A wildly inventive tale from the creator of Bartholomew the Adventurer.
Orville Wellington Mouse lives with his Mum in the quiet fishing village of Muridaan Falls, Symoca. His life takes an unexpected turn when he learns his best friend Sophia Mouse is not only from another planet, but is also a member of the Shapers Guild, a group of powerful mice who are able to convert their thoughts into physical objects.
When Orville notices a group of seven glowbirds exhibiting rather extraordinary behavior, he and Sophia attempt to uncover the origin of the unusual birds but soon find themselves enmeshed in a fiendish plot to embroil Symoca in a horrific war. Captured by the powerful and mysterious Red Mouse, the two adventurers are hurled through a spectral door into the terrifying world of Periculum, home of the dreaded giant carnivorous centipedes.
With help from the secretive Metaphysical Adventurers, Proto the Rabbiton, the Mad Mouse of Muridaan, a gigantic Gnorli bird, some ghostly Anarkkian warriors, and the enigmatic Monks of the Blue Robe, Orville and Sophia must find their way home and stop the evil Red Mouse before he destroys Symoca.
* from Amazon
Hott Review:
I’ve’ been seeing Tom Hoffman’s books online for quite some time and have been wondering whether to share them with the kiddos. Between the reviews and the clips I’d read they looked excellent, but… well, I’m never quite sure what/who to believe. I decided to start with a freebie I’ve had for a while, Orville Mouse and the Puzzle of the Clockwork Glowbirds.
What I liked: I enjoyed the simplicity of Orville Mouse and the Puzzle of the Clockwork Glowbirds. There are two great friends who try to save their world from the evil that wants to overtake it. Now, the magic/science and multidimensional travel pull in a mature feel to the book but it is a nice read without steam or foul-language.
I enjoyed reading Orville Mouse and the Puzzle of the Clockwork Glowbirds. There were times that I just didn’t want to put it down, though it did take me a while to understand everything that was going on. (I may have been quicker if I’d read his previous series.) I think this is going to be a fun series but I’m not exactly sure who I’d share it with. The vocabulary seems a bit heavy for my 9-14-year-olds and the plot/character relationships seem a bit simplistic for my older teens. I’ll definitely read more from the series while I decide though!
What I didn’t like: Parts of Orville Mouse and the Puzzle of the Clockwork Glowbirds are confusing. I know some have no problem immersing themselves in alternate universes but some of the vocabulary and explanations were a bit over my head. Because of that, I think this is more geared for older teens than the middle-grade crowd I was hoping to share it with.
From a Christian perspective, I felt like some of the conversations and may lead a reader to question the “One True God” school of thought. However, there are many life-truths and reminders of how to be a “good” person that everyone would be interested in remembering.
More…
| Author: | Tom Hoffman | ||
| Source: | I purchased this Orville Mouse and the Puzzle of the Clockwork Glowbirds on November 23, 2016 when it was free. | ||
| Publisher & Date: | April 23rd 2016 by Tom Hoffman Graphic Design | ||
| Genre: | YA Adventure | ||
| ISBN: | 099719524X (ISBN13: 9780997195248) | ||
| Pages: | 308 | ||
| Grade: | B | ||
| Ages: | 12+ | ||
| Steam: | None | ||
| Setting: | Muridaan Falls, Symoca | ||
| Series: | Orville Wellington Mouse Book 1 | ||
 Orville Mouse and the Puzzle of the Clockwork Glowbirds |
 Orville Mouse and the Puzzle of the Shattered Abacus |
 Orville Mouse and the Puzzle of the Capricious Shadows |
Author Bio:
Tom Hoffman received a B.S. in psychology from Georgetown University in 1972 and a B.A. in 1980 from the now-defunct Oregon College of Art. He has lived in Alaska with his wife Alexis since 1973. They have two adult children and two adorable grandchildren. Tom has been a graphic designer and artist for over 35 years. Redirecting his imagination from art to writing, he wrote his first novel, The Eleventh Ring, at age 63.
The Bartholomew the Adventurer Trilogy and the Orville Wellington Mouse adventures are multi-leveled stories and have been compared to Chronicles of Narnia, The Hobbit, Neverending Story, etc. The books have underlying themes of ethics, metaphysics, philosophy, quantum physics, and spirituality. A common theme is the idea that there is no magic, only science we don’t understand. The books were written to provide an alternate way to view the world we live in. To see all life as a single force, all life equally precious, no matter the form. A world where violence is not necessary, a world where the protagonists are changed forever by their difficult choices, by their own sacrifices. A world of empathy, kindness, and love. And of course, ten foot tall ancient robotic rabbits and gigantic carnivorous centipedes living on post apocalyptic planets!
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** Many of the books I review are Advance Review Copies. These books are loaned to me for my review. I am in no way compensated for my time nor am I asked to give anything but my honest review. If you have further questions, please, review my FTC Disclaimer on my homepage.
