Parents' Guide to

Return to Augie Hobble

By Darienne Stewart, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Strange, sad, and surprisingly sweet story of friendship.

Book Lane Smith Fantasy 2015
Return to Augie Hobble Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 14+

Based on 1 parent review

deekpeeka
deekpeeka Adult
November 19, 2020
age 14+

h

This title has:

Too much swearing
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Augie Hobble is spending his summer working with his family at Fairy Tale Place, their down-at-the-heels amusement park in New Mexico. He failed Creative Arts and has to redo his project, but he’s struggling to come up with a good idea. Bullies won’t leave him alone. And after a creepy encounter with a big bad wolf, Augie isn’t sure if the hair sprouting on his body means he’s turning into a werewolf or just going through puberty. When a shocking event completely turns his world inside out, Augie’s world goes black. He’ll need to feel his way out, with courage and the help of a good friend.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1):
Kids say: Not yet rated

After an understated start, this odd, dark tale sneaks up on you and hooks your heart. Bullying, friendship, loneliness, and loss are explored against an unnerving backdrop of the paranormal: werewolves, ghosts, clairvoyants, even Bigfoot. With RETURN TO AUGIE HOBBLE, author Lane Smith -- best known for his work as an illustrator -- takes a lot of risks, and most of them pay off. The story is slow to come into focus: This heightens the emotional punch of an unexpected dramatic turn more than halfway through, but some readers may find the start too slow or surreal. Gentle humor and Augie’s muted optimism help keep things lighthearted.

There’s plenty of Smith’s visual artistry here, too: Illustrations, mostly in the form of pages from Augie’s journal, are key to the telling of this surprising story.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the role of social media in the story -- a Facebook post is first seen as humiliating, and then as courageous. How would you respond if a classmate was ridiculed online? How can you avoid digital drama?

  • Do you consider this a book with illustrations, a graphic novel, or something else?

  • Do you think Augie’s performance in his Creative Arts class reflects his abilities?

Book Details

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