Inkling

Inkling

Kenneth Oppel2018
The Rylance family is stuck. Dad's got writer's block. Ethan promised to illustrate a group project at school—even though he can't draw. Sarah's still pining for a puppy. And they all miss Mom. So much more than they can say. Enter Inkling. Inkling begins life in Mr. Rylance's sketchbook. But one night the ink of his drawings runs together—and then leaps off the page! This small burst of creativity is about to change everything. Ethan finds him first. Inkling has absorbed a couple chapters of his math book—not good—and the story he's supposed to be illustrating for school—also not good. But Inkling's also started drawing the pictures to go with the story—which is amazing! It's just the help Ethan was looking for! Inkling helps the rest of the family too—for Sarah he's a puppy. And for Dad he's a spark of ideas for a new graphic novel. It's exactly what they all want. It's not until Inkling goes missing that this family has to face the larger questions of what they—and Inkling—truly need. Kenneth Oppel has given us a small masterpiece of middle-grade fiction. Inkling is funny and fizzy and exciting, and brimming with the kind of interesting ideas and dilemmas that kids will love to wrestle with. And Sydney Smith has created wonderfully inky illustrations to bring the story to vivid life. Get ready. A little ink blot is about to become your new favorite character!
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Reviews

Photo of Sarah Sammis
Sarah Sammis@pussreboots
4 stars
Apr 4, 2024

My one complaint with Inkling is in the characterization of the the publisher's daughter. She happens to be the same age as Ethan and happens to go to the same school. She even happens to be in the same class. She's also apparently spent her entire short life so far bullying Ethan. She has decided from the get-go that both Ethan and his father can't draw. Now that suddenly he appears to be able to, she has made up her mind to discover the reason for his sudden "skill." I understand the need for a plot device to bring the father out of his funk and to get him and Ethan on the same side. But in a book with so few females, why do they all have to be the other? There is the dead mother. There is the sister with Down Syndrome. And there is the bully/antagonist. http://www.pussreboots.com/blog/2018/...

Photo of Kimi
Kimi @kimber
4 stars
Sep 2, 2021

I'm reading this to prepare for book club for my daughter's school. This is a great book showing great characteristic traits by the main character Ethan. Great middle-grade read and lots of situations showing empathy and sympathy. I think it's very cute and uplifting for kids.

Photo of David Sheley
David Sheley@davidsheley
5 stars
Mar 4, 2022
Photo of Katy B
Katy B@katybauml
3 stars
Sep 11, 2021
Photo of Dustin Wyse-Fisher
Dustin Wyse-Fisher@dwysefisher
4 stars
Jul 26, 2021