Return to the Willows

Author: Kelly, Jacqueline

Edition: 1

Number Of Pages: 288

Details:

Mole, Ratty, Toad, and Badger are back for more rollicking adventures in this sequel to The Wind in the Willows. With lavish illustrations by Clint Young, Jacqueline Kelly masterfully evokes the magic of Kenneth Grahame's beloved children's classic and brings it to life for a whole new generation. A riveting tale of bravery, bravado, and hot-air ballooning! Amazon.com Review See Pages from Return to the Willows From Booklist In an age of sequels, it should come as no surprise that Newbery Honor–winning author Kelly has written a sequel to Kenneth Grahame’s immortal The Wind in the Willows. Nor, given the stature of the original, should it come as any surprise that this suffers by comparison. That said, Kelly has succeeded in capturing some of the charm of the original, and her characters evoke the spirit, if not the substance, of Mole, Rat, Toad, and Badger. The plot resembles that of the original: Toad is brought low by his hubris; Rat and Mole demonstrate their steadfastness; and there is trouble with those pesky weasels and stoats. Kelly has introduced two new characters: Toad’s young nephew, Humphrey, and a comely young rat named Matilda, with whom Ratty (heresy of heresies) falls in love! Not heretical but simply annoying are the copious footnotes that clutter the pages, offering sometimes condescending definitions of British words and phrases and arch commentary on the text. Nevertheless, Return is a diverting tale that, one hopes, will send young readers in search of the original. Grades 4-7. --Michael Cart

Reviews:

“[a] fast-paced, madcap adventure.” ―The New York Times“Evoking the ineffable mixture of capers and camaraderie that has kept the original in print for so long, she serves up a roistering, boisterous tale of hot-air balloons, fireworks and GBQs*. And while youngsters are lapping up Toad's adventures, howling as he rockets from lugubrious to lovable in the space of a chapter, adults lucky enough to read this aloud will also have lots of sly asides to chuckle over....” ―The Washington Post“Engaging from beginning to end, this sequel is superb.” ―School Library Journal“...an affectionate follow-up to a classic of children's literature, one that succeeds on its own as a humorous and adventurous romp along the riverbank and into the Wild Wood.” ―Publishers Weekly“Writing a sequel to such a beloved classic is almost as bold a move as Toad stealing a motor-car, but happily, Kelly's results warrant accolades rather than a trip to gaol.” ―Kirkus“The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate is the most delightful historical novel for tweens in many, many years. . . . Callie's struggles to find a place in the world where she'll be encouraged in the gawky joys of intellectual curiosity are fresh, funny, and poignant today.” ―The New Yorker“Each chapter of this winning . . . novel opens with a quotation from On the Origin of Species--a forbidden book that her own grandfather turns out to have hidden away. Together they study Darwin's masterpiece, leading to a revolution in Callie's ideas of what she might accomplish on her own.” ―The New York Times Book Review on The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate“Callie's transformation into an adult and her unexpected bravery make for an exciting and enjoyable read. Kelly's rich images and setting, believable relationships and a touch of magic take this story far.” ―Publishers Weekly, starred review“Interwoven with the scientific theme are threads of daily life in a large family--the bonds with siblings, the conversations overheard, the unspoken understandings and misunderstandings--all told with wry humor and a sharp eye for details that bring the characters and the setting to life. The eye-catching jacket art, which silhouettes Callie and images from nature against a yellow background, is true to the period and the story. Many readers will hope for a sequel to this engaging, satisfying first novel.” ―Booklist, starred review on The Evoluti...

EAN: 9780805094138

Release Date: 30-10-2012

Languages: English

Item Condition: New

Binding: Hardcover