Always October [Hardcover]

Bruce Coville (Author)

Book Description

Release date: August 28, 2012 | Age Range: 8 and up

No doubt about it, little brothers can be monsters. When sixth grader Jake Doolittle finds a baby on the doorstep and his mother decides to keep it, those words are more than just an expression. Instead, they perfectly describe the way his new little brother, LD, sprouts pointy ears, thick fur, and fangs in moonlight.

Not only is LD a monster. . . . other monsters have plans for him. But together with his friend "Weird Lily" Carker, Jake isn't about to let anything happen to the baby. The little guy is still his brother, even if it turns out that LD may be the key to saving the world—or destroying it.

Soon Jake and Lily are on a perilous quest through Always October, a world populated with monsters ranging from the venomous to the ridiculous. Master of comic suspense Bruce Coville presents a tale of ominous dangers and hairbreadth escapes, of the conflict between forces of dark and light, and of the lengths to which one boy will go to save his brother—monster or not.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 4-7-Sixth-grader Jacob Doolittle and his best friend, Lily, are torn between fascination and terror in this comedic horror tale. When Jacob discovers a baby on his doorstep, his mother decides to keep it-even when the newborn sprouts pointy ears, bushy fur, and fangs. Adjusting to the new life of monster-sitting, Jacob and Lily next discover a secret room in the attic that holds the clues to the earlier disappearance of Jacob's father and grandfather. The boy's grandfather, Arthur Doolittle, once wrote a book called A World of Midnight in which he first described the monster world known as "Always October." One night when a magical portal appears in Jacob's room, he and his baby monster, Little Dumpling, must flee from the evil monster Mazrak and his herd of Unravelers. Entering the world of Always October, Jacob and his friends encounter a giant spider called Octavia, the Tunnel of Tears, Forest of the Lost, Black Bridge of Doom, and the Library of Nightmares, while protecting LD. Upon his shoulders rests the fate of Always October and Humana. The story alternates between Jacob's and Lily's points of view. With the right combination of horror and humor, this book will hold readers in its grip and have them asking for more. Fans of Coville's "Magic Shop" series (Harcourt) will find this new story cooler than a goblin's heinie!-Krista Welz, The North Bergen Public Library, NJα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

From Booklist

Twelve-year-old Jacob and best friend Lily frequently hang out at a mausoleum in the cemetery between their houses. One night they are swept into Always October, a parallel universe filled with monsters representing humankind’s greatest fears. They encounter warring creature groups, including one that would like to permanently sever connections between the two worlds. Jacob’s younger brother, Little Dumpling (a foundling who has recently become a monster himself), is the focus of this dispute, with each side claiming LD is the key to survival. Related in alternating chapters by Jacob and Lily, Coville’s tale is a quest for survival and knowledge: Jacob needs to understand the disappearances of his grandfather and father and safely return LD to the real world, while Lily functions to support Jake, who suffers from multiple insecurities and OCD. Short chapters and a large font make the lengthy text accessible, and a cast of intriguing minor characters (especially a two-part monster, Sploot Fah, that bonds with Jacob) will intrigue readers. Give to fans of Debi Gliori’s Witch Baby series. Grades 3-6. --Kay Weisman

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; 1 edition (August 28, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060890959
• ISBN-13: 978-0060890957
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #876,060 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Bruce Coville was born in Syracuse, New York, in 1950. His family lived in farm territory, about twenty miles north of Syracuse. Bruce grew up around the corner from his grandparents' dairy farm, where he spent a great deal of time as a child, dodging cows and chores to the best of his ability. As a young reader he loved Mary Poppins and Dr. Dolittle, and still has fond memories of rising ahead of the rest of his family so he could huddle in a chair and read THE VOYAGES OF DR. DOLITTLE. He also read lots of things that people consider junk (Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, Tom Swift, and zillions of comic books). His only real regret is the time he spent watching television, when he could have been reading instead. (A mind is a terrible thing to waste!)

His first book, THE FOOLISH GIANT, was published in 1978. It was illustrated by his wife, Katherine, whom he had married in 1969. This was followed in 1979 by SARAH'S UNICORN, also illustrated by Katherine. After a long period of working separately, the Covilles began collaborating again with SPACE BRAT and GOBLINS IN THE CASTLE, both published in 1992.

Before getting published Bruce earned his living as a toymaker, a gravedigger, a cookware salesman, an assembly line worker, and finally as an elementary school teacher (second and fourth grades). He left teaching in 1981 to devote himself to becoming a full time writer - though it took another five years to achieve that goal!)

Bruce has published over 100 books, which have appeared in over a dozen countries around the world and sold more than sixteen million copies. Among his most popular titles are MY TEACHER IS AN ALIEN, INTO THE LAND OF THE UNICORNS, and THE MONSTER'S RING. In 2001 he founded Full Cast Audio, an audiobook company dedicated to creating unabridged, full cast recordings of the best in children's and young adult literature.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST READ for all ages! October 5, 2012

By Neitlingme

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

As usual, A Bruce Coville book that lives up to the anticipation of awaiting it's release. Incredibly fun to read, attractive to children and to adults! Bruce carries on his love of cliff hangers at the end of chapters and entices the child to keep reading. As a mom, I love having books I don't have to read first, because I can trust the content included by the author will be handled with style and grace. As with many of Bruce's books, this one is fantastically accepted by younger boy emerging readers!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Never a disappointment September 9, 2012

By Matthew

Format:Hardcover

Bruce Coville never disappoints and Always October is a continuing of a fine tradition. I have been reading Bruce Coville stories for a long time now and I continue to be entertained. Only Bruce Coville could take a short story and make it into a full length novel. I liked the blending of the two characters' narrations, Jacob and Lily, telling the story from their own points of view. The book has fun elements and anyone who remembers the original short story, "My Little Brother is a Monster" will see parts from this original story in this novel and will enjoy the continued references. I also want to congratulate Bruce Coville on publishing one hundred books and I hope he is able to continue to write and publish great works.

5.0 out of 5 stars Always October!!!! January 3, 2013

By wendy s. schug

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

My daughter loves ANYTHING B. Coville! We have been looking for this one for quite some time! It's a must to have!