Thrump-O-Moto [Hardcover]

James Clavell (Author), George Sharp (Illustrator)

Book Description

When a tiny wizard whisks seven-year-old Patricia and her crutches from her home in Australia to Japan, she encounters his family, an evil ghoul, and the hope of a magic cure for her physical handicap.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

An Australian girl, Patricia, who was sick when she was a child and can't walk, meets Thrump-O-moto, a wizard-in-training from Japan. He takes her with him to his mother, Ka-chan. Patricia starts to use a walking stick instead of her crutches. They visit Grandfather Ten, who suggests that the way to cure Patricia permanently is for her to have Essence of Sunset Primroses, only available in England. Thrump-O-moto and Patricia there meet a leprechaun-like wizard who helps them, but they also battle Muldoona, Hag Queen of the Forest, and prevail. Patricia returns to Australia; because of the special timespan of the wizards' world, she's back by tea-time. Her father thinks she's been dreaming, until she gets up and walks. This is a well-intentioned but disappointing tale from the master storyteller. It's overlong and lacking in originality. Characters speak stiffly, forget spells when they need them and then conveniently remember them moments later. While readers may enjoy the elaborate pictures, filled with exotic details, the spreads are occasionally out-of-sync with the facts in the story.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 89 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Press; 1st Us Edition edition (September 1, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385295049
• ISBN-13: 978-0385295048
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 8.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #169,047 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

James Clavell, who died in 1994, was a screenwriter, director, producer, and novelist born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Although he wrote the screenplays for a number of acclaimed films, including The Fly (1958), The Great Escape (1963), and To Sir With Love (1967), he is best known for his epic novels in his Asian Saga.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A richly illustrated, magnificent fantasy for all ages.., November 18, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: Thrump-O-Moto (Hardcover)

Clavell's Thrump-O-Moto is nothing short of a literary masterpiece. This fantasy begins with a lazy rural afternoon and leaps across continents and through time warps with a most informal and personal accessibility. The possibilities of friendship, the comparison of cultures, and the thrill of adventure all contribute to create a most fantastic story. The illustrations supplement the flowing text like frosting on an already luscious cake. Clavell's marriage of detail and whimsy make for characters and places with an endearing, enduring reality all their own. Ideal for preschool and young elementary children, Thrump-O-Moto may require a few laptimes for tots with short attention spans; but don't be surprised if when you finally reach the end, you are asked to begin the adventure all over again!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heart warming story, October 26, 1999

By 

Linda Fulmer ([e-mail]) (Northport Michigan USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Thrump-O-Moto (Hardcover)

I bought this book for my children for Christmas in 1988. It was so beautiful in word and pictures that I bought a second book so that each of the children could have their own book. It's story of the wizard "Thrump O Moto and how he saves Patricia from the evil "Nurk-u the Bad is so delightful. I always wanted to find the address of Steven Spielberg as I felt it would have been a wonderful movie only Spielberg could have writted for the screen.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sadly, a rare occurence in children's literature., September 14, 2003

By 

Colin Lindell (Cranbrook, B.C.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Thrump-O-Moto (Hardcover)

Thrump-O-Moto is a wonderful book! I have been reading it since I was old enough to read, yearly at least. An epic storyline, delightful art, and heart warming message. It proves that miracles can happen, but they are never very easy. As a child, it was a children's book about adult things like life, death, and heroism, which is why I love it. Its a pity there aren't more books like this jewel.