Woundabout

by Lev Rosen, Ellis Rosen (Illustrator)

Overview

Welcome to Woundabout, where routine rules and change is feared. But transformation is in the wind....

In the wake of tragedy, siblings Connor and Cordelia and their pet capybara are sent to the precariously perched town of Woundabout to live with their eccentric aunt. Woundabout is a place where the mayor has declared that routine rules above all, and no one is allowed to as questions--because they should already know the answers.

But Connor and Cordelia can't help their curiosity when they discover a mysterious crank that fits into certain parts of the town, and by winding the crank, places are transformed into something beautiful. When the townspeople see this transformation, they don't see beauty--they only see change. And change, the mayor says, is something to fear. With the mayor hot on their trail, can Connor and Cordelia find a way to wind Woundabout back to life?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316370790
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	06/23/2015
Sold by:	Hachette Digital, Inc.
Format:	eBook
File size:	40 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Lev Rosen is the elder brother and the author of two books for older readers: All Men of Genius and Depth. All Men of Genius was an Amazon best of the month and on several best of year lists.

Ellis Rosen is the younger brother and a contributor to the Eisner-nominated graphic anthology Yiddishkeit: Jewish Vernacular and the New Land. His work can also be seen in the film Diving Normal and on various websites including The Millions, The Progressive, and TruthOut.

Editorial Reviews

04/20/2015
Recently orphaned when their fathers—who trained bomb-sniffing capybaras—were killed in an explosion, siblings Connor, 11, and Cordelia, nine, have no relatives except their Aunt Marigold, who they have never met. When they arrive in the town of Woundabout, along with a surviving capybara, Connor and Cordelia discover that their aunt’s home is just as “weird” as their fathers had hinted—the town has no Internet service, the mayor doesn’t allow questions, and everyone in Woundabout is expected to stick to a predictable daily routine. When the mayor’s prized artifact goes missing, Cordelia and Connor decide to track it down. With the help of a boy named Nico, they begin to uncover the truth behind Woundabout’s origins and strange traditions in a fairy tale–like novel that weaves a gentle spell as it builds to a dramatic, satisfying conclusion. Lev Rosen (All Men of Genius) sensitively addresses change, growth, and painful emotions like grief, while Ellis Rosen’s b&w illustrations are alternately haunting, comedic, and poignant, in keeping with the overall tone of the story. Ages 8–12. Agent: Joy Tutela, David Black Literary Agency. (June)

Publishers Weekly

02/01/2015
Gr 3–6—After their parents' recent death, siblings Connor and Cordelia as well as Kip, their pet capybara, must leave their home to live with their Aunt Marigold. They know little about their aunt because she always lived so far away in a strange town called Woundabout. The children soon discover that Woundabout is a place ruled by the Mayor, a man who rejects questions, values routine above all else, and detests change. Connor and Cordelia are the only children in town, and though some people are happy to see them, many are distraught by their presence. They soon stumble upon a boy, not from the town, who informs them that he stole something of the Mayor's but has now lost it and needs their help. Connor and Cordelia find this missing item and discover that it does amazing things—whether the Mayor and Woundabout are ready for it or not. The setting takes some getting used to, as do the characters, who lack individual personalities apart from having unique interests and hobbies. Some secondary characters seem thrown in and do little to enrich the narrative. The story itself is original, and though the pacing starts out slowly, once invested, readers will speed through to the end. Black-and-white interior illustrations enhance the tale and add overall appeal. A generous font size and ample images may make this an option for some reluctant readers. VERDICT This is a touching story about the importance of change despite the hardships of life.—Kristyn Dorfman, The Packer Collegiate Institute, Brooklyn, NY

School Library Journal

2015-03-03
A cliff-top river town, subterranean tunnels, and gearwork essentials figure in an intriguing steampunk fantasy.Connor and Cordelia King, ages 11 and 9, have been recently orphaned. Their parents, two men who raised bomb-sniffing capybaras on their ranch, were killed when a capybara training device exploded. Now the children and the only remaining capybara, Kip, have traveled to a small town to live with an aunt. The children quickly realize that Woundabout has a secret. It is curiously inert: there's no Internet, matches won't light, the river doesn't flow, the park is grimly barren, construction sites are vacant, and the mayor regards the arrival of children with deep suspicion and concern. Connor, with his love of things structural and architectural, notices the odd way the town fits together. Cordelia, who loves photography, observes much of the world through the lens of her camera. The town's name hints at its origin story, meshing gearwork and the four classical elements (earth, air, water, and fire), as well as at a more solemn theme: everyone in Woundabout has been injured in some way; each is looking for healing. Loss, death, and sadness are each acknowledged as a powerful impetus to change. Moments of humor include Aunt Marigold's inability to remember Kip's species name ("snappy llama," "chatty ferret"), while abundant black-and-white illustrations add a friendly note. Appealing and pleasingly thoughtful. (Fiction. 9-12)

Kirkus Reviews