creepy cover art and back-cover blurb. It was almost cute. Not quite, but almost. Once he met Pepper and he (and I) started learning about Skibereen and what they do, I was intrigued. I wanted to know all about it, learn everything I could. But I was left a little disappointed as I only got to learn a little bit. I wanted to know more, for example, about the other colonies, and where the original fairy came from, and more about the different jobs within the colony, and where did What-the-Dickens come from and why was he abandoned? And all of these questions on top of the mysteries presented by the human characters on the dark, stormy night, like where were their parents, and where at in the country are they set, and what was going on, was it just a bad storm, or something worse? But I kept reading, it was good, I had to keep going. I didn't like Dr. Ill. Also I was hoping What-the-Dickens would find where he had come from, but alas it wasn't to be. I did like how he and Pepper went out on their own at the end though, that was great. I liked Pepper, more so once she started getting to like What-the-Dickens for herself. But like I said, I wanted more, I don't know, background info or something. I really liked how W-t-D learned his special talent with animals there towards the end, that was great, especially the tiger, because I like tigers :) All in all it was a good read, though it left me with questions. But that isn't necessarily a bad thing. I give it 4 Stars, and I still would like to get more of Maguire's work (and replace my copy of Wicked too).

[Mike Moore · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a charming little book, and I'm sure that there are a lot of people who will find it very enjoyable. I'm not the proper audience. I recognize that being the wrong person for a book is no reason to give said book a low rating, but I think that it's justified in this case. Let me explain why:

The dust jacket says that this book came from a writing assignment that Maguire gave to a class of middle-school kids, and the book reads like an assignment. There is exactly one idea (the premise). There is a story-within-a-story motif, but this is oddly empty of meaning, to the point that what's going on in the outer story is irrelevant. The inner story is a meandering shaggy dog tale that takes whimsical turns based on the outer story, but is ultimately an arbitrary creation of a character. So there's one story about which little is known, and another where nothing matters. It's almost zen-like, I think of the image of a lame man riding on the shoulders of a blind man. But is it good?

Actually, it's not too bad in many ways. Gregory Maguire is really a fine writer and he loads the book with an aimless wit and an off-hand whimsy that is entertaining enough. The problem is that in a book like this where the form is loaded with far more meaning than the content, I found it impossible to avoid reading a shallow psychoanalysis of the author into it. This may not be fair, but although I recognize that I know nothing about Mr. Maguire and have no right to consider myself an authority on his inner life based on one young-adult novel, I find it unavoidable to draw conclusions about his mental make-up. Which coalesces in one question:

Why on earth is Gregory Maguire so bitter?

I feel bad for Gage that his parents didn't love him and that he had no friends. I know that religious people are sometimes narrow-minded. I even agree that tinkerbell is a somewhat sexist figure. But seriously, move on. There's more to life than wallowing in the real or imagined wrongs that society heaps upon itself and others.

So I will rate the book down. It's well written, and you may find it enjoyable. But message it has none, and a vague misanthropy permeates its pages.