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It's Art's birthday, and he receives a brass spyglass from his grandfather, the respected insect circus ringmaster Sir Henry Piper. No sooner than his grandfather tells him to use the spyglass for only good purposes (no spying!), Art accidentally sees something he shouldn't . . .
Enter a world of incredible delight and mischievous mystery, where snails, beetles, and bees make up one of the greatest spectacles on earth. Where humans and insects share the circus ring as friends and colleagues. And where a boy and a girl—with a little help from a pet ladybug—try to prevent one of the biggest bundles to hit the traveling insect circus circuit in years!
| Price | Condition | Delivery | Seller | Action |
| $99.99 | Digital |
| WonderClub |
Robert Garfinkle
reviewed The Bundle at Blackthorpe Heath on February 15, 2009
The Bundle at Blackthorpe Heath
The enigmatic title intrigued me first off; it seems that a bundle is a fight, battle, or brouhaha in this world. And a strange world it is, too. Although it takes place in what seems to be England, there are no mammals or reptiles at all. All animals are insects, quite large ones at that (ladybugs are knee-high and snails are as big as small elephants), and they live among humans in roles that range from those of typical animals (ladybugs and woodlice are treated as pets, snails pull large carts, etc) to servants (flies serve as low-class employees at circuses).
The plot is so slight and beside the point that I won't even go into it. What is intriguing are the relationships between insects and humans - I spent a lot of time dwelling on the sociological and philosophical aspects of it all. If these insects can talk and think, why are they being treated like animals? Do they get eaten by humans or other insects, and wouldn't that be fairly horrifying? Why are some insects pets and others more autonomous? What makes humans the masters over everyone else, with flies being second-class citizens?
These burning questions aside, I was enchanted by Rufus the loyal and intrepid ladybug and by Sylvia the lisping mama snail. The two human kids, Art and Daisy, remained a bit two-dimensional for me, but the villainous flies were delightfully bad. The author (who, according to the backflap, "tours the country entertaining the public with his 'Grand Travelling Insect Circus Museum and Peep-Show Mechanical Menagerie'" - huh?!) drew the illustrations, which depict all manner of insect characters in loving detail but in which the humans are rather stiff.
Recommended for all who desire a quick and quirky read. Grades 4 and up.
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Add The Bundle at Blackthorpe Heath, It's Art's birthday, and he receives a brass spyglass from his grandfather, the respected insect circus ringmaster Sir Henry Piper. No sooner than his grandfather tells him to use the spyglass for only good purposes (no spying!), Art accidentally sees som, The Bundle at Blackthorpe Heath to the inventory that you are selling on WonderClubX
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Add The Bundle at Blackthorpe Heath, It's Art's birthday, and he receives a brass spyglass from his grandfather, the respected insect circus ringmaster Sir Henry Piper. No sooner than his grandfather tells him to use the spyglass for only good purposes (no spying!), Art accidentally sees som, The Bundle at Blackthorpe Heath to your collection on WonderClub |
