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Description
When chubby, geeky Wylder Wallace spills lunch on cool and aloof Addy Crowe at Toronto's Comicon, she dashes to the bathroom, leaving behind the latest issue of her uncle's steampunk comic hit: FLYNN GOSTER in GOLD RUSH TRAIN. Wylder, a fan of the Flynn comics, opens this new one eagerly, astounded to see the girl who was just yelling at him inside the comic. Fascinated, he follows Addy into the bathroom, and the adventure begins...
Is there a personality conflict? Oh, yes. Addy wants to go home; Wylder wants to stay and explore the world of Viminy Crowe's comic book. Do things go wrong? You bet they do, from the very start, when Addy loses her pet rat, Catnip, and almost gets shot by a Red Rider. All the while the actual comic book story is going on around them. The train carries a fortune from the Yukon goldfields, and both dashing Flynn Goster (hero of a thousand disguises and thief extraordinaire) and villainous Professor Aldous Lickpenny (criminal genius, aided by malevolent robots but somewhat hampered by doltish nephew Nevins) have plans to steal the gold. There's romance too -- Flynn's old flame, the brilliant aviatrix, Isadora Fortuna, is traveling across Canada with her balloon, and her strangely familiar protégée Nelly Day. Addy and Wylder navigate the story with the aid of the comic book itself. Every page turn sends them to a different setting, from the Banff Springs Hotel to an alligator-wrestling arena in Florida. But when they finally find a portal back to the real world, catastrophe follows ... A hilarious thrill-ride of a story that will have kids laughing and on the edge of their seats with every turn of the page.
Is there a personality conflict? Oh, yes. Addy wants to go home; Wylder wants to stay and explore the world of Viminy Crowe's comic book. Do things go wrong? You bet they do, from the very start, when Addy loses her pet rat, Catnip, and almost gets shot by a Red Rider. All the while the actual comic book story is going on around them. The train carries a fortune from the Yukon goldfields, and both dashing Flynn Goster (hero of a thousand disguises and thief extraordinaire) and villainous Professor Aldous Lickpenny (criminal genius, aided by malevolent robots but somewhat hampered by doltish nephew Nevins) have plans to steal the gold. There's romance too -- Flynn's old flame, the brilliant aviatrix, Isadora Fortuna, is traveling across Canada with her balloon, and her strangely familiar protégée Nelly Day. Addy and Wylder navigate the story with the aid of the comic book itself. Every page turn sends them to a different setting, from the Banff Springs Hotel to an alligator-wrestling arena in Florida. But when they finally find a portal back to the real world, catastrophe follows ... A hilarious thrill-ride of a story that will have kids laughing and on the edge of their seats with every turn of the page.
Author Bio
RICHARD SCRIMGER has written more than twenty books for children and adults, including Zomboy and Downside Up, many of which have won or been nominated for major awards and been published internationally. His novel Irresistible is part of the Almost Epic Squad series. Richard is also a popular presenter in schools. His latest novel, a collaboration with Melanie Florence, is Autumn Bird and the Runaway. Richard lives in Toronto, Ontario. Visit him at http://www.scrimger.ca/.
Graphic designer and children's illustrator Claudia Dávila was born in Chile and now makes her home in Toronto. She was formerly the art director of Chirp and Chickadee magazines.
Prizes
- VOYA AwardNominated 2014
Review Quotes
PRAISE FOR Viminy Crowe's Comic Book:
"This wholly imagined fantasy is well–fleshed out and keeps the pages flying with its extremely clever story within a story . . . A thrilling and imaginative reminder that adventure and magic can be found anywhere, especially where one least expects it." --Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews
"The numerous black-and-white comic panels help bring the story to life for traditional and graphic novel fans, also bridging the two settings and the story-within-a-story narrative structure. Comic geeks or not, many are likely to enjoy this humorous and action-packed adventure." --School Library Journal
"The mix and match of the comic book with a story book is a unique approach to children’s literature. . . . The sheer imagination of the authors wins the attention of the reader with this page turner . . . Highly recommended for recreational reading, genre study, discussion groups. An excellent addition to a school or classroom library." --Resource Links
"[A] well-paced, entertaining adventure story in which comics play an integral role. In fact, Viminy Crowe’s Comic Book celebrates the genre in a way that hasn’t been done in children’s lit before: by combining the format of a novel with that of a comic strip and housing it between two hard covers for the enjoyment of youngsters everywhere." --The Montreal Gazette
"This wholly imagined fantasy is well–fleshed out and keeps the pages flying with its extremely clever story within a story . . . A thrilling and imaginative reminder that adventure and magic can be found anywhere, especially where one least expects it." --Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews
"The numerous black-and-white comic panels help bring the story to life for traditional and graphic novel fans, also bridging the two settings and the story-within-a-story narrative structure. Comic geeks or not, many are likely to enjoy this humorous and action-packed adventure." --School Library Journal
"The mix and match of the comic book with a story book is a unique approach to children’s literature. . . . The sheer imagination of the authors wins the attention of the reader with this page turner . . . Highly recommended for recreational reading, genre study, discussion groups. An excellent addition to a school or classroom library." --Resource Links
"[A] well-paced, entertaining adventure story in which comics play an integral role. In fact, Viminy Crowe’s Comic Book celebrates the genre in a way that hasn’t been done in children’s lit before: by combining the format of a novel with that of a comic strip and housing it between two hard covers for the enjoyment of youngsters everywhere." --The Montreal Gazette
Biographical note
MARTHE JOCELYN has written or made pictures for nearly thirty children's books. Her most recent books include the YA novel What We Hide and the picture book Where Do You Look? She was the 2009 recipient of the prestigious Vicky Metcalf Award for her body of work. Her middle grade novel Mable Riley won the inaugural TD Children's Literature Award, and her picture book Hannah's Collections was nominated for a Governor General's Award for Illustration.
RICHARD SCRIMGER is the award-winning author of sixteen books for children and adults. His works have been translated in many languages and have been critically acclaimed around the world. His first children's novel, The Nose from Jupiter, won the 10th Annual Mr. Christie's Book Award. His novel From Charlie's Point of View was a CLA Honor Book, and was chosen as one of the "Best of the Best" by the Chicago Public Library. Richard's latest, Ink Me, is part of the Seven series of linked YA novels.
RICHARD SCRIMGER is the award-winning author of sixteen books for children and adults. His works have been translated in many languages and have been critically acclaimed around the world. His first children's novel, The Nose from Jupiter, won the 10th Annual Mr. Christie's Book Award. His novel From Charlie's Point of View was a CLA Honor Book, and was chosen as one of the "Best of the Best" by the Chicago Public Library. Richard's latest, Ink Me, is part of the Seven series of linked YA novels.
