Pros: Brave adventure, delightful characters,
wonderful villains, fast pace
Cons: The second book hasn't been released
The Bottom Line: Young adult readers will enjoy brave Miles Wednesday the apple-hungry, self-kidnapped, saddle-sore, sun-browned, chest-poked, half-shaved and hungry orphan hero. We want the second book now.
pestyside's Full Review: Jon Berkeley - The Palace of Laughter
“Slowly the huge tent rose from the grassy field like a great beast awakening and still the townspeople slept, and the fat mayor’s snores ruffled his walrus mustache and rumbled through his wife’s dreams.” On a dark and blustery October night the Circus came to town, under cover of shadows. Oscuro was not an ordinary circus. Rather than boldly parading down mainstreet, it snuck in with the dark. An orphan boy, Miles Wednesday, who slept in an oversized barrel with a stuffed bear named Tangerine, watched as a collection of sinister and mysterious events developed while the unsuspecting town slept.
Thus the adventure in Jon Berkeley's The Palace of Laughter The Wednesday Tales No. 1 begins.
Before much time passed, Miles Wednesday, the barrel-dwelling, unwashed and tiger-visited orphan met an angel from Circus Oscuro, a horrible monster (The Null), and the Great Cortado. Unknown to Miles, the unfolding events were preparing to send him upon a grand adventure.
Within a few hours Miles met a talking tiger, a magical song angel, and evil members of the Circus Oscuro, the oddest circus in the land. This was obviously going to be an unusual day. Little, a very tiny circus acrobat with “delicate pearly wings” was not really an acrobat, but rather an imprisoned 400-year old angel who had recently fallen to earth with Silverpoint. She had been captured by the circus that recognized her oddities. She couldn’t locate Silverpoint, a 1,000-year old Storm Angel, nor could Miles find his friend Tangerine, a stuffed bear that also walked.
All evidence pointed to Circus Oscuro and its sinister ringmaster. As the circus train pulled out of town Miles and Little realized that its destination was the mysterious Palace of Laughter. Although Little had no use for humans, she agreed to work with Miles to find their missing friends. Slowly their grand quest began to unfold like an epic journey. Along the way they received advice from Lady Partridge and the Grand High Council of Cats, they traveled a great distance through the mountains on the back of a magical tiger, and their wit gained respect from a tribe of orphan warrior children (the Halfheads).
Miles had to prove himself to the Halfheads, and in a Pigball competition he alone had to outwit the band of Stinkers. These groups of orphan warrior children appeared to be the last barriers for reaching The Palace of Laughter. Miles demonstrated his wit and creative thinking skills in the Pigball game, but soon learned more would block his path. He hadn't met Baumella, the giantess who guarded the Palace of Laughter entrance.
An unlikely friendship formed between Miles and Little. This friendship, along with Little’s special talents and Miles’ uncanny ability for solving problems, helped them reach the Palace of Laughter, which was anything but. The Palace seemed to swallow all laughter forever transforming any visitors. Once they left they were never the same. Would Miles and Little meet the same fate?
This first novel by Jon Berkely, The Palace of Laughter The Wednesday Tales No. 1, is definitely a clever and unique contribution to Young Adult fantasy. Miles and Little meet one barrier after another in their brave pursuit of Silverpoint and Tangerine. The high-energy chase proves exciting and fascinating. Jon Berkeley has illustrated several books written by other authors as a freelance illustrator. Apparently much of this story formed during long walks with his dog, who he claims is not a great conversationalist. He wrote a previous shorter story about a friendship between a mouse and dragon,Chopsticks. This first full-length novel, is also a delightful story about friendship, as well as adventure. Miles and Little became friends through their shared risks.
Jon Berkely's second contribution to the trilogy will be eagerly anticipated. His humorous and creative style combined two unlikely companions. Young adult readers will enjoy Miles (often called Selim), the apple-hungry, self-kidnapped, saddle-sore and sun-browned, chest-poked, half-shaved and hungry orphan hero. They will certainly appreciate his creative and intelligent solutions. The fast-paced adventure doesn't halt on page 427. Enough remains unresolved for a second (third?) book. Fans (including me) will eagerly await the release of book two.
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