Measle and the Mallockee [Library Binding]

Ian Ogilvy (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

Measle's mum and dad have been kidnapped! It's up to Measle to save them...but that's a difficult thing to do when you've been left holding the baby, literally. Because Mum's last words to Measle were that he should look after Matilda, his little sister. Babies are bad enough at the best of times. But this one is special. She's a mallockee - a magical being with power unseen for over a thousand years. She just doesn't know it yet. And neither does Measle. The weaselly wrathmonks do though. And they will do anything to get their hands on her. Can Measle stop them, save Matilda and rescue his parents? Sometimes it's tough being ten!

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6–In his third adventure, Measle, 12, finds himself in yet another predicament when the Wizards Guild accuses his family of misusing their magical powers. His parents are captured, but Measle; his younger sister, Matilda, a magical and rare wizard who has no limitations on casting spells; and his dog escape with the help of a family friend (a villain in disguise), who whisks them away to Caltrop Castle. With the help of Matilda and Iggy, a meek Wrathmonk, Measle uncovers the truth. All too often, the characters are nothing more than the spell they are capable of performing. Problems are conveniently solved, and the adventure rolls along with no real drama, surprises, or page-turning antics. An easy read, but not a very exciting one.–Carly B. Wiskoff, Great Neck Library, NY
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.

From Booklist

Gr. 4-7. Although his father is a wizard, his mother is supernaturally gifted, and even his baby sister can do powerful magic (she can clean her own soiled diapers), 12-year-old Measle Stubbs is an ordinary kid. So, after his parents are captured, he must rely on his wits and the magical abilities of others to rescue them. Characters--among them a slew of nefarious magical entities--and plot devices occasionally fall flat or seem overly contrived, but Ogilvy still contributes a fast-reading, occasionally humorous tale of magic and mayhem that will be welcomed by courageous Measle's resolute fans. Shelle Rosenfeld
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Library Binding: 384 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (December 27, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060586923
• ISBN-13: 978-0060586928
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.6 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,084,570 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Measle Wins Against Evil!, February 1, 2006

By 

A Customer (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Measle and the Mallockee (Hardcover)

The little boy known as Measle is back! He's 12 years old, still clever, quick-thinking and resourceful. Despite the fact that his mother is a Manafount (able to supply a kind of energy), his father a Wizard, and his baby sister a "Mallockee," Measle is just a plain boy. And once again, this plain boy manages to outwit, outthink and out-finagle the most powerful Wizards and Warlocks around. Of course he has help along the way --- especially from his adoring nine-month-old baby sister, Matilda.

Matilda Stubbs had grown steadily into a chubby little baby girl, with piercing green eyes, spiky brown hair, six small, pearly white teeth and a throwing arm of devastating accuracy...Matilda adored her big brother...and lately --- since she discovered how to throw stuff --- Measle was the one she chose to throw it at.

With the exception of Matilda's throwing, things are going along rather peacefully for the little family. But life at home is totally disrupted one morning when Measle's father reads in the paper that a new Prime Magus of the Wizards' Guild has been chosen and is none other than Justin "the-Biggest-Fathead-in-the-Wizarding-Fraternity" Bucket. All of this is made worse by the addition of a just-formed Advisory Board made up of Warlocks. Before long Measle's family is called before the Advisory Board, who presents them with a long list of absurd and made-up accusations. It becomes obvious that they want to get rid of Measle's parents and have become aware that Matilda is a "magus infantum," or an infant wizard! Indeed --- she is a Mallockee:

...Wizards and Warlocks --- and even those contemptible Wrathmonks --- can perform only one major spell in a twenty-four hour period. But the Mallockee has no such limitations. The Mallockee can perform spells without stopping, until he or she becomes too exhausted to continue...a Mallockee doesn't need incantations for its spells. All a Mallockee has to do is think the spell, and it's done!

This knowledge immediately puts Matilda in grave danger. As the parents are led away "for safe-keeping" Measle, Matilda and his remarkable dog Tinker are able to escape with help from another Wizard, Toby Jugg. Toby takes them to Caltrop Castle where he says they will be safe until the situation is resolved. At the castle Measle befriends a little Wrathmonk named Mr. Niggle and runs into a series of truly scary and frightening adventures. It becomes apparent that those who Measle thinks are friends are not and those who might be enemies are not. Now Measle must figure out how to escape from this terrible place, free his parents and disband the committee of Warlocks and its evil leader.

This is the third in the Measle series, and again the writing is crisp and well-paced. Our hero Measle and the assorted other fun characters are lively and interesting. Ian Ogilvy has created a great character in Measle, one who wins out against evil through his own goodness and self-reliance. A delightful book, MEASLE AND THE MALLOCKEE will leave readers begging for more from this unpretentious hero and his charming little sis.

--- Reviewed by Sally M. Tibbetts

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read, August 25, 2007

By 

T. Smith - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Measle and the Mallockee (Hardcover)

My son, who hates to read, couldn't put this book down. He raves over it and has told all of his friends about it. He was excited to get the other two as well. Definitely a good story with lots of action!