The assassination of Brangwain Spurge by M.T. Anderson and Eugene Yelchin
Candlewick Press, 2018. ISBN: 9780763698225.
(Age: 10-15) Highly recommended. The old-style gold embossed front
cover of this novel gives a strong indication of the story to
follow. The collaboration between M.T. Andersen and Eugene
Yelchinhas has produced a book that harks back to an older world
where goblins and elves live apart and are wary of each other.
The story opens in a manner similar to Brian Sleznick's (The
Invention of Hugo Cabret and The Marvels) style where
illustrations are whole chapters and tell the story visually. These
Gothic style drawings feature throughout the book and are
intricately woven into the story.
Brangwain Spurge is an historian elf. He has been selected to
deliver a gift to the kingdom of the goblins. He believes he is a
messenger of peace and agrees to stay with his host, a fellow
historian, a goblin named Archivist Werfel.
At first Brangwain's superior attitude is a struggle for the
friendly Werfel and gets them both into some dangerous situations
due to Brangwain's total disregard and disdain of Goblin cultural
and social mores.
Although set in an ancient world, the storyline has strong
connections to modern politics and the 'spin' that each group or
country places on events.
Both elf and goblin argue and disagree about their versions of
historical events and wars but as the story unfolds a more mutual
purpose exists between them and they need to work as a team to deal
with treachery and danger.
There is humour and fun when these two different characters buddy up
and unwittingly embark on a perilous adventure together.
The reader needs to process all the information that is presented in
the novel in both illustrations and words, to discover the real
truth and knows more than both of the hapless historians.
This is a wonderful story that will appeal to those who love
fantasies such as Lord of the Rings.
I highly recommend this book to students aged 10 to 15 years old,
but this will also appeal to fantasy genre lovers of any age.
Jane Moore