Goblin Secrets

February 6, 2012
In Alexander’s debut novel, set in the magical, steampunk-inflected land of Zombay, a young orphan named Rownie lives in the household of Graba the witch, running errands and scavenging food where he can. His older brother, Rowan, used to live with Rownie and Graba’s band of “Grubs,” but Rowan was arrested for putting on a mask and acting—in Zombay, citizens are forbidden to pretend to be other than they are—and has disappeared. When a troupe of goblins arrives to put on a play, Rownie sneaks away to see them and angers Graba enough that he’s forced to flee. He accepts sanctuary from the goblins, joining their troupe and mounting a search for Rowan, but Graba is hunting Rownie, and there are dire warnings that long-prophesied floods are coming to wipe out Zombay. Alexander has an intriguing central theme, in which masks and theater create actual magic, but the story is slow to develop. The result is a (sometimes gruesome) fantasy stuffed with interesting ideas that don’t quite have room to breathe. Ages 8–12. Agent: Joe Monti, Barry Goldblatt Literary.

March 25, 2013
Young Rownie is on a quest to find his actor brother, who disappeared from the town of Zombay, a place where acting is outlawed. His search finds him joining a troupe of goblin actors who teach him things about the world he will need in his journey. As a narrator, William Alexander turns in a solid performance. He reading is well paced. He lends drama to his young adult novel and ably creates distinctive character voices. However, his narration doesn’t always capture the tone of the book. His voice is soft and slightly nasal and he sometimes overpronounces words—and this will prevent some listeners from getting lost in the fantasy. Ages 8–12. A Margaret K. McElderry hardcover.