Welcome! Today, I’m hosting a review for the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for Gobbledy by Lis Anna-Langston. It was a charming middle grade fiction book and a good holiday story.

About the Book

Gobbledy

Holiday Middle Grade
Reading Age: 8-11 years
Grade Level: 3-6
Publisher: Spark Press (October 20, 2020)
Paperback: 232 pages
ISBN-10: 1684630673
ISBN-13: 978-1684630677
Digital ASIN: B084JRC21K

Rafflecopter Giveaway

Synopsis

Ever since eleven-year-old Dexter Duckworth and his brother, Dougal, lost their mom, everything has been different. But “different” takes on a whole new meaning when, one day just before Christmas (or Kissmas, as they call it), Dexter finds a golden rock in the forest that hatches into an adorable alien. Gobbledy is smarter than he seems and is lost on planet Earth. Before long, Gobbledy takes Dexter, Dougal, and their best friend Fi on an adventure of friendship, family, and loss—one that requires them all to stay out of trouble, protect Gobbledy from a shadowy group called the Planetary Society, and prepare for their school’s Winter Extravaganza Play, where Dexter has to be a dreaded Gingerbread Man.

Gobbledy is a fun-filled holiday story that adds up to two brothers, three friends, unlimited jars of peanut butter, a ketchup factory, and one little alien far, far from home.

 

Review – 3.5 out of 5 stars

This was a charming story about a young boy who finds a glowing rock in the woods and it hatches to produce a small alien who grows bigger as he eats – and he is one voracious eater!

The hijinks and trouble the three friends and their alien get up to are pretty funny! They have one heck of a time keeping the alien hidden from parents and nosy big sisters. Not to mention the “Planetary Society”. 

I gave this 3.5 stars because there are times when the story bogs down and moves a little too slowly. I read a lot of middle grade fiction so I know this is not always the case. Young readers may not notice the slowness, but it stuck out to me. It’s a cute story and without the bogginess and slowness, I would’ve given it 4 or 4.5 stars. 

It’s still a fun book and I think any young reader would enjoy this for Christmas!

About the Author

Lis Anna-Langston was raised alongside the winding current of the Mississippi River on a steady diet of dog-eared books. She attended a creative and performing arts school from middle school until graduation and went on to study literature at Webster University. She is a Parents’ Choice Gold and a Moonbeam Children’s Book Award Winner. She draws badly and sings loudly, and loves ketchup, starry skies, and stories with happy endings aliens. Lis Anna-Langston lives in Columbia, South Carolina. You can learn more about her at https://www.lisannalangston.com/

Thanks for joining me today! If you want to find more links on where to find the author and/or see a list of participants on the tour, please click on the image below which will take you to the main tour page!