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The Blue Shoe: A Tale of Thievery, Villainy, Sorcery, and Shoes
It was only one shoe. It fit no one. But everyone wanted it. Hap Barlo sits in a cell, wondering how it had all gone so wrong. The blue shoe was ruined, the girl he’d been trying to help was missing, and he’d been branded a thief—again! He would be banished to the far side of Mount Xexnax in the morning. On the bright side, now he might be able to rescue his father, who had been banished last year. No one has ever returned from Xexnax, so perhaps Hap is a tad optimistic to be dreaming of rescue. Then again, perhaps a dreamer, a doer, and a thief is just the kind of boy who could challenge this mountain—and win! First edition will be printed in blue ink!
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 13, 2009
12 people are currently reading
345 people want to read
About the author
Roderick Townley
18 books57 followersRoderick Townley is an American author of juvenile, young adult, and adult books, including books of poetry, nonfiction, and literary criticism. He received his Ph.D. from Rutgers University, New Brunswick, and was for many years a poet and fiction writer, and for a time lived in New York City and wrote for TV Guide, The Village Voice and other publications. In 2001, he began the Sylvie Cycle, a metafictional series about the spunky, fictional Princess Sylvie who lives her life in a book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
April 19, 2019
This book isn’t a bad middle-grade story. It isn’t a good one either, though. The characters are a bit one-dimensional and there are LOTS of cliches. There is some awesome underlying mythology here, though, which earned all my stars. Also, the illustrations by Mary GranPre are wonderful as usual. I am looking forward to reading other books by this author; hopefully this book will be a solid start!
June 16, 2010
Cute and clever, with a tongue-in-cheek narration and set in an imaginative world. The plot seemed to become a little disjointed at the end (this one was headed for 4 stars up until the climax), but still an entertaining read.
I will never be able to see Mary Granpre's illustrations without thinking of Harry Potter, so it threw me a couple times to turn the page and think "wait, when did Hermione and Hagrid show up?" for a second. But they were lovely, as always.
I was reading a first edition, which means that everything - text, illustrations, copyright page - was in blue ink. A clever gimmick, because it ties in quite nicely with the story.
I will never be able to see Mary Granpre's illustrations without thinking of Harry Potter, so it threw me a couple times to turn the page and think "wait, when did Hermione and Hagrid show up?" for a second. But they were lovely, as always.
I was reading a first edition, which means that everything - text, illustrations, copyright page - was in blue ink. A clever gimmick, because it ties in quite nicely with the story.
January 24, 2010
The cover of this book caught my eye as I was running through the library. The binding is entirely blue with an illustration of swirling blue fabric behind a lavishly bejeweled blue shoe. I literally grabbed it from the shelving cart, flipped to the back and read:
"Not long ago, in the sunny mountain village of Aplanap, there stood a small shoemaker’s shop. And in the window of that shop was a shoe that fit nobody. Of course, since it was only one shoe, it was doubly useless. Yet everyone who learned of this shoe was seized with the desire to own it." I was seized with the desire to read it. When I took it home, it claimed a space on my bed and provided two evenings of fairy tale treat.
The fairy tale genre provides challenges. For one, there is a clear delineation of good and evil and goodness must always succeed, so we know the protagonists will survive whatever dangers they face. By the time readers are in the upper elementary grades or in middle school (the targeted readers), they are familiar with the traditional archetypes and plots of the genre, and require more original conflicts, settings, and demons. This book has echoes of Lord of the Rings meets the young King Arthur. It is both fairy tale and action adventure, and incorporates myth, politics, racial dis-harmony, and concern for the earth. The book held my interest but felt contrived. I was especially put off by the narrator’s constant interruptions as he addressed the reader, reminding me I was reading a tale. There was enough action to hold the attention of readers who have not read J.K. Rowling or J.RR. Tolkein, but it was no threat to their books’ reigns as ruling writers of classics in children’s literature.
"Not long ago, in the sunny mountain village of Aplanap, there stood a small shoemaker’s shop. And in the window of that shop was a shoe that fit nobody. Of course, since it was only one shoe, it was doubly useless. Yet everyone who learned of this shoe was seized with the desire to own it." I was seized with the desire to read it. When I took it home, it claimed a space on my bed and provided two evenings of fairy tale treat.
The fairy tale genre provides challenges. For one, there is a clear delineation of good and evil and goodness must always succeed, so we know the protagonists will survive whatever dangers they face. By the time readers are in the upper elementary grades or in middle school (the targeted readers), they are familiar with the traditional archetypes and plots of the genre, and require more original conflicts, settings, and demons. This book has echoes of Lord of the Rings meets the young King Arthur. It is both fairy tale and action adventure, and incorporates myth, politics, racial dis-harmony, and concern for the earth. The book held my interest but felt contrived. I was especially put off by the narrator’s constant interruptions as he addressed the reader, reminding me I was reading a tale. There was enough action to hold the attention of readers who have not read J.K. Rowling or J.RR. Tolkein, but it was no threat to their books’ reigns as ruling writers of classics in children’s literature.
January 30, 2010
Reviewed by Sarah Bean the Green Bean Teen Queen for TeensReadToo.com
One evening in a small town called Aplanap, a mysterious stranger approaches the shoemaker, Grel, to make a blue shoe entirely out of strange blue gems. The shoe must never be sold or damaged.
When Hap, the shoemaker's apprentice, steals a gem from the blue shoe to save a poor beggar girl, he is sentenced to the mountain Xexnax. There he finds a race of people called Auki's working in the mines. Aplanap's mayor and his wife are after the biggest blue gem of all. But a rebellion is underway and it's up to Hap to lead the fight and save his friends and the town.
With a title that includes "Thievery, Villainy, Sorcery, and Shoes," you know you can't go wrong! THE BLUE SHOE is a magical story that reads like a fairy tale. There's lots of adventure, a bit of romance, and magic.
Hap is a likable hero and his friend, Sophia, is full of spunk, and they were a delight to read about. They are surrounded by a fun cast of characters that won't soon be forgotten.
The book is printed in blue ink and filled with illustrations from Mary GrandPre, which I thought added to the magic of the tale. This is one I could see being read aloud to all ages - it has the feel of an old-fashioned tale that has been passed down and re-told and needs to be shared.
THE BLUE SHOE will appeal to both readers of fantasy and those who enjoy action-packed adventures.
One evening in a small town called Aplanap, a mysterious stranger approaches the shoemaker, Grel, to make a blue shoe entirely out of strange blue gems. The shoe must never be sold or damaged.
When Hap, the shoemaker's apprentice, steals a gem from the blue shoe to save a poor beggar girl, he is sentenced to the mountain Xexnax. There he finds a race of people called Auki's working in the mines. Aplanap's mayor and his wife are after the biggest blue gem of all. But a rebellion is underway and it's up to Hap to lead the fight and save his friends and the town.
With a title that includes "Thievery, Villainy, Sorcery, and Shoes," you know you can't go wrong! THE BLUE SHOE is a magical story that reads like a fairy tale. There's lots of adventure, a bit of romance, and magic.
Hap is a likable hero and his friend, Sophia, is full of spunk, and they were a delight to read about. They are surrounded by a fun cast of characters that won't soon be forgotten.
The book is printed in blue ink and filled with illustrations from Mary GrandPre, which I thought added to the magic of the tale. This is one I could see being read aloud to all ages - it has the feel of an old-fashioned tale that has been passed down and re-told and needs to be shared.
THE BLUE SHOE will appeal to both readers of fantasy and those who enjoy action-packed adventures.
May 10, 2017
Figured it out. I am, in fact, too old for this book, which I ordered from the library by mistake. Wrong "blue shoe" book.
March 1, 2010
I loved this book. It had me at the first page by starting off almost as if it were a fairy tale. It takes place in a mountain town run by an uncredulous mayor and his very spoiled and selfish wife. They feel the whole town should be at their beck and call and anything they want or fancy,well mostly the mayor's wife she should have. Even if it means hiring criminals to dig and run a prison at a mountain of mining to get what they want.
This book is sort of a dark tale but one that also has a lesson to be learned. The main character is a thirteen year old boy named Hap, who is the hero of the story. When his mother dies his father gets so caught up in his sorrow he lets his business go by the wayside and is sent off the dreaded mountain where all the towns beggers are sent to never to be seen again.Grel is the towns cobbler who is commisioned to make a beutiful jeweled shoe for an unknown person, hench the mysstery begins. The shoe is what the story is centered around bringing in the best and worst in the people around it.The ending of the story is what brings the genre of fantasy into the story as well.
This book is sort of a dark tale but one that also has a lesson to be learned. The main character is a thirteen year old boy named Hap, who is the hero of the story. When his mother dies his father gets so caught up in his sorrow he lets his business go by the wayside and is sent off the dreaded mountain where all the towns beggers are sent to never to be seen again.Grel is the towns cobbler who is commisioned to make a beutiful jeweled shoe for an unknown person, hench the mysstery begins. The shoe is what the story is centered around bringing in the best and worst in the people around it.The ending of the story is what brings the genre of fantasy into the story as well.
October 10, 2021
This is an exciting story with a likeable cast of characters (especially Sophia and Grel) as well as a deliciously cruel villain, not to mention the intriguing mystery of the shoe. I like how Hap earns the trust and help of people along his way. Anyone who could unite the two races to fight together is worthy of becoming mayor!
I felt that it was a bit lacking in some areas, though. I was a little let down by the mystery of the shoe. Somehow it didn't seem as exciting as I was hoping. I also would have liked more of Grel and more of Hap's reunion with his father. Unless I missed something, I also don't think an explanation for the city being turned to glass was given.
On an editing sort of note, I was confused by some of the dialogue because paragraph breaks would separate different parts of a character's dialogue, which bothered me.
Still, a good story. I appreciate the themes of generosity and forgiveness entwined in the plot. The goddess' reward of Hap for trying to save her in her beggar form is very reminiscent of fairy tales in which fairies disguise themselves, put humans to a test, and reward them when they are kind.
I felt that it was a bit lacking in some areas, though. I was a little let down by the mystery of the shoe. Somehow it didn't seem as exciting as I was hoping. I also would have liked more of Grel and more of Hap's reunion with his father. Unless I missed something, I also don't think an explanation for the city being turned to glass was given.
On an editing sort of note, I was confused by some of the dialogue because paragraph breaks would separate different parts of a character's dialogue, which bothered me.
Still, a good story. I appreciate the themes of generosity and forgiveness entwined in the plot. The goddess' reward of Hap for trying to save her in her beggar form is very reminiscent of fairy tales in which fairies disguise themselves, put humans to a test, and reward them when they are kind.
March 13, 2009
Not bad, loved the illustrations. I liked the story, it was different, but I felt that there were giant plot holes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2026
If you enjoy a story that moves quickly and plays with personification, then The Blue Shoe by Roderick Townley is a solid middle school read.
Within the first few pages, you’re introduced not only to the main characters, but also to “the mountain,” which quickly becomes a character in its own right. As the plot unfolds, additional key characters are added in a way that supports the development of the story rather than overwhelming it. The mountain—Mount Xexnax—continues to grow in presence, looming over the story both physically and symbolically.
The story follows Hap Barlow, a boy who is framed for stealing a jewel from a magical blue shoe and is banished to the dangerous Mount Xexnax. Beggars and thieves are sent there permanently, and its peak remains hidden in clouds, glowing with an unexplained orange light at night—volcano or trolls? Once there, Hap becomes entangled in a larger conflict involving the native Auki people, a corrupt mayor and his wife, and the struggle for power tied to the shoe’s largest gem. Along the way, Hap must also try to rescue his father.
The story clearly establishes a good-versus-evil framework while also touching on themes of racial division. The humans and the Auki distrust one another based on difference alone. Yet as events unfold, both groups are forced to cross boundaries in order to reach a common goal. The book gently explores how fear and prejudice can divide people, and how shared purpose can begin to break those barriers down.
There’s even a subtle echo of that theme in the blue shoe itself. When Hap removes a stone from the shoe to help a beggar girl, he is labeled a thief, even though his intent is kindness. The shoe, once brilliant and beautiful, changes as well—suggesting that actions, even well-meaning ones, have consequences.
At times, I felt the story pushed certain plot developments rather than allowing them to grow naturally. The ending builds toward a large moment, but it felt slightly rushed and a bit clunky in execution.
Overall, this is a good, shorter read that would work well for a middle school reader, especially one who enjoys adventure with clear moral lines and layered themes. I find myself between a 3 and 3.5 out of 5—a solid read, even if not one I would immediately return to.
Within the first few pages, you’re introduced not only to the main characters, but also to “the mountain,” which quickly becomes a character in its own right. As the plot unfolds, additional key characters are added in a way that supports the development of the story rather than overwhelming it. The mountain—Mount Xexnax—continues to grow in presence, looming over the story both physically and symbolically.
The story follows Hap Barlow, a boy who is framed for stealing a jewel from a magical blue shoe and is banished to the dangerous Mount Xexnax. Beggars and thieves are sent there permanently, and its peak remains hidden in clouds, glowing with an unexplained orange light at night—volcano or trolls? Once there, Hap becomes entangled in a larger conflict involving the native Auki people, a corrupt mayor and his wife, and the struggle for power tied to the shoe’s largest gem. Along the way, Hap must also try to rescue his father.
The story clearly establishes a good-versus-evil framework while also touching on themes of racial division. The humans and the Auki distrust one another based on difference alone. Yet as events unfold, both groups are forced to cross boundaries in order to reach a common goal. The book gently explores how fear and prejudice can divide people, and how shared purpose can begin to break those barriers down.
There’s even a subtle echo of that theme in the blue shoe itself. When Hap removes a stone from the shoe to help a beggar girl, he is labeled a thief, even though his intent is kindness. The shoe, once brilliant and beautiful, changes as well—suggesting that actions, even well-meaning ones, have consequences.
At times, I felt the story pushed certain plot developments rather than allowing them to grow naturally. The ending builds toward a large moment, but it felt slightly rushed and a bit clunky in execution.
Overall, this is a good, shorter read that would work well for a middle school reader, especially one who enjoys adventure with clear moral lines and layered themes. I find myself between a 3 and 3.5 out of 5—a solid read, even if not one I would immediately return to.
January 31, 2024
This had all the makings of a great middle grade novel. It promised to follow in the footsteps of Lloyd Alexander or Eva Ibbotson, so clearly I was expecting too much from the author. I wanted it to be as amazing as its eerie cover and tempting subtitle. It was in fact, not, but consider I am older than the intended audience. It was fairly easy to read except for the blue text. Please, publishers, do not use blue or brown ink! (I'm looking at you, Boneshaker!) I liked the beginning which drew me in quickly, but the narration skips forward and backward and often switches from traditional third person to breaking the fourth wall for humor's sake. I was not amused. The asides felt like the author was trying to force me to feel specific emotions instead of creating them—or alternately trying to point out how funny he was. I'd rather see truly emotional or funny writing which respects the middle grade reader's ability to detect it. The climax is fast moving. The ending is big and dramatic if a little rushed. The world-building contained some original ideas, which I would have loved to see developed more. There was also some dated characterization. Speaking of characters, there are a lot of them. More akin to The Crooked Sixpence, but with less plotting and imagination.
June 15, 2022
I have seen a lot of reviews on the Blue Shoe that read far too much into the intricacies of the story telling and I think that it cheapens what the book is meant to do. When a first read it, I remember that I wanted the feeling it gave me to last forever. Even though I had never read it before, reading my old, secondhand copy gave me a strange feeling of nostalgia. It made me feel like I was a small child again, hearing a fairy tale for the very first time (a feeling that is all too rare once we are grown up). I think the main thing I would like to say is that the book is a short, easy read. Although this may not be an instant favorite of everyone who reads it, it surely was for me, and there is no harm in spending little to no time and money on a book that might be the same for you.
June 21, 2017
I don't feel like I should give this one star because the first 9/10ths of this book were fun. Maybe the first 19/20ths. The last thirty pages began to drag, which made it hard to finish, but then the last four pages completely killed it for me.
I'm probably gonna toss this book. It's been a while since I disliked a book so much that I decided to throw it out rather than have someone else read it.
I'm probably gonna toss this book. It's been a while since I disliked a book so much that I decided to throw it out rather than have someone else read it.
January 15, 2020
This book was not my favorite fantasy story although it was quick and some parts were fun. I liked the creativity that went into the "Auki" characters. The story line was also somewhat interesting. I also like the setting of the story and the and the way the author described the the life of each character. The town was cute with the cuckoo clocks the little shops. I'd recommend this book to younger readers, not past 6th grade.
October 26, 2019
While this was a good story, it wasn't as exciting or engaging as I had hoped. The characters were good, but there wasn't much excitement. It could have been a really good story, I just felt it fell a little short.
July 4, 2022
I really wanted to like this because I LOVE The Great Good Thing. But I just couldn't connect with this. It was slow moving at the beginning and then really strange at the end. 2.5. I finished it at least.
December 12, 2024
I did not understand before I started reading that this is obviously a long fairytale. Would be a great story to read to 5-7 year olds before bedtime. I'm unsure if there is a moral to the story except that, as Yogi Berra observed, It ain't over 'til it's over."
March 3, 2018
Fun and enjoyable. Would recommend to any 8-12 year old. If you're older than that, it's still a good read, you just won't be blown away.
July 30, 2018
Actual rating 3.5 stars
February 22, 2021
A beautiful color and a beautiful book.
September 8, 2021
Very nice MG novel. Good characters and plenty of action.
August 9, 2022
The greatest Roderick Townley Audiobook on CD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2023
I loved this book! A boy try's to find his farther in this preson and stoping the boss from getting a powerful! I love Sophie.
December 10, 2011
A boy, a girl, little blue men, a kindly, old cobbler, and the most magnificient, sparkly blue shoe you've ever seen...those are the elements that make up the story of The Blue Shoe. In the sleepy little town of Aplanap, every one works hard, but no one, not one single soul, will put up with a thief, especially the mayor.
After Hap is left a virtual orphan, since his father, Silas, was sent off to Mount Xexnax, he is penniless and hungry. He steals food to eat, is caught, yet Grel, the soft-hearted cobbler, takes him as his apprentice. They work well together, but Hap misses his father. One day, an odd stranger brings Grel a sackful of the most magnicifient blue jewels anyone has ever seen... and the stranger instructs Grel to craft the a shoe with the stones and pays him handsomely, up-front, for his labor. When the stranger doesn't return for the shoe, the evil mayor wants the shoe for his wife.
Meanwhile, Hap catches a beggar in the streets and warns her to stop begging, for the mayor will not put up with a beggar either. He gives her a crust of bread, a scarf to keep warm, but when he takes a jewel off the shoe to pay for her fine, everything goes wrong! Hap gets sent to Mount Xexnax as punishment. Hap and his friend Sophia (who stows away on Hap's wagon) use their time on Mount Xexnax to organize a revolt.
An fantastical adventure of the bluish kind awaits every reader.
After Hap is left a virtual orphan, since his father, Silas, was sent off to Mount Xexnax, he is penniless and hungry. He steals food to eat, is caught, yet Grel, the soft-hearted cobbler, takes him as his apprentice. They work well together, but Hap misses his father. One day, an odd stranger brings Grel a sackful of the most magnicifient blue jewels anyone has ever seen... and the stranger instructs Grel to craft the a shoe with the stones and pays him handsomely, up-front, for his labor. When the stranger doesn't return for the shoe, the evil mayor wants the shoe for his wife.
Meanwhile, Hap catches a beggar in the streets and warns her to stop begging, for the mayor will not put up with a beggar either. He gives her a crust of bread, a scarf to keep warm, but when he takes a jewel off the shoe to pay for her fine, everything goes wrong! Hap gets sent to Mount Xexnax as punishment. Hap and his friend Sophia (who stows away on Hap's wagon) use their time on Mount Xexnax to organize a revolt.
An fantastical adventure of the bluish kind awaits every reader.
November 13, 2015
to work in the mines. I found the Auki to be an interesting race. Really, I believe they are Dwarves with really long noses and blue skin. Let's see, they live underground and are good at mining. Isn't that a dwarf? Anyway, I really liked the little guys, even if they were a little gruff. Hey, just like a dwarf! Okay, enough of the dwarf thing.
One thing I thought was really cool about this book was the the text in the book was printed in blue ink, not the normal black in. Even the pictures by Mary GrandPré are all in blue. The Blue Shoe is truly a blue book. The good news is that the book won't make you blue. It will make you happy. The story is packed with action and adventure as we follow the life of Hap Barlow. Hap is a cool character that readers will instantly bond with.
Sophia is a nice side-kick for Hap and girls will really like her strength of character. As for the bad guys, the mayor, his wife, and Slag are all rather nasty characters. The make-believe work that Roderick Townley has created reminds me a lot of the town where Pinocchio lived, at least the way I pictured it.
Of course, Pinocchio's mayor wasn't sending people to go work in the mines just because they didn't have enough money to get by. Young readers will be cheering for the good guys and booing the bad guys.
Overall, The Blue Shoe by Roderick Townley is a great story that any young reader will surely enjoy. I look forward to more quirky stories by this author.
I rated this book an 8 out of 10.
One thing I thought was really cool about this book was the the text in the book was printed in blue ink, not the normal black in. Even the pictures by Mary GrandPré are all in blue. The Blue Shoe is truly a blue book. The good news is that the book won't make you blue. It will make you happy. The story is packed with action and adventure as we follow the life of Hap Barlow. Hap is a cool character that readers will instantly bond with.
Sophia is a nice side-kick for Hap and girls will really like her strength of character. As for the bad guys, the mayor, his wife, and Slag are all rather nasty characters. The make-believe work that Roderick Townley has created reminds me a lot of the town where Pinocchio lived, at least the way I pictured it.
Of course, Pinocchio's mayor wasn't sending people to go work in the mines just because they didn't have enough money to get by. Young readers will be cheering for the good guys and booing the bad guys.
Overall, The Blue Shoe by Roderick Townley is a great story that any young reader will surely enjoy. I look forward to more quirky stories by this author.
I rated this book an 8 out of 10.
April 12, 2013
“Not long ago, in the sunny mountain village of Aplanap, famous for its tilted streets, cuckoo clocks, and Finster cheese, there stood a small shoemaker’s shop. And in the window of that shop was a shoe that fit nobody.”
In this book Mr. Townley invites the reader to follow the adventures of Hap, the goodhearted assistant cobbler to the shoemaker who made the beautiful blue shoe. When the blue shoe looses its magical glow (due to Hap’s theft of one of the precious blue stones), he is sent to work tirelessly in the dreaded mines of Mount Xexnax. However, here in this cruel place, Hap discovers that sometimes life isn’t just about liberating yourself from a dreadful situation. Sometimes it’s about liberating others as well, for Mount Xenax holds many others in slavery. But just how will Hap be able to escape and set everyone else held in slavery on the mountain free as well? What about the blue shoe? Will the blue shoe ever regain its mysterious blue glow and why does it glow? Mary GrandPré, who is now famous for her illustrations for the Harry Potter series, wonderfully illustrates The Blue Shoe bringing to life the cast of characters that populate a world of heroes, heroines, villains, a blue shoe, and one shadowy, mysterious character it would be unfair of me to mention too much about.
In this book Mr. Townley invites the reader to follow the adventures of Hap, the goodhearted assistant cobbler to the shoemaker who made the beautiful blue shoe. When the blue shoe looses its magical glow (due to Hap’s theft of one of the precious blue stones), he is sent to work tirelessly in the dreaded mines of Mount Xexnax. However, here in this cruel place, Hap discovers that sometimes life isn’t just about liberating yourself from a dreadful situation. Sometimes it’s about liberating others as well, for Mount Xenax holds many others in slavery. But just how will Hap be able to escape and set everyone else held in slavery on the mountain free as well? What about the blue shoe? Will the blue shoe ever regain its mysterious blue glow and why does it glow? Mary GrandPré, who is now famous for her illustrations for the Harry Potter series, wonderfully illustrates The Blue Shoe bringing to life the cast of characters that populate a world of heroes, heroines, villains, a blue shoe, and one shadowy, mysterious character it would be unfair of me to mention too much about.
June 17, 2011
Hap Barlow was a thief. And that meant that he would be banished to Mt. Xexnax, and would never be seen again. He was only a boy, and he had only been trying to help a poor beggar girl, but those things didn't matter. Hap, however, was not the type of boy to go moaning to his doom. He was a thinker and a doer, and he never gave up.
His master, the shoemaker, had a shoe covered with glowing blue stones which was displayed in his shop window. Everyone wondered where the stones had come from. With his usual optimism, Hap thought that maybe instead of meeting trolls on the mountain, as everyone said, he might find the source of the blue stones. Or better yet, maybe on that grim and foreboding mountain he would find his father.
This is an entertaining fantasy. I did wish that the author had chosen a name for the mountain that at least was pronounceable. My inner ear kept trying to figure out how to say Xexnax. Other than that, Hap's adventures were creative and exciting, and young readers will respect Hap's ingenuity.
His master, the shoemaker, had a shoe covered with glowing blue stones which was displayed in his shop window. Everyone wondered where the stones had come from. With his usual optimism, Hap thought that maybe instead of meeting trolls on the mountain, as everyone said, he might find the source of the blue stones. Or better yet, maybe on that grim and foreboding mountain he would find his father.
This is an entertaining fantasy. I did wish that the author had chosen a name for the mountain that at least was pronounceable. My inner ear kept trying to figure out how to say Xexnax. Other than that, Hap's adventures were creative and exciting, and young readers will respect Hap's ingenuity.
July 30, 2016
Rating 2.5 It was hard to rate this book because, while I liked many things about it, I felt like it was too dark for this sort of book. In the beginning you get the feeling that it's a bit like a fairytale but, as the story progresses, there are many harsh and irreparable things that occur. Most fairytales come right in the end with a simple kind of justice, and there is some of that here, but it felt like the evil had gone on too long and too deeply. It felt like we had two different kinds and age levels of books made into one. Maybe I'm just too sensitive to this and, as we know, many kids like these dark, dark situations because they just read the "and everything was better than it ever was" into the endings. Not sure I would try another of the author's other books--not that the writing wasn't superb--but I'm just a little leery of expecting a gentle story and getting a (the author even states it to the reader halfway into the story) "darker tale".
January 8, 2010
A rousing tale with a blue shoe, a blue diamond, blue Aukis (read the book & find out!), a very blue book cover and blue type throughout the book. (Thank heavens, blue is my favorite color!) Puts me in mind of the movie "Avatar," not only because of the blue characters but because of this statement in the book, "...'Tell your people to stop taking what does not belong to them.' He shook his shaggy head. 'The mountain supports us all. We take from it what we need. That is allowed, But enough.' " The same as one of the many messages in Avatar. Humans are greedy creatures...taking what they need or want without considering who or what they may be hurting. Okay...I'm off my soap box now. Good book!
January 25, 2011
"The Tale of Thievery, Villainy, Sorcery, and Shoes."
This is a story about thirteen-year-old Hap Barlo, the shoemaker's apprentice that is loyal to his master, Grel. But when a mysterious stranger comes to visit the shoemaker with a strange request, the pair's life turns upside-down. People far and wide come to see this remarkable shoe, which gives the two extraordinary business. But when a strange beggar girl comes, everything goes horribly wrong...
Beautifully written, Townley will have you reading this book non-stop from start to finish. He has put an amazing deal of work into this book. I won't tell you what happens, but I will tell you this. This book is a must-read. Enjoy it!
-ruth
This is a story about thirteen-year-old Hap Barlo, the shoemaker's apprentice that is loyal to his master, Grel. But when a mysterious stranger comes to visit the shoemaker with a strange request, the pair's life turns upside-down. People far and wide come to see this remarkable shoe, which gives the two extraordinary business. But when a strange beggar girl comes, everything goes horribly wrong...
Beautifully written, Townley will have you reading this book non-stop from start to finish. He has put an amazing deal of work into this book. I won't tell you what happens, but I will tell you this. This book is a must-read. Enjoy it!
-ruth
January 4, 2015
This is actually a really good book. I like how there is a lot of action in this book. With the action there is also lessons learned. This includes teamwork, like when humans and Aukis fought together to defeat Slag; caring for one another, like when Shadow took care of his brother who's name is Ulf; have courage, like when Hap had to leave his father in order to escape the dogs right after he just gotten to see his father; trust others, like when humans and Aukis have to trust each other in order to win the battle they were fighting, and don't judge a book by its cover, like when Hap saved the goddess Xexnax three times when Xexnax was a beggar girl and he didn't know that. I hope you read this book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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