joshua wright – Aussie Reviews

Springman Brothers’ Reality Repair, by Joshua Wright

Jim Springman saw himself as a perfectly normal boy. He wasn’t brilliant, but he was no fool either. A bit on the small side, yes, but all his family looked young for their age. And though he had about as much muscle as a garden rake, he was still a fair athlete. His eyes were slightly less green than his brother’s, but they still retained the same half-mad sparkle.
Right now, they were closed.
Jim yawned. He rubbed his face. It was a bright, sunny morning at 10 Rambling Avenue, and time to get out of bed. After a short, pleasant snooze, Jim just that, and headed downstairs for breakfast.

‘Tis an odd world Jim finds himself in! Somehow an explosion of Fletcher’s (Jim’s grownup brother)’s and Ingrid (his grownup sister)’s making has resulted in a fifth dimension. And now his town is part of his sister’s imagination. His sister is the famous author of ‘Realm of Glory’ and after the explosion, their town becomes the world of the story, inhabited by its strange landscape and fearsome monsters. Confusing? You betcha! There are only a few locals, assisted by Fletcher’s science who are still part of the old townscape. Jim and his two neighbours must try to make sense of it all, if Jim is going to be able to save his sister. And it seems that everyone, including his brother are determined to make life difficult.

Springman Brothers’ Reality Repair is the second in this series, but can easily be read as a standalone title. Where knowledge of the first instalment is needed, enough information is slipped in to allow the narrative to continue without confusion. Well, almost. There’s plenty of confusion to be found when your world is totally unlike your world, except when it is the same as always. There’s plenty of humour with characters from fairy-tales, megamonsters, and human beings who just might be animals in disguise. And the crazy scientist is about the craziest you’re ever likely to encounter! It seems very likely that there will be more instalments in this adventure before Jim and his friends can return to normal life… Wild, wacky and way, way out! Recommended for mid- upper-primary readers.

Springman Brothers’ Reality Repair, Joshua Wright
Scholastic 2011
ISBN: 978174169758 review by Claire Saxby, Children’s Author
www.clairesaxby.com

This book is available in good bookstores or online from Fishpond. Buying through this link supports Aussiereviews.

Jim Springman & the Realm of Glory, by Joshua Wright

You might say the three Springman children behave the same as families everywhere. certainly all brothers and sisters fight, and while such behaviour is common, it should soon become clear the Springmans are the most uncommon of families. The eldest, Fletcher, would be the first to tell you. That is, if he decided you were even worth talking to, which would be unlikely.

Jim Springman is very special. His older brother is a genius scientist, and his older sister is a famous author. Jim is just a kid who gets lousy presents for his birthday – a bus pass and two new neighbours. But when Jim’s brother Fletcher accidentally unleashes the fifth dimension, Jim’s world becomes crazier and crazier, and he and his two neighbours are caught up in trying to figure ou what has gone wrong and how it can be fixed.

Jim Springman and the Realm of Glory is a funny new fantasy offering in which reality is thrown into chaos and starts to appear more and more like the world in Jim’s sister’s book, the Realm of Glory a book which Jim hates, even though he hasn’t read it. There is action aplenty, with twists and turns and laughs to entertain middle and upper primary aged readers.

Lots of fun.

Jim Springman and the Realm of Glory, by Joshua Wright
Scholastic Press, 2010
ISBN 9781741695632

This book can be purchased online from Fishpond. Buying through this link supports Aussiereviews.

Hapless, Hopeless, Horrible, by Joshua Wright

Something is amiss in the land of Sausagopolis. The lovely Princess Sugar has run away, and only the heroic Sir Glame and his trusty steed, Bill, can find her. Together, they travel the land, following clues, getting into trouble and making silly jokes as they search for the missing Princess.

The sequel to the well-received Plotless, Pointelss, Pathetic, Hapless, Hopeless, Horrible is full of humorous cartoons, sappy jokes, toilet humour and all the trademarks of author/illustrator Joshua Wright.

This volume does, however, have one disappointing aspect. Very early in the book Wright explains Sir Glame’s recovery from illness and mental instability, saying he found (and took) some expired medicine in a public toilet, and is now fully recovered. The humour in this statement is non-existent: with a recommneded reading audience of 8 to 13 year olds, this seems an irresponsible piece of text. It is a pity that a text which will be of such appeal to young readers has to be marred by this one page.

If it were not for this flaw, this would be an excellent book – likely to appeal as much to struggling readers as to confident, and full of laughs.

Hapless,Hopeless, Horrible, by Joshua Wright
Allen & Unwin, 2003

Plotless Pointless Pathetic, by Joshua Wright

Egads! There’s trouble afoot in the land of Sausagopolis.

Somebody has been writing naughty poetry – poetry sure to corrupt the minds of innocent, straight-laced citizens.

But don’t fear, dear reader, because help is at hand – Sir Glame, knight hero, and his trusty sidekick Bill (actually a talking horse) – are on a quest to stop the evil Saucy McRascal, author of the Big Book of Fun

This is, however, no traditional fantasy-quest story. The title, Plotless Pointless Pathetic gives more than a little hint to the true nature of the story.

Author Joshua Wright fills the book with corny jokes, inexplicable plot twists and plenty of general silliness. Cartoons on every page provide distractions and humour.

As Glame and Bill blunder their way through the quest, they encounter colossally scary monsters, scrap trucks and freaky fuzzies, who talk cute but act mean.

This hilarious book will appeal to children aged 8 to 12, athough older readers will also find some laughs.

Plotless Pointless Pathetic is the first book from Joshua Wright. One suspects it won’t be his last.

Plotless Pointless Pathetic, by Joshua Wright
Allen & Unwin 2002