Twice Cursed

Dr. Critchlore's School for Minions #4

by Sheila Grau, Joe Sutphin (Illustrations)

In the race to create the Undefeatable Minion, Dr. Critchlore’s longtime rival, Dr. Pravus, is winning. As Dr. Critchlore rallies his troops, Runt is kidnapped. As the last prince of Andirat, he must lead the rebellion in his home country.
 
Isolated from his minion friends, Runt grows suspicious of the rebels, who seem to be working with Dr. Pravus. Runt knows he must escape and tell Dr. Critchlore, but reaching him activates Runt’s curse, giving him just days to live! His only chance for survival: Stop Dr. Pravus and win the allegiance of the witch who cursed him. Fortunately for Runt, he knows just the minions for the job.
 

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade

304 pages, Hardcover

First published April 10, 2018

Reviews

[Kasey Thacker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really sad to see this series go. They were such pleasant reads. I could have read ten more. Everything manages to tie up neatly without feeling rushed. I wasn't sure if it would considering the page count and the many still dangling threads but I was satisfied. Runt is such a likable character. It's refreshing to see a main character who accomplishes his goals by being a stand up guy. I also enjoyed how the story actually shows Runt being a leader. A lot of stories just tell you someone has leadership, but this one was great at showing Runt's leadership qualities through his actions.

The only thing I'm a little bummed about is that we don't know what happened to the characters afterwards. Who did Runt grow up to become?

[Gordon Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was anxiously awaiting the final installment of Sheila Grau’s wonderful Dr. Critchlore series and it did not disappoint. For four wonderful books, Grau has taken the reader on one amazing adventure after the next. Throughout it all, I’ve been rooting for Runt Higgins to discover his true identity and save his school from the evil plans of Dr. Pravus. This last book wraps the saga up perfectly. All my favorite characters are back – Frankie, Syke, Pismo - as is Grau’s suspenseful storytelling and terrific humor (plus Joe Sutphin’s illustrations, which are delightful.) The book culminates in an epic battle, worthy of this terrific series. I was sad to see the story end, but grateful that I got to spend so much time in this imaginative world with these fun characters. After all the excitement of these stories, it’s the generous heart of Runt Higgins that will linger the longest. He teaches us how important friendship is in developing the person and leader we wish to become.