Review by Booklist Review
Reuben lives to skirt through the shadows and climb high walls. Atop one of those walls, he finds an antique clock, which, he learns, is sought by the mysterious bully, the Smoke, who runs the depressed city. As Reuben discovers the timepiece's magical properties, he also finds clues that point to its proper owners. But the closer he comes to the truth, the harder it is to contemplate giving up an object that might give him and his mother the security they so desperately need. Stewart, author of the Mysterious Benedict Society books, offers a stellar cast here. Reuben, a refreshing mix of daredevil and terrified tween, meets his match in a lively family whose history with the clock brings them into battle with dastardly forces. Reuben's hardworking mother especially lights up the story. There are adventures aplenty perhaps too many. As this page-heavy book goes on, they weigh down the liveliness of the story. Readers, however, will persevere, caught up in the mystery of the clock and the persistence of its pursuers.--Cooper, Ilene Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
It's summer vacation for 12-year-old Reuben Pedley, a resident of a rundown neighborhood in New Umbra, a city ruled by a mysterious figure known as the Smoke and his minions, the Directions, who constantly patrol the city. While Reuben's mother is at work, he spends his days exploring; one afternoon, he finds a leather pouch containing a strange antique watch. In attempting to discover the secret of the watch, Reuben attracts the unwanted attention of the Smoke and the Directions. Reuben teams up with Penny and Jack Meyers, descendants of one of the original owners of the watch and keepers of a dark family secret, to outsmart the Smoke and free New Umbra from his clutches. Stewart (the Mysterious Benedict Society series) has created an exciting, fully imagined world filled with mystery and danger, where children can have real adventures without parental supervision. He doesn't shy from putting the children in true danger, both physical and moral, keeping readers on tenterhooks until the final page. Art not seen by PW. Ages 8-12. Author's agent: Eric Simonoff, William Morris Endeavor. Illustrator's agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 5 Up-Parkour practitioner Reuben Pedley has been having a hard time since his mom lost her job and they had to move to a different (and poorer) part of the city. Friendless, he spends his days avoiding the Directions, the enforcement officers of the mysterious Smoke, who runs the city. On one of these afternoons, he finds a very interesting object after getting himself stuck on a ledge while he was supposed to be at home. What he discovers crammed in the masonry of a wall is an extremely old pocket watch that he is certain is worth a large sum and might just help him and his mother leave the poor part of town. Instead, he realizes that the watch has a little bit of magic in it, which gives him a special ability. Regrettably, the Directions learn of the presence of the watch, and they will stop at nothing to bring it to the Smoke. Only Reuben and his newfound friends have what it takes to solve the mystery of the watch and save their city. VERDICT Fans of Stewart's "Mysterious Benedict Society" and series like it will devour his latest novel. This epic story filled with adventure and twists and turns is certain to keep readers' interest from beginning to end.-Wayne R. Cherry Jr., First Baptist Academy Library, Houston © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
While on a surreptitious expedition through the Lower Downs of New Umbra, Reuben Pedley discovers a treasure: an antique pocket watch with a winding key. His attempts to sell the watch attract the attention of The Smoke, the elusive power that holds all of New Umbra in its thrall. With the help of elderly watchmaker Mrs. Genevieve, Reuben discovers the watch's amazing power: when the hour hand is set to twelve and the key is wound, the watch turns the bearer invisible. And so begins Reuben's adventure, seeking the history of the watch among a family of lighthouse keepers and learning why The Smoke is so desperate to get his hands on it. The plot builds with a simplicity that slots each element firmly into place before adding complications, leading to a clean, comprehensible line that makes the book's nearly six hundred pages flow effortlessly. Stewart (The Mysterious Benedict Society, rev. 3/07, and sequels) is thoroughly in touch with young readers' delight in all things sneaky and hidden, and for Reuben in particular, the desire to observe without being observed is in line with his character. Will Reuben be able to use his understanding of the watch's fascination to anticipate The Smoke's next move without being seduced by the watch's power himself? Sudyka's black-and-white vignette art at the chapter headings, and frequent full-page illustrations, lend a slightly gloomy, timeworn air to the proceedings as Stewart's ingenious what if? unspools to its thrilling conclusion. anita l. burkam (c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
