  | Clover Twig and the perilous path Author: Umansky, Kaye | |
| Price: $6.50 | ||
Summary:
Clover takes The Perilous Path with her friend Wilf when her baby brother goes missing on it to rescue him from the evil clutches of Mesmeranza.
| Illustrator: | Wright, Johanna |
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG Reading Level: 3.80 Points: 6.0 Quiz: 167840 | Reading Counts Information: Interest Level: 3-5 Reading Level: 3.30 Points: 10.0 Quiz: 58388 | |
Common Core Standards
Grade 3 → Reading → RL Literature → 3.RL Key Ideas & Details
Grade 4 → Reading → RL Literature → 4.RL Key Ideas & Details
Grade 4 → Reading → RL Literature → 4.RL Range of Reading & Level of Text Complexity
Grade 4 → Reading → RL Literature → 4.RL Craft & Structure
Grade 4 → Reading → RL Literature → 4.RL Integration & Knowledge of Ideas
Grade 4 → Reading → RL Literature → Texts Illustrating the Complexity, Quality, & Rang
Grade 5 → Reading → RL Literature → 5.RL Key Ideas & Details
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (05/01/12)
School Library Journal (07/01/12)
Booklist (08/01/12)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (09/12)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 07/01/2012 Gr 3–6—In this follow-up to Clover Twig and the Magical Cottage (Roaring Brook, 2009), neat and sensible Clover Twig, child servant to kind but bumbling witch Mrs. Eckles, must navigate the Perilous Path with her friend Wilf in search of her missing brother, Herby. Mrs. Eckles's sinister sister, Mesmeranza, has concocted a plan to hold Herby hostage in exchange for The Bad Spell Book, which she intends to use for evil purposes. The Perilous Path is never what it seems, with dangers and temptations popping up at every turn. Along the way, Clover and Wilf join forces with Philip Tilden, a reject from the Clown College, and Petula Plodfoot, who has run away from the Young Ladies' Finishing Academy. The four adventurers must suffer their worst nightmares coming to life, as when a talking clown skull pulls Philip into murky waters. A lively cast of characters will keep readers mesmerized, including Mesmeranza's allergy-prone assistant, Miss Fly. Simple illustrations are sprinkled throughout; they give life to the quirky characters and tie their stories together. Fans of Roald Dahl should enjoy this novel for its kooky cast of misfits.—Michele Shaw, Quail Run Elementary School, San Ramon, CA - Copyright 2012 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 08/01/2012 This sequel to Clover Twig and the Magical Cottage (2009) finds Clover happily settled in her job as housekeeper to the local witch, Mrs. Eckles, until the day her baby brother, Herby, disappears. Was he kidnapped by the witch’s evil sister, Mesmeranza? Or sent down the Perilous Path by the goblin who stole his clothes? Can Mrs. Eckles master new crystal-ball technology to rescue him? Not before Clover and her friend Wilf have faced five of the Path’s perils themselves. Humor and mid-action chapter endings make this a good read-aloud choice even for those who haven’t met capable Clover before. - Copyright 2012 Booklist.
Bulletin for the Center... - 09/02/2012 After piloting a magical flying cottage and mediating a decades-old dispute between her witchy employer, Mrs. Eckles, and Mrs. Eckles’ even witchier sister, Mesmeranza (in Clover Twig and the Magical Flying Cottage, BCCB 10/09), ever-sensible eleven-year-old Clover Twig was hoping she’d have a bit of a break from supernatural tomfoolery. Alas, such is not the case: her youngest brother vanishes along the mysteriously disappearing and reappearing Perilous Path, an event that coincides with the return of Mesmeranza, who attempts to use Clover’s brother’s disappearance to get the young girl to do her bidding. Joined by her clumsy but lovable pal, Wilf, Clover ventures down the Path in search of her brother, narrowly escapes Mesmeranza’s machinations, meets up with a rogue clown and runaway debutante, and generally has a rollicking adventure. Umansky set the bar fairly high with Clover’s first outing, and while the plot here doesn’t quite rise the absurd originality of its predecessor (it’s hard to top a talking cat), fans will be delighted to revisit the quirky characters and the author’s wry, enchanting humor. Brisk, playful dialogue and a fairytale-esque setting populated with lively, only-slightly-menacing creatures add to the charm, while the black and white illustrations, recalling Quentin Blake, match the story’s mischievous tone. KQG - Copyright 2012 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.
