Samuel Blink and the Runaway Troll

by Matt Haig

Overview

When Troll-Son runs away from home, he decides to leave the Shadow Forest behind and move in with his idol, Samuel Blink. Samuel isn't thrilled with the idea of hiding a runaway troll, especially one who copies everything he does, even (ugh!) using his toothbrush. But should Samuel return Troll-Son to the Shadow Forest? After all, he's running from something . . . what danger still lurks there?

This engaging adventure showcases Matt Haig's wry sense of humor, drawing readers deeper into the imaginative world introduced in Samuel Blink and the Forbidden Forest.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781101221211
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	09/04/2008
Sold by:	Penguin Group
Format:	eBook
Pages:	384
File size:	393 KB
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Matt Haig’s writing has appeared in The Guardian, The Sunday Times, The Independent, and The Sydney Morning Herald. The Dead Fathers Club is his American debut. He lives in Leeds, England.

Editorial Reviews

Gr 5-8

This book is just as delightful as Samuel Blink and the Forbidden Forest (Putnam, 2007). It continues the story of Samuel and Martha, along with their Norwegian aunt and uncle and the trolls who live in the neighboring forest. The siblings are starting school, which is not an easy thing when you only speak English. Samuel has enough problems without the arrival of Troll-Son, who is hiding from the Betterer, an adult troll who uses various torture techniques to make the trolls more human. Meanwhile, Martha is becoming friendly with Cornelia, who has motives other than friendship for spending time with her. When the worlds of the trolls and the humans fully connect, there is no guessing what will happen. Enthusiastically portrayed with all of their quirks, the characters are engaging. Fast pacing adds to the readability of the book, and the combination of fantasy and broad humor is very well done.-Tasha Saecker, Menasha Public Library, WI

School Library Journal

When their new school starts, Samuel and Martha Blink have trouble keeping secret everything they learned about the Shadow Forest near their aunt and uncle's home (Samuel Blink and the Forbidden Forest, 2007). But things get worse when the Troll child Samuel met in the Forest decides to flee to Samuel's house rather than spend a week with the evil Betterer. Samuel and Martha are both courageous and quick-witted enough to hide their surprise guest, and, eventually, to thwart both Mr. Myklebust, who would like to develop the forest into a theme park, and the Betterer, who would like to keep both Samuel and Troll-Son forever. The action moves quickly, in short chapters occasionally interrupted by authorial commentary. While this sequel follows directly from the previous story, a neatly placed "What I Did Last Summer" essay serves as a summary, allowing this volume to stand alone. Well-paced suspense, sympathetic (or satisfyingly wicked) characters and a lovingly described Norwegian setting make this an above-average fantasy, and readers will be hoping for more. (Fantasy. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews