Customer Reviews

Wave Traveller

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Archie Stringweed is now an official curse breaker -- he even has the medal from I.C.E. (International Curse Exterminators) to prove it. After defeating Huigor, Archie has the utmost confidence in himself. Unfortunately, his family is still treating him like a child. Archie is getting understandably frustrated with them, and it's making him behave a little bit recklessly. Especially now that strange things seem to be happening around Westervoe and Windy Edge. Again.

Archie hears the sound of an army marching over the sea, but how can an army march on water? Then there are the hypnotic eyes in the sea that keep trying to bring him closer, and the crazy sea gull that attacks him and his friends, the weird shadow in the classroom closet, and more icegulls. Archie knows there is a curse afoot, but no one seems to be willing to tell him anything at all. Archie is determined to help, whether they want him to or not.

This time, though, the curse might just be too much for all of them. This could be the curse to end all curses. Or, more accurately, the curse to bring back all curses, broken or not. All of I.C.E. and the entire Stringweed family is about to be put to the test, and Archie may be more necessary than anyone is prepared for.

There is a lot of information in this book. It still has all of the exciting elements of WIND TAMER as well as the characters that we got to know in that story. There are also a bunch of new characters, new monsters, and a whole host of new information about curse breaking. The story itself almost gets lost in the barrage of new information. I have a feeling, though, that this may turn out to be useful information. So pay attention because the end of the book makes it pretty clear that we haven't seen the end of Archie Stringweed.

Reviewed by: Carrie Spellman

About three months have passed since Archie Stringweed exterminated the curse that had plagued his family and threatened to steal his courage, while also banishing Huigor from Windy Edge and the seaside community of Westervoe forever. Archie has settled into a relatively normal routine, which includes school and hanging out with his friends Sid and George. Meanwhile, he looks forward to the day when he can join his Uncle Rufus in fighting other curses, now that he is a member of I.C.E (International Curse Exterminators). His parents are appreciative of Archie's knowledge, but Archie can't help but feel that he isn't being taken seriously.

Bizarre events soon begin to happen. First, Archie keeps hearing the sound of an army marching in the distance. He also becomes involuntarily mesmerized when he sees suspicious eyes looking at him from underwater down by the pier. Then there are the strange claims from the local fisherman Slaverin' Joe, who may or may not know about Archie's paranormal secret, while a new girl at school named Ruby creates intrigue and perhaps a little trouble for Archie and his friends, particularly George, whose teasing doesn't seem as friendly anymore.

Along with Uncle Rufus's frequent nightly outings at the Point and the increasingly odd weather, Archie suspects that there might be a new curse on its way. However, not until the Stringweed family attends an award ceremony at the I.C.E Edinburgh headquarters does he discover how dangerous the curse really is. The visit also yields some other surprises, including the knowledgeable and delightful Miss Napier, who provides him with a glimpse of a potential career choice. Ultimately, Archie must step up and take a stand, or risk having a very bleak future.

With some startling twists and turns, creepy new enemies (including sea monsters), and eccentric and unlikely allies, WAVE TRAVELLER is a thrilling, at times scary and often funny adventure that will excite and intrigue fans of P.R. Morrison's debut novel, WIND TAMER.

--- Reviewed by Sarah Sawtelle