Book 69: Alistair Grim's Odditorium

Alistair Grim's Odditorium, by Gregory Funaro

Hooray! A book that isn't the first one in a trilogy! One that stands on its own, with a satisfying, complete ending. Thank you, Mr. Funaro.

This is a great book for Harry Potter lovers. Its setting is Dickensian England, moving from a rural area to London. A poor chimney sweep and his wife find a baby at their hovel's door and take it in. The boy is given the name Grubb with 2 B's because all wrapped up in swaddling clothes he looks like one. Told the Yellow Fairy left him, Grubb has a pleasant life, for a peasant, until his foster mother dies and he is forced to become an apprentice chimney sweep. Finally he runs away from a pair of bullies and his life is changed forever when he finds himself in Alistair Grimm's Odditorium.

And what a place it is, full of gadgets, gizmos, magical things and very interesting characters. It's fantasy crossed with steampunk and Charles Dickens, with humor. We liked it.