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The Greatest Inventor
Join the adventure. Break the curse. Find your way home. A magical new adventure from the bestselling author of THE IMPOSSIBLE BOY.
Victor is skeptical when Walter Swizwit comes to the village of Rainwater. He's the latest in a string of inventors passing through, and no one wants to buy his cheap magic tricks. But Walter doesn't take rejection well, and puts a curse on the village.
Only Victor is unaffected and he must leave Rainwater for the first time in his life if he's to find the cure. Victor's path takes him past other villages that Walter has damaged, and he picks up new companions on the way: Elena, handy with bow and arrow, Mo-Lan, a science prodigy, and scaredy-cat Mingus.
It's soon clear that they underestimated Walter's power. Only he has the cure for his magic and he's locked away in his castle a thousand leagues away. But he's not the only inventor out there... If Victor and his friends can get someone more powerful on their side, maybe they can win: find Walter, break the curse and return as heroes.
After all, there's no place like home...
Victor is skeptical when Walter Swizwit comes to the village of Rainwater. He's the latest in a string of inventors passing through, and no one wants to buy his cheap magic tricks. But Walter doesn't take rejection well, and puts a curse on the village.
Only Victor is unaffected and he must leave Rainwater for the first time in his life if he's to find the cure. Victor's path takes him past other villages that Walter has damaged, and he picks up new companions on the way: Elena, handy with bow and arrow, Mo-Lan, a science prodigy, and scaredy-cat Mingus.
It's soon clear that they underestimated Walter's power. Only he has the cure for his magic and he's locked away in his castle a thousand leagues away. But he's not the only inventor out there... If Victor and his friends can get someone more powerful on their side, maybe they can win: find Walter, break the curse and return as heroes.
After all, there's no place like home...
256 pages, Hardcover
Published October 29, 2020
5 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Ben Brooks
62 books427 followersBen Brooks (born 1992 in Gloucestershire) is the author of the novels: Grow Up, Fences, An Island of Fifty, The Kasahara School of Nihilism, Upward Coast and Sadie, Lolito, Everyone Gets Eaten, and Hurra. Writing for children, he has published the Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller Stories For Boys Who Dare to Be Different, Stories For Boys Who Dare to be Different 2, Stories For Kids Who Dare to be Different, The Impossible Boy, and The Greatest Inventor. His first non-fiction book for adults, Things They Don't Want You To Know, was published by Quercus in September 2020.
He contributed the story Kimchi or a Partial List of Misappropriated Hood Ornaments to Frank Ocean's Boys Don't Cry, accompanying the release of 2016 album Blonde.
He contributed the story Kimchi or a Partial List of Misappropriated Hood Ornaments to Frank Ocean's Boys Don't Cry, accompanying the release of 2016 album Blonde.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
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March 23, 2024Novel·la infantil en forma de faula amb un discurs anticapitalista i on els dolents són els rics i els explotadors. Estimo a en Ben Brooks 🩷
March 12, 2024
172: «Mentre roncava dintre la closca, la tortuga gegant es va veure a si mateixa navegant tranquil·lament per un mar serè damunt d'una fulla d'enciam gegantina»
April 20, 2024
Aquest és un llibre juvenil amb el qual acompanyem els protagonistes de la història en un viatge per salvar les seves poblacions. Són personatges molt diferents entre ells que s'uneixen per una causa comuna, cadascú amb les seves habilitats i coneixements, i que acaben convertint-se en una família. El cliché Found family és el meu preferit, i el trobem aquí d'una manera preciosa😍
Tots els personatges m'han semblat meravellosos i molt ben construïts. A més, és impossible no sentir-se identificat amb algun dels protagonistes. I la tortuga Osvald...😍 Us enamorareu d'ella com m'ha passat a mi!!
L'ambientació també és genial. T'imagines els boscos, el castell, la fortalesa, tots els pobles... Molt ben construït tot❤️
L'estil narratiu de l'autor m'ha semblat increíble. Té una ploma molt lleugera i fàcil de seguir que fa que no puguis parar de llegir. Estan constantment passant coses i quan acabes un capítol necessites començar el següent i saber quina serà la nova aventura o el nou obstacle que es trobaràn. A més a més, les il·lustracions m'han encantat. Són precioses i molt encertades amb el to i estil de la novel·la❤️
En definitiva, una novel·la juvenil que enganxa des de la primera pàgina i que fa que visquis, acompanyant els personatges, unes aventures meravelloses i trepidants😊
..............................
Éste es un libro juvenil con el que acompañamos a los protagonistas de la historia en un viaje para salvar sus poblaciones. Son personajes muy distintos entre sí que se unen por una causa común, cada uno con sus habilidades y conocimientos, y que acaban convirtiéndose en una familia. El cliché Found family es mi favorito, y lo encontramos aquí de una forma preciosa😍
Todos los personajes son maravillosos y están muy bien construidos. Además, es imposible no sentirse identificado con alguno de sus protagonistas. Y la tortuga Osvald...😍 Os enamoraréis de ella como me ha pasado a mí!!
La ambientación es también genial. Te imaginas los bosques, el castillo, la fortaleza, todos los pueblos... Muy bien construido todo❤️
El estilo narrativo del autor me ha parecido increíble. Tiene una pluma muy ligera y fácil de seguir que hace que no puedas parar de leer. Están constantemente pasando cosas y cuando terminas un capítulo necesitas empezar lo siguiente y saber cuál será la nueva aventura o el nuevo obstáculo que se encontrarán. Además, las ilustraciones me han encantado. Son preciosas y muy acertadas con el tono y estilo de la novela❤️
En definitiva, una novela juvenil que engancha desde la primera página y que hace que vivas, acompañando a los personajes, unas aventuras maravillosas y trepidantes😊
Tots els personatges m'han semblat meravellosos i molt ben construïts. A més, és impossible no sentir-se identificat amb algun dels protagonistes. I la tortuga Osvald...😍 Us enamorareu d'ella com m'ha passat a mi!!
L'ambientació també és genial. T'imagines els boscos, el castell, la fortalesa, tots els pobles... Molt ben construït tot❤️
L'estil narratiu de l'autor m'ha semblat increíble. Té una ploma molt lleugera i fàcil de seguir que fa que no puguis parar de llegir. Estan constantment passant coses i quan acabes un capítol necessites començar el següent i saber quina serà la nova aventura o el nou obstacle que es trobaràn. A més a més, les il·lustracions m'han encantat. Són precioses i molt encertades amb el to i estil de la novel·la❤️
En definitiva, una novel·la juvenil que enganxa des de la primera pàgina i que fa que visquis, acompanyant els personatges, unes aventures meravelloses i trepidants😊
..............................
Éste es un libro juvenil con el que acompañamos a los protagonistas de la historia en un viaje para salvar sus poblaciones. Son personajes muy distintos entre sí que se unen por una causa común, cada uno con sus habilidades y conocimientos, y que acaban convirtiéndose en una familia. El cliché Found family es mi favorito, y lo encontramos aquí de una forma preciosa😍
Todos los personajes son maravillosos y están muy bien construidos. Además, es imposible no sentirse identificado con alguno de sus protagonistas. Y la tortuga Osvald...😍 Os enamoraréis de ella como me ha pasado a mí!!
La ambientación es también genial. Te imaginas los bosques, el castillo, la fortaleza, todos los pueblos... Muy bien construido todo❤️
El estilo narrativo del autor me ha parecido increíble. Tiene una pluma muy ligera y fácil de seguir que hace que no puedas parar de leer. Están constantemente pasando cosas y cuando terminas un capítulo necesitas empezar lo siguiente y saber cuál será la nueva aventura o el nuevo obstáculo que se encontrarán. Además, las ilustraciones me han encantado. Son preciosas y muy acertadas con el tono y estilo de la novela❤️
En definitiva, una novela juvenil que engancha desde la primera página y que hace que vivas, acompañando a los personajes, unas aventuras maravillosas y trepidantes😊
November 10, 2020
If Goodreads gave half stars, this would be a two and half star read for me, right in the middle.
I'm not sure how I feel about this book. The fact that I had to add the book to Goodreads myself kind of says a bit already I think.
I will admit that I left this book on my Netgalley shelf for such a long time that it archived without me even downloading any copy so I proceeded to get the audiobook of it to fly through it quickly. Props to the narrator Geoffrey Breton, I enjoyed his flow and character work.
But the plot itself felt very meh to me. I thought Victor would be the main hero so to speak, defeating the 'bad guy' in the end with his new found friends, maybe them becoming inventors in their own right to save the day, but
This story had such potential, I loved the Iron Plague, the thinking behind each village and the people and even the collectors themselves had such an eeriness to them that I really enjoyed but the story went from slow to swift to rushed. When I listened to the final chapters, I was so confused as to what was happening.
Maybe this book was just not for me, but I look forward to others reviewing it and seeing their thoughts.
Thank you to Hachette's Childrens Books and Netgalley for an early eArc of the book
I'm not sure how I feel about this book. The fact that I had to add the book to Goodreads myself kind of says a bit already I think.
I will admit that I left this book on my Netgalley shelf for such a long time that it archived without me even downloading any copy so I proceeded to get the audiobook of it to fly through it quickly. Props to the narrator Geoffrey Breton, I enjoyed his flow and character work.
But the plot itself felt very meh to me. I thought Victor would be the main hero so to speak, defeating the 'bad guy' in the end with his new found friends, maybe them becoming inventors in their own right to save the day, but
This story had such potential, I loved the Iron Plague, the thinking behind each village and the people and even the collectors themselves had such an eeriness to them that I really enjoyed but the story went from slow to swift to rushed. When I listened to the final chapters, I was so confused as to what was happening.
Maybe this book was just not for me, but I look forward to others reviewing it and seeing their thoughts.
Thank you to Hachette's Childrens Books and Netgalley for an early eArc of the book
December 13, 2020
Ben Brooks is quietly carving out a niche as an excellent alternative to David Walliams. He has the same manic comedy and laugh out loud lines, and I really enjoy the storylines. This one is fascinating, largely because the villain's plan is so clever. It would have worked, really well and for a long time, if a small time crook hadn't stumbled into a tiny, out of the way village.
Although part of it didn't make sense to me - I don't want to spoil anything for anyone, so I'll just say the way that Walter took care of the villagers of Rainwater didn't jive with Polina's later explanation for me - I really enjoyed the story and the journey, literal and metaphorical, that the children went on. I love that part of the focus was on teaching children that traits and attributes other people might think are undesirable can actually be useful and helpful in certain circumstances.
This is a great, fun read, and I'm looking forward to seeing what Ben does next.
Although part of it didn't make sense to me - I don't want to spoil anything for anyone, so I'll just say the way that Walter took care of the villagers of Rainwater didn't jive with Polina's later explanation for me - I really enjoyed the story and the journey, literal and metaphorical, that the children went on. I love that part of the focus was on teaching children that traits and attributes other people might think are undesirable can actually be useful and helpful in certain circumstances.
This is a great, fun read, and I'm looking forward to seeing what Ben does next.
December 28, 2020
This book was an absolute delight. It has Enid Blyton / Roald Dahl / David Walliams vibes and a tortoise for a hero!
Victor is a boy who loves to take his tortoise to the highest mountain in his village to watch the sun rise each day. On the day he sees a pedlar approaching in his wagon, everything changes and Victor is forced to leave behind everything he knows in search of a cure to the magical curse that has been placed on his parents and the whole village. Along the way, he finds a group of friends who help him see that it takes all kinds of people to make the world go around.
This is a beautiful book that is not just an adventure story with ghastly bad guys and curious and kind good guys, it is also a lovely consideration of what constitutes good in a person and how to live an intentional life.
Highly recommended for readers of all ages, but especially young readers with vivid imaginations.
Victor is a boy who loves to take his tortoise to the highest mountain in his village to watch the sun rise each day. On the day he sees a pedlar approaching in his wagon, everything changes and Victor is forced to leave behind everything he knows in search of a cure to the magical curse that has been placed on his parents and the whole village. Along the way, he finds a group of friends who help him see that it takes all kinds of people to make the world go around.
This is a beautiful book that is not just an adventure story with ghastly bad guys and curious and kind good guys, it is also a lovely consideration of what constitutes good in a person and how to live an intentional life.
Highly recommended for readers of all ages, but especially young readers with vivid imaginations.
May 2, 2025
Ben Brooks torna amb una molt bona novel·la middle-grade. No tan brillant com La història impossible de Sebastian Cole, aquesta ens porta un esquema més repetitiu, però no deixar de sorprendre amb uns personatges força carismàtics.
Com a punt en contra, destacar que la metàfora entre consum de mòbils, xarxes socials, videojocs que surt a la novel·la i que intenta criticar l'autor, és massa evident. Inclús per a nens.
Com a punt en contra, destacar que la metàfora entre consum de mòbils, xarxes socials, videojocs que surt a la novel·la i que intenta criticar l'autor, és massa evident. Inclús per a nens.
April 1, 2022
It is a very great book, indeed. It has alot of plot twists and surprises. The best thing about it is that it shows you that distractions and idiot stuff can mainly destroy a person’s life, so one should be aware. Also gathering people from different cities and forming a team is also so awesome as well. Rescuing your family, working hard and returning to normal life adds alot to a person’s life.
November 24, 2020
I am fully satisfied with this book - it has adventure, a little bit of seriousness and quite a bit of the laugh-out-loud kind of humour!
So join Victor, Elena, Mo-Lan and Mingus for a journey that most readers will cherish and enjoy!
So join Victor, Elena, Mo-Lan and Mingus for a journey that most readers will cherish and enjoy!
December 20, 2020
I liked this book. I really liked the illustrations
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews