The Doldrums

Starred review from June 15, 2015
On Archer Helmsley’s ninth birthday, his grandparents vanish while exploring an iceberg in Antarctica. Two years later, Archer (along with his best friend Oliver, the fretful son of a newspaperman, and Adélaïde, a mysterious Parisian girl with a wooden leg) plans to embark on a rescue mission—if only his overprotective mother would let him leave the house. Newcomer Gannon reveals himself as a skilled storyteller, both in his writing and artwork. His quippy quotes, whimsically meandering exposition, and penchant for the gently absurd breathe life into his three main characters, while his full-color illustrations—precise, elegant, and haunting—are a delightful means of seeing into his mind’s eye. Archer has a vibrant imagination, spending lonely days inside the family home daydreaming and making conversation with a menagerie of taxidermied creatures, while Adélaïde’s missing limb is the subject of spirited schoolyard gossip involving a hungry crocodile, speculation that Adélaïde herself is happy to fuel. It’s a tender tale of friendship, untapped courage, and accidental adventure, filled with the spirit of exploration. Ages 8–12. Agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House.

Starred review from June 1, 2015
Eleven-year-old Archer B. Helmsley enlists his best friend, Oliver Glub, and Adelaide, the new student from France, to help him track down his explorer grandparents in Antarctica-despite the fact that Archer's mother confines him to two places: his museumlike home and his school.After a preface promising that Archer is not one of those "perfect boys" who "live in perfect houses owned by perfect parents" and are "perfectly dull," Part 1 sets up the story of Archer's restricted life, its tedium mitigated by Archer's conversations with taxidermic animals and by clandestine meetings with Oliver. Part 2 brings Adelaide into the picture as an independent, peg-legged ex-ballerina, and Part 3 is called "The Journey Begins." The story is full of humor: the farcical, larger-than-life, domineering women of home and school; slapstick scenes involving Archer's clumsiness and Oliver's unfortunate habit of running with his eyes closed; whimsical wordplay, as in Oliver's plaintive request, "I've only had far-death experiences and I'd prefer to keep it that way." It's a bit long, considering the number of not-quite-eventful events, but it's also amusing, heartwarming, and zany. Though not as fast-paced as a Roald Dahl story, it is similar in terms of its magical realism and some absurdly naughty or nice characters. Archer, however, realistically shows both kindness and mean-spiritedness as he pursues his quest. The debut author also provides delicate, full-color illustrations throughout. Readers will eventually sigh in relief with Archer and friends. (Adventure. 7-11)

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August 1, 2015

Gr 4-6-Ever since Archer's adventurous grandparents disappeared on an iceberg in Antarctica, his mother has been excessively overprotective. As a result, Archer has created a rich life for himself, largely played out in his imagination. When a mysterious package arrives from his supposedly deceased grandparents, it is all the motivation Archer needs to hatch a plan to rescue them. With the help of his newfound friends, Adelaide and Oliver, Archer begins to prepare for his trip to Antarctica. The story gently unfolds from there, with the children spending a large portion of their time preparing for the journey. The protagonists are lonely and isolated in their own way, and they (and readers) eventually realize that all their planning is not about the adventure after all but, rather, about the companionship and camaraderie they find in one another. The adults in the story are quirky and caricaturelike; the evil Mrs. Murkley is the spitting image of Matilda's Miss Trunchbull, and Adelaide's father is an eccentric flibbertigibbet. Overall, the story is appealing, with sweet, quiet moments of friendship and well-crafted metaphors and a focus on character development over action. The work features approximately 20 pieces of full-color artwork as well as black-and-white spot illustrations. VERDICT This whimsical coming-of-age story has a touch of mystery that will endear it to fans of Roald Dahl.-Laura Lutz, Convent of the Sacred Heart, New York City

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2015
Grades 4-7 Archer Helmsley lives in a peculiar house filled with the treasures his grandparents, famous explorers, have collected during their journeys. Surrounded by the spoils of adventure, Archer longs for excitement, but after he learns some terrible newshis grandparents are lost at sea, stranded on an iceberg, and surely deadhis mother insists he never leave the house (except for school), lest he get any ideas about exploring the world himself. That only strengthens Archer's resolve, of course, and with the help of his friends, he concocts a plan to stow away on a ship to Antarctica to find his grandparents, whom he is convinced are still alive. But first, he will have to survive his controlling mother and awful new teacher, who rivals Roald Dahl's Miss Trunchbull in horribleness. Though Gannon's debut gets off to a slow start and some of the happenings occasionally seem a bit pointless, his warm-toned, fine-lined illustrations, full of delicately quirky details, help carry the offbeat atmosphere and whimsical story. Hand to fans of Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)