Return To Augie Hobble

Description

Augie Hobble lives in a fairy tale or at least Fairy Tale Place, the down-on-its-luck amusement park managed by his father. Yet his life is turning into a nightmare: he's failed creative arts and has to take summer school, the girl he has a crush on won't acknowledge him, and Hogg Wills and the school bullies won't leave him alone. Worse, a succession of mysterious, possibly paranormal events have him convinced that he's turning into a werewolf. At least Augie has his notebook and his best friend, Britt, to confide in - until the unthinkable happens and Augie's life is turned upside down, and those mysterious, possibly paranormal events take on a different meaning.

Promotion info

Hilarious, tender, and wise: Augie Hobble grapples with adolescence, paranormal mysteries, balky theme park rides, and heart-breaking loss in Lane Smith's brilliant debut novel.

Reviews

"The incomparable Lane Smith stomps triumphantly into the middle school playground with his first novel." The New York Times Book Review"Smith huffs and puffs and blows the roof off his first novel. . . . Bravo!" Booklist, starred review"Great fun, with hardly a trope or theme left unspun." Kirkus Reviews, starred review"Two-time Caldecott Honoree Smith, in his first novel, does an impeccable job of introducing heartbreak while keeping the mood light." Publishers Weekly, starred review"This unusual, ultimately exultant story is tinged with the supernatural and heartbreaking at its core." The Wall Street Journal"Like the late comic master Terry Pratchett, Smith knows how to make profound points lightly as he holds a funhouse mirror to the larger world." The Washington Post"Had me cracking up from the first smokin' scene." Newbery Medalist Jack Gantos"You'll cheer for this novel." Newbery Honor author Gary Schmidt"