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The Clockwork War
To battle a menacing evil figure, a group of children team up with amazing mechanical machines built by genius clockmaker Karl Indergarten.
Best friends Karlheinz Indergarten and Leopold Croak clash in an epic, imaginary battle waged in the branches of an enormous, ancient oak tree. But when lightning strikes young Leopold, he loses his imagination, and with it, his sense of right and wrong. The damaged boy grows to adulthood, treading a sinister path of industrial conquest. And Leopold’s thirst for power soon threatens the tree, the village, and worst of all, the children within.
But humble Karl discovers a gift for clockwork—the magic of gears and cogs—and assembles a mechanical army to fight back. Joined by the children themselves, Karl endeavors to save the village, the ancient oak, and maybe—just maybe—something more besides.
Best friends Karlheinz Indergarten and Leopold Croak clash in an epic, imaginary battle waged in the branches of an enormous, ancient oak tree. But when lightning strikes young Leopold, he loses his imagination, and with it, his sense of right and wrong. The damaged boy grows to adulthood, treading a sinister path of industrial conquest. And Leopold’s thirst for power soon threatens the tree, the village, and worst of all, the children within.
But humble Karl discovers a gift for clockwork—the magic of gears and cogs—and assembles a mechanical army to fight back. Joined by the children themselves, Karl endeavors to save the village, the ancient oak, and maybe—just maybe—something more besides.
144 pages, Hardcover
First published May 15, 2018
1 person is currently reading
81 people want to read
About the author
Adam Kline
5 books21 followersAdam Kline has written for Universal Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox, Sony Pictures Animation, and the Weinstein Company. His primary influences include J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Kenneth Grahame. An active member of the Writers Guild, Mr. Kline grew up in Indiana and attended Kenyon College in Ohio. He often works with Scottish artist Brian Taylor.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 20, 2024
It's books like these that carry us away on an adventure and bring us back all together lighter and fuller.
January 29, 2024
So cute and such a unique story
Dingalingaling!
That was the sound of someone at the front counter. The clockmaker rose from his stool and walked from the back of the workshop to the front. There at the counter was an especially fancy sort of customer, holding an especially fancy sort of clock.
"Mrs. Goodnight!" said the clockmaker. "Good morning!"
"Is it?" inquired Mrs. Goodnight.
"Good?" asked the clockmaker.
"Morning."
"It is indeed," said the clockmaker.
"I wouldn't know," said Mrs. Goodnight.
"This is something we shall have to remedy!"
"Such is my hope," said Mrs. Goodnight. "Sir Percy insists upon a highball at precisely five o'clock."
"Ah," said the clockmaker. "And your clock is not precise!"
"Precisely."
"Then it's time I got to work!" said the clockmaker.
"Good day," said Mrs. Goodnight.
"Good day, Mrs. Goodnight. Good day."
As Mrs. Goodnight crunch-crunched away back down the gravel path, the clockmaker stared at the
Just one of the parts in the book by the way it was written that caught my eye.
Dingalingaling!
That was the sound of someone at the front counter. The clockmaker rose from his stool and walked from the back of the workshop to the front. There at the counter was an especially fancy sort of customer, holding an especially fancy sort of clock.
"Mrs. Goodnight!" said the clockmaker. "Good morning!"
"Is it?" inquired Mrs. Goodnight.
"Good?" asked the clockmaker.
"Morning."
"It is indeed," said the clockmaker.
"I wouldn't know," said Mrs. Goodnight.
"This is something we shall have to remedy!"
"Such is my hope," said Mrs. Goodnight. "Sir Percy insists upon a highball at precisely five o'clock."
"Ah," said the clockmaker. "And your clock is not precise!"
"Precisely."
"Then it's time I got to work!" said the clockmaker.
"Good day," said Mrs. Goodnight.
"Good day, Mrs. Goodnight. Good day."
As Mrs. Goodnight crunch-crunched away back down the gravel path, the clockmaker stared at the
Just one of the parts in the book by the way it was written that caught my eye.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 27, 2024
Review below the Quotes
"Very big, for very important people. Very important people always think bigger is better. 'Time is money! Time is money! Look everyone! Look at me! Look how important I am!' That's what very important people say." The clockmaker paused, and they listened to the ticking of the clocks. "But time is not money," whispered the clockmaker. "Time is Magic." -page 23
"Oddly enough, people often buy deeply flawed products, sometimes in vast quantities thanks to a phenomenon known as "advertising" -page 40
"Some rats are evil, Pim," sighed Karl. "I won't argue that. But they're almost never born that way." And this is true of rats, of cats, of dogs, and everything else. It's especially true of people." -page 69
This book is very beautifully written and I can see my self rereading this book in the near future. I got this book at Ollie's for $3 and it was probably worth more. Illistrations, moral, plot, and characters were amazing. I will admit the dolls were kind of creepy. TY Adam Kline for writing this book.
"Very big, for very important people. Very important people always think bigger is better. 'Time is money! Time is money! Look everyone! Look at me! Look how important I am!' That's what very important people say." The clockmaker paused, and they listened to the ticking of the clocks. "But time is not money," whispered the clockmaker. "Time is Magic." -page 23
"Oddly enough, people often buy deeply flawed products, sometimes in vast quantities thanks to a phenomenon known as "advertising" -page 40
"Some rats are evil, Pim," sighed Karl. "I won't argue that. But they're almost never born that way." And this is true of rats, of cats, of dogs, and everything else. It's especially true of people." -page 69
This book is very beautifully written and I can see my self rereading this book in the near future. I got this book at Ollie's for $3 and it was probably worth more. Illistrations, moral, plot, and characters were amazing. I will admit the dolls were kind of creepy. TY Adam Kline for writing this book.
August 8, 2021
I have read this to two different groups of grade 3 students (8 and 9 year olds) and they absolutely loved it - plus it is an absolute joy to read as well. Humour and adventure abound as this story shares the importance of friendship and the imagination. Since reading it to my current class, I have had three students read the story independently, often coming up to make comments about the book. Highly recommend!
April 21, 2023
Absolutely adorable story!
It starts with a girl who doesn't want to go to kindergarten, and her grandmother tells her the story of the clockmaker K. Indergarten and how his friend Leo lost his imagination.
Super cute, and a great story for kids.
My favourite (slightly spoilery) quote:
It starts with a girl who doesn't want to go to kindergarten, and her grandmother tells her the story of the clockmaker K. Indergarten and how his friend Leo lost his imagination.
Super cute, and a great story for kids.
My favourite (slightly spoilery) quote:
September 13, 2018
My twin boys adored this book!
February 20, 2019
What a wonderful little book. I loved the story. Perfect to read aloud.
September 17, 2020
Karl was such a thoughtful man.
June 19, 2021
For being a sweet little book and having some fun vocabulary, 5 stars. For depth, 2 stars.
November 21, 2024
Beautifully written YA narrative.
November 10, 2025
perfect!
February 2, 2026
I actually forgot to read the description on the inside of the book jacket, so I had a misunderstanding of what the story was like going into it. It’s labelled as fantasy, there is a clockwork mouse on the cover, and the excerpt on the back describes a clockwork dragon defending a tree. These three things led me to believe it was a lot more fantasy than it actually was.
Don’t get me wrong, it is fantasy, just not the elves and spell casters kind. The world is a normal setting in an unspecified time. The fantasy aspect of the story comes from the fact the clockwork creations are fantastical to the point of actually being independently intelligent as if they have a heart or a soul.
Despite my misunderstanding, the story is cute. A little girl is afraid to go to Kindergarten, so her grandmother tells her a story about someone by the name of Karl Indergarten, which is supposed to be relevant to the origin of Kindergarten. But, the book is very clear, the story is not about the little girl. It’s about Karl Indergarten.
The book has the same feel as short stories kids would normally hear read aloud at a library. It even has the rhyming. The only differences are, it’s a bit longer and the vocabulary level might be a little higher. The recommended age group is closer to ten but I think kids around five might also enjoy it if read to them, and if they have a long enough attention span.
Overall, this book is not really my thing, but I think it’s a decent children’s book. My only issue with it is that Leopold’s logic has many flaws. The description says he loses his sense of right and wrong, though, so it makes sense. Children’s books don’t always have to make perfect sense anyway, either, so I don’t hold that against it.
Don’t get me wrong, it is fantasy, just not the elves and spell casters kind. The world is a normal setting in an unspecified time. The fantasy aspect of the story comes from the fact the clockwork creations are fantastical to the point of actually being independently intelligent as if they have a heart or a soul.
Despite my misunderstanding, the story is cute. A little girl is afraid to go to Kindergarten, so her grandmother tells her a story about someone by the name of Karl Indergarten, which is supposed to be relevant to the origin of Kindergarten. But, the book is very clear, the story is not about the little girl. It’s about Karl Indergarten.
The book has the same feel as short stories kids would normally hear read aloud at a library. It even has the rhyming. The only differences are, it’s a bit longer and the vocabulary level might be a little higher. The recommended age group is closer to ten but I think kids around five might also enjoy it if read to them, and if they have a long enough attention span.
Overall, this book is not really my thing, but I think it’s a decent children’s book. My only issue with it is that Leopold’s logic has many flaws. The description says he loses his sense of right and wrong, though, so it makes sense. Children’s books don’t always have to make perfect sense anyway, either, so I don’t hold that against it.
March 11, 2020
Pretty easy read since it is targeted at a younger audience but it is kind of a feel good one from reading it in around 20 minutes. I guess that it isn't what I've also expected as well even by the reviews.
August 25, 2019
Love this as a read aloud! Tons of fun. Each chapter is it's own mini part of the story and is it's own fun adventure.
February 7, 2025
Despite being aimed for a younger audience then I prefer, the fairy tail like storytelling brought joy to my inner child.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews