  | Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 12/15/2014 Grubb, a 12-year-old (or thereabouts) chimney sweep who works for the grumpy Mr. Smears, is pulled away on an adventure he never expects in this rollicking fantasy. When running from local bullies, Grubb jumps into Alistair Grim’s trunk, and when he steps out, he’s at the Odditorium, Grim’s home for all things weird and wonderful in old London. He’s chased by doom dogs, flies with multicolored fairies, and happily forgets the misery of his early life while working under the dark and enigmatic Alistair Grim. It’s not all fun high jinks, however, and soon trouble comes knocking at the Odditorium’s door. Funaro’s world building and characters are fascinating, and the fast pace and overstuffed plot—from war in the air to a daring escape from sea sirens—make for an exciting story. Funaro’s first book for young readers has all the playfulness of classic adventures like The Phantom Tollbooth and the intrigue of newer steampunk novels, making it a clever mash-up of mystery and merriment, ideal for kids who loved Percy Jackson and Harry Potter. - Copyright 2014 Booklist. School Library Journal - 02/01/2015 Gr 3–6—The wondrous Odditorium, a unique mechanical/magical apparatus, houses a collection of curious people and objects, including quick-witted Grubb. Told in the engaging brogue of an apprentice chimney sweeper, this novel seems to have all the ingredients for a fun middle grade read, blending fantasy with Dickensian-esque fiction. Although the initial ideas and characters have strong promise, the execution of the story is rather ordinary. Most notably, the potential of the Odditorium is lost when the plot shifts away from the discovery of its secrets and changes tack to follow a more traditional plotline plagued with contrivance, as underdog Grubb confronts the villain, Prince Nightshade. Secondary characters are caricaturelike and the writing style devolves from Grubb's charming direct address of the reader to focus on plot and dialogue. Thus when the author shifts back to the blithe period conversation in the very last chapter, the change is unpleasantly abrupt. Periodic black-and-white illustrations have a flat, squared-off cartoon style. Though they don't do much to expand the story, their inclusion may help this title appeal to some readers. VERDICT This fantasy/adventure series will be best appreciated by younger middle grade readers; an additional purchase.—Erin Reilly-Sanders, Ohio State University, Columbus - Copyright 2015 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Bulletin for the Center... - 04/01/2015 This sharp, widely accessible novel tosses a bit of the supernatural, a hint of steam-punk, some Victorian-era references, and an instantly memorable protagonist, Grubb, into a pot and delivers a quirky, promising beginning to a new series. Grubb is truly relieved to have been rescued by Alistair Grim, the creator of the Odditorium, a magical location that promises adventure, as his situation as oppressed workhorse for the cruel Mr. Smears was rough and likely to get worse. Things certainly seem safer with Grim, though not for long after Grubb divulges a key secret about Grim’s magic, and the bad guys come flocking to them. Grubb has the narratively necessary qualities of being fundamentally unable to mind his own business or obey orders, and readers will soak up the cool, secret information he gleans because of these traits. Of course, since Grub was left as a baby on a doorstep and intentionally kept small by being starved so that he can be a better chimney sweep, it’s understandable that he’s lacking many social graces, and the result is atmospheric and suspenseful. A glossary, cast of characters, and occasional black and white illustrations that highlight significant moments help make this complex book accessible. AS - Copyright 2015 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. Loading...
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