Reviews

The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge by Eugene Yelchin, M.T. Anderson

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buttercupita's review

5.0

Read this on the recommendation of another 6th grader, though I probably would have eventually because I'm an M.T. Anderson fan. A combination of text and pictorial fantasy (think "Invention of Hugo Cabret"), it was a page turner focused on the very relevant theme of how we perceive the "other."

kim_j_dare's review

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4.0

I enjoyed so much about this darkly humorous fantasy about what happens when the kingdom of elves sends an emissary over to goblin land. It’s going to require hand-selling, though: it will definitely appeal to teens who enjoy biting social commentary, but the length and the rather grotesque (though oddly endearing) illustrations may turn browsers away. Our elf historian Spurge is an unpleasant fellow through the first half of the book, though he, like the illustrations, will grow on you. And goblin archivist Werfel, with his snuggly tentacled pet ichthyod, is a delight. Anderson and Yelchin have much to say about assumptions and power and conflict, and readers who stick with Spurge and Werfel as they navigate a rocky friendship will be very glad they did.

fernakat's review

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adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

story_singer_101's review

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adventurous challenging funny hopeful fast-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

annashiv's review

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5.0

Charming.

A weird mix between Monty Python, the whimsy of The Hobbit, and a spy story. Brilliant.

lbarsk's review

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5.0

What a TOTAL DELIGHT. A great combination of “all illustrated” and “all text” chapters; an excellent depiction of how people see things differently based on their biases.