4 out of 4 stars
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Jimmy Crikey was not enjoying junior high school at all. He had given up on getting his classmates to like him, and things were getting worse. The Magical Adventures of Jimmy Crikey is the first in a series of children’s books by Wallace E. Briggs. The story finds Jimmy Crikey preparing to run away from home.
Crikey wasn’t even his name. Kids called him Jimmy Crikey because his appearance was so surprising. Bright red hair, long, pointy ears, and “ee-nor-mous” feet made him the subject of taunts and jokes. Jimmy, desperately seeking a place where he fits in, packs a satchel and leaves home. Stumbling through the dark night, he falls down a deep hole and lands in Roombelow, a new world where adventure abounds, and where Jimmy’s big feet and pointy ears are needed to solve some very serious problems. New friends, witches brew, a magic ring, and a giant eel named Larson all propel Jimmy closer to finding out the truth about why he looks different.
I enjoyed two characters in particular: The Weatherman, who lives in a cloud and regularly falls asleep on the job, and Gemma, who lives at the bottom of a well. Briggs writes, “Jimmy’s best friend, Gemma, lived in a small, comfortably furnished cave at the bottom of the well in the centre of Roombelow’s town square.” I love this imagery. Children might wonder how someone would furnish a cave at the bottom of a well. I enjoyed imagining how that could happen and think this kind of writing encourages kids to think creatively. I hope we meet Gemma and The Weatherman again in this series.
The author crafts several themes that work well for children. Jimmy’s character develops skills based on his unique physical qualities; his enormous feet enable him to traverse obstacles others can’t, and his long, pointy ears can hear sounds that prove essential to the fate of Roombelow. Jimmy learns differences are to be valued. Loneliness, friendship, kindness, courage, and identity work together as primary themes in the story. It is kindness and friendship that afford Jimmy the confidence needed to find his courage, and his courageous acts lead him to discover some surprises about his past.
I experienced a few small problems with the book. At times I felt the story moved too quickly through significant events, where I would have loved to see a bit more imagery and more lyrical language included. I was unsure about the author’s intent with a couple of story elements. It is the witch Matilda, for example, who orders everyone in Roombelow not to laugh at Jimmy. This was a bit confusing. We want our kids to emulate people who are kind because they value kindness, not because it is a rule. These are relatively minor issues that did not detract from my overall enjoyment of the story.
The book spans 132 widely spaced pages and fifteen chapters. The chapters are short, and the language is easy to understand. It appears the book was professionally edited, as I found just one error. Good chapter-book readers under ten will enjoy this book, and younger children will love having it read at story time. Most of the plotlines tie up well but for a few that will undoubtedly carry through to the next book, Attalia, which is already available. I rate The Magical Adventures of Jimmy Crikey 4 out of 4 stars. The adventures are fun and the messages easy to understand. I was drawn in even as an adult and look forward to the series developing.
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The Magical Adventures of Jimmy Crikey
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