Book Review: The Wonderling by Mira Bartók

★★★

Hi all!

I finally finished the Wonderling by Mira Bartok! It took me an enormous amount of time just because I had essay deadlines, and then I had to study for exams, and coursework just kept piling on and keeping me from finishing this book. I have finally done so though, and it did not disappoint!

The characters are very endearing and likeable. I fell in love with Number Thirteen during the first ten pages, and wanted to give him the home he so desperately seeks and give him a life-supply of pies. The whole book feels a little quirky, which is reflected in the names of some of the characters: ‘Mr. Sneezeweed’, ‘Pinecone’, ‘Miss Carbunkle’, and ‘Trinket’.

Personally, I’m a sucker for any stories that are steampunk-themed, and this did have some hints. With the mechanised beetle factory in the orphanage, the inventions of Trinket, and eventually the whole feeling of Lumentown with the flying bikes.

There are a few illustrations in the book, and they are beautiful. I loved the style and I thought it fit the narrative perfectly. Especially the illustration of Lumentown made the story come to life, and the chapter headings made me look forward to the next chapter!

What I thought was a little disappointing was the world-building. I realise it’s a middle grade book and therefore it won’t be as in-depth as an adult fantasy book, but I would have liked a bit more background information than we got. For example, I still don’t know how groundlings came to be. (Number Thirteen is a groundling – a half-human, half-animal). However, as the story was told from Arthur’s perspective, I realise the opportunity to give such explanations may not have arisen.

The real reason I gave this book three stars, is based on the story – so spoilers ahead! Number Thirteen is an orphan, and throughout the whole book his main purpose is to find out where he came from, who he is, and who his family is. However, he only finds out in the very last pages, and seems slightly indifferent to it. He does remember his mother earlier in the book, but it is all very sudden, and I feel it could have been worked out more. I’m also not quite sure what  being the ‘Wonderling’ entails, and since it’s the title of the book, I expected it to be explained a bit more.

All in all, this is an imaginative tale of a boy finding out who he is and where he belongs, and I was thrilled to be along for the ride!

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