Common Sense Media Review
By Michael Berry
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
It's always stormy weather in this clever seaside fantasy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
As THE UMBRELLA MAKER'S SON opens, 11-year-old Oscar Buckle receives the unwanted news that it's up to him carry on the family business. He lives in Roan, where it's literally always raining. So you'd think there would be plenty of work for an umbrella maker, but Mr Buckle is too meticulous to turn a profit. With the family business in jeopardy, Oscar must leave school and become his father's apprentice. Worse still, his best friend, Saige, is moving out of town, and he worries that he won't ever see her again. The one ray of hope in his life is the arrival of the Night Market, a place of magic and wonder. A series of mysterious events in town sets Oscar and Saige on a search to find out what's really causing all the rain.
Is It Any Good?
This amiable seaside fantasy is a welcome break from adventures with non-stop frenetic action. The Umbrella Maker's Son, auhtor Katrina Leno's first middle-grade novel, proves that atmosphere can be everything in this tale of perpetual rain. Footnotes from a sly, anonymous narrator contribute cleverly to the worldbuilding, while an extra dash of magic is provided by the Night Market, where the kids find clues to the mysteries confronting them. Just the right amount of intrigue, mellow action, and sweet connection makes this a worthwhile read. Oscar and Saige's friendship is one for the ages, and, with any luck, they'll return for another adventure.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how The Umbrella Maker's Son depicts life at the seashore. How does rising temperature affect ocean plants and animals?
Why do some families pass along the businesses they've built? Would you like to have a job like your parent's? Why, or why not?
What can companies do to mitigate climate change? What goals should they set as time moves on and the world gets hotter?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Animals ( Ocean Creatures ) , Fantasy ( Magic ) , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Communication , Curiosity , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Little, Brown and Company
- Publication date : June 27, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 10 - 12
- Number of pages : 384
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : December 12, 2025
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