Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Second in fantasy trilogy cranks up the suspense and dread.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In London of the 1860s, many children are disappearing from the neighborhoods around Newgate prison. Some suspect bogles -- those scary creatures that hide in the dark and feed on children -- but they're known to be solitary. Eleven-year-old Jem, who's always wanted to be apprenticed to a bogle hunter, learns of the phenomenon and hopes that this is his chance to work for Alfred Bunce, London's greatest bogle hunter. Alfred wants nothing more than to retire, but when it's clear that more than a few bogles have moved into the area, he reluctantly goes back on the job. Even more reluctantly, he'll have to call on his former apprentice, Birdie McAdam, if he and Jem are to have any hope of stopping this plague.
Is It Any Good?
A PLAGUE OF BOGLES is a strong second installment that does justice to the first book, How to Catch a Bogle. Colorful, intriguing, and well-realized characters reappear, and equally delightful new ones are introduced. Just as vividly, Dickensian London's sights and sounds are brought to life. The pages will keep turning as the suspenseful plot brings even more chills and excitement. Jinks gives fantasy and historical fiction fans another big bite of the same delicious apple.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about reading fantasies, especially scary ones. Why do we love them so much?
How did you expect the story to continue after you read How to Catch a Bogle? Did anything surprise you about this book or the characters?
What do you think will happen in the last book of the trilogy? What do you wish would happen?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Sarah Watts
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , History
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
- Publication date : January 6, 2015
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 9 - 12
- Number of pages : 336
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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