Word Hunters: The Curious Dictionary by Nick Earls and Terry Whidborne
UQP, August 2012. ISBN: 978 0 7022 4945 7. Paperback, 240 pp. RRP:
$14.95
Highly recommended for readers 10 and up who relish a well-paced
exciting story. As a long time fan of Nick Earls' works (often
laughing helplessly when reading them), and a total word nerd, I was
eager to read the first instalment of the Word Hunters
series - a collaboration between Nick and Terry Whidborne.
Al and Lexie are twins from Fig Tree Pocket in Brisbane and as
different as twins could possibly be. Al is a history 'freak' as
described by his sister Lexie, who apparently acquires all her
knowledge from reality tv shows. When Al's pet rat escapes in the
school library and scoots into a hole in the wall amidst the 'out of
bounds' renovations, Al retrieves him but also finds a very strange,
very old book called Walker & Fuller's Curious Dictionary.
Much to the twins' surprise, and indeed dismay, the book
mysteriously and magically transports them back in time where they
find themselves dressed in period clothing in 19th century Menlo
Park, New Jersey - in close proximity to Thomas Edison's laboratory.
It becomes apparent to the twins that they are firstly on the trail
of the history of the word 'hello' and their quest leads them in
turn to a 19th century whaling ship, the Battle of Hastings, the
library at Alexandria and more. From tracing the stable lineage of
one of the oldest words in the world to learning about the origins
of family names, the twins realise they must work together to
survive all manner of sometimes dangerous situations.
Along the way the twins are introduced some very strange characters,
particularly Caractacus, and come to realise that they are not the
only 'word hunters'. Could the mysterious disappearance of their
grandfather somehow be connected with word hunting? Who are the 'H'
characters who have left their initials carved throughout time,
along with tantalising anachronistic clues.
This adventure mystery is lively, funny and enlightening and Terry
Whidborne's steampunk-ish illustrations wonderfully match the style
and pace of the story. Etymology has never been so much fun!
The second in the series The Lost Hunters is now out and the
third in the series War of the Word Hunters is on its way.
Sue Warren