FICTION

Invisible Inkling: Dangerous Pumpkins

by Emily Jenkins
August 2012. 154p. 978-0-06180-223-2.
COPY ISBN
Gr 2-4–Readers who got to know Hank Wolowitz in Invisible Inkling (HarperCollins, 2011) will be glad to have him back. He is a typical fourth grader living in a cozy Brooklyn neighborhood: his parents run the local ice-cream shop; his teenage sister, Nadia, is kind of a pain; and an invisible bandapat named Inkling lives in his laundry basket. Halloween is fast approaching, and Hank longs to invent this year’s special ice-cream flavor. Unfortunately, bandapats love squash, and Inkling just can’t help but eat Nadia’s carefully carved masterpieces before she can enter them in the Dangerous Pumpkins contest at school. Taking the blame time and time again for Inkling’s high jinks, Hank finds himself in trouble and lonely, having offended all of his friends and family members. It looks as if he won’t even have the chance to go trick-or-treating this year. In the end, he makes up with his loved ones and finally invents an ice-cream flavor–all thanks to Inkling. Occasional pencil drawings add extra details and personality to the story. Strong family dynamics, a lovable cast of characters, and an invisible bandapat who doesn’t quit will have readers of short chapter books looking forward to the next title in this series.–Amanda Struckmeyer, Middleton Public Library, Madison, WI
For those who missed the first book in this winning series about fourth-grade Brooklynite Hank Wolowitz and his unusual pumpkin-loving friend (Invisible Inkling, rev. 7/11), Jenkins easily summarizes the key information: bandipats are endangered creatures that hail from either the "redwood forests of Cameroon" or "the Peruvian Woods of Mystery"; they’re also invisible. The start of this second book finds Hank reeling from his (human) best friend’s move. He doesn’t have anyone to trick-or-treat with, and his prospects dim when Inkling’s behavior puts him at odds with the neighborhood kids. He also gets in major trouble with his older sister Nadia when voracious Inkling destroys her amazing jack-o’-lanterns (Hank takes the blame). When Halloween finally rolls around, though, Inkling proves himself to be a true friend. Jenkins’s chapter book fantasy, with its strong sense of place and realistic family dynamic, will have new readers wishing for an invisible pal of their own. Bliss’s droll illustrations allow readers to see Inkling in all his furry glory, even when the characters in the book do not. Here’s hoping that Inkling and Hank have at least a whole school year of escapades together. robin l. smith
Hank (Invisible Inkling) is reeling from his (human) best friend's move, he doesn't have anyone to trick-or-treat with, and his invisible creature Inkling gets him in trouble. Come Halloween, Inkling proves himself to be a true friend. Jenkins's fantasy has strong sense of place and realistic family dynamic; Bliss's droll illustrations allow readers to see Inkling in all his furry glory.
A fresh twist on the imaginary-friend story. Inkling’s wild behavior and silly characteristics (such as his uncontrollable pumpkin cravings) make him a highly amusing sidekick for Hank. Emily Jenkins maintains a remarkable balance between realism and fantasy as well as between gravity and levity. Serious, relatable issues—such as difficulty making friends, conflicts between siblings, and feeling underappreciated by one’s family—are offset perfectly by Inkling’s kooky antics. Short chapters and a quick-paced plot will keep readers engaged. Harry Bliss’s humorous illustrations (about one per chapter) bring the characters to life—especially Inkling, whose invisibility is conveyed through light gray shading. Readers will get a kick out of seeing him even though Hank can’t.

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