The Wonderling

A character tells how in the past, humans used to burn down the homes of "groundlings" (the human-animal hybrids) and kill many of them. The orphanage where Arthur spends his early youth is full of cruel adults, monstrous machines, bullying classmates, and creepy creatures, including rats who brag about eating their annoying rivals. In one slapstick-but-scary scene, the evil headmistress twists Arthur's ear till he almost passes out from the pain, and then throws him against the wall. Baby mice meet a terrible but undescribed fate at the hands of a villain.

References to pee (which things smell like) and dung (which is around a lot, and also part of some business names). Also bums, meaning butts. A character calls another "moron."

One of the evil adults at the orphanage has a habit of getting drunk, which serves the kids well for plotting an escape. Assorted taverns and the like are part of the scenery.

Parents need to know that there's a lot to love in The Wonderling, author-illustrator Mira Bartok's first book for young readers and the first installment in a new fantasy series. There's darkness and scary stuff as young hero Arthur, a "groundling" (human-animal hybrid) with a fox's head, one ear, and a human-type body, makes his way through a richly imagined steampunk world from creepy orphanage to creepier prison in quest of his roots. But readers unfazed by the monsters and situations of, say, Harry Potter should have no problem. Friendship literally changes the young hero's life, and there are strong messages of kindness, empathy, family, teamwork, using your talents, and helping others. Laughs, suspense, and heartwarming moments keep the pages turning and set up the next installment.