“ELLIOT AND THE PIXIE PLOT: Underworld Chronicles Book 2," by Jennifer A. Nielsen, illustrated by Gideon Kendall, Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, $12.99, 208 pages (ages 9-12)
“Elliot and the Pixie Plot” is a fun adventure for young readers, especially since the Northern Utah author Jennifer A. Nielsen warns them at the beginning: “An entire floor of the St. Phobics Hospital for Really Scared Children has been set aside just for readers of this book. … You may wish to take a minute first and reserve yourself a bed there.”
Since Elliot Penster became King of the Brownies (crowned in “Eliot and the Goblin War”), he has refused to release the imprisoned goblin, Grissel, without a promise to cease chomping all the Brownies. With royal authority, Elliot tries to balance the demands of the underworld shape-shifters and the temperamental pixie and fairy princesses whose vanities exceed good sense.
The pixies want Glimmering Forest. They kidnap Elliot, then demand he steal one hair from the demon Koval as ransom. But the fairies want the forest too, and not to be undone, they request one sock from the demon’s foot.
In spite of all these underworld activities, Elliot is a “regular kid.” He appeases the bully Tubs Lawless (they even have a sleepover) and almost willingly cooperates on a school science project with Cambria Dawn Wortson, “the curse of the entire fifth-grade class.”
In a series of fast-paced events, Elliot attempts to meet the eccentricities of his dysfunctional family, tries diplomacy on Tubs, tolerates Cami and ventures out on the pixie plot to steal one hair from the demon Koval (which leaves Koval bald and furious) and slip a sock from the hairy demon's foot.
Nielsen advises readers to understand “myctophobia (mic-to-fo-be-a)” which is a fear of darkness and “arachibutyrophobia (a-rak-i-something-be-a),” a fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth. Darkness and getting stuck become parts of Elliot’s adventure as do many other sensory experiences that the author integrates with ease.
“Elliot and the Pixie Plot” is stuffed with tongue-in-cheek humor, puns and pre-teen humor. Especially delightful is the “surfer-girl” language of the pixies and fairies. Tucked between crucial cliff-hangers are author-asides to distract but delight the unsuspecting reader such as “Dear Reader, We all have a voice inside our head … usually when Elliot listens to the voice he’s very glad he did ….”
“Elliot and the Pixie Plot” can be read alone, but it is well worth going back to the first in the Underworld Chronicles series, “Elliot and the Goblin War,” to fit the pieces and characters together. Surely, Elliot fans will be seeking more adventures of Elliot and the off-beat cast of characters.
Jennifer A. Nielsen will be signing both Elliot books at The Kings English Bookstore on Sept. 17.
IF YOU GO …
What: Jennifer A. Nielsen release party and book signing
When: Sept. 17, 2-4 p.m.
Where: The King’s English Bookshop, 1511 S. 1500 East, Salt Lake City
Web: kingsenglish.com
Email: marilousorensen@ymail.com