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The Doldrums
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4.5 • 18 Ratings
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- $3.99
Publisher Description
“A dreamy charmer of a book, full of clever wordplay that practically demands it be read out loud.”—New York Times
Have you ever wanted to hold a little piece of the impossible? Lavishly illustrated in full color, The Doldrums is an extraordinary debut about friendship, imagination, and the yearning for adventure from author-artist Nicholas Gannon. A modern classic in the making, The Doldrums is for readers of inventive and timeless authors such as Brian Selznick and Lemony Snicket.
Archer B. Helmsley wants an adventure. No, he needs an adventure. His grandparents were famous explorers . . . until they got stuck on an iceberg. Now Archer’s mother barely lets him out of the house. As if that would stop a true Helmsley. Archer enlists Adelaide—the girl who, according to rumor, lost her leg to a crocodile—and Oliver—the boy next door—to help him rescue his grandparents. The Doldrums whisks us off on an adventure full of sly humor, incredible detail, and enormous heart.
With approximately twenty pieces of breathtaking full-color artwork, as well as black-and-white spot illustrations, and gorgeous, literary writing, Nicholas Gannon proves himself to be a distinctive new voice with his middle grade debut. Be in it for the limitless imagination. For the characters who capture your heart. For the rich world you’ll want to settle into. But most of all, be in it for the friendship. That, after all, is the true adventure.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
On Archer Helmsley's ninth birthday, his grandparents vanish while exploring an iceberg in Antarctica. Two years later, Archer (along with his best friend Oliver, the fretful son of a newspaperman, and Ad la de, a mysterious Parisian girl with a wooden leg) plans to embark on a rescue mission if only his overprotective mother would let him leave the house. Newcomer Gannon reveals himself as a skilled storyteller, both in his writing and artwork. His quippy quotes, whimsically meandering exposition, and penchant for the gently absurd breathe life into his three main characters, while his full-color illustrations precise, elegant, and haunting are a delightful means of seeing into his mind's eye. Archer has a vibrant imagination, spending lonely days inside the family home daydreaming and making conversation with a menagerie of taxidermied creatures, while Ad la de's missing limb is the subject of spirited schoolyard gossip involving a hungry crocodile, speculation that Ad la de herself is happy to fuel. It's a tender tale of friendship, untapped courage, and accidental adventure, filled with the spirit of exploration. Ages 8 12.
Customer Reviews
The best book I’ve ever read
I found this in my school library a couple years ago and I loved it. After several years went by, I’ve read a ton of books and this is still by far my favorite book ever. It’s a masterpiece, the writing is amazing, and I honestly don’t know what else to say. Just please read it!!!
BEST BOOK EVER!
This is the best book i've ever read!
Breathtaking...
Enough said!