The Lumpy Duckling: Another Weaver Tale (#3)
By Kai Strand
Publisher: Guardian
Angel Publishing
Published: Oct. 12, 2014
ISBN: 978-1616335496
Kai Strand explores friendship, perception, and the consequences of wishes in this fast-paced read. - Mary Waibel
This is a wonderful story of loyalty and friendship. It also shows how one’s fears and insecurities sometimes sabotage the good things we have in our lives. Like Wheezy, we have to learn to trust, to accept change, to be patient and understanding, and to try not to jump to conclusions. The end is most satisfying, but it’s an exciting, nerve-wracking ride getting there. The Lumpy Duckling is highly recommended for middle grade readers. - Penelope Anne Cole
Isn’t seventh grade too young to worry about boys? In that way at least. She always worried about her very closest friend, Lumpy. She and Lawrence Nightingale had been inseparable since she tripped over him in the sandbox almost nine years ago. Well, inseparable might be a bit strong, since they couldn’t even go to school together, Lumpy being a year older thanher and all.
Being picked on wasn’t the only thing they had in common. Wheezy smiled. They both liked…um…they preferred…um. Her smile fell away when she stared out the window picturing herself and Lumpy together.
They had nothing in common. He liked to watch sports and whittle wood; she liked to create sand art and find shapes in the clouds. He chowed down steak and pan fried potatoes, or liverwurst and ketchup sandwiches, while she nibbled pickled zucchini spears and rye crisps. He spit into a pennywhistle, calling it music, while she sang like a songbird.
Even their Word Weaving was different. She weaved reports and updates of current events while he …um…whatever his weavings were classified as, they made people laugh. Gnawing the inside of her cheek, she searched for a
commonality in their personalities, hobbies or interests. A reason they were friends.
An image of Lumpy, a dirt stained baseball cap slightly askew, round face, red from laughing, an ever present lumpy grin on his lips which sparked in his bright blue eyes, formed in her mind, and a smile brightened her face again. It didn’t matter that they had nothing in common. He was her best friend. That was enough for her.
My Thoughts:
The Lumpy Duckling was a wonderful fairy tale about two friends. One friend Lawrence, nicknamed Lumpy because of his misshapen mouth from the candies he’s constantly eating and Eloise, nicknamed Wheezy because of all her sneezing were constant companions. While others made fun of Lumpy, Wheezy could see his true nature.
Wheezy is very bothered by the way the others treat Lumpy, so when she is afforded an opportunity to be granted a single wish, she wishes that others would see Lumpy the way that she sees him. Her wish leads to very unexpected consequences.
I liked the themes of loyalty and friendship in the story. This story reminds us to look beyond the exterior of a person to their personality and not just their looks. That’s a lesson we all need reminding of.
I loved the way this story tells us that we’d better be careful what we wish for. While we might get what we want, the way we might get it might be a whole lot more painful than we might expect.
This was a great updated retelling of an old fairy tale. It was clean, fun and will hold the interest of the readers. I gave The Lumpy Duckling 5 stars out of 5.
Thank you to the publishers for providing a copy of the book in exchange for a fair and honest book review. A positive opinion was not required. All thoughts are my own.
When her children were young and the electricity winked out, Kai Strand gathered her family around the fireplace and they told stories, one sentence at a time. Her boys were rather fond of the ending, “And then everybody died. The end.” Now an award winning children’s author, Kai crafts fiction for kids and teens to provide an escape hatch from their reality. With a selection of novels for young adult and middle grade readers and short stories for the younger ones, Kai entertains children of all ages, and their adults.
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ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you enjoyed Lumpy and Wheezy's story! Thanks for your time and attention to the book and for sharing it & and giveaway with your readers.
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