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The Lifters
Discover an underground world full of tunnels and mystery in this middle-grade adventure from the bestselling, Pulitzer-nominated author of Heroes of the Frontier and Her Right Foot.
What if nothing was as it seemed? What if the ground beneath your feet was not made of solid earth and stone but had been hollowed into hundreds of tunnels and passageways? What if there were mysterious forces in these tunnels, mere inches below you as you sit in class or eat a banana?
What if it were up to just two kids to stop these forces? What would it feel like to know the fate of an entire town rested on your shoulders?
Twelve-year-old Gran Flowerpetal is about to find out.
When Gran's friend, the difficult-to-impress Catalina Catalan, presses a silver handle into a hillside and opens a doorway underground, he knows that she is extraordinary and brave, and that he will have no choice but to follow her, and help her save the town (and the known world). With luck on their side, and some discarded hockey sticks for good measure, they might just emerge as heroes.
In The Lifters , critically acclaimed author Dave Eggers establishes himself as a storyteller who can entertain and inspire readers of any age.
What if nothing was as it seemed? What if the ground beneath your feet was not made of solid earth and stone but had been hollowed into hundreds of tunnels and passageways? What if there were mysterious forces in these tunnels, mere inches below you as you sit in class or eat a banana?
What if it were up to just two kids to stop these forces? What would it feel like to know the fate of an entire town rested on your shoulders?
Twelve-year-old Gran Flowerpetal is about to find out.
When Gran's friend, the difficult-to-impress Catalina Catalan, presses a silver handle into a hillside and opens a doorway underground, he knows that she is extraordinary and brave, and that he will have no choice but to follow her, and help her save the town (and the known world). With luck on their side, and some discarded hockey sticks for good measure, they might just emerge as heroes.
In The Lifters , critically acclaimed author Dave Eggers establishes himself as a storyteller who can entertain and inspire readers of any age.
352 pages, Paperback
First published April 24, 2018
153 people are currently reading
1888 people want to read
About the author
Dave Eggers
353 books9,463 followersDave Eggers is an American writer, editor, and publisher. He is best known for his 2000 memoir, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, which became a bestseller and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction. Eggers is also the founder of several notable literary and philanthropic ventures, including the literary journal Timothy McSweeney's Quarterly Concern, the literacy project 826 Valencia, and the human rights nonprofit Voice of Witness. Additionally, he founded ScholarMatch, a program that connects donors with students needing funds for college tuition. His writing has appeared in numerous prestigious publications, including The New Yorker, Esquire, and The New York Times Magazine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 358 reviews
April 25, 2018
It’s hard to not smile after reading “The Lifters”......a book for young readers.
Middle School age.
I pre-ordered this month’s ago - ( no surprise from me, right?), I had “The Monk of Mokha”, too.
Dave Eggers has written a wonderful allegorical novel. It’s charming, creative as all getup - funny - filled with adventure - is FANTASTICAL & WHIMSICAL- a great storyline - mystery - tons of heart.
I’m almost 66 and I admit being ‘thrown’ a surprise IMMEDIATELY from the first paragraph in this novel for KIDS.
The little voice inside my head was spinning its wheels....
One minute I was thinking:
“That’s dumb and going to make things difficult for kids of all ages”
Next minute I was thinking:
Boy, elyse, you are stuck in your associations —not everything fits into your little comfort way of understanding”....
AND THEN....
The next minute I cracked myself up:
was I a knucklehead or what?
THAT RASCAL, Dave Eggers, ....of course he knew what he was doing. All was calm in my head.
I no longer worried that Dave Eggers needed to go to character NAMING SCHOOL!
Rather than spoil the fun for those who want to read this gem.... and definitely if you have children, you must share this book with them.
I’ll just share one TINY - safe - tease....
“His only friend – – it was so odd to think of Catalina this way, given they’d only spoken once —had disappeared down golden steps inside a hill”.
I PLEDGE THE FIFTH!!!! MY LIPS ARE SEALED!
5 Stars ....and ‘not’ just because I love Dave Eggers - which I do! This is a 5 Star children’s book!
Middle School age.
I pre-ordered this month’s ago - ( no surprise from me, right?), I had “The Monk of Mokha”, too.
Dave Eggers has written a wonderful allegorical novel. It’s charming, creative as all getup - funny - filled with adventure - is FANTASTICAL & WHIMSICAL- a great storyline - mystery - tons of heart.
I’m almost 66 and I admit being ‘thrown’ a surprise IMMEDIATELY from the first paragraph in this novel for KIDS.
The little voice inside my head was spinning its wheels....
One minute I was thinking:
“That’s dumb and going to make things difficult for kids of all ages”
Next minute I was thinking:
Boy, elyse, you are stuck in your associations —not everything fits into your little comfort way of understanding”....
AND THEN....
The next minute I cracked myself up:
was I a knucklehead or what?
THAT RASCAL, Dave Eggers, ....of course he knew what he was doing. All was calm in my head.
I no longer worried that Dave Eggers needed to go to character NAMING SCHOOL!
Rather than spoil the fun for those who want to read this gem.... and definitely if you have children, you must share this book with them.
I’ll just share one TINY - safe - tease....
“His only friend – – it was so odd to think of Catalina this way, given they’d only spoken once —had disappeared down golden steps inside a hill”.
I PLEDGE THE FIFTH!!!! MY LIPS ARE SEALED!
5 Stars ....and ‘not’ just because I love Dave Eggers - which I do! This is a 5 Star children’s book!
January 12, 2024
Catching up…
This is the author’s first children’s book. He is most well-known for The Circle, which was also made into a movie in 2017 starring Emma Watson and Tom Hanks.
This book is a fantasy story that will probably appeal to children ages 8-12 years old.
And…
Even though the premise might feel familiar with a family’s unhappiness reflected in a dark power that threatens to destroy everything…
There…
Is still a distinctly original feel to the way the story is told.
So…
There is a dangerous, magical power called The Hollows that is carving tunnels under the town, Carousel.
Which…
Creates sinkholes into which houses fall, as well as most of the school.
And…
The only hope is in a force of guardians, the “Lifters.” (Hence: the title of the book.)
Will…
Their magical handles, known as lifts, be able to save the town?
The author has a way with words that make readers want to enjoy the story and connect with the characters.
And…
With “The Lifters” the characters are strong, well-rounded and engaging with plenty of pace in the telling of the story.
February 9, 2018
This was such a strange little book but it was quite lovely in the end :)
January 10, 2019
I was excited to find a middle grades book by Dave Eggers at the library. I like both of those things....typically. I had high hopes, but this fell flat for me (pun intended). The big problem of the story, a town falling into sink holes that are supported by various items like hockey sticks in tunnels placed there by a young girl, makes no sense at all. There is no magic system or explanation given that would explain a plot line that defies all engineering, earth science, and physics laws. It’s just ridiculous. The narrator breaks the fourth wall every once in a while, which feels gimmicky and awkward. The chapters are oddly short. There are 113 chapters in a 339 page book. Why? The characters were flat and the friendship lacked any emotion. The only positive points for me were the real life struggles that the family experiences; the father is unemployed, the mother is handicapped and in a wheelchair, the family worries about how to pay the bills. All of these struggles are important to represent in middle grades lit. But the rest of the story was a pass for me.
September 26, 2018
“Gran wollte nicht nach Carousel ziehen …“ In seiner neuen Schule in Carousel schüttelt der schmächtige Zwölfjährige seinen sperrigen Vornamen Granite/Granit kurzentschlossen ab und nennt sich von nun an Gran. Weil sein Vater als Automechaniker keine Arbeit findet, zog Grans Familie vom Atlantik zurück in den hügeligen Heimatort der Familie Flowerpetal. Doch auch hier haben die Menschen zu wenig Geld, um sich überhaupt ein Auto zu leisten, so dass der Vater nicht mehr als Gelegenheitsjobs findet. Grans Mutter sitzt seit seiner frühen Kindheit im Rollstuhl und hat irgendwann aufgehört zu zeichnen. Gran war bereits 2 Wochen lang zum Unterricht gegangen, als seine Lehrerin Ms. Rhapsod endlich ihren neuen Schüler entdeckt. Vielleicht hätte er sich doch besser Grant nennen sollen, um für andere nicht unsichtbar zu sein. Im Hausmeister El Duque, einem ehemaligen Jockey, findet Grant eine verwandte Seele. El Duque hat früher Holzpferde für Karussells geschnitzt, der Ort Carousel war damals berühmt für seinen Karussellbau.
Seinen neuen Wohnort findet Gran höchst sonderbar. Die Häuser neigen sich, als würden sie im nächsten Moment den Berg hinab rutschen, im Ort läuft eine sonderbare Plakatkampagne gegen eine angebliche Elchplage und dann entdeckt er auch noch Catalina, die mit einem merkwürdigen Gegenstand in der Hand in einem Spalt im Gelände zu verschwinden scheint. Während das erste Haus bereits eingestürzt ist, beraten die Erwachsenen noch aufgebracht darüber, ob sie zur Vergrämung der Elche einen Hubschrauber anschaffen sollten. Die Unterhöhlung des Untergrunds scheint sich inzwischen weit über den Ort hinaus auszubreiten, als würde ein riesiger Wurm einen Tunnel unter unserer Welt graben. Im Kampf gegen den gierigen Untergrund erweist sich Grans geringe Größe als Vorteil. Doch die eigentliche Ursache, die Hoffnungslosigkeit der Menschen, müssen die Einwohner von Carousel erst noch begreifen. Grant erfährt indessen, dass Catalina zu den berühmten Liftern gehört und dass des Rätsels Lösung in der Geschichte seiner Großeltern liegen könnte …
In einfachen, kurzen Sätzen und sehr kurzen Kapiteln mit viel Zwischenraum erzählt Dave Eggers von der Bewährungsprobe eines außergewöhnlich kleinen Zwölfjährigen. Angenehm fand ich, dass englische Begriffe in der Geschichte erhalten bleiben und nicht übersetzt werden. Eingebettet sind die Abenteuer in den wirtschaftlichen Niedergang einer Region, der sich wie Ringe im Wasser immer weiter ausbreitet. Schräge Ereignisse beschreibt Eggers in höchst nüchternem Ton. Dass man sich über nicht vorhandene Elche ereifert, während das eigene Haus in einem riesigen Loch verschwindet, ist doch völlig logisch – oder? Die Geschichte wirkt, indem ihre Leser die Zusammenhänge noch vor Gran ahnen.
Ein skurriles Buch mit pädagogischer Botschaft, das auch ungeübte (männliche) Leser begeistern kann.
Seinen neuen Wohnort findet Gran höchst sonderbar. Die Häuser neigen sich, als würden sie im nächsten Moment den Berg hinab rutschen, im Ort läuft eine sonderbare Plakatkampagne gegen eine angebliche Elchplage und dann entdeckt er auch noch Catalina, die mit einem merkwürdigen Gegenstand in der Hand in einem Spalt im Gelände zu verschwinden scheint. Während das erste Haus bereits eingestürzt ist, beraten die Erwachsenen noch aufgebracht darüber, ob sie zur Vergrämung der Elche einen Hubschrauber anschaffen sollten. Die Unterhöhlung des Untergrunds scheint sich inzwischen weit über den Ort hinaus auszubreiten, als würde ein riesiger Wurm einen Tunnel unter unserer Welt graben. Im Kampf gegen den gierigen Untergrund erweist sich Grans geringe Größe als Vorteil. Doch die eigentliche Ursache, die Hoffnungslosigkeit der Menschen, müssen die Einwohner von Carousel erst noch begreifen. Grant erfährt indessen, dass Catalina zu den berühmten Liftern gehört und dass des Rätsels Lösung in der Geschichte seiner Großeltern liegen könnte …
In einfachen, kurzen Sätzen und sehr kurzen Kapiteln mit viel Zwischenraum erzählt Dave Eggers von der Bewährungsprobe eines außergewöhnlich kleinen Zwölfjährigen. Angenehm fand ich, dass englische Begriffe in der Geschichte erhalten bleiben und nicht übersetzt werden. Eingebettet sind die Abenteuer in den wirtschaftlichen Niedergang einer Region, der sich wie Ringe im Wasser immer weiter ausbreitet. Schräge Ereignisse beschreibt Eggers in höchst nüchternem Ton. Dass man sich über nicht vorhandene Elche ereifert, während das eigene Haus in einem riesigen Loch verschwindet, ist doch völlig logisch – oder? Die Geschichte wirkt, indem ihre Leser die Zusammenhänge noch vor Gran ahnen.
Ein skurriles Buch mit pädagogischer Botschaft, das auch ungeübte (männliche) Leser begeistern kann.
August 6, 2018
Schrijver Dave Eggers, die je kunt kennen van de bestsellers ‘Wat is de Wat’ en ‘De cirkel’, droomde ervan een kinderboek te schrijven dat hij zelf als tienjarige had willen lezen. Hij zegt dat hij ongeveer tien jaar heeft nodig gehad om ‘The Lifters’ uit te werken.
Na zo’n dubbel statement zou het fijn zijn als ik er meteen een paar superlatieven tegenaan zou kunnen gooien, maar helaas moet ik een beetje zuinig kijken. Dave Eggers heeft er alles aan gedaan om van ‘De Tunnels’ een spannend kinderboek te maken, dat is een feit.
Zijn verhaal heeft hij ingebed: het hoofdpersonage Gran Bloempjes (hoe vertaal je Granite Flowerpetal?) is pas verhuisd naar het onbeduidende dorpje Carrousel. Zijn ouders hebben het niet breed. Mama zit in een rolstoel. Zusje Maisie is liever een poes dan dat ze een meisje is. Allemaal interessant als aanzet.
Heel veel doet Dave Eggers er niet mee. Op school krijgt Gran Bloempjes al snel Catalina Catalan in het oog, het meisje dat verschijnt en verdwijnt, en niet heel aanspreekbaar is. Daar begint het schoentje te wringen: je begrijpt wel dat Gran vrienden zoekt, maar waarom hij uitgerekend de weinig sympathieke Catalina wil leren kennen, zie je niet.
Op dat moment is het mysterie al aan de gang. Huizen storten in, er verschijnen zinkgaten, en je weet dat Catalina er meer van weet. De verteller breekt hier en daar in het verhaal in, om je ervan te overtuigen dat “Gran inderdaad zag wat hij dacht te hebben gezien. Hij zag het net zo duidelijk als jij zag dat hij het zag.” Als de schrijver zegt dat het waar is, dan is het waar. (Maar het wil niet zeggen dat het dan voor elke lezer werkt.)
Waarschijnlijk zou ik slim moeten opmerken dat de instortende buitenwereld onderstreept wat Gran ervaart in zijn gezin. Als Dave Eggers ongeveer tien jaar op zijn boek heeft gebroed, zou ik verwachten dat die idee zou moeten nazinderen. Het zou geweldig zijn als ik met een rijkere gedachte het boek zou uitstappen. Dat is dus niet gebeurd.
‘De Tunnels’ is uit het Engels vertaald door Karin Pijl.
Deze bespreking en andere tips vindt u onder BLOG op www.bartmoeyaert.com.
Na zo’n dubbel statement zou het fijn zijn als ik er meteen een paar superlatieven tegenaan zou kunnen gooien, maar helaas moet ik een beetje zuinig kijken. Dave Eggers heeft er alles aan gedaan om van ‘De Tunnels’ een spannend kinderboek te maken, dat is een feit.
Zijn verhaal heeft hij ingebed: het hoofdpersonage Gran Bloempjes (hoe vertaal je Granite Flowerpetal?) is pas verhuisd naar het onbeduidende dorpje Carrousel. Zijn ouders hebben het niet breed. Mama zit in een rolstoel. Zusje Maisie is liever een poes dan dat ze een meisje is. Allemaal interessant als aanzet.
Heel veel doet Dave Eggers er niet mee. Op school krijgt Gran Bloempjes al snel Catalina Catalan in het oog, het meisje dat verschijnt en verdwijnt, en niet heel aanspreekbaar is. Daar begint het schoentje te wringen: je begrijpt wel dat Gran vrienden zoekt, maar waarom hij uitgerekend de weinig sympathieke Catalina wil leren kennen, zie je niet.
Op dat moment is het mysterie al aan de gang. Huizen storten in, er verschijnen zinkgaten, en je weet dat Catalina er meer van weet. De verteller breekt hier en daar in het verhaal in, om je ervan te overtuigen dat “Gran inderdaad zag wat hij dacht te hebben gezien. Hij zag het net zo duidelijk als jij zag dat hij het zag.” Als de schrijver zegt dat het waar is, dan is het waar. (Maar het wil niet zeggen dat het dan voor elke lezer werkt.)
Waarschijnlijk zou ik slim moeten opmerken dat de instortende buitenwereld onderstreept wat Gran ervaart in zijn gezin. Als Dave Eggers ongeveer tien jaar op zijn boek heeft gebroed, zou ik verwachten dat die idee zou moeten nazinderen. Het zou geweldig zijn als ik met een rijkere gedachte het boek zou uitstappen. Dat is dus niet gebeurd.
‘De Tunnels’ is uit het Engels vertaald door Karin Pijl.
Deze bespreking en andere tips vindt u onder BLOG op www.bartmoeyaert.com.
February 18, 2019
So I grabbed this book to read on a whim. And though it's obviously for children (years 8-12) it wasn't that bad. The writing style could be grouped with Lemony Snicket and Roald Dahl where everything is cleverly written but humorous in a fake serious way. Would I normally seek this book out? No. But it was an interesting read.
The main characters name is Granite, who tries going by Gran.... Which threw me off the very 1st couple of pages, because I had thought I was reading about someone's grandma (someone later on points this out as what they call they're grandma). His full name had me faceplant the table it hurt me that much *drum roll* Granite Flowerpetal.... I kid you not! Now Gran and his family have moved to a new town and now live his grandfathers old house where he had found a mysterious looking metal C.... Is it a door handle? A horse shoe? Both? He must discover the towns past and a group of people called Lifters, one in every town of the world. Their job is to lift up the ceilings of tunnels underground made by the Hollows ( think like a thinking underground tornado. 🌪 The Hollows are attracked to sadness and negative emotions like "sharks to blood". Gran must figure out a way to stop them and keep his town from disappearing into the giant sink holes in the earth.
Overall, I give this 4 🌟 because of I was a kid again I would like the story ( probably younger than 8 though... I got annoyed/tired of Snicket and Dahl around that age) The message of the best way to fight our monsters is with hope, "Happiness above can solve the sadness below" is a nice touch as well.
The main characters name is Granite, who tries going by Gran.... Which threw me off the very 1st couple of pages, because I had thought I was reading about someone's grandma (someone later on points this out as what they call they're grandma). His full name had me faceplant the table it hurt me that much *drum roll* Granite Flowerpetal.... I kid you not! Now Gran and his family have moved to a new town and now live his grandfathers old house where he had found a mysterious looking metal C.... Is it a door handle? A horse shoe? Both? He must discover the towns past and a group of people called Lifters, one in every town of the world. Their job is to lift up the ceilings of tunnels underground made by the Hollows ( think like a thinking underground tornado. 🌪 The Hollows are attracked to sadness and negative emotions like "sharks to blood". Gran must figure out a way to stop them and keep his town from disappearing into the giant sink holes in the earth.
Overall, I give this 4 🌟 because of I was a kid again I would like the story ( probably younger than 8 though... I got annoyed/tired of Snicket and Dahl around that age) The message of the best way to fight our monsters is with hope, "Happiness above can solve the sadness below" is a nice touch as well.
September 16, 2019
This book is amazing! It is full of mystery and cliff hangers. It will take you on all the mysterious adventures underground with Gran and Catalina Catalan. Gran and his family have just moved to Carousel. He thinks that Carousel is just an ordinary little town but little does he know that it is full of underground tunnels and mysterious sinkholes. When I started to read this book I was very intrigued in the way the author wrote the book. I did not want to put it down. If you are someone who loves mystery and suspense I would highly recommend this book, it is such an enjoyable book to read. Every time I have to put the book down I am in awe at what has just happened and I am always so curious to see what will happen next. This book is probably one of my all time favorites, I will read it over and over again.
July 5, 2020
This was a fun read.
August 31, 2018
This story has a unique premise about what is going on in the world beneath our feet, and along the way it deals with some very real family struggles (dad's unemployment, mom's health issues, strife in the home) as faced by the main character, a 12-year-old boy named Gran. The end of the story has a beautiful moral.
I wanted to like this story very much.
And yet.
The fantasy elements go beyond magical realism and into the absurdist, and I found myself struggling with the story line. Another problem for me was the voice of the narrator, who pops in every now and then with heavy-handed omniscient statements and words of wisdom. Perhaps this story would have come across better if I had listened to it on audio rather than reading words on a page.
Overall, this story was not my style.
I wanted to like this story very much.
And yet.
The fantasy elements go beyond magical realism and into the absurdist, and I found myself struggling with the story line. Another problem for me was the voice of the narrator, who pops in every now and then with heavy-handed omniscient statements and words of wisdom. Perhaps this story would have come across better if I had listened to it on audio rather than reading words on a page.
Overall, this story was not my style.
July 24, 2020
Aus der Idee hätte eine spannende Geschichte werden können.
Wurde sie aber nicht.
Wozu dient das alles, dieses seltsame Mysterium? Wenn man 320 von 368 Seiten gelesen hat, weiß man das jedenfalls noch nicht wirklich. Nur Mr. X hat sich zu erkennen gegeben. Aber das war leider nichts, was einen interessiert hätte. Auch alles andere konnte einen bis dahin nicht mitreißen.
Da Dave Eggers dies als Kinderbuch gedacht hat, frage ich mich, ob er ein Kind kennt, das bis hierhin durchgehalten hat. Es ist schlichtweg langweilig. Und eklig. Denn in einem dubiosen Test an seiner Schule macht sich Gran in die Hose. Dieser Episode widmete der Autor einige Seiten. An der Stelle hatte ich mich gefragt, wozu das gut sein sollte.
Huuu! Schaut! Die bösen Lehrer lassen die Schüler nicht auf die Toilette?
Und kotzen - sry - das findet der Autor anscheinend auch unterhaltsam. Wenn das kleinste Familienmitglied sich übergeben muss, wird daraus vom Autor immer eine lustige Aufwischparty, bei der alle mitmachen.
Mich konnte diese Geschichte Null vom Hocker reißen und auch als Kind hätte ich damit nichts anfangen können. Sie ist einfach nur platt und kindisch mit einer diffusen Botschaft transponiert über Charaktere, die ich nicht wirklich nachvollziehbar und auch nicht sympatisch fand.
Wurde sie aber nicht.
Wozu dient das alles, dieses seltsame Mysterium? Wenn man 320 von 368 Seiten gelesen hat, weiß man das jedenfalls noch nicht wirklich. Nur Mr. X hat sich zu erkennen gegeben. Aber das war leider nichts, was einen interessiert hätte. Auch alles andere konnte einen bis dahin nicht mitreißen.
Da Dave Eggers dies als Kinderbuch gedacht hat, frage ich mich, ob er ein Kind kennt, das bis hierhin durchgehalten hat. Es ist schlichtweg langweilig. Und eklig. Denn in einem dubiosen Test an seiner Schule macht sich Gran in die Hose. Dieser Episode widmete der Autor einige Seiten. An der Stelle hatte ich mich gefragt, wozu das gut sein sollte.
Huuu! Schaut! Die bösen Lehrer lassen die Schüler nicht auf die Toilette?
Und kotzen - sry - das findet der Autor anscheinend auch unterhaltsam. Wenn das kleinste Familienmitglied sich übergeben muss, wird daraus vom Autor immer eine lustige Aufwischparty, bei der alle mitmachen.
Mich konnte diese Geschichte Null vom Hocker reißen und auch als Kind hätte ich damit nichts anfangen können. Sie ist einfach nur platt und kindisch mit einer diffusen Botschaft transponiert über Charaktere, die ich nicht wirklich nachvollziehbar und auch nicht sympatisch fand.
July 10, 2018
A very light touch on the fantastical elements made this ring true emotionally. I read this aloud to my kids and they wanted one more chapter every night without fail.
June 29, 2018
Very weird. Almost Lynchian. There is a nice puzzle of a visual metaphor in this book, but it is not enough to make up for forgettable characters and a generally predictable trajectory where the ending is concerned. I should be clear, when one character spells out the exact meaning and purpose of being a ‘Lifter,’ I was moved. I just wish that speech might have arrived earlier in the book, so ensuing conflict might have been lent some more weight. Speaking of timing, the pace of the two to three page chapters makes everything move slower than it should.
This is a book that mocks readers for wanting the slightest bit of exposition. Do not hold your breath waiting for some kind of in universe explanation of ‘the hollows,’ because it is part of a metaphor and nothing more. There are a great handful of odd B plots and character details: a town political debate between using funds for parks and schools vs moose prevention with helicopters, a sister that regularly vomits (to no one’s consternation), a school that feels eerily lifeless. There is one scene in which our twelve year old protagonist pees in his pants and his teacher treats him with cold indifference. Besides being deeply uncomfortable to read, one cannot help but wonder, what kind of person would write this? Was it supposed to be funny?
I have always been a fan of mcsweeny’s and 826, so Eggers’ name was a big draw here. Maybe his adult fare comes across more fitting and naturally?
This is a book that mocks readers for wanting the slightest bit of exposition. Do not hold your breath waiting for some kind of in universe explanation of ‘the hollows,’ because it is part of a metaphor and nothing more. There are a great handful of odd B plots and character details: a town political debate between using funds for parks and schools vs moose prevention with helicopters, a sister that regularly vomits (to no one’s consternation), a school that feels eerily lifeless. There is one scene in which our twelve year old protagonist pees in his pants and his teacher treats him with cold indifference. Besides being deeply uncomfortable to read, one cannot help but wonder, what kind of person would write this? Was it supposed to be funny?
I have always been a fan of mcsweeny’s and 826, so Eggers’ name was a big draw here. Maybe his adult fare comes across more fitting and naturally?
September 18, 2018
Something about the tone of the writing here irritated me from the start--as if Eggers felt there's a certain way to write for children, and forced it on his writing. Since I haven't read his adult books, I don't know if this is just his normal style, but it didn't appeal to me. The plot unraveled quickly and I kept finding holes in it--they drive 1000 miles in one overnight trip, without bathroom breaks or food? When Gran's dad keeps leaving town to find work, what is it that he and Gran's mom keep talking about but won't let Gran know? Why, oh, why, can't Gran raise his hand to tell his teacher he needs a bathroom break during the computer therapy bit--is it in there so Catalina can admire the way he handles disguising the fact that he peed in his pants?
The fantasy/magical realism part of the plot might have been done well in the hands of an author who knows how to write for kids, and knows how to write fantasy, but Eggers doesn't seem to know much about either. And perhaps, before trying this again, he should read some of the children's writers who DO know how to do such things.
The fantasy/magical realism part of the plot might have been done well in the hands of an author who knows how to write for kids, and knows how to write fantasy, but Eggers doesn't seem to know much about either. And perhaps, before trying this again, he should read some of the children's writers who DO know how to do such things.
May 21, 2018
Definitely intended for younger middle school or upper elementary audience - maybe 4/5th grade. The writing had some of Dave Eggers' usual quirk and poetic detail. The idea was cool and the message meaningful, but it felt kind of like a stretched-out short story. I'm glad I read it.
August 6, 2019
This book has an interesting premise but it takes FOREVER to get going. I found myself skimming by page 100. The ridiculously short chapters and breaking the fourth wall got a little gimmicky. I would be okay with a slow building story if there was suspense or world-building, but this is just a lot of meandering through town and Gran's life. You would think with so much time away from plot, there would be exceptional character development, but that's not here either. Just Gran, an intriguing plot, and a whole lot of filler. It seems aimed at the age group after Magic Tree House but before Percy Jackson and Harry Potter. If that's the case, it needed to be a lot more engaging. If it markets itself as a simple tale for Eggers adult fans disguised as a kid's book (like some of Gaiman's work), then it'll probably have better luck finding an audience.
February 10, 2020
The cover is mostly what drew me to this book. It wasn’t the colors or the layout, but instead it was what was within the picture. If you look carefully you’ll see tunnels seemingly going everywhere with weird things holding them up. (Like… is that a grandfather clock? And a hockey stick?)
The Lifters focuses on the town of Carousel where Gran and his family has just moved to. If there is one thing to know about Carousel it is that the inhabitants have an oddity about them that was very reminiscent of the Wayside School series by Louis Sachar – where the abnormal is seen as normal, but with a more serious tone. Such as teachers and students not even realizing Gran is a student in the school. Or, when sinkholes start appearing at school everyone is just expected to walk around the sinkhole area. Sure…a massive sinkhole forms and there’s no concern about the rest of the school falling in. Or how about the fact that some of the town believes the sinkhole was caused by evil moose. One of the ways that helps to bring out this oddness are the chapters. There are 113 of them and some are very, very short. The first chapter itself is just one sentence. Perfect for young readers who might to feel a sense of accomplishment when reading.
The two main characters in the story are Gran and Catalina Catalan. Out of all the kids in the school Catalina is the only one who one day realizes he is in the class. From there he becomes intrigued by her and starts following her around and finds that she can open doors that don’t really exist. Catalina is trying to keep the sinkholes from occurring and Gran decides he wants to help. While Catalina sounds intriguing she is actually a difficult character to like. She is mean to Gran, arrogant, and condescending. I was very glad when Gran realized this about her and decides to stay away from her. But circumstances pull them together again and I’m glad they did because we get to see a better side of her.
As odd as this book is at times, there is a great deal of heart in it that I wasn’t expecting. It occurs toward the end when we finally get to the part where we learn who and what the Lifters truly are and what their role is and to be honest I became a little emotional over it. I credit the narrator and author for giving such a good performance.
Rating: 4 stars
The Lifters focuses on the town of Carousel where Gran and his family has just moved to. If there is one thing to know about Carousel it is that the inhabitants have an oddity about them that was very reminiscent of the Wayside School series by Louis Sachar – where the abnormal is seen as normal, but with a more serious tone. Such as teachers and students not even realizing Gran is a student in the school. Or, when sinkholes start appearing at school everyone is just expected to walk around the sinkhole area. Sure…a massive sinkhole forms and there’s no concern about the rest of the school falling in. Or how about the fact that some of the town believes the sinkhole was caused by evil moose. One of the ways that helps to bring out this oddness are the chapters. There are 113 of them and some are very, very short. The first chapter itself is just one sentence. Perfect for young readers who might to feel a sense of accomplishment when reading.
The two main characters in the story are Gran and Catalina Catalan. Out of all the kids in the school Catalina is the only one who one day realizes he is in the class. From there he becomes intrigued by her and starts following her around and finds that she can open doors that don’t really exist. Catalina is trying to keep the sinkholes from occurring and Gran decides he wants to help. While Catalina sounds intriguing she is actually a difficult character to like. She is mean to Gran, arrogant, and condescending. I was very glad when Gran realized this about her and decides to stay away from her. But circumstances pull them together again and I’m glad they did because we get to see a better side of her.
As odd as this book is at times, there is a great deal of heart in it that I wasn’t expecting. It occurs toward the end when we finally get to the part where we learn who and what the Lifters truly are and what their role is and to be honest I became a little emotional over it. I credit the narrator and author for giving such a good performance.
Rating: 4 stars
July 25, 2019
A refreshing, uplifting read! I have read several Dave Eggers books and this one aimed at a young audience incorporates all the most charming quirks of his sense of humor and writing style. It takes me back to Heartbreaking Work...
As a parent and a teacher of elementary-age kids, I am so grateful for this encouraging story of children successfully grappling with fearful, overwhelming problems in the adult and natural world that seem beyond their control or even sphere of influence. The message of hope and agency is so important; Eggers expresses it in a way that is not heavy-handed, but touching and empowering.
Side note - my ten-year old read it before me and liked it, too. He loves to listen to longer novels read aloud to him, but when picking up his own independent reads, he usually goes for graphic novels. I was pleased to see he happily stuck with this traditional novel format (with good illustrations sprinkled through) and finished it in about a week. I think he was spurred on by the short chapters - felt proud when he could update me that he was on chapter 84 or 97 or 115.
As a parent and a teacher of elementary-age kids, I am so grateful for this encouraging story of children successfully grappling with fearful, overwhelming problems in the adult and natural world that seem beyond their control or even sphere of influence. The message of hope and agency is so important; Eggers expresses it in a way that is not heavy-handed, but touching and empowering.
Side note - my ten-year old read it before me and liked it, too. He loves to listen to longer novels read aloud to him, but when picking up his own independent reads, he usually goes for graphic novels. I was pleased to see he happily stuck with this traditional novel format (with good illustrations sprinkled through) and finished it in about a week. I think he was spurred on by the short chapters - felt proud when he could update me that he was on chapter 84 or 97 or 115.
July 17, 2019
Very fun and engaging. The illustrations are GORGEOUS. I even got a little teary at the end— fighting sadness with hope really gets me.
July 23, 2021
Amusing, quick read.
January 11, 2019
What is living under your town? And who will save your town from those things living down there?
I already tried this book before, in Dutch, didn't like it that much, but still wanted to try it as I have had my fair share of trouble with translations before and I wanted to see if the original was better.
I will do a good/bad review.
Good:
-The Hollows and what they were. It is quite an intriguing idea that there is a monster (I would call it that) who feeds on despair/sorrow/anger and eats away the ground under towns and cities. We still have no idea how these creatures look, for most of the book they are just envisioned as wind. Angry, full-blown hurricane winds.
-The Lifters. How interesting that throughout the world we have kids (or small adults, as one needs to be small to do this work) who try to fix the badness that the Hollows make. The tunnels. They try to find supports, from hockey sticks to golden poles to shovels and a stack of teacups, to hold up the ceiling and make sure nothing comes down. No buildings get eaten.
The fact that they all had a Lift (handle that meant something to them or had significant meaning) and could open doors everywhere was so much fun, and I wish I had that power.
-I was curious to see what buildings would be eaten. Yes, it sounds horrible, but it just made everything more exciting. More of a race against the clock for our Lifters.
-The ending. It was just the best outcome for the town, and I loved that Catalina and Granite thought of that plan, and made it all happen.
-The tunnel illustrations at the beginning of each chapter.
-The illustrations throughout the book. I loved the style, they were more sketches than what we normally see as illustrations and it fitted so well with the book.
-A town named Carousel who used to make Carousels. And not just any carousels, but the best and the most fabulous ones.
-Again the town. It looked so beautiful, and I just adored the view from Granite's home. If it wasn't for the Hollows, I would have loved to live there.
-The conference that Granite and Catalina went to near the end. It was so much fun to see so many Lifters and also meet some of the bosses/important people. Then there is the fact there is apparently also a world meeting.
Bad:
-Granite. Sorry, I never liked that guy. Yes, he has some good moments, sure, but mostly... I mean he creepily stalks Catalina many times. He even stays and sits outside of a hill she went into for hours and hours. At one point she is sweaty and we have a comment from him on that.. eewwww. Then he gets kicked and punched by him, and apparently he doesn't mind. But later on when she calls him a name (after already given enough hints that she isn't liking him that much) he just collapsed and says she is mean. Um.... Oh, but later on he is immediately best buds again and is once again 100% infatuated with her. One time he just steals his mom's wheelchair for Catalina. Wow, what if your mom has to go to the toilet? Or has an emergency? She cannot walk. She cannot escape then.
-Catalina. Catalina was even worse than Granite. I normally don't use curse words in children's books reviews, but Catalina was a bitch. Constantly berating Granite, being mean to him, confusing him, and even judging him because he has a watch (what the hell is up with that?).
I don't want to waste more words on this girl.
-What is wrong with that teacher on page 229 (ish). She puts the kids on computers, and when Granite needs to go to toilet she ignores him multiple times until he finally just pees in his pants. Then when it is time for lunch he tries to tactically let her know about the accident, and instead of helping him she just tells him to get in line and go out. What the hell? Can someone fire her?
Not good/not bad:
-The drama between Granite's parents.
So as you can see, good story, good mystery, wonderful illustrations, but terrible, terrible characters. 3.5 stars, which is still high, but I really enjoyed the story/mystery and some other elements.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I already tried this book before, in Dutch, didn't like it that much, but still wanted to try it as I have had my fair share of trouble with translations before and I wanted to see if the original was better.
I will do a good/bad review.
Good:
-The Hollows and what they were. It is quite an intriguing idea that there is a monster (I would call it that) who feeds on despair/sorrow/anger and eats away the ground under towns and cities. We still have no idea how these creatures look, for most of the book they are just envisioned as wind. Angry, full-blown hurricane winds.
-The Lifters. How interesting that throughout the world we have kids (or small adults, as one needs to be small to do this work) who try to fix the badness that the Hollows make. The tunnels. They try to find supports, from hockey sticks to golden poles to shovels and a stack of teacups, to hold up the ceiling and make sure nothing comes down. No buildings get eaten.
The fact that they all had a Lift (handle that meant something to them or had significant meaning) and could open doors everywhere was so much fun, and I wish I had that power.
-I was curious to see what buildings would be eaten. Yes, it sounds horrible, but it just made everything more exciting. More of a race against the clock for our Lifters.
-The ending. It was just the best outcome for the town, and I loved that Catalina and Granite thought of that plan, and made it all happen.
-The tunnel illustrations at the beginning of each chapter.
-The illustrations throughout the book. I loved the style, they were more sketches than what we normally see as illustrations and it fitted so well with the book.
-A town named Carousel who used to make Carousels. And not just any carousels, but the best and the most fabulous ones.
-Again the town. It looked so beautiful, and I just adored the view from Granite's home. If it wasn't for the Hollows, I would have loved to live there.
-The conference that Granite and Catalina went to near the end. It was so much fun to see so many Lifters and also meet some of the bosses/important people. Then there is the fact there is apparently also a world meeting.
Bad:
-Granite. Sorry, I never liked that guy. Yes, he has some good moments, sure, but mostly... I mean he creepily stalks Catalina many times. He even stays and sits outside of a hill she went into for hours and hours. At one point she is sweaty and we have a comment from him on that.. eewwww. Then he gets kicked and punched by him, and apparently he doesn't mind. But later on when she calls him a name (after already given enough hints that she isn't liking him that much) he just collapsed and says she is mean. Um.... Oh, but later on he is immediately best buds again and is once again 100% infatuated with her. One time he just steals his mom's wheelchair for Catalina. Wow, what if your mom has to go to the toilet? Or has an emergency? She cannot walk. She cannot escape then.
-Catalina. Catalina was even worse than Granite. I normally don't use curse words in children's books reviews, but Catalina was a bitch. Constantly berating Granite, being mean to him, confusing him, and even judging him because he has a watch (what the hell is up with that?).
I don't want to waste more words on this girl.
-What is wrong with that teacher on page 229 (ish). She puts the kids on computers, and when Granite needs to go to toilet she ignores him multiple times until he finally just pees in his pants. Then when it is time for lunch he tries to tactically let her know about the accident, and instead of helping him she just tells him to get in line and go out. What the hell? Can someone fire her?
Not good/not bad:
-The drama between Granite's parents.
So as you can see, good story, good mystery, wonderful illustrations, but terrible, terrible characters. 3.5 stars, which is still high, but I really enjoyed the story/mystery and some other elements.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
October 9, 2018
I loved this book! Written for upper primary school aged readers, this book has it all! There's mystery and adventure and a tinge of sadness and plenty of surprises and lots of magic!
I loved Eggers' ability to create a story that is timeless. There is a passing mention of mobile phones, but this story could be set in any time frame. Clever Mr Eggers.
The plot is so unusual - I don't think anyone has thought of this one before (not saying what I'm talking about - you'll have to read it!)
The story is well paced, and the wonderful illustrations by Aaron Renier are perfect.
Above all, the book has heart - and a clear message that needs to be repeated in this age of 'me, me, me':
".....if you know sadness, you understand sadness in others. And if you can understand sadness in others, you're obligated to help."
I know some kids who'll be receiving this cracker of a book for Christmas this year!
Highly recommended.
I loved Eggers' ability to create a story that is timeless. There is a passing mention of mobile phones, but this story could be set in any time frame. Clever Mr Eggers.
The plot is so unusual - I don't think anyone has thought of this one before (not saying what I'm talking about - you'll have to read it!)
The story is well paced, and the wonderful illustrations by Aaron Renier are perfect.
Above all, the book has heart - and a clear message that needs to be repeated in this age of 'me, me, me':
".....if you know sadness, you understand sadness in others. And if you can understand sadness in others, you're obligated to help."
I know some kids who'll be receiving this cracker of a book for Christmas this year!
Highly recommended.
May 21, 2018
An uplifting book...if you will.
But really, that's the word that comes to mind upon finishing it, which I did in a single afternoon - it's middle grade, with 100+ chapters and ample illustrations, which means it's chopped into bite-sized chunks that are easy to plow through. It's not the most innovative or clever book out there; a lot of it was pretty predictable, and you simply have to accept the wildly unrealistic elements. But it's good-hearted and sweet.
Its central message of communal unity and mutual support seems a bit heavy-handed in places - there's one page that's so preachy it pulls you right out of the story - but it's clearly something that's important to Eggers. Beyond his skills as an author, he seems to be a particularly good kind of person. As the founder of an expanding web of creative writing and tutoring centers (look up 826 Valencia if you're interested in learning more), he has a strong interest in helping children find - and fine-tune - their creativity. His method of promoting this book was to bring along a pre-teen poet who "interviewed" him, and whom he spent more time encouraging and gently placing in the spotlight. He had her read two of her poems to a room of adults who had come to see him, and he set her up with a stack of notecards that she signed for each person who brought a book to him after the event.
It was generous and unpretentious - an example of living the kinds of messages he tried to tell through this story. Pay attention to the people who feel invisible. Spread happiness to keep the hollow emptiness from tearing the ground from beneath our feet. Work together to build something good, and beautiful, and worth being proud of.
I've only read Eggers's A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, which I don't remember in detail anymore but do remember loving. His children's fiction is written well, with quirky humor that feels borrowed from the repertoire of authors such as Roald Dahl and Daniel Handler. They undeniably do it better, but his version is charming enough for an afternoon, if not for multiple re-reads.
But really, that's the word that comes to mind upon finishing it, which I did in a single afternoon - it's middle grade, with 100+ chapters and ample illustrations, which means it's chopped into bite-sized chunks that are easy to plow through. It's not the most innovative or clever book out there; a lot of it was pretty predictable, and you simply have to accept the wildly unrealistic elements. But it's good-hearted and sweet.
Its central message of communal unity and mutual support seems a bit heavy-handed in places - there's one page that's so preachy it pulls you right out of the story - but it's clearly something that's important to Eggers. Beyond his skills as an author, he seems to be a particularly good kind of person. As the founder of an expanding web of creative writing and tutoring centers (look up 826 Valencia if you're interested in learning more), he has a strong interest in helping children find - and fine-tune - their creativity. His method of promoting this book was to bring along a pre-teen poet who "interviewed" him, and whom he spent more time encouraging and gently placing in the spotlight. He had her read two of her poems to a room of adults who had come to see him, and he set her up with a stack of notecards that she signed for each person who brought a book to him after the event.
It was generous and unpretentious - an example of living the kinds of messages he tried to tell through this story. Pay attention to the people who feel invisible. Spread happiness to keep the hollow emptiness from tearing the ground from beneath our feet. Work together to build something good, and beautiful, and worth being proud of.
I've only read Eggers's A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, which I don't remember in detail anymore but do remember loving. His children's fiction is written well, with quirky humor that feels borrowed from the repertoire of authors such as Roald Dahl and Daniel Handler. They undeniably do it better, but his version is charming enough for an afternoon, if not for multiple re-reads.
October 1, 2018
Gran did not want to move to Carousel.
This book is one of my few completely spontaneous B&N buys. They had it out in the aisle and the cover was perfect and the first chapter was one sentence and I love middle grade so I was hooked. In the end, it frustrated me a little because the characters seemed pretty predictable and both too young and too old. But still... It had a one sentence chapter. It had random narrator interruptions. The illustrations were perfect. It made me smile.
I guess that means it worked, right?
Also, still trying to decide if P&S v M&H was too ridiculous to be funny, or too funny to be ridiculous.
This book is one of my few completely spontaneous B&N buys. They had it out in the aisle and the cover was perfect and the first chapter was one sentence and I love middle grade so I was hooked. In the end, it frustrated me a little because the characters seemed pretty predictable and both too young and too old. But still... It had a one sentence chapter. It had random narrator interruptions. The illustrations were perfect. It made me smile.
I guess that means it worked, right?
Also, still trying to decide if P&S v M&H was too ridiculous to be funny, or too funny to be ridiculous.
June 24, 2018
I love kids books. I'm always searching for another fantasy novel to some day share with my children! I really wanted to like this one. I was excited to read it and the beginning was fine but that was it. Nothing magical. Nothing outstanding. Not much of anything. I got half way through it before I gave up. It's boring and predictable. I'd rather slog through mud as that at least would keep me engaged.
June 4, 2025
I think this would make a great read aloud for 2nd- 5th grade students. It was an imaginative read, with just enough suspense in the middle, and a happy, hopeful end. I both listened and read this one. The audiobook was ok, but I preferred reading it. The book has small illustrations that added to the experience. Also, I couldn’t quite make out the last word (an important word) on the audio.
March 20, 2019
Romanzo per bambini, e ci sta, ma non particolarmente brillante...
I cattivi lasciati sullo sfondo per la gran parte del tempo e poi risolti (semplicisticamente) nell'ultima pagina.
Mi aspettavo di più da questa storia ma forse perché le mie aspettative su Dave Eggers sono sempre altissime.
I cattivi lasciati sullo sfondo per la gran parte del tempo e poi risolti (semplicisticamente) nell'ultima pagina.
Mi aspettavo di più da questa storia ma forse perché le mie aspettative su Dave Eggers sono sempre altissime.
June 1, 2018
"...when someone asks if you trust them, it usually means they're about to do something that will make you reassess that trust."
I love Dave Eggers.
I love Dave Eggers.
November 22, 2018
3 e mezzo
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