Name: Goblin Secrets
Rating: 3.5 (3 reviews)
ISBN: 9781489801753

William Joseph Alexander

Hoping to find his lost brother, Rownie escapes the home of the witch Graba and joins a troupe of goblins who perform in Zombay, a city where humans are forbidden to wear masks and act in plays.

Goblin Secrets

William Alexander

Hoping to find his lost brother, Rownie escapes the home of the witch Graba and joins a troupe of goblins who perform in Zombay, a city where humans are forbidden to wear masks and act in plays. A National Book Award finalist.

Alex Landau

This was surprisingly dark in parts for a kid's book. That being said, the end was bittersweet but the best outcome that could have realistically come from the world they live in. I enjoyed watching Rownie grow into himself, and see him accomplish what he did. I do recommend this although I would read it first before reading it to a kid just to make sure you and they would be comfortable with it.

In the National Book Award–winning Goblin Secrets, a boy joins a theatrical troupe of goblins to find his missing brother. In the town of Zombay, there is a witch named Graba who has clockwork chicken legs and moves her house around—much like the fairy tale figure of Baba Yaga. Graba takes in stray children, and Rownie is the youngest boy in her household. Rownie’s only real relative is his older brother Rowan, who is an actor. But acting is outlawed in Zombay, and Rowan has disappeared. Desperate to find him, Rownie joins up with a troupe of goblins who skirt the law to put on plays. But their plays are not only for entertainment, and the masks they use are for more than make-believe. The goblins also want to find Rowan—because Rowan might be the only person who can save the town from being flooded by a mighty river. This accessible, atmospheric fantasy takes a gentle look at love, loss, and family while delivering a fast-paced adventure that is sure to satisfy.

Goblin Secrets

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