The Clockwork Threeby Matthew J. Kirby
For: 8-12yos
Genre: Uh... (adventure, fantasy, steampunk, mystery, urban mythology, you name it, this book's probably got it)
Published: 2010
Description: Giuseppe is an orphaned street musician who sees no way to escape, until the day he finds an enchanted green violin.
Frederick, an apprentice clockmaker with a past he cannot remember, secretly works at night to build the most magnificent clockwork man the world has ever seen.
Hannah is maid in a grand hotel, whose life is one of endless drudgery until she encounters a mystifying new guest and learns of a hidden treasure.
As mysterious circumstances bring them together, the lives of these three children soon interlock, like the turning gears of a clock, and they realize that each one holds a key to solving the others' mysteries.
Frederick, an apprentice clockmaker with a past he cannot remember, secretly works at night to build the most magnificent clockwork man the world has ever seen.
Hannah is maid in a grand hotel, whose life is one of endless drudgery until she encounters a mystifying new guest and learns of a hidden treasure.
As mysterious circumstances bring them together, the lives of these three children soon interlock, like the turning gears of a clock, and they realize that each one holds a key to solving the others' mysteries.
Why I liked it: Oh, man. This book rocked my socks off! I loved that the three main characters gave the author an outlet to bring three distinct genres together in one amazing book. And I loved how Kirby was able to weave three distinct stories into one cohesive and satisfying whole. Plus, it was a great story. I lost myself in it, and that's always a good thing.