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Book Summary

Reviewed by Patricia Tauzer

"The Jabberwocky" poem by Lewis Carroll, written in nonsense words, is re-imagined here as a story about a 14-fingered beast who takes his prowess onto the basketball court. The beast is figuratively "slain" by a beamish boy who takes him on in a game of one-on-one.

Is It Any Good?

4

When Alice first heard the Jabberwocky in Through the Looking Glass, she didn't know what to think. "It seems very pretty ... but it's rather hard to understand!" she commented. And, most readers would agree, even in this new modern version set on an inner city basketball court. But somehow, through the rhythms and with a little help from the illustrations, even the youngest reader will get it.

In this version, re-imagined by the award-winning talent of Christopher Myers, nonsense makes sense. Though the words don't always fit the story perfectly, the rhythms pull them through, and Lewis Carroll's poem takes on the personality of an energetic rap song. And the basketball court seems the perfect setting. With broad strokes, bright colors, and words that shout from the page, the inner city summer comes alive. The 14-fingered basketball player who dominates the courts as well as the entire playground is as scary a Jabberwock monster as could be imagined. And, after the "beamish" boy challenges, and beats, him, the neighborhood celebrates: CALLOOH! CALLAY! as the hero struts off "chort[ling] in his joy."

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