Grisly Tales from Tumblewater

Gr 7 Up—Fifteen-year-old orphan Daniel Dory has been sent out into the world to make his way. He arrives in Tumblewater, the city where it never stops raining, for surgical training. Not long after, he is waist deep in trouble and on the run from the evil Caspian Prye. Mr. Prye, owner of the whole town, is so evil he is said to not even look human. Daniel is rescued by Uncle, who takes him into the underground where he meets the good people of Tumblewater and hears their stories. Each resident has a horrid tale to tell to help pass the time and also to make their own lives seem a little less ghastly. Chapters alternate between the macabre tales and Daniel's own story as he meanders through the town. Daniel is affable, Tumblewater is unique enough to grab the attention of more resistant readers, and the tales are outlandish. They are, however, very grisly. A darkly comical mystery which is sure to be a hit. Recommended for fans of "A Series of Unfortunate Events" (HarperCollins).—Terry Ann Lawler, Burton Barr Library, Phoenix, AZ