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britomarte's review against another edition
4.0
Not a style I always go for, but well executed. Good sequel hooks.
choosejoytoday's review against another edition
3.0
Fun. Good for quirky kids who like (or would probably like) Lemony Snicket or Roald Dahl (though the humor is not quite as dark as Dahl.
anniegroover's review against another edition
2.0
The girls seemed to enjoy this, but I thought it a bit tedious and seemed like it was trying too hard to be clever and funny. The characters weren't very well developed and the story line was predictable and tiresome.
sean67's review against another edition
3.0
The one thing we know here is Horton is not an elephant, but aside from that fact, all bets are pretty much off as Anglerberger gives us some sort of drug addled wacky read which is as mad as it is interesting - a fair read overall but it really is somewhat mad
heyshay07's review against another edition
3.0
Cute book. Like others have said-its along the lines of Rahl Dahl. Good for elementary school students or young middle schoolers. Light and entertaining.
leslie_d's review against another edition
3.0
“There are so many exciting things in this book—a Stolen Diamond, snooping stable boys, a famous detective, the disappearance of a Valuable Wig, love, pickle éclairs, unbridled Evil, and the Black Deeds of the Shipless Pirates—that it really does seem a shame to begin with ladies underwear” (1).
It was an odd segue to finish watching BBC’s Downton Abbey: Season One (2010) and begin reading Horton Halfpott. Downton Abbey is a series about both the family and the servants who live in the palatial home called Downton. In Horton Halfpott the invisible workings of an aristocratic estate is also featured—Horton being the humblest member of the staff—a kitchen boy, doomed to wash dishes and polish silver for a mere penny a week. However, I am guessing that a middle-grade boy would find Downton Abbey considerably less interesting than Horton Halfpott, despite the fact that both harbor “unbridled Evil.” For one, there are yet to be any Shipless Pirates, and, two, it would be highly improper to discuss ladies underwear or heroes’ armpits in Downton Abbey.
So Horton Halfpott isn’t nighttime telly or PBS Masterpiece Theater. Nor was it meant. And while Tom Angleberger cites Charles Dickens as inspiration, the 203 pages of Horton Halfpott is considerably more lightly weighted. The narrator caters to the middle-grader who partakes in juvenile humor, knows about various smells, and cares only to stomach the slightest hint of romance—okay, so maybe not just the middle-grader.
The Narrator is a storyteller eager to share this story about Horton Halfpott, and how “the Loosening” made way for all kinds “Unprecedented Marvels.” The Dear Reader is energetically addressed as one who is sure to find the comedy and the heart in Horton Halfpott’s story; as one who can empathize; and as one who can smile at the appropriately “inappropriate” times.
Horton Halfpott isn’t a naughty, mischievous boy protagonist just for the sake of it. And he tries to do what is right, even when everyone else is “misbehaving.” He has to be his own person, and clever, and brave. And he still figuring out what that means exactly.
“Horton was undergoing a Loosening of his own. […] Perhaps, he began to realize, not every preposterous pronouncement of M’Lady Luggeruck needed to be obeyed. Nor every tyrannical decree of Miss Neversly. Nor every unwritten law of propriety that prevented kitchen boys from befriending young ladies” (140).
The characters are marvelously ridiculous; though not to be dismissed, of course. Many are quite dangerous. The ones who hold the power are most especially threatening. Alas, the adventure wouldn’t be much of one without peril, and the villains wouldn’t be nearly so terrifying if they hadn’t resembled Luther, or M’Lady, or the spoon-wielding cook Ms. Neversly.
It is wonderful that the corset is not an Enhancer, but a tormentive restriction that creates the greater horror that is M’Lady Luggertuck. “Imagine being pinched like that day after day, year after year. It could make a nice lady into a mean one. So imagine what it would do to a lady like M’Lady Luggertuck, who was a nasty beast to start” (2). Better is how the corset comes to symbolize repression and indignity in varying degrees for all the characters (and greater society). [Don't worry, it's subtle enough.]
One thing I love about the narrative is how the narrator will reference another story—nothing Literary I assure you.
(You’ll notice that forks were not mentioned. Faithful readers will remember that M’Lady Luggertuck had had a fear of forks ever since the events recounted in “M’Lady Luggertuck Hires a Tattooed Nanny.”) (55).
Or
“Old Crotty soon discovered that someone had ransacked M’Lady Luggertuck’s writing desk! This upset M’Lady Luggertuck greatly, since she had several letters in that desk that it would have been best if no one else had ever read. (See “M’Lady Luggertuck Meets a Handsome Frenchman.”)” (66)
There is plenty of comedy and adventure in the course of a mystery of a stolen diamond, and the narrator is keen to engage the reader in it. I think you should oblige him or her. You can save Downton Abbey for another time.
**************
Horton Halfpott had me thinking of Kate McMullen’s fantastic chapter book series Dragon Slayers’ Academy (Grosset & Dunlap); we read this series to Natalya when she was in early elementary school–fun for the whole family.
Don’t let this be only a boy’s book, girl’s will appreciate–at the very least–the character Celia, a independently thinking girl who is quick, and owns a bicycle.
L @ omphaloskepsis
http://contemplatrix.wordpress.com/2011/07/27/the-loosening-of-m%E2%80%99lady-luggertuck%E2%80%99s-corset/
It was an odd segue to finish watching BBC’s Downton Abbey: Season One (2010) and begin reading Horton Halfpott. Downton Abbey is a series about both the family and the servants who live in the palatial home called Downton. In Horton Halfpott the invisible workings of an aristocratic estate is also featured—Horton being the humblest member of the staff—a kitchen boy, doomed to wash dishes and polish silver for a mere penny a week. However, I am guessing that a middle-grade boy would find Downton Abbey considerably less interesting than Horton Halfpott, despite the fact that both harbor “unbridled Evil.” For one, there are yet to be any Shipless Pirates, and, two, it would be highly improper to discuss ladies underwear or heroes’ armpits in Downton Abbey.
So Horton Halfpott isn’t nighttime telly or PBS Masterpiece Theater. Nor was it meant. And while Tom Angleberger cites Charles Dickens as inspiration, the 203 pages of Horton Halfpott is considerably more lightly weighted. The narrator caters to the middle-grader who partakes in juvenile humor, knows about various smells, and cares only to stomach the slightest hint of romance—okay, so maybe not just the middle-grader.
The Narrator is a storyteller eager to share this story about Horton Halfpott, and how “the Loosening” made way for all kinds “Unprecedented Marvels.” The Dear Reader is energetically addressed as one who is sure to find the comedy and the heart in Horton Halfpott’s story; as one who can empathize; and as one who can smile at the appropriately “inappropriate” times.
Horton Halfpott isn’t a naughty, mischievous boy protagonist just for the sake of it. And he tries to do what is right, even when everyone else is “misbehaving.” He has to be his own person, and clever, and brave. And he still figuring out what that means exactly.
“Horton was undergoing a Loosening of his own. […] Perhaps, he began to realize, not every preposterous pronouncement of M’Lady Luggeruck needed to be obeyed. Nor every tyrannical decree of Miss Neversly. Nor every unwritten law of propriety that prevented kitchen boys from befriending young ladies” (140).
The characters are marvelously ridiculous; though not to be dismissed, of course. Many are quite dangerous. The ones who hold the power are most especially threatening. Alas, the adventure wouldn’t be much of one without peril, and the villains wouldn’t be nearly so terrifying if they hadn’t resembled Luther, or M’Lady, or the spoon-wielding cook Ms. Neversly.
It is wonderful that the corset is not an Enhancer, but a tormentive restriction that creates the greater horror that is M’Lady Luggertuck. “Imagine being pinched like that day after day, year after year. It could make a nice lady into a mean one. So imagine what it would do to a lady like M’Lady Luggertuck, who was a nasty beast to start” (2). Better is how the corset comes to symbolize repression and indignity in varying degrees for all the characters (and greater society). [Don't worry, it's subtle enough.]
One thing I love about the narrative is how the narrator will reference another story—nothing Literary I assure you.
(You’ll notice that forks were not mentioned. Faithful readers will remember that M’Lady Luggertuck had had a fear of forks ever since the events recounted in “M’Lady Luggertuck Hires a Tattooed Nanny.”) (55).
Or
“Old Crotty soon discovered that someone had ransacked M’Lady Luggertuck’s writing desk! This upset M’Lady Luggertuck greatly, since she had several letters in that desk that it would have been best if no one else had ever read. (See “M’Lady Luggertuck Meets a Handsome Frenchman.”)” (66)
There is plenty of comedy and adventure in the course of a mystery of a stolen diamond, and the narrator is keen to engage the reader in it. I think you should oblige him or her. You can save Downton Abbey for another time.
**************
Horton Halfpott had me thinking of Kate McMullen’s fantastic chapter book series Dragon Slayers’ Academy (Grosset & Dunlap); we read this series to Natalya when she was in early elementary school–fun for the whole family.
Don’t let this be only a boy’s book, girl’s will appreciate–at the very least–the character Celia, a independently thinking girl who is quick, and owns a bicycle.
L @ omphaloskepsis
http://contemplatrix.wordpress.com/2011/07/27/the-loosening-of-m%E2%80%99lady-luggertuck%E2%80%99s-corset/
tami_provencher's review against another edition
4.0
Horton Halfpott is a kitchen boy, working at Smugwick Manor for the Luggertuck family. The Luggertucks range from unpleasant to cruel to evil in both act and intention. Horton Halfpott’s adventure actually begins–unbeknownst to him–when M’Lady Luggertuck inexplicably chooses NOT to tighten her corset one morning as her maid, Old Crotty, is helping her to dress.
The choice to loosen the corset leads M’Lady to consent to throwing a costume ball in honor of visiting cousin, Montgomery, and the young lady with whom he is infatuated. In the course of following orders to deliver an invitation to the costume ball Horton falls in the mire and then meets the most beautiful, kind young lady he has ever seen. He is smitten even though he knows he could never hope to possibly be her friend, since he is only a servant.
In the midst of the insecurities of and spoon-beatings dished out by the cook, Miss Neversly, the secret of Lord Emberly Luggertuck and M’Lady choosing to wear two buckets of skunk-pig perfume to the Ball is a delightfully funny, sweet story in which Horton and his friends the stableboys–Bump, Blight and Blemish–foil an evil plot by Luther Luggertuck, help a gang of shipless pirates escape from jail and aid a famous detective in solving the disappearance of the Luggertuck Lump.
The author gives his inspirations as the authors Charles Dickens and Daniel Pinkwater. Both influences are evident in the naming of the characters and the wonderfully quirky style in which they speak, feel and act. There is also a wonderful Monty Python-esque quality to the treatment of the press and those who would put on airs. This is an excellent choice for read-aloud or independent reading selection. It is the perfect mix of fairytale and parody, succeeding in being comical without condescending!
Mr. Angleberger is also the author of The Strange Case of Origami Yoda which is also a delightful read for older elementary or middle school readers.
The choice to loosen the corset leads M’Lady to consent to throwing a costume ball in honor of visiting cousin, Montgomery, and the young lady with whom he is infatuated. In the course of following orders to deliver an invitation to the costume ball Horton falls in the mire and then meets the most beautiful, kind young lady he has ever seen. He is smitten even though he knows he could never hope to possibly be her friend, since he is only a servant.
In the midst of the insecurities of and spoon-beatings dished out by the cook, Miss Neversly, the secret of Lord Emberly Luggertuck and M’Lady choosing to wear two buckets of skunk-pig perfume to the Ball is a delightfully funny, sweet story in which Horton and his friends the stableboys–Bump, Blight and Blemish–foil an evil plot by Luther Luggertuck, help a gang of shipless pirates escape from jail and aid a famous detective in solving the disappearance of the Luggertuck Lump.
The author gives his inspirations as the authors Charles Dickens and Daniel Pinkwater. Both influences are evident in the naming of the characters and the wonderfully quirky style in which they speak, feel and act. There is also a wonderful Monty Python-esque quality to the treatment of the press and those who would put on airs. This is an excellent choice for read-aloud or independent reading selection. It is the perfect mix of fairytale and parody, succeeding in being comical without condescending!
Mr. Angleberger is also the author of The Strange Case of Origami Yoda which is also a delightful read for older elementary or middle school readers.
librarykristin's review against another edition
4.0
fun...but not as original and cool as origami yoda. Definitely feels a bit like Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place and Unfortunate Events combined.