Teen Fiction - Peoples & Cultures, Teen Fiction - Fantasy

The Hunchback Assignments

Name: The Hunchback Assignments
Author: Arthur Slade
ISBN: 9780385737845

by Arthur Slade

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Overview

A gripping new series combines Steampunk, spying, and a fantastic Victorian London.

The mysterious Mr. Socrates rescues Modo, a child in a traveling freak show. Modo is a hunchback with an amazing ability to transform his appearance, and Mr. Socrates raises him in isolation as an agent for the Permanent Association, a spy agency behind Brittania’s efforts to rule the empire. At 14, Modo is left on the streets of London to fend for himself. When he encounters Octavia Milkweed, another Association agent, the two uncover a plot by the Clockword Guild behind the murders of important men. Furthermore, a mad scientist is turning orphan children into automatons to further the goals of the Guild. Modo and Octavia journey deep into the tunnels under London and discover a terrifying plot against the British government. It’s up to them to save their country.

Synopsis

A gripping new series combines Steampunk, spying, and a fantastic Victorian London.

Publishers Weekly

Calling to mind elements of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Frankenstein, Slade (Jolted: Newton Starker's Rules for Survival) presents a thrilling tale of an unusual and talented young man caught between two idealistic, ruthless organizations. Fourteen-year-old hunchback Modo has been raised from infancy by Mr. Socrates to use his shape-shifting abilities in service to the Permanent Association, secretive defenders of the status quo in Slade's steampunk Victorian England. Opposing the Permanent Association is the Clockwork Guild, whose hubristic ambitions are untempered by mercy or decency. Together with fellow agent Octavia Milkweed, Modo must discover why the guild is kidnapping and brainwashing—or worse—children and the scions of the upper class. Although Modo is too innocent to truly understand his situation, Slade makes it clear that Mr. Socrates' exploitation of the teenage agents undermines their effectiveness and mirrors the willingness of the guild to treat people as tools. With its self-loathing hero and exploration of themes of identity and self, the novel is more than the straightforward adventure it may appear. Ages 12–up. (Sept.)

About the Author, Arthur Slade

Arthur Slade has published several novels for young readers, including Jolted: Newton Starker’s Rules for Survival, Megiddo’s Shadow, Tribes, and Dust, which won the Governor General’s Award for Children’s Literature. He lives in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, with his wife, Brenda Baker. Visit him on the Web at www.arthurslade.com.

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Editorials

VOYA - Sarah Flowers

Fans of the new Sherlock Holmes movie will find much to like in Slade's newest novel. Modo, a "monstrous, malformed boy" who also happens to be a shape-shifter, is rescued from a freak show and raised by the mysterious Mr. Socrates and the kind Mrs. Finchley. At fourteen, he is turned loose in Victorian London to fend for himself, and uses his unique skills to set up as a kind of private detective—a finder of lost things. Teaming up with another resourceful orphan, Octavia Milkweed, Modo must stop a pair of evil scientists who are plotting to destroy the British government by creating a powerful mechanized monster, using hundreds of kidnapped children and Queen Victoria's grandson, Prince Albert. Modo and Octavia are a delightful pair of protagonists, and their journeys through London, including its sewer system, are exciting and fast-paced. This title is an excellent addition to the steam-punk genre for younger readers. Reviewer: Sarah Flowers

Publishers Weekly

School Library Journal

Gr 6–10—What do you get when you combine elements of Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Victor Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Alan Moore's League of Extraordinary Gentlemen? You get this exciting steampunk adventure. And though Slade borrows from the classics, the story is original and a fun read. Modo, a young hunchback, is rescued from a traveling freak show by the mysterious Victorian Englishman, Mr. Socrates. He is raised in isolation and trained to master his extraordinary physical powers, which include the ability to alter his deformed features and take on any appearance. When he's 13, Mr. Socrates presses him into service on behalf of the Permanent Association, a secret group dedicated to protecting Great Britain, and the teen is plunged headfirst into a race to prevent the government's destruction. Modo, an innocent who is often shocked by the vulgarities of street life, is paired with fellow agent Octavia Milkweed, a rescued urchin whose street smarts complement his immense physical talents. She is at once a partner, a foil, and a possible love interest. The protagonists are likable, the villains are chilling, and the story is action packed. Forays into the raw effluence of London's sewer system provide just enough "ick" factor. And, Slade gets the Victorian setting just right.—Anthony C. Doyle, Livingston High School, CA

Kirkus Reviews

Steampunk is hot, and here the tropes are further enlivened by literary shout-outs. Hunchbacked Modo (abandoned near Notre Dame as an infant) possesses the astounding ability to transform his appearance for a limited time. His mysterious benefactor serves England, but it is Modo and lovely fellow "agent" Octavia whose adventures save the day from mad Dr. Hyde's inventions and the plotting of the Clockwork Guild. Modo's palpable loneliness-his true face causes intense revulsion-evokes sympathy and makes his success that much more meaningful. Fast action carries the story through awkward dialogue; fortunately, doing and thinking rather than talking takes center stage. Regular glimpses from the villain's perspectives allows readers to fully appreciate Slade's inventive imagination-their technology involves robots, potions and imprisoned orphans. The escape of most of the baddies is almost welcome as it means they can all lock horns again, and the question of whether Modo will show Octavia his true self remains unanswered. An excellent start to a promising new series. (Fantasy. 12 & up)