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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Engaging story, excellent illustrations. I read it with my 10 year old son and he really liked it a lot. Adventure, mystery, friendship....all the elements of an excellent novel!
Archer B. Helmsley is the grandson of the famous explorers Ralph and Rachel Helmsley. He lives with his parents in Helmsley House, which is filled with memorabilia collected by his explorer grandparents. There are stuffed polar bears, and flamingos, and many other interesting things. Tragically Ralph and Rachel were lost on an iceberg near Antarctica.
However, his father is a lawyer and his mother is afraid that Archer has "Tendencies", which means she fears that he will follow in his grandparent's footsteps. Archer is forbidden to leave the house except for school, and so he dreams of adventures. He befriends Oliver who also goes to his school, and lives next door, Oliver is timid but very funny, and very much wants a friend. Soon a new girl Adelaide, moves in across from Archer. Adelaide has a wooden leg because of a terrible accident. She is also tiny, but brave.
Archer wants an adventure, and he is convinced that his grandparents are alive, what could be better than to stow away to Antarctica and rescue them?
When you read the Doldrums you enter a funny quirky world full of eccentric characters, and surprising situations.
Here is the teacher Mrs. Murkley, talking to Adelaide: "Where's your other leg? Are you trying to make me look extravagant for going about on two?"
However, his father is a lawyer and his mother is afraid that Archer has "Tendencies", which means she fears that he will follow in his grandparent's footsteps. Archer is forbidden to leave the house except for school, and so he dreams of adventures. He befriends Oliver who also goes to his school, and lives next door, Oliver is timid but very funny, and very much wants a friend. Soon a new girl Adelaide, moves in across from Archer. Adelaide has a wooden leg because of a terrible accident. She is also tiny, but brave.
Archer wants an adventure, and he is convinced that his grandparents are alive, what could be better than to stow away to Antarctica and rescue them?
When you read the Doldrums you enter a funny quirky world full of eccentric characters, and surprising situations.
Here is the teacher Mrs. Murkley, talking to Adelaide: "Where's your other leg? Are you trying to make me look extravagant for going about on two?"
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
adventurous
funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Archer is a dreamer and longs for adventure. Oliver is more timid and prefers safety but longs for friendship. These two boys happen to be neighbors and along the way, a friendship begins to grow. When Adelaide moves to town, she gets swept into the mystery and adventure to uncover family secrets and track down his grandparents.
While I really like how the book began, but the story became long and became a setup for the sequel.
While I really like how the book began, but the story became long and became a setup for the sequel.
Despite the fact that not much action takes place in this book, I must say, I really liked it.
It reminded me of Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events sometimes.
The Doldrums follows young Archer Helmsley, grandson to the Helmsley Explorers whom are said to have disappeared on an iceberg at the beginning of the story. Heartbroken, Archer decides to form a plan to go and rescue his grandparents.
Spoilers Ahead:
I agree with the many 1 star reviews, not much happen. There is the promise of some exciting adventures that never truly comes, however, the Doldrums is a two part story. And in order for the real adventure to start, Archer needed to have some proof that we wouldn't be going to the end of the world for nothing. Let us not forget that there is no magic whatsoever in this story, no real tragedy, it then complicated for a group of 11 year-old to go on a big adventure on the other side of the globe without their parents knowing.
The characters are relatable in the sense that are quite plain in the "ordinary" kind of way, nothing extraordinary happens in their lives so they try to make it happen. They are constantly pushing their luck. That is why I loved this story.
I love that Archer sticks to his belief that his grandparents are alive no matter what the rest of the world says, and that despite his over protective mother and his passive father and abusive teacher, he still does everything in his power to follow his plan. I love that Oliver, who is not adventurous, chooses to stick wih his friends and put his fears aside in the name of friendship. And I love that Adelaide was able to finally admit what happened to her and make peace with her accident. To me, it is a story of friendship, maybe not in the conventional way, but it still portrays a solid picture of friendship.
As for the illustrations, they added something dreamy to the text. They were never meant to portray the narrative, but simply to give the read a base, an idea of the world the story takes place in.
I am really looking forward to reading the second book.
It reminded me of Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events sometimes.
The Doldrums follows young Archer Helmsley, grandson to the Helmsley Explorers whom are said to have disappeared on an iceberg at the beginning of the story. Heartbroken, Archer decides to form a plan to go and rescue his grandparents.
Spoilers Ahead:
I agree with the many 1 star reviews, not much happen. There is the promise of some exciting adventures that never truly comes, however, the Doldrums is a two part story. And in order for the real adventure to start, Archer needed to have some proof that we wouldn't be going to the end of the world for nothing. Let us not forget that there is no magic whatsoever in this story, no real tragedy, it then complicated for a group of 11 year-old to go on a big adventure on the other side of the globe without their parents knowing.
The characters are relatable in the sense that are quite plain in the "ordinary" kind of way, nothing extraordinary happens in their lives so they try to make it happen. They are constantly pushing their luck. That is why I loved this story.
I love that Archer sticks to his belief that his grandparents are alive no matter what the rest of the world says, and that despite his over protective mother and his passive father and abusive teacher, he still does everything in his power to follow his plan. I love that Oliver, who is not adventurous, chooses to stick wih his friends and put his fears aside in the name of friendship. And I love that Adelaide was able to finally admit what happened to her and make peace with her accident. To me, it is a story of friendship, maybe not in the conventional way, but it still portrays a solid picture of friendship.
As for the illustrations, they added something dreamy to the text. They were never meant to portray the narrative, but simply to give the read a base, an idea of the world the story takes place in.
I am really looking forward to reading the second book.
As soon as I looked over The Doldrums (by Nicholas Gannon), I knew this was a book I had to read with my (Grade Five) son, Owen. Adventure, tongue-in-cheek humour, beautiful, expressive writing and gorgeous illustrations-this book seemed to have it all.
This is the story of Archer B. Helmsley, a lonely boy, living in a grand house filled with many artifacts from his explorer grandparent’s various expeditions, including many stuffed animals, his only friends. Archer is determined to have great adventures in life, despite the fact that Archer’s mother confines him to home and school, afraid he has his grandparent’s ‘tendencies’. When two new children move into the neighbourhood, the three become fast friends. Oliver Glub, a shy, nervous boy, who most definitely does not want adventures (he only wants ‘far-death experiences’), and Adelaide L Belmont, a former ballerina from Paris, who lost her leg in a freak bread delivery truck accident.
When Archer discovers his grandparents went missing while on expedition in Antarctica (on an iceberg no less), he decides that he will go find them, and conscripts his new best friends to help. Oscar agrees out of loyalty, while Adelaide seems to share the same wanderlust as Archer. Plans are made, lists are drawn up, practice (and secrete) camp-outs occur, bags are packed, all while avoiding detection by Archer’s overbearing mother, and one particularly suspicious and nosy teacher.
Over the next few weeks, Owen and I read a couple chapters a night, though he usually wanted more, and to be honest, so did I. The Doldrums is a funny, clever, quirky, well-paced, action-packed book. Gannon doesn’t shy away from difficult topics either, such as bullying, indifferent parents, abandonment. All three children learn that one can have adventure anytime with friends. Together, the children learn to overcome heartache, loneliness and personal setbacks.
The Doldrums has the feel of the books of Roald Dhal and Trenton Lee Stewarts’s The Mysterious Benedict Society series; books filled with brave, intelligent children, overcoming difficulties to experience grand adventures. As an added bonus, the book has a fantastic website, filled with stunning illustrations, character bios, plot discussion and videos. http://www.nicholasgannon.com/
I asked my son how he would review this book. His response: ‘Read it! I am speechless, it was so good!’
This is the story of Archer B. Helmsley, a lonely boy, living in a grand house filled with many artifacts from his explorer grandparent’s various expeditions, including many stuffed animals, his only friends. Archer is determined to have great adventures in life, despite the fact that Archer’s mother confines him to home and school, afraid he has his grandparent’s ‘tendencies’. When two new children move into the neighbourhood, the three become fast friends. Oliver Glub, a shy, nervous boy, who most definitely does not want adventures (he only wants ‘far-death experiences’), and Adelaide L Belmont, a former ballerina from Paris, who lost her leg in a freak bread delivery truck accident.
When Archer discovers his grandparents went missing while on expedition in Antarctica (on an iceberg no less), he decides that he will go find them, and conscripts his new best friends to help. Oscar agrees out of loyalty, while Adelaide seems to share the same wanderlust as Archer. Plans are made, lists are drawn up, practice (and secrete) camp-outs occur, bags are packed, all while avoiding detection by Archer’s overbearing mother, and one particularly suspicious and nosy teacher.
Over the next few weeks, Owen and I read a couple chapters a night, though he usually wanted more, and to be honest, so did I. The Doldrums is a funny, clever, quirky, well-paced, action-packed book. Gannon doesn’t shy away from difficult topics either, such as bullying, indifferent parents, abandonment. All three children learn that one can have adventure anytime with friends. Together, the children learn to overcome heartache, loneliness and personal setbacks.
The Doldrums has the feel of the books of Roald Dhal and Trenton Lee Stewarts’s The Mysterious Benedict Society series; books filled with brave, intelligent children, overcoming difficulties to experience grand adventures. As an added bonus, the book has a fantastic website, filled with stunning illustrations, character bios, plot discussion and videos. http://www.nicholasgannon.com/
I asked my son how he would review this book. His response: ‘Read it! I am speechless, it was so good!’