Mira Bartók's new children's book The Wonderling completely enraptured me, drawing me into this fantasy adventure with its classic Hero's Journey. Arthur is a true hero, one who grows and changes, discovering as much about himself as he does about the world around him. I am excited to share this with readers across Berkeley as part of our Mock Newbery Book Clubs.

"In this extraordinary debut novel with its deft nod to Dickensian heroes and rogues, Mira Bartók tells the story of Arthur, a shy, fox-like foundling with only one ear and a desperate desire to belong, as he seeks his destiny.

Have you been unexpectedly burdened by a recently orphaned or unclaimed creature? Worry not! We have just the solution for you!

Welcome to the Home for Wayward and Misbegotten Creatures, an institution run by evil Miss Carbunkle, a cunning villainess who believes her terrified young charges exist only to serve and suffer. Part animal and part human, the groundlings toil in classroom and factory, forbidden to enjoy anything regular children have, most particularly singing and music. For the Wonderling, an innocent-hearted, one-eared, fox-like eleven-year-old with only a number rather than a proper name — a 13 etched on a medallion around his neck — it is the only home he has ever known. But unexpected courage leads him to acquire the loyalty of a young bird groundling named Trinket, who gives the Home’s loneliest inhabitant two incredible gifts: a real name — Arthur, like the good king in the old stories — and a best friend. Using Trinket’s ingenious invention, the pair escape over the wall and embark on an adventure that will take them out into the wider world and ultimately down the path of sweet Arthur’s true destiny. Richly imagined, with shimmering language, steampunk motifs, and gripping, magical plot twists, this high adventure fantasy is the debut novel of award-winning memoirist Mira Bartók and has already been put into development for a major motion picture."

Foxen! Dickensian Foxen!?! Even better!

I never knew what direction this book might take. One might expect some unusual elements from a book about human-animal hybrids, of course. We have exploration of prejudice and systemic oppression. And a whole lot of weirdness.

WHY DID I LISTEN TO THE WONDERLING BY MIRA BARTOK?
The Wonderling by Mira Bartok contains one of my favorite things – anthropomorphism. I love books about animals with human-esque qualities. So, of course I had to grab it from Netgalley. Life, however, comes at you kind of fast. So, I saw that this one was available to borrow from my library and listen to on audiobook CD. I took the plunge and went for it. My previous audiobook on CD went really well, so I thought perhaps this would go well. Also, I just wanted a book that would be super easy to listen to.

WHAT’S THE STORY HERE?
The Wonderling is about this fox-like eleven year old kid known as Thirteen. This is because he has a medallion around his neck with the number thirteen on it. Anyways, Thirteen is an orphan and lives at the Home For Wayward and Misbegotten Creatures. The home is run by Miss Carbunkle who is all sorts of awful. The children who live in the home are known as groundlings. Essentially they are part animal, part human. They are tasked with working all day and are not allowed to sing or dance or play.

Thirteen’s life basically is awful. That is, until he helps out a bird groundling named Trinket. Trinket begins to call Thirteen by the name of Arthur. Together, the two escape the Home and set out for the wide world. It is there that they discover the key to Arthur’s past. In addition, they find a way to a better life for the residents of the Wayward Home.

HOW DID I LIKE THE WONDERING?
Mira Bartok’s book, The Wonderling, is relatively good. Is it my favorite? No. Does it rise to say, the level of Redwall in my esteem? No. However, it did provide a few hours of entertainment. Although, it did leave me feeling a little sad. However, that should be expected for books that are Dickensian in nature. This book, FYI, is TOTALLY Dickensian. I think that middle grade children who like books that are a touch melancholy will get something out of this one. Also, the art within is fantastic. It feels vintage and wonderful and I loved seeing the few illustrations that I did (while trying to correlate my audiobook with page).

HOW’S THE NARRATION?
The audiobook is narrated by Simon Vance. I know that he is a big deal narrator. Personally, it is probably not the narrating style for me for the most part. Like, I wish I had listened to this via an app so I could speed it up. The narration is very slow and serious. I do not know much much actual middle graders would like it. Still, to each their own. I didn’t love the narration, but other people will enjoy it.

An imaginative fairy-tale like story sadly with a few gaping plot holes that older readers won't contend with, younger readers however will enjoy the shy little fox foundling's quest.

The Wonderling is a middle grade steampunk fantasy with elements of adventure. Though the intended audience for The Wonderling are readers aged 10-14, this book can be enjoyed at any age if you love tales of innocence, courage, and finding a sense of belonging. I can't wait to get a finished copy, because I can tell from the cover and the bits of art in the ARC that the illustrations will be gorgeous.

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an ARC.

This was such a fun adventure, I'm excited for my kids to read it soon.

I received a copy of this ARC from Netgalley and Candlewick Press publishing house in exchange for an honest review.
his was not a final version of the book, and many of the illustrations were not provided; the few that were had been artfully crafted to follow the story. There were also a few grammar issues that I hoped they ironed out prior to publishing the full novel.
I did not fall in love with the story like I had hoped that I would. The main character is humanoid fox named 13 who las long been oppressed by his mistress Miss Carbunkle who owns the orphanage where he lives. His character lacks the conviction to survive and seems to a poorly rewritten version of Oliver Twist. Later, he is dubbed Arthur by his friend and soon adapts the moniker permanently. The name change does not aid in helping him in character growth as he lets the world he resides in command his life and does not want to grasp it by the reins.
I did like how whimsical the world of Wonderling was written and the humanoid characters that reside there. I also like how the author incorporated Steampunk innovations and magical characteristics into the story. I just wish it had helped the characters out instead of being a profound backdrop.

The Wonderling had a lovely Dickensian atmosphere with fantastic illustrations. What it didn't have was a protagonist with any backbone. Things happen to Arthur. He has no personal impact on the way the story develops. The illustrations alone is enough to get people excited. But as for the story itself? The best I can say is that it was fine.

Since I read The Wonderling as an Advanced Reader copy I think I missed out on a lot, most of the pictures were not included. I imagine they added a significant amount of charm to the book and I’ll be looking for a physical copy in order to see the illustrations.

Overall, The Wonderling is a very charming book. The characters are interesting, endearing, fun. The world is full of intriguing creatures and magic. Unfortunately, it was just too long. I would have loved this so much more if it had been more concise. The big picture conflict doesn’t even unfold until the 75% mark, that’s about 350 pages in, with some very slight setup earlier in the book. Once the final quest begins the earlier plot movement comes across as meandering.

I’m assuming The Wonderling is setup to be a series, I’m hoping future volumes will be significantly pared down to focus more closely on an overarching plot and character development.

Poor little orphaned creatures! This well written fantasy story is wonderful! Kids and adults should enjoy the tale. So endearing and heartwarming! Mira Bartok is a great writer; I'll be sure to look out for more of her works in the future.

The Wonderling by Mira Bartok would be an excellent read to follow Harry Potter and the like. Book has an astounding imagination played out in the intricate details of this fantastical tale. Arthur and his groundling friends encounter many adventures both good and bad.
I personally had a hard time getting into this book. I felt as though every bad thing that could happen to Arthur did and it made it difficult for me to read. I finally got into the story about a third of the way through and then couldn't wait to see how it ended up.
I am looking forward to the upcoming movie version as well as to see what book two will take these adventurers.

The Wonderling is a middle grade novel written and illustrated by Mira Bartok. I was very excited about the opportunity to read this book because I have three girls in the middle grade range, and I knew this book would appeal to them.

Arthur is a young fox groundling (a sort of anthropomorphic animal). He lives in an orphanage with other groundlings, ruled by the cruel Miss Carbunkle, who metes out punishments to maintain order and has placed a permanent ban on music or anything happy. Arthur meanders through his miserable existence, but that changes when he meets Trinket. It is Trinket who gives him his name- before that, doesn’t even have a name and is referred to as Thirteen. Trinket becomes Arthur’s first friend, and she tells him wonderful stories about the world outside the Home. Arthur is terrified by change, but with Trinket’s coaxing, he agrees to escape with her. This proves to be the beginning of an amazing adventure, as Arthur tries to discover his origins.

This was an amazing story. It took us awhile to read this one, but the girls were very excited to read a chapter or two every night. I loved the immersive world, and the most fascinating thing is that even though Arthur’s travels took him to so many different places, I feel as though we barely scratched the surface of Arthur’s world. We all loved the camaraderie between Trinket and Arthur; their friendship is certainly one for the ages.

It’s hard to determine which part was our favorite because there were so many lovely things that happened over the course of the story. I have to say that I loved the Fagin-like character who takes Arthur under his wing at one point. My girls loved Trinket’s inventions, as well as the incident with the wig. Oh, and the Songcatcher was something of great interest to them too.

I would absolutely recommend The Wonderling to middle grade readers. It has a quirky Victorian steampunk motif that adds a rich layer to the overall ambience. The story moves at a fairly quick pace; it seemed as though there was always something happening. We can’t wait to find out what the future holds for Arthur, Trinket, and the rest of our favorites.

I received a digital copy of this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I would definitely call this book an epic fantasy! I loved the fantastical nature of the story and, though it took me a while to finish it, I enjoyed the journey that Mira Bartok took me on as I followed Thirteen (Arthur) in his search for answers about his family and about himself. One of the ways I know that I enjoyed this book because there was at least one character who I really detested, and I only truly dislike a character when I am fully invested in a book. I also enjoyed meeting, and learning about, the other friends that Thirteen meets and makes along his journey. This story also addresses the idea of equality in a way that I think my 4th grade students will really understand. I would definitely use this book to have bigger conversations about equality in the real world and how it might compare to this story.

A Dickensian-steampunk-middle-grades-Fantasy?? Yes, please!
As the Wonderling begins we are introduced to Number 13, a foxlike human/animal hybrid, and the cruel and unforgiving world in which he lives. The aesthetic of this book and the world created by the author are lovely despite the cruelty we find. The Dickensian inspirations are evident, so much so that I wouldn't have had a second thought had a character uttered the phrase, "Please, Sir, I want some more." The groundlings we meet have been abandoned to the care of Miss Carbunkle and her home for Wayward and Misbegotten Creatures. They are a rag-tag group of creatures and all the requisite roles are filled. We have the group of bullies with their vicious ringleader who deals with his own troubles by torturing others, the band of allies who pull together when they are needed led by a singular but true and loyal friend and the ultra-good adult who subverts the cruelty of the villianous Miss Carbunkle. Of course, adventure is had and questions are answered, though, not all of them.
Overall this was a really enjoyable read, but I do wish Arthur (number 13) had done some things. He is simply pulled along by the plot, he doesn't make any decisions for himself or have any say in his fate at all. He reacts, he doesn't act. The aesthetic and atmosphere of the book bump it up a star for me, the narrative was fine but not groundbreaking.
I would recommend this to middle-grades fantasy-adventure fans and animal-adventure fans.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wonderling is a high fantasy story filled with good and evil characters. Thirteen, the fox groundling, is a charming and lovable character as are the friends he makes throughout the story. It takes a bit for the plot to thicken but once it does, the pace is exciting. This is a great choice for fans of animal stories and those who love unique make believe worlds.

National Book Critics Circle Award-winning author Mira Bartók has ventured back into the rich world of children's literature with a book for middle-grade children. One of the powerful lessons of this book, which is told as a sort of old-fashioned, Victorian-era chapter-book a la Dickens, is that to be broken is not to be without true friends or promise in life. This book begins in a workhouse, with a life of drudgery and maltreatment that could come straight out of Oliver Twist. Thirteen, soon to be renamed as Arthur by the loving Trinket (the best orphanage sidekick anyone could hope to have), is a lost, lonely and downtrodden one-eared fox boy. At first, I was rather troubled by how fearful and lacking in courage Arthur was, over almost the first quarter of the book. He was so beaten down, and yet Trinket, and other friends, eventually manage to draw great things out of Arthur and he finds magic and wonder in himself, in spite of any perceived disability. Over the course of the beautifully illustrated book (and the galley didn't even have half the art of the final work, people!) we see Arthur emerge as stronger, braver and building his own rich life.

For me, this book is personal and poignant because my youngest child, who had permanent health issues, was adopted out of bleak circumstances in the foster care system. At age 8, when he came to live with us, much of his manner resembled that of Arthur's. Almost everything was perceived as too great a hurdle to even dare to try to overcome. (Ironically, including reading, for a time.) And that forms part of my love for this book. It is a story of a wounded boy, who had lost much but found a chosen family and life of his own making, all with the support of friends. You will take a magical journey, with Arthur, to the future and the past, to 17 Tintagel Road and back to where we started.

Wonderling is a outstanding addition to the fantasy genre. Mira Bartok has created talking animal characters and a dystopian- type world that are are at once both recognizable and believable. Readers will immediately sympathize and root for "13" in all of his struggles. Adult readers will notice sly references to Oliver Twist. Wonderling is not to be missed and will be an instant classic among children and adult readers.

I have... mixed feelings.
This book felt too long for the story it was trying to tell. There were a lot of parts I felt were drawn out. Example: The crow offers to fly them somewhere - tomorrow. So they go back to their sleeping hole to wait for tomorrow and they find someone else in their sleeping space. So they go back to the crow and then decide to leave tonight instead! It was just so unnecessary. An extra couple of pages for nothing that added to the story. There were a few parts like that when you just wanted the story to move along.
Then there is the ending - the fox is the Wonderling, which wasn't hard to figure out considering the title of the book. For all the descriptiveness in this book they really don't tell you anything about what this means. It explains his gifts, sure. ok. I didn't know there was some prophecy, or that they were waiting for a wonderling, until the end when he miraculously remembers and is like "Hey! I'm the long waited for wonderling". I was like "we were waiting for a wonderling?".
The story itself was really good. It has great characters with lots of personality and a fantastic magical setting. I loved the ending (aside from previous complaints of lack of Wonderling buildup). I just felt it could have been pared down a little. Remove some unnecessary fluff. That may just be me. I'm not a huge fan of overly descriptive books unless they're written in just such a way that they're almost poetic. This wasn't quite that for me.

Books like this are rare and I pay attention when a new one arrives. This is the kind of quality chapter books that bring families together for a read aloud. It is a book so special you will want to read again and anticipate never parting with it!