The Hobgoblin Proxy

Clemency Pogue #2

by J.T. Petty

If you're looking for a quest, help me find the changeling, destroy it, and save the Make-Believe and this halfling's sanity. As a baby, Kenneth Mess was stolen from his cradle and replaced with a clay replica. Now he is being raised underground by Clemency Pogue's hobgoblin friend Chaphesmeeso, so that he will eventually become a hobgoblin himself. But that can't happen until the clay baby dissolves. And that won't happen, since Inky, the changeling, rarely washes. Which means that the world of Make-Believe is in serious danger. Once again, an adventure is underfoot for Clemency Pogue as she tries to make the world safe for Make-Believe.

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens, Middle Grade

160 pages, Hardcover

First published September 4, 2006

About the author

Besides writing children's books, Petty is also a director and screenwriter for movies and video games. His film Soft for Digging was an Official Selection of the Sundance Film Festival. He received a Game Developers Choice Award for his work on the bestselling video game Splinter Cell. JT lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Reviews

[Krim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looooooove

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clemency Pogue, reformed fairy killer and friend of Hobgoblins, is off on a new adventure to save the world of Make-Believe. When a changeling doesn't wash away as he was intended to and develops a life of his own, his hob-goblin-to-be twin, Kennethurchin, along with his tutor are sent to find him and with the aid of the Fairy of Long Goodnights, dispatch him. Clemency, recruited to help because of her formidable Moxie, comes up with a plan all her own.

As in the first book, this book is not for the squeamish. Full of disgusting and icky metaphors and similes, some of the dialogue is a puzzle to decipher.

"My abecedarian is AWOL," said Chaphe. "Um," said Clemency.

"My flunky rookie is playing hooky," said Chaphe.

"Kennethurchin," said Clem. "He's missing?"

Chaphe put a finger to his nose. "Bull's eye proboscis..."

So given the puzzling nature and descriptive gooeyness - I would recommend to those comfortable baiting their own hook and looking up words in dictionaries. Laugh out loud funny, skin crawlingly gross and wide open for another sequel - what more could you ask for?

[Jesse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clemency Pogue: The Hobgoblin Proxy by JT Petty

If you are wondering why an individual who just wrote a review on Victor Hugo’s The Laughing Man has taken the time to read and review a kid’s book, I’ll admit in my defense that I am mildly infatuated with hobgoblins and will always have soft spot for fairy tales. As a contemporary fairy tale, I found Petty’s Hobgoblin Proxy to be genuinely humorous. Just take, foe example, the name of the primary supporting hobgoblin character, its “Chapesmeeso”(haha, get it? chafe’s-me-so), or “Chape” for short. There are also a number of cute little references to readership culture in its contents. Indeed, it was at least worth the couple of hours it took to read it. Perfect bedtime story for children, and if you’re a parent, it is certainly not a bad choice for the up and coming book-worm.

[Shelli · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow what a total let down. I loved the first book and was so excited to see what would happen with these very likable characters. Even though this is set in the realm of fairies and hobgoblins I think the author went WAY overboard with the weird by having amputated Boxer tails become "reanimated" and drink root beer. Terrible!!

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darling story starring Clemency Pogue who one day gets chased by a fairy in the forest. When she remembers that not believing can kill a fairy, she says “I do not believe in fairies? 7 times, thus killing 6 fairies in addition to the one attacking her. With the help of a hobgoblin, she goes on a mission to get them back. Very cute. I listened to it as an audio book, which is highly recommended.

[Anna Mari · Rating 2 out of 5]

Im not a huge fan of Clemency Pogue, but Samantha liked Fairy Killer, so we got this one. While it did have some laugh out loud momements, it is just not my kind of story. Samantha likd this one ok and the book left itself open to another edition in Clemency's life.

Oh and we actually listened to the Recorded Books unabridged version read by L.J. Ganser - same reader as Fairy Killer.

[Naomi Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is 100% one of my comfort reads. I'm not entirely sure why. I like Petty's sense of humor and his turn of phrases. I think Clemency is a wonderful female protagonist. I will keep coming back to these books.

[Readersaurus · Rating 2 out of 5]

The humor in this one is just too harsh for me. The 9 year old likes it well enough, though.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hilarious tale about goblins who steal babies, and replace them with animated clay babies.

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aaaah! A cliffhanger! The kids can't wait to read the next one!