The Creature of the Pines by Adam Gidwitz ill Hatem Aly
Created by Jesse Casey, Adam Gidwitz, and Chris Smith
| Can we start with the ring? This ring is the finger adornment that dreams are made of. Defende Fabulos Defend the Imaginary Potege Mythica Protect the Mythical Just think of it. It is noble. It speaks of grandeur. This is one amazingly cool ring. I understand that it may only be worn by members of the Unicorn Rescue Society. Professor Fauna, sign me up now. Please. |  |
 | It's Elliot Eisner's first day at a new school and already he's feeling more than a little uneasy. The day is starting with a field trip. Boarding a bus with students he doesn't know, supervised by a teacher he has never met, and heading into the Pine Barrens of New Jersey does not appear to be a promising start. Elliot and his new-found friend Uchenna Devereaux soon learn that this field trip will not be like any other school excursion they have experienced. A very strange-looking man, with hair that "stood up from his scalp like he was in the habit of kissing electric eels" introduces himself to the busload of students as Professor Fauna and promises them a dangerous expedition. "Indeed. Danger is the greatest teacher." Then it happens. Elliot and Uchenna encounter a small furry blue creature, shaped like deer, with claws on its two front feet and red bat-like wings. It is a Jersey Devil, resident of the Pine Barrens. Not only do they see this mythical creature, they carefully hide it in Uchenna's backpack. |
It will take quick thinking, skillful maneuvering, and an enormous quantity of courage to protect the Jersey Devil from danger. One constant threat to any mythical creature is the nefarious Schmoke Brothers, of Schmoke Industries. Their motto is "Making the World the Way We Want It to Be." They will stop at nothing to track down and capture mythical beasts.
Gidwitz's storytelling skills shine throughout the tale. He immediately takes readers into his confidence, sharing Elliot's thoughts as he boards the bus "They think I'm a weirdo." He mocks the eccentricities of adults. Miss Vole spoke to the students “like they were in kindergarten… if her voice got any higher, only dogs would be able to hear her. “ He keeps the action moving along, with plenty of hints suggesting possible peril. Short snappy sections are delicious little morsels, enticing readers on to the next page, paragraph, chapter.
Hatem Aly's black and white line drawings match character descriptions. Yes, Miss Vole does indeed resemble a vole. The imposing figure of Professor Fauna completely towers over the children with eyes that look "like death." Elliot and Uchenna have over-sized heads, giving them a slightly cartoonish quality. It's like watching TV, only better.
My advice for libraries: begin clearing a shelf for this series. I worked with a group of youngsters last summer who could not get enough stories about Big Foot and the Loch Ness Monster. Mythical creatures fascinated them. The Creature of the Pines is the first in a series that has the potential to be a sure-fire hit.
One final note about the end papers. The decision to show the "Official World Map" with edited improvements by Elliot and Uchenna is clever. Let's hope that this map will evolve as the series progresses.
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Review, images, and text based on uncorrected copy.
Pub date: April 10, 2018 Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers ISBN: 978-0735231702
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