Skullduggery [Paperback]

Kathleen Karr (Author)

Book Description

Grade Level: 5 and up

An orphan boy and his mentor, a phrenologist, encounter on adventure after another as they search the world for the skulls of famous historical figures.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"Interested in medicine?
Dr. ABC seeks bright lad.
Training and board.
Apply number 113, Broadway."

Twelve-year-old Matthew Morrissey can't believe his luck when he spots this ad in the paper. He is interested in medicine--he wants to find a cure for the cholera that wiped out his whole family and left him orphaned. Alone on the streets of 1840s New York, Matthew leaps at the opportunity to help this Dr. ABC, whomever he is. As it turns out, he is the plump, puffy, rumpled Asa B. Cornwall, a kindly-if-obsessed phrenologist who hopes to someday perfect mankind through his study of the contours of human skulls, particularly those of flawed characters. "Give me a skull, and I can conjure up the very soul of a man!" he cries passionately. Matthew is eager to please this eccentric man, if only for a warm bed and all the oatmeal he can eat.

In time, however, his apprenticeship intensifies when he learns he must help his master rob graves for real specimens. And can the doctor really mean that he wants Voltaire's skull from Paris? Things heat up even more when they discover they have a mysterious enemy with a brow "broad and low," clearly the skull of a criminal. Kathleen Karr's delightful, well-crafted adventure is witty, suspenseful, and deliciously Dickensian; most of all, it has a great deal of heart. Watching the older man and his young charge plow forward through near misses and comedies of errors is pure fun. And we, like the dynamic duo, come to learn that their companionship is far more valuable than a chest of gold, an acre of skulls, or Dr. ABC's relentless pursuit of perfection. (Ages 10 to 14) --Karin Snelson --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Publishers Weekly

An orphaned 12-year-old survives on the streets of New York in 1839 as an assistant to Dr. ABC; his job is to impress wealthy clients as well as rob graves of famous heads. PW called this work "part history lesson and all entertainment." Ages 10-14. (Aug.)
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion (August 31, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786816988
• ISBN-13: 978-0786816989
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,493,934 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and unique!, September 25, 2000

By 

"mollycc" (Colorado, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Skullduggery (Hardcover)

This book has it all -- history, suspense, friendship, and dark humor. Kids will be intrigued to learn about the 19th century practice of phrenology -- analysing someone's character and personality by the bumps and shape of one's head. Although the history and grave robbing scenes are interesting, it is really the friendship between the doctor and the boy that makes this book great.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Start but Tepid Finish, July 20, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Skullduggery (Hardcover)

This book has a very creative premise, is well-written with interesting characters, and got off to fascinating start. Halfway through this book I would have rated it with 5 stars. However, I found the last third somewhat disappointing. After creating a mysterious and fascinating antagonist, the author seemed to run out of plot ideas in terms of how to satisfactorily resolve the conflict between the protagonist and antagonist and as a result the ending was very flat as the story seemed to run out of gas without any real or compelling resolution.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A dark trip back in time, April 25, 2000

By 

Casey Lytle (Centralia, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Skullduggery (Hardcover)

From the writing, to the story, to the very cover, this book is a trip back to the 19th Century. At least once you'll check out the copyright page to see if this is a reprint of an older book. The characters seem to leap from a Dickens novel. Hopefully this is just a sample of great things to come from this author and illustrator. A highly enjoyable read for parents as well as kids, although be cautious about reading it as a bedtime story to the younger kids. They may prefer it in the light of day.