Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Clockwork fantasy adventure is delightful but a bit dark.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Young Jack, who's almost 11 in the London of 1899, follows a mysterious visitor through a magic doorway. On the other side he finds a fantastic parallel world in which nearly everyone and everything is mechanical in some way -- a dream come true for a kid who's always wanted to know how things work. Ruling over Londinium is the beautiful and powerful Lady, who's chosen Jack to be her new, perfect, human son and brings him to the palace to live with her. If Jack ever wants to return home, his only hope is to find the legendary Gearwing, a magical clockwork bird with the power to grant any wish.
Is It Any Good?
Emma Trevayne's novel is a delightful, atmospheric, clockwork fantasy that will draw kids into an adventure that combines mystery, excitement, and mechanical marvel. Kids will easily relate to hero Jack's feelings of loneliness and eagerness to learn more about the world around him. The writing has an intriguing rhythm and clever descriptive power that can both draw kids in to read on their own and be fun for adults to read aloud.
Steampunk elements abound, but even if that genre's not your thing, the compelling and charming characters, well-constructed story, and vividly realized fantasy world will appeal to anyone with a sense of adventure and a curiosity about how things work.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why fantasies are so popular. Why do we enjoy reading them so much? How does this book compare with other fantasies you've read?
Do the illustrations help you imagine the world you were reading about? How do they compare with the way you pictured things in your mind?
If you could visit a fantasy world like Londinium, would you want to? Would you want to stay there forever, the way Jack did at first?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Glenn Thomas
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : May 13, 2014
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 320
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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