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William Alexander

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Goblin Secrets (Alexander, William) Hardcover – March 6, 2012

by William Alexander (Author)

4.1 124 ratings

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National Book AwardWinner, 2012

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In the National Book Award–winning Goblin Secrets, a boy joins a theatrical troupe of goblins to find his missing brother.

In the town of Zombay, there is a witch named Graba who has clockwork chicken legs and moves her house around—much like the fairy tale figure of Baba Yaga. Graba takes in stray children, and Rownie is the youngest boy in her household. Rownie’s only real relative is his older brother Rowan, who is an actor. But acting is outlawed in Zombay, and Rowan has disappeared.

Desperate to find him, Rownie joins up with a troupe of goblins who skirt the law to put on plays. But their plays are not only for entertainment, and the masks they use are for more than make-believe. The goblins also want to find Rowan—because Rowan might be the only person who can save the town from being flooded by a mighty river.

This accessible, atmospheric fantasy takes a gentle look at love, loss, and family while delivering a fast-paced adventure that is sure to satisfy.

Reading age

8 - 12 years
Print length

240 pages
Language

English
Grade level

3 - 7
Lexile measure

710L
Dimensions

5.5 x 1 x 8.25 inches
Publisher

Margaret K. McElderry Books
Publication date

March 6, 2012
ISBN-10

1442427264
ISBN-13

978-1442427266
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Editorial Reviews

Review

* "Rownie’s search for his brother turns into an unlikely heroic quest. . . . Though highly textured, it’s tightly woven and reassuringly seamless. The result is wryly humorous and bearably yet excitingly menacing: Even while much is left unexplained, Rownie’s triumph is both gripping and tantalizing."--Kirkus Reviews, *STAR

"Alexander has an intriguing central theme, in which masks and theater create actual magic . . . The result is a (sometimes gruesome) fantasy stuffed with interesting ideas."--Publishers Weekly

"The appeal here lies in Alexander’s careful construction of a distinctive world: touches of steampunk can be found in Graba’s geared-up legs and the Mayor’s automaton guards while a more ancient, primal magic seems to guide the goblins and their powerful brand of storytelling. . . . The bittersweet ending remains true to the story’s overall dreamy, melancholic tone."--The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"The story weaves a many-webbed tale, rich in imagination with a fairy-tale feel."--School Library Journal

"The mythic resonance in Alexander's storytelling, coupled with his smart, graceful writing, make this novel feel both pleasantly old and thoroughly new." - Locus Magazine

"William Alexander organizes his atmospheric first novel into acts and scenes, rather than chapters, and he couches it in the beautifully elliptical language of the old fairy tales." ― Washington Post

About the Author

William Alexander won the National Book Award for his debut novel, Goblin Secrets, and won the Earphones Award for his narration of the audiobook. His other novels include A Festival of Ghosts, A Properly Unhaunted Place, Ghoulish Song, Nomad, and Ambassador. William studied theater and folklore at Oberlin College, English at the University of Vermont, and creative writing at the Clarion workshop. He teaches in the Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults. Like the protagonist of Nomad and Ambassador, William is the son of a Latino immigrant to the US. Visit him online at WillAlex.net and GoblinSecrets.com, and on Twitter via @WillieAlex.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Margaret K. McElderry Books; 2nd Print edition (March 6, 2012)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1442427264
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1442427266
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 8 - 12 years
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 710L
Grade level ‏ : ‎ 3 - 7
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.5 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1 x 8.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #3,021,346 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3,259 in Children's Performing Arts Fiction
- #7,445 in Children's Siblings Books (Books)
- #27,715 in Children's Fantasy & Magic Books

Customer Reviews:
4.1 124 ratings

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Customer reviews

124 global ratings

How customer reviews and ratings work

Customers say

Customers find the book an engaging read with a unique story and imaginative characters. They praise the writing quality as well-crafted, poetic, and gripping. The book is suitable for all ages, especially kids. The visual elements and fantasy/steampunk blend are appreciated.

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Readability Story quality Writing quality Age range Visual content Character development

21 customers mention "Readability"21 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable and well-written. They describe it as a good, fun read with enough adventure, thrills, and fascinating encounters. Some readers mention it moves slowly but is satisfying in the end. Overall, they find the book competent and refreshing.

"...in recent years, this small gem honors its intended audience with enough adventure, thrills and fascinating encounters to engage them, without..." Read more

"...didn't end up being exactly the way I pictured it, but I did enjoy it quite a bit. The world building was fantastic...." Read more

"...It's a competent enough book, but I can't recommend it." Read more

"...The use of the clock tower and a train station are especially good. I highly and happily recommend Goblin Secrets." Read more

20 customers mention "Story quality"20 positive0 negative

Customers find the story imaginative and well-written. They appreciate the vivid imagery, compelling plot, and deep themes. The narrative style is easy to follow, with a great example of steampunk-inspired fiction for middle grade readers. Customers love the rich descriptions that set each scene with intense emotion.

"...intended audience with enough adventure, thrills and fascinating encounters to engage them, without resorting to an overabundance of violence and..." Read more

"...The plot moves along nicely from Rownie's discovery and involvement with the goblins to the conflict with Graba and the sudden confrontation with..." Read more

"...The world is well-described and unique- it's a sort of magical-steampunk melding. The plot ought to have been intriguing...." Read more

"...Secrets lives up to the hype--it's beautifully told and has some wonderful world building, not to mention a nicely melodic theme of masks...." Read more

16 customers mention "Writing quality"13 positive3 negative

Customers find the writing quality of the book engaging. They appreciate the author's poetic style and lean prose that creates a gripping story.

"...The author writes in a spare, lean prose, that manages to create a complete, imaginative world by showing it to us, rather than allowing the story..." Read more

"...However, Goblin Secrets lives up to the hype--it's beautifully told and has some wonderful world building, not to mention a nicely melodic theme of..." Read more

"...this book received a National Book Award as William Alexander’s quality of writing, narrative style, and structure is easy to follow and his..." Read more

"...have highlighted the many strengths of this book; it is original, well written, deep, and gripping...." Read more

6 customers mention "Age range"6 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book for all ages. They find it unique, fresh, and popular with kids. The book is described as a great coming-of-age story with steampunk, action, and questing for them to enjoy.

"...for middle grade readers, is full of steampunk, action, and questing for them to enjoy...." Read more

"...Good for kids and adults, I think." Read more

"Oh my! This is the best kids book I have ever read. I am an old women and wish we had books like this when I was young...." Read more

"...It is a medal winning book and VERY popular with the kids; there is always a waiting list for it." Read more

6 customers mention "Visual content"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book has wonderful visual and audio elements, as well as characters that surprise them. They appreciate the fantasy/steampunk blend, creative plot, and fabulous setting.

"...Wonderful visual and aural elements, as well as characters that surprise us, populate a world so intricate and tangible, we can almost hear the..." Read more

"...an enjoyable book with fun characters, a unique plot, and a fabulous setting...." Read more

"...I really like the use of masks here, and the fantasy/steampunk blend is very nice. Good for kids and adults, I think." Read more

"...I thought it was very creative. I couldn't guess the end which, with most stories, I normally can." Read more

4 customers mention "Character development"4 positive0 negative

Customers like the character development. They mention many of the characters are fun and sinister in a neat way.

"...Overall, an enjoyable book with fun characters, a unique plot, and a fabulous setting...." Read more

"...style, and structure is easy to follow and his characters are both charming and brave...." Read more

"...Many of its characters were fun and sinister in a neat way...." Read more

"...Characters were well developed and I formed a true connection with the main character...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

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dramaprof

A jewel of a book to share with your children

Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2013

Verified Purchase

Will Alexander's debut novel fully deserves its National Book Award. At last - a children's book for actual children!

Unlike some of the overly-adult offerings many "children's authors" have been publishing in recent years, this small gem honors its intended audience with enough adventure, thrills and fascinating encounters to engage them, without resorting to an overabundance of violence and death. With a subtle hand, it teaches lessons of humanity, without letting them take precedence over the storytelling. The reader is therefore free to focus on the journey of our young protagonist. Rownie experiences danger almost throughout. His doggedness, thoughtful choices, and tendency to follow his heart as well as his quick instinct, aid him through many perilous twists and turns. We are kept eager to know what happens next.

The author writes in a spare, lean prose, that manages to create a complete, imaginative world by showing it to us, rather than allowing the story to stagnate in description. Magic is treated with dignity and delicacy, never pointed at, but experienced as a natural consequence of the world. I'm a teacher of the mask, and the authors' marvelous words about these entities resonated with me, especially the directive to "let the mask tell you how to move." Wonderful visual and aural elements, as well as characters that surprise us, populate a world so intricate and tangible, we can almost hear the whirring and clicking of the clock- and gear-work that permeates Rownie's environment. I expect Tim Burton will get a hold of the novel soon!

At its core, this is a tale about a boy truly alone and looking for "home," as are too many children living on the fringe of society, or lost in its well-meaning but often inadequate systems of alternative care. It's about how loyalty is earned, and how familial bonds endure or are newly made. It asks us the true meaning of family. It invites us to discover what does and doesn't make a home.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Heidi Grange

A unique world with a thought-provoking premise.

Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2013

Verified Purchase

This book didn't end up being exactly the way I pictured it, but I did enjoy it quite a bit. The world building was fantastic. I could easily picture the city built in the ravine with the large river running through the center of it and the bridge that seemed to function like a sanctuary. The clock tower was a fascinating addition, I loved the idea of a clock that showed what time of day it was with a moon and sun rising and setting. I also really appreciated the mask mythology and how wearing a mask could almost turn you into whatever the mask portrayed.

Character-wise, Alexander created some interesting ones both good and bad, although there wasn't a whole lot of depth to them. I would have liked them to be a little more three dimensional. But Rownie was a likeable protagonist kind of finding himself through the story. Graba made a great contrast with her bulk and chicken-shaped, gear legs. The goblins or Tamlin's as the call themselves were great secondary characters, each other unique in their characteristics. Thomas, the loud, easily annoyed seemed like the leader, but Semele, the really old and experienced goblin really led the group. It was fun seeing Rownie get to know them and find a place where he felt like he belonged. Rownie's brother, Rowan was an interesting side character and a bit of mystery since he is talked about a lot but is an enigma for most of the book.

One aspect of the storyline bothered me a tad because it was a bit gruesome. The taking of hearts and using them as 'coal' made me a little sick but provides a powerful twist in the plot. The plot moves along nicely from Rownie's discovery and involvement with the goblins to the conflict with Graba and the sudden confrontation with the town mayor who has banned all acting within the city, a law which Rownie violates. The possible flooding of the river though is the main conflict that Rownie finds himself confronting with the goblins due to their history with masks. I enjoyed how all the plotlines came together at the end in somewhat surprising ways.

Overall, an enjoyable book with fun characters, a unique plot, and a fabulous setting. The length is perfect for middle grade readers who aren't yet ready to tackle longer fantasies such as Harry Potter.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Cissa

Interesting world, but...

Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2013

Verified Purchase

I'm not sure why, but for some reason this book did not grab me.

The world is well-described and unique- it's a sort of magical-steampunk melding. The plot ought to have been intriguing. The characters- the witch, the goblins, etc.- ought to have also been intriguing.

And yet- none of it really came together for me.

I don't think it's entirely because I am an adult, and this is a kids'/YA book; I've read plenty of these that I've loved. It's just- for whatever reasons, it wasn't a tightly-narrated tale. Instead of it being a tight plot, it was more "this happened, and then that happened". Most of the mysteries of the world- how does magic work? what makes humans into goblins? Why ban plays? etc. were not addressed.

They may be in #2, but i won't be reading that one.

It's a competent enough book, but I can't recommend it.

4 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Cynrig

Brilliant.

Reviewed in Canada on August 4, 2013

Verified Purchase

I discovered this author by sheer chance, I read his review of the new book and was so captivated by his use of langauge, I wanted to read more. I was not disappointed, although this book was written for children, adults will get a great joy from reading it, William Alexander paints such great pictures with words, my only disappointment was that the book was not three times longer, I never wanted it to end.

Old Irish Git

Enthralling, beautifully crafted tale

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 8, 2013

Verified Purchase

I have just read this book to my daughter. I asked her what I should say in the review: 'It was brilliant' was her instant response.

We had just one problem with it - we'd have liked it to be longer. Better still would be more stories by the same writer. His output seems to consist mainly of short stories, which we will investigate. With a large font size, the book stretches to 220 pages but seems almost a novella. Both my daughter and I would happily have read it in one sitting, though we stretched it over several days.

In style and subject matter it reminded us of Frances Hardinge's Fly By Night, which is also a superb work. Goblin Secrets is set in a fantasy city, could have been a long time ago, though it features trains. The story has layers, depths of meaning that could appeal to grown ups as well as children. Its dust jacket classifies it as age 8-12, but it could appeal to older readers too, and is not illustrated. It is evocative enough to need no illustration. I think it will linger in our memories for a long time. I found out about it by an enthusiastic reader's reference to it on Amazon: I'm grateful for that, and hope lots of other UK readers will come to know and enjoy it. I hope too that William Alexander will write more for us to enjoy.

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