The Hunchback Assignments

September 14, 2009
Calling to mind elements of The Hunchback of Notre Dame
, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
and Frankenstein
, Slade (Jolted: Newton Starker's Rules for Survival
) presents a thrilling tale of an unusual and talented young man caught between two idealistic, ruthless organizations. Fourteen-year-old hunchback Modo has been raised from infancy by Mr. Socrates to use his shape-shifting abilities in service to the Permanent Association, secretive defenders of the status quo in Slade's steampunk Victorian England. Opposing the Permanent Association is the Clockwork Guild, whose hubristic ambitions are untempered by mercy or decency. Together with fellow agent Octavia Milkweed, Modo must discover why the guild is kidnapping and brainwashing—or worse—children and the scions of the upper class. Although Modo is too innocent to truly understand his situation, Slade makes it clear that Mr. Socrates' exploitation of the teenage agents undermines their effectiveness and mirrors the willingness of the guild to treat people as tools. With its self-loathing hero and exploration of themes of identity and self, the novel is more than the straightforward adventure it may appear. Ages 12–up.

December 1, 2009
Gr 6-10-What do you get when you combine elements of Robert Louis Stevenson's "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde", Victor Hugo's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame", and Alan Moore's "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen"? You get this exciting steampunk adventure. And though Slade borrows from the classics, the story is original and a fun read. Modo, a young hunchback, is rescued from a traveling freak show by the mysterious Victorian Englishman, Mr. Socrates. He is raised in isolation and trained to master his extraordinary physical powers, which include the ability to alter his deformed features and take on any appearance. When he's 13, Mr. Socrates presses him into service on behalf of the Permanent Association, a secret group dedicated to protecting Great Britain, and the teen is plunged headfirst into a race to prevent the government's destruction. Modo, an innocent who is often shocked by the vulgarities of street life, is paired with fellow agent Octavia Milkweed, a rescued urchin whose street smarts complement his immense physical talents. She is at once a partner, a foil, and a possible love interest. The protagonists are likable, the villains are chilling, and the story is action packed. Forays into the raw effluence of London's sewer system provide just enough "ick" factor. And, Slade gets the Victorian setting just right."Anthony C. Doyle, Livingston High School, CA"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2009
Grades 7-10 Slades steampunk adventure weaves shapeshifting, anarchist politics, and the social and scientific realities of Victorian England into a cohesive and compelling whole. Modo, a foundling hunchback, has been trained carefully from infancy to take his place in the ranks of the secret pro-Royalist Permanent Association. Modo is a sympathetic protagonist who proves himself, even at the tender age of 13, to be a good match for the evil Clockwork Guild, who imprison orphans and royalty alike as literal cogs in their machinery of destruction. Modos cohorts include retrained juvenile pickpocket Octavia, Cockney Oppie, and the shadowy Tharpa, who trains Modo in martial arts. Readers may find some scenes reminiscent of Philip Pullmans Sally Lockhart books or Eleanor Updales Montmorency mysteries, though the addition of a fantasy element sets this apart from those purely historical tales. Like them, though, a solid story line and well-crafted writing make for a pleasing and evocative adventure.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2010
Modo, a boy with a shape-shifting face, is raised in seclusion in alternate-Victorian London to be an agent for calculating Mr. Socrates. Thrust into a treacherous situation about which he knows nothing, Modo finds himself and agent Octavia Milkweed responsible for the lives of helpless children. Felicitous turns of phrase and lots of heart amidst cold-blooded exploits make this a page-turner.

(Copyright 2010 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)