Reviews

Osmo Unknown and the Eightpenny Woods by Catherynne M. Valente

smblanc1793's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

I know I’m not quite the target audience for this book—I’m 25 and childless—but I still found it charming. I’d read a grocery list if Catherynne Valente published one.

earth_and_silver's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

"Osmo" has the richness of descriptive language, slantwise philosophical commentary, and clever authorial commentary I loved in "Fairyland." It also has one other thing. There was a thematic thread in it that shone so bright and hurt me so well I wanted it to be true. That edged this out of Good Fantasy and into Favorites territory, for me. I look forward to revisiting it over time.

mommaslonglegs's review against another edition

3.0

I don't know exactly why I didn't love this. I liked it, I thought the idea was unique and the characters were fun. I even think I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys cute fantasy, I just didn't particularly love this for no good reason.

lgaddy's review against another edition

4.0

4.5 stars

There's something special about books written during covid (though I wish that it had never happened). But I've read several now and each time the author has been spent and anxious and afraid and therefore was driven by fire to create love and comfort and acceptance.

I've never ever enjoyed an Acknowledgements section more.

This book is heavy and a journey. Def for your more mature middle grader, and younger YA, and grownups looking for love and comfort. It took me a while to finish this one, but the ending was simply lovely.

Read Catherynne M. Valente's books for magic, more than average description, and lots of feelings.

bibliobrandie's review against another edition

4.0

Catherynne Valente is such a great storyteller and I am always happy to support Maine authors! Osmo Unknown yearns for adventure and something different than his small life in Littlebridge where he isn't well liked. One day his mom accidentally kills a Quidnunx and the treaty between Littlebridge and Eightpenny Woods says that she has to give them her firstborn son. Thus begins the adventure Osmo craved but not exactly what he hoped for: he must marry the ghost of the murdered Quidnunx. Valente creates a lush world with wonderful characters. I especially loved Bonk the Cross, a skunk-badger-wombat who has the greatest insults. Never the anti-social pangolin was also great. This fantasy has laugh-out-loud humor and adventure and I think it will be a hit with students.

pheltzer's review

adventurous funny lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

oldandnewbooksmell's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

All Osmo Unknown wants is to venture out beyond his small town of Littlebridge - and to be known as something other than a turnip. One day, his mother accidentally kills a Quidnunk, a fearsome and intelligent creature that lives deep in the woods. This shouldn’t have anything to do with Osmo, except there was a treaty between the Quidnunx and the people of Littlebridge that was forged hundreds of years ago.

Accompanied by a half-badger/half-wombat named Bonk and an antisocial pangolin girl named Never, Omsmo must embark on a quest to find the Eightpenny Woods - the kingdom where all the forest creatures go when they die - to make amends.

This took me a little bit to get into it. I knew it was going to be good, but my attention for it didn’t truly catch on until a little over 100 pages in, once all the group had been assembled. 

As much as Bonk initially annoyed me, the more and more I got to know him, the more I understood and liked him. I even started writing down my favorite insult names he used: ornery wee fork, ya dropped egg, absolute doorknob, trashcake supreme. I loved Never off the bat and loved every inch of her antisocial self.

There’s a narrator you see only in the beginning and towards the end, that breaks the fourth wall between the narrator and the reader - otherwise it’s told in third person through Osmo’s POV.

I can see middle grade readers really enjoying this and walking away from the last few pages feeling like they themselves went on an adventure. Even as an adult, I felt that I was just told the most fabulous story sitting around a campfire. Give it a few more pages when you’re getting into it than you probably usually do - but you won’t regret it!

eomma's review against another edition

adventurous slow-paced

3.0

aposthuma's review against another edition

5.0

So, so, so adorable. I listened to this as an audiobook and felt like an 8-year-old whose British grandfather was reading her a bedtime story. It all starts when the forest falls in love with the valley, and from there we meet a Pangirlin, a Crabybara, Quidnunks, so many more new species, and the dear reluctant Osmo Unknown. This was a lovely journey that warmed my heart.

singsthewren's review against another edition

5.0

What a phenomenally inventive and lively book. I loved the setting and the characters, and I especially loved the opening story about the Vally and the Forest. It was the kind of book you want to give to every kid in your life, and most of the adults, too.