Available:*
Library | Shelf Number | Material Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
Searching... Hillary Library | J RIDL 3 | Juvenile English Fiction | Searching... Unknown |
Bound With These Titles
On Order
Reviews (2)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-6-- Dakota Pink lives in a Clockwork Orange world with a mother who hasn't been out of her armchair in nine years; a greedy, underhanded boarder named Henry; and her pet silverfish. Her best friend, Treacle, lives in the same dilapidated apartment complex as Dakota, and together they survive each day in a world crowded with skeletal images of broken shopping carts and other garbage, populated by eccentric characters and man-eating eels. Ridley's tale of the all-too-near future starts off silly but clever, full of tongue-in-cheek dialogue and exaggerated description, fantastic in a twisted, Daniel Pinkwater-like way. But as Dakota's search for a stolen turtle and a missing jewel progresses, the story takes an unsettling turn and the humor becomes tinged with pain. The climactic scene, in which Dakota recognizes the villain, a man who vomits at the sight of children playing, as her long-lost father, is unsettling, but not surprising. Although this may be enjoyed by sophisticated youngsters, would-be fans of Monty Python and Dr. Who, it is a very black comedy pulled out of the depths of despair by a character who is funny, smart, and always in control. --Susan Oliver, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Set in a dingy, run-down housing complex ironically named White Flats, this hilarious adventure begins when two young residents, quick-witted Dakota Pink and her sidekick, ``Treacle'' Duck, discover the jewel-encrusted pet turtle belonging to their neighbor Medusa, an over-the-hill actress. After the animal (who might be a reincarnation of Medusa's former lover) is stolen by the despicable Henry Twig, the heroines embark on a journey down a murky canal to perform a daring rescue attempt. Readers with active imaginations and stomachs strong enough to digest the more grotesque episodes of this off-beat novel will delight in Ridley's ability to extract excitement, color and magic from the grim wasteland of urban decay that Dakota and her friends call home. Offering fast-paced action, ingenious plotting and an assortment of eccentric characters, the book will tempt even the most die-hard realists to suspend disbelief. Ages 10-up. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved