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Goblin Secrets

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Goblin Secrets

Written by: William Alexander
Narrated by: William Alexander
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About this listen

National Book Award, Young People's Literature, 2012

A boy joins a theatrical troupe of goblins to find his missing brother in this “fantasy stuffed with interesting ideas” (Publishers Weekly).

In the town of Zombay, there is a witch named Graba who has clockwork chicken legs and moves her house around - much like the fairytale 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.

©2012 William Alexander (P)2013 Simon & Schuster, Inc Fantasy Fantasy & Magic Fiction Growing Up Growing Up & Facts of Life Literature & Fiction Music & Performing Arts
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What the critics say

"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)
"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)

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