Sir Seth Thistlethwaite and the Soothsayer's Shoes

Gr 3—5—Seth Thislethwaite and Ollie Everghettz are typical 10-year-old boys, but in their minds, they are Sir Seth and Sir Ollie, Mighty Knights of Right & Honor. One summer day, their imaginations take them on an extraordinary adventure in the evil kingdom of High Dudgeon. Sir Shawn Shrood's soothsaying shoes have been stolen, and the boys are charged with the daunting task of retrieving them. The children are determined to succeed, as it's not just the soothsaying shoes that are at stake—the fate of High Dudgeon also hangs in the balance. Thake bases his book on a noble premise—the idea that imagination is better than any video game or television show. The writing style, comprised primarily of Seussian tongue twisters, is also a well-intentioned attempt to make the book appealing to emerging readers. However, it falls short on many fronts. Most notably, readers come away with the feeling that most plot elements are pulled out of the blue (for example, the need to illuminate a dark passageway is met with the convenient introduction of fire-breathing bats). The cartoon illustrations, though numerous, are only adequate. Furthermore, the idea that the villains only desire friendship and acceptance is clichéd and unsatisfying. And while the writing style may seem novel and fun at first, reading a whole book full of tongue twisters and wordplay may only serve to frustrate some readers.—Amy Holland, Irondequoit Public Library, NY