Review: A House Called Awful End (Philip Ardagh)

Title: A House Called Awful End
Series: The Eddie Dickens Trilogy, Book 1
Author: Philip Ardagh
Illustrated by: David Roberts
Publisher: Scholastic
Release Date: September 1, 2003 (edition)
Genre: Juvenile Historical Humor
Content Rating: Juvenile (violence by fire and stuffed stoat and pocketwatch and book and various other sturdy objects, accidental arson, orphan mistreatment, theatrical fibbing)
Format Read: Paperback (purchased)
Find It On: Goodreads
Summary:

When both of Eddie's parents catch a diseas that makes them turn yellow, , it's agreed he should go away and stay wioth relatives at their house, Awful End. Alas for Eddie, those relatives are Mad Uncle Jack and Even Madder Aunt Maud - and the journey to Awful End will take him to everywhere from St. Horrid's Hone for Grateful Orphans to an audience with The Empress of All China. They never actually make it to Awful End, but that's okay. The hilarious, nefarious, precarious journey is well worth its weight in wonderful and wacky words.

*          *          *

This was one of my favorite series as a child! With its highly eccentric characters and ridiculous illnesses and stuffed stoats and giant metal cows there are lots of snickers and a few lessons to be enjoyed. (The information kind of lessons, not the moral kind, unless you count morals like "Always listen to your doctor, even if he burns down your house" or "No matter what always stay in character, even if a peeler hauls you away.") Seriously nutty, I recommend this quick and highly amusing story (and series!) for fans of zany British humor, and possibly Lemony Snicket.

(Warning: After reading this book, any mention of stoats will make you think of this story. Or, more specifically, Malcolm. Or is it Sally?)

Scribble Rating: 

3 out of 5 Scribbles