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First Impression: Teens buckle up for an adventure that sees The Goonies and Raiders of the Lost Ark meet Dickens.

I would like to express my thanks to Hunter Malone for allowing me to sample a gifted copy of Knocktopia, Secret of the Mother Lode in exchange for an honest review. I really loved this book as you will come to discover and hope you will consider giving it a try. Put Malone on your author to watch list. You won’t be disappointed. Kudos to Derry Frost for the gorgeous illustrations too.

Armed with nothing but a medallion, an envelope, and the weight of a tragedy on his heart, Ben Coolahan leaves his familiar Boston life with his aunt Loretta to live with his step-grandmother, Delilah. Arriving in the mining town of Gold Flat, Ben is faced with the life his father had once lived, but never really fit into. As a thirteen-year-old heir to a lucrative business, Ben needs to keep his wits about him if he is to keep his property, and his life. Who is friend, and who is foe is something he needs to learn fast if he is to reach his eighteenth birthday. 

I’m not going to lie; I was taken in by the cover. I knew from the blurb that I was being transported back to the late 19th century. Cover art coupled with the late Victorian era, albeit in the US, I was sensing strong steampunk vibes. As I started turning the pages, what I actually got was recollections of The Goonies and Raiders of the Lost Ark meets Dickens. I knew within a few pages that I was going to enjoy the adventure ahead. Staying with the illustrations, readers will appreciate the black and white, gorgeous illustrations that signpost a new chapter. In heavily sketched fashion, they complement the chapter title well and provide a hint of what is soon to come. Equally as lovable as the text itself, the illustrations work well to deliver a polished book where all the different elements are in alignment with each other.

Despite his inheritance and his boarding at the grandest house in town, Ben finds himself trying to blend in with the townsfolk attached to his family business, many of them poor and abused. I found it interesting watching him grow up but indulge in childish pranks with a dash of smarts all at once as he stands up for the injustices he encounters. I found myself wanting to skip ahead and see what becomes of him in the future.

For a fairly reasonable length children’s novel, the characters are well developed, although as a mature reader I would have liked to have had a bit more background on a few of them. This is probably my overriding thought about Sam. Having experienced her own share of tragedy, I was surprised at the flippant way it was introduced and quickly glossed over. As much as I love her, there was a turning point where I lost belief in the character she was and the character I thought she should be. 

In general, the characters are explored through their actions and interactions with each other. There is also a good balance of characters to love, and ones to love to hate. I certainly had a few favorites picked out early on that included Ben’s friend, Sam (as mentioned above), Molly the housekeeper, and ‘cousin’ Jack. That said, I enjoyed many scenes that involved Mr. Baxter. Trigger warning…This character is associated with adult themes such as physical violence and alcoholism. I would, therefore, recommend this book for youngsters aged thirteen and above that are able to process mature concepts even though they are not hugely graphic. Other topics explored include death, murder, and greed.

The introduction of folklore midway through the book made for an interesting change in direction. The story was already interesting and could be based on real life experiences. However, the introduction of some unexpected characters brought the story to life and conjured magic and mayhem. It was a great departure from realism, arriving at just the right time.

Overall, I think Hunter Malone has served up a wonderful tale of adventure with a welcomed sprinkle of enchantment and suspense. Malone has effortlessly made history cool and captured a thirteen-year-old’s viewpoint rather brilliantly. Readers of the same age are sure to appreciate the parallels in the lives they live whilst also being able to relate to Ben as a person. Boys and girls alike will take great pleasure from this text and learning whether Ben is able to succeed where others have failed. I think they would find it just as page turning as I did.

Quick Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ / PG-13

Have your say: What was the last action & adventure book you read and how does the story compare to Knocktopia, Secret of the Mother Lode? Drop the Papergirl Community some recommendations in the comments below.

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