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The Amazing Adventures of Jimmy Crikey
Posted by Literary Titan
Jimmy McGellan is known as Jimmy Crikey, a name he loathes and only serves to remind him of the bullying he has endured from children in his school. His aunt is raising him and caring for him the best way she knows how, but Jimmy needs a change–he wants to be rid of the hurt and begin again somewhere far from this place that doesn’t ever really feel like home. He has no way of knowing exactly how much his young life will change when he chooses to venture away from his aunt and out on his own. A new world awaits him–a world he could never have imagined.
The Amazing Adventures of Jimmy Crikey: Worlds Beneath And Above The Stars, by Wallace E. Briggs, is a fantasy/science fiction adventure based on the main character Jimmy Crikey. Young Jimmy is relatable, lovable, and heroic. As his journey begins, he is clearly bullied, singled out for some glaring physical differences, and belittled to the point of despair. Young readers will find themselves identifying with his struggle and rooting for him from the very first chapter.
Briggs has created a beautiful world that meshes fantasy and science fiction for young readers. When Jimmy finds himself meeting one fantastic being after the other in Roombelow, readers will get an Alice-in-Wonderland-meets-The-Wizard-of-Oz feeling. However, Briggs’s work is original and departs from both story lines enough to make it into its own category. As the story began, I wasn’t taken with the science fiction aspect of Jimmy’s tale, but it grew on me, and soon I was engrossed in his mission and the plight of the unique characters.
Briggs’s lengthy list of secondary characters can at some points grow a little confusing, but many of them stand out in their own right. Gemma, for one, is a well-drawn character who provides important plot points and is just the right fit for a boy like Jimmy coming from a world of pain above. I was impressed with the vast array of characters and the unique traits given each.
Two notable elements of Briggs’s story deal with the obvious departure from violence and the rise of an otherwise weak character. As a teacher and mother of teens, I found it refreshing that characters in a book meant for school-age readers took a pointed turn from violence. The book does have some later scenes in which pain is inflicted, but the author is careful at the outset of the story to veer away from violent acts between groups of beings.
I found the heroism and the building up of a character’s self-esteem to be a refreshing and much-needed read right now. Young readers who look for science fiction elements in their chapter books will appreciate Jimmy’s discovery about himself and will find themselves lost in his world. I highly recommend Briggs’s work to any teacher looking for a long-lasting read aloud for students from ages 9 to 11.
Pages: 302 | ASIN: B08B34V4TNNew paragraph
Simarie awarded a 5* on Amazon :
A beautiful tale of self-discovery stimulating heart-led harmony
Stimulates creativity into imagination while encouraging children to read magical stories that inspire.
After leaving his hometown for not feeling accepted by his looks, it is Jimmy’s perceived strange appearances that precisely served to usher his new beginning of harmonious community which he sets off to find for himself. This children’s book provides young readers with a fantastical voyage of a sweet boy who decides to leave home in search of new friends and social acceptance all whilst learning emotional intelligence over action-filled adventures in a magical realm trodden with elves, witches, anthropomorphic animals, galactic beings, mystical creatures in wondrous landscapes, and the like.
Abounded in values and positive reinforcement such as prayer, respect for elders, trust over fear, self-discovery and self-inquiry, standing up for inner-feelings and sentiments, service and caring for others, along with courageous acts, kindness, and cooperation,
The Amazing Adventures of Jimmy Crikey is exactly the sort of children’s book I would recommend to any parent wanting to both entertain and stimulate child-like creativity while supporting a healthy cultivation of self-image, perception, and self-love.
The author, Wallace Briggs, employs clear language in his descriptive writing style and on occasion includes some higher-level verbiage that I find serves to encourage young readers to practice reading along with a dictionary for enriching vocabulary, a process that greatly served me as a child growing up as I began reading more literature on my own accord. Briggs also includes sketch illustrations scattered over several chapters in between, capturing the vision of Jimmy’s adventuresome settings. Briggs offers children a tale rooted in positivity that provides readers with moments of reflection on our origins and how to live in harmony with all the unique beings that surround us.
The Amazing Adventures of Jimmy Crikey - 4* review
Reviewed by Soumya Sreehari for Readers' Favorite
Imagine a young boy shunned by his schoolmates finding new adventures in underground worlds and faraway planets! That is exactly what happens to Jimmy in Wallace E Briggs’ brilliant book, The Amazing Adventures of Jimmy Crikey. Jimmy is a young boy with unusual features – bright red hair, a snub nose, and enormous feet. He lives with his loving aunt since his parents died when he was a baby. He is bullied at school and has no friends. One night he decides to run away and find a place that will accept him. A host of exciting adventures await him. He finds love, acceptance, and adventures in 3 different worlds – one underground, another in a group of caves, and the final one in a faraway planet in outer space.
The Amazing Adventures of Jimmy Crikey is splendidly written with generous doses of action, humor, and love. Wallace Briggs takes us on a journey as Jimmy discovers his sense of self and finds appreciation. Jimmy travels to worlds that are treats of a fertile imagination. He thrives in a sense of adventure and finds the value of human connections. As I followed Jimmy’s journey through the worlds, I was enamored by his experiences. The kind people and friendly witches of Roombelow, the fair-trading Diamites, and the technologically advanced Attalia – I experienced them all. The beautiful illustrations were a bonus treat. It is a heart-warming story of a young boy who goes in search of belonging and finds so much more. The warmth and spirit of the story can be enjoyed by children and grownups alike.
On-line Book Club review- by Eva DarringtonJimmy 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.
Extracts from my very first Editor’s critique of Jimmy Crikey
First let me tell you how much I enjoyed this edit, not just because the story and characters are so compelling, but because your writing, grammar and punctuation are so strong…... Being presented with a book this well written is immensely refreshing and a real pleasure.
Your imagination is truly impressive, as is your ability to transfer those images and characters in your head so effectively onto paper. This is going to be a captivating read for lots of children, and you are to be commended for the effort involved with such a contribution...
Finally, you need to add another chapter to finish telling what happened…
One that is done you will have a book with huge potential – and a writing talent that should garner attention if you approach the right publisher in the right manner …… I’ll keep my eyes open for your name.
Henry's book club
What a fantastic story!
The author certainly has an incredible imagination. Without giving away the story too much - Jimmy is the underdog, picked on at school for his unusual looks. He runs away and stumbles down a hole into another world called "Roombelow". A world that has wonderful characters such as a witch who needs to learn to laugh again and a tiny lady who lives down the bottom of a well and doesn’t remember how she got there, a weather man who falls asleep leaving his weather machine to malfunction and create disastrous weather, not to mention so many other fascinating characters.
Jimmy embarks on several magical adventures throughout the story, saving the day and becoming the local hero – no longer the underdog. I have to say it’s a real page turner and as an adult, I loved it and couldn’t put the book down, so I know children will love it just as much, if not more!
This author is certainly very talented and I can’t wait to read more of his stories!
I am giving The Magical Adventures of Jimmy Crikey a well-deserved 5 star!
Buy it! Read it! You won’t be disappointed!