Billy Hooten: Owlboy [Paperback]

Tom Sniegoski (Author), Eric Powell (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up | Series: Owlboy

Billy Hooten is a weird kid. He gets beat up a lot, and spends the rest of his time doggedly trying to build a robot. One day, Billy Hooten hears a cry for help coming from the cemetery that borders his backyard. Against his better judgment, he runs toward it. And after that, everything changes for Billy Hooten. Because Billy Hooten, you see, is Owlboy. A quickthinking, goggle-and-feather-wearing superhero who protects the bizarre and monstrous citizens of Monstros City, a city that exists under Billy's hometown of Bradbury, Massachusetts. But is Billy truly worthy of the moniker Owlboy?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3–6—Billy Hooten is a comic-book nerd who has been dubbed "Owlboy" by the class bully because of his last name and his big glasses. When he hears a cry for help coming from a nearby cemetery, Billy follows the voice into a crypt, where he meets Archebold, a goblin, and discovers that he is the next Owlboy, crime-fighting superhero of Monstros City, an underground world populated by every type of monster imaginable. Billy is amazed that his comic-book story is real and is not sure about being a superhero, much less donning the Owlboy costume, which doesn't fit. But after he completes a series of tests and discovers that he has some unusual powers when in Monstros City, he realizes that taking on the mantle of Owlboy is his destiny. He begins his adventures by catching the evil Slovakian Rot-toothed Hopping Monkey Demons. Sniegoski clearly knows his superhero stories and fills this book with tropes that hark back to Batman, Superman, and Spider-Man. Owlboy has an Owlmobile, but there are other more imaginative touches, such as a secret hideout called the "Roost" complete with a gadget-creating troll. This lively tale should be a hit, especially with reluctant readers. A few black-and-white sketches appear throughout.—Tim Wadham, Maricopa County Library District, Phoenix, AZ
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"It's every boy's dream to have his fantasy world of heroes and villians come to life—until it actually happens! Believable characters youÕll want to cheer for."—Jeff Smith, creator of the Bone series

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Yearling (July 24, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440421802
• ISBN-13: 978-0440421801
• Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 0.6 x 7.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,267,087 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A real hoot!, February 8, 2008

By 

Wendy Schapiro (Needham, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Billy Hooten: Owlboy (Paperback)

Billy Hooten:Owlboy is that rare book that can capture the imagination and interest of even the most reluctant pre-teen boy reader. It has it all: action, adventure, strange parents, potty humor and monsters. However, it is also a book which is so well-written and does such a good job of investing you in its characters and plotlines that even the parents or teachers of the aforementioned boys can enjoy reading it with their young charges. AND it might even hold the interest of a girl or two! In all seriousness, this really is what we call a 'threshold' book, one which can be the beginning of a young reader's true joy and lifetime immersion in the world of books.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hooting and Hollering for More Owlboy!, December 11, 2007

By 

Little Willow (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Billy Hooten: Owlboy (Paperback)

Have you ever dreamed of being a superhero? Wonder what it would be like if you got the chance to live that dream? Then you are going to love the Owlboy series!

Billy would rather read his comic books - especially Owlboy - than deal with his classmates - especially the bullies. When he learns that Owlboy's adventures may be based on real stories, and when he dons the Owlboy costume, his life changes in ways he never could have dreamed.

Where can you find walking skeletons, a talking firefly named Walter, and dust bunnies that are actually in the shape of bunnies? Nowhere other than Monstros City, a mysterious place beneath Billy's hometown of Bradbury, Massachusetts. In Monstros City, he quickly meets two allies: a tuxedo-wearing creature named Archebold and a savvy, fast-working troll named Halifax. He also encounters, among other things, Slovakian Rat-Toothed Hopping Monkey Demons, a little red female dragon named Ferdinand, a talking firefly named Walter, and dust bunnies, which are really bunny-shaped.

Between fighting evil, protecting the townspeople, riding in the Owlmobile, keeping his secret identity a secret, and devouring cloud cake, Billy manages to finish his homework and hang out with his quirky parents. He also realizes that knowledge is power - in fact, it's a superpower!

Written by Thomas E. Sniegoski and illustrated by Eric Powell, the Owlboy books are packed with adventure, action, and humor. I laughed out loud on multiple occasions. The dialogue is witty, the characters are fun, and the illustrations are eye-catching. I highly recommend this series to both kids and grown-ups.

5.0 out of 5 stars Billy Hooten: Owlboy, May 4, 2011

By 

MA_book_reviewer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Billy Hooten: Owlboy (Paperback)

My name is Billy and I am 7 years old. I like the book Owlboy because my name is Billy too and I live in Massachusetts and like the same things as Billy Hooten. It's a really interesting book and I like the Slovakian Rot-toothed Hopping Monkey Demons. It is very cool and I can't wait to read the next one in the series. I hope I don't run into that Bully Randy Kulkowski! :)