Mutant Bunny Island

by Obert Skye, Eduardo Vieira (Illustrator)

Overview

Obert Skye, author of the bestselling Leven Thumps series, delivers a delightful mixture of offbeat mystery and laugh-out-loud humor in this thoroughly inventive adventure complete with comic-style illustrations, the first in a trilogy.

Ten-year-old Perry Owens has learned everything he needs to know from comic books. So when Perry receives a troubling message from his favorite uncle, Zeke, he knows exactly what’s wrong. Obviously, evil newts wearing trench coats must have kidnapped Zeke. Now they’re holding him hostage somewhere on Bunny Island, the remote vacation destination that Zeke calls home.

On his own, Perry travels to Bunny Island, where dozens of bunnies are running wild. One in particular doesn’t seem quite right. A creature this cute shouldn’t exist in nature. Are there truly evil newts on the loose, or something much stranger...and more disturbingly adorable?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062399120
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	11/07/2017
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.80(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Obert Skye is the author of the bestselling Leven Thumps series, the Creature from My Closet series, the Witherwood Reform School series, and the Mutant Bunny Island series. As far as he knows, he has never been attacked by either bunnies or newts. There is still time, however. He lives in Arizona with his family. Learn more about him at www.obertskye.com.

Eduardo Vieira is a freelance character designer and illustrator, trying to find his place in this big world through art. When he’s not drawing (which is almost all the time), he likes eating pizza, playing Street Fighter, and making Netflix marathons. Eduardo currently lives in São Paulo, Brazil, with his girlfriend and their amazing cat.

Editorial Reviews

09/18/2017
A comics-loving boy travels to an island full of bunnies (but completely lacking in junk food) in Skye’s joyfully wacky tale. Ten-year-old Perry Owens loves the Ocean Blasterzoids comics his uncle Zeke sends him, and he tries to model himself after Admiral Uli, a heroic squid who fights evil newts. In reality, Perry is friendless, living with his single father and spending most of his time reading at home. When Zeke sends a note with the latest comic asking for help, Perry packs a suitcase of junk food and flies from Ohio to Bunny Island. After discovering that his uncle has vanished, Perry befriends locals Rain and Juliet, who help him uncover the plot behind his uncle’s disappearance and the greater danger that faces the island. Filled with Admiral Uli’s wisdom and aquatic puns (“When things look dark as ink, always suck it up and get kraken”) and interspersed with comics excerpts drawn by Vieira (not seen by PW), this goofy, mile-a-minute romp is a boatload of fun. Ages 8–12. Author’s agent: Laurie Liss, Sterling Lord Literistic. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly

The story is always fast-paced and imaginative...” — Kirkus Reviews

“Kids who enjoy fast-paced books with unlikely, hyperactive heroes, and outlandish adventures will be amused.” — School Library Journal

“Skye douses his surreal caper with nautical one-liners (“It’s always darkest before the prawn”), and Vieira adds graphic depictions of Admiral Uli’s battles with slimy foes between select chapters. [...] Ink-credible!” — Booklist

From the Publisher

Skye douses his surreal caper with nautical one-liners (“It’s always darkest before the prawn”), and Vieira adds graphic depictions of Admiral Uli’s battles with slimy foes between select chapters. [...] Ink-credible!

Booklist

Skye douses his surreal caper with nautical one-liners (“It’s always darkest before the prawn”), and Vieira adds graphic depictions of Admiral Uli’s battles with slimy foes between select chapters. [...] Ink-credible!

Booklist

09/01/2017
Gr 3–6—Skye concocts another far-fetched, imaginative plot in his latest middle grade novel, the first in a trilogy. To 10-year-old Perry Owens, the "Ocean Blasteroids" comic book series is more real than his actual life. He identifies with the hero, a squid named Admiral Uli, and sees evil newts everywhere. When he receives a comic with a coded message for help from his Uncle Zeke, Perry knows he must spring into action, an uncharacteristic decision since Perry rarely leaves the house. Happy that his son finally wants to experience a summer adventure, his tolerant father allows Perry to travel with two suitcases full of junk food to Bunny Island, where only healthy foods are allowed. Alas, Uncle Zeke is nowhere to be found, but the island is overrun with adorable rabbits. Seeking guidance from the wise words of Admiral Uli and strength from his illegal stash of salty snacks, Perry and two kids from the island figure out why people have been disappearing and how to foil the culprit. Each chapter begins with an excerpt of "Ocean Blasteroids." VERDICT Kids who enjoy fast-paced books with unlikely, hyperactive heroes, and outlandish adventures will be amused.—Martha Simpson, Stratford Library Association, CT

School Library Journal

2017-08-02
There's a long, proud history of nonsense books, which includes Lewis Carroll and Dr. Seuss. But this novel makes less sense than most.When Perry goes on vacation to Bunny Island, he packs nothing but junk food. He leaves on the spur of the moment because his uncle has mailed him a two-word distress call. The first word is "HELP." The second word is "MEL," and Perry interprets it to mean that his uncle has been kidnapped by intelligent newts. This actually makes sense. Perry and his uncle are fans of a comic book about Adm. Uli, a talking squid, and in the squid language, "mel" means newt. But even people who don't read comics seem to think Perry's behavior is normal. His father has no problem sending him across the world by himself, with no notice whatsoever. Juliet Jordan, a girl he meets on the island, does think his story is odd, but it doesn't bother her much. "Sometimes," she says, "life is better when you stop trying to make sense." (Most of the characters are white, though one supporting character is described as "dark-skinned and cool looking.") The book would have benefited from a few more skeptics. After all, Alice questioned everything she saw in Wonderland. The story is always fast-paced and imaginative, but maybe it's a little too imaginative. Skeptics may prefer something a bit more grounded. (Humorous fantasy. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews