Title: Tales of a Fifth-Grade KnightAuthor: Douglas Gibson
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy
Length:160 pages
Publisher: Capstone Young Readers
Release Date: August 1, 2015
Source: Author Request
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by: Jasmyn
One day, Isaac Thompson is just your average fifth grader playing the part of a porcupine in the school play. The next, he has strayed into a mysterious subterranean realm that has been lurking beneath his school Castle Elementary and launches his quest to knighthood. When Isaac's little sister Lily goes missing from their school's creepy basement, he and his best friends Max and Emma set out in search of her. Their search takes them to the Underground, where they encounter an army of spear-wielding rats, a talking human-sized bat, and a thumb-nosed prison guard. But humans who stay in the Underground too long transform into weird, unpleasant creatures and are forced to work for the horrible Elf King. Can Isaac and his crew escape the Underground before it's too late for them to ever return home?
This is such a cute story! Isaac and his friends, through a series of accidents, find themselves in another land hunting for his little sister. The Underground is full of some really great ideas. I particularly enjoyed the concept of how newcomers became elves. Seeing the various stages of transformation as they met the residents of the Underground was great - I especially liked the ear-man.
But things get very serious when they find out they may not be able to leave. None of them are too keen on sticking around to see what they might be turning in to. Lily is especially vulnerable to this change and they need to get her out fast!
Not all the creatures they run into are good or bad. There are quite a few that are just trying to get on with their lives - a very great mix. The ending is quite nice, but I hope Lily learns a bit of a lesson out of the whole thing. Hopefully we'll see more in this world. The author left it open for another adventure, but still wrapped this one up very nicely.
*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*
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