Sophie Quire and the Last Storyguard - Jonathan Auxier

It’s been two years since Peter Nimble and Sir Tode rescued the kingdom of HazelPort. In that time, they have traveled far and wide in search of adventure. Now Peter and Sir Tode have been summoned by Professor Cake for a new mission: find a 12-year-old girl named Sophie Quire.

Sophie knows little beyond the four walls of her father’s bookshop, where she works as a bookmender and dreams of leaving the confines of her city walls. But when a strange boy and his talking cat/horse companion show up searching for a rare and mysterious book, she finds herself pulled into an adventure beyond anything she has ever read.

This book had me hooked from the first page, and that's saying a lot for me. Reading as much as I do means that I often see a lot of similarities and adherence to cliche throughout a year's worth of publications, but Sophie Quire pulled me in immediately. The informal, humorous, and often irreverent narrator helps to make the often tens and dark situations more accessible for a child audience (and an adult one, for that matter!) And sometimes the narrator just likes to be a little bit, um, self-indulgent?
Should you ever be so lucky as to encounter an author in your life, you should shower her or him with gifts and praise.
Now, I must admit, at this point, to being a terrible human being for not having read Peter Nimble yet, BUT, that only reinforces the ability for this book to be read on its own. Though it is a companion book, Sophie Quire is not really a sequel since it doesn't entirely rely on previous knowledge from Peter Nimble. I really did love Peter as a character in this story, and am now moving the first novel up on my to-read list!

The story itself is wonderfully action-packed, fast-paced, and richly constructed. Sophie, Peter, Sir Tode, and even some of the villains, are well rounded and sympathetic. I found myself getting very emotional during all of the meaningful moments between Peter and Sir Tode, as well as the moments between Sophie and Taro (Madame Eldritch's most prized companion/possession). There's action and adventure that is suitable to a wide range of audiences, and unlike so many similarly constructed YA novels, this MG story has a strong heroine who isn't constantly pining over some mysterious and perfect, enigmatic young man.

 I don't want to spoil too much and there have been a LOT of reviews praising this book in so many ways. I just want to confirm that this is indeed an incredible MG novel that should be included in libraries and classrooms alike! Fans of question novels, other Jonathan Auxier literature, and stories of magic and mayhem will find a lot to love here!

 Highly Recommended

Comments

  1. Mary Ann ScheuerMay 1, 2016 at 11:03 PM

    Yes! I also loved it. I especially like how you highlight how the humorous narrator provides a lighter touch for some of the darker content.

    ReplyDelete

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