What do You think about The Printer's Devil (2009)?
This is a quick and pleasing read, and if the plot is sometimes over-full and over-twisty, I didn't really care: it's full of wonderful descriptions, both of the city and the details and objects of everyday life. I love the dark alleyways and narrow streets, where "the houses on either side of the lanes leaned inwards at the top until they almost touched, so the sunlight could hardly get through" (p 10), and the crowds and noise of the docks by the Thames, where Mog, the twelve-year-old "printer's devil" (apprentice) of the title goes to see a ship just back from India called the Sun of Calcutta. Mog witnesses a theft and gets caught up in a series of events that's bigger than anyone quite understands: mm, London, and mm, historical fiction, and mm, mysteries and (mis)adventures.
—Heather
Oh, this book. How I wanted to love it... but in the end, I just couldn't. The three stars (really more like two and a half) are for the wonderful, Dickensian way that a vaguely-past London is described, for the twists and turns the mystery takes. I was especially impressed with the genuine surprise I had at one of the twists that came about two-thirds of the way through; usually (and especially with middle-grade books) I can see those kinds of things coming, but this was a true surprise that had only minimal hints throughout. But I just can't feel good about giving this book more than three stars (and I feel like that is being generous given the problems I'm about to describe) because of the magic and mysticism that surrounds India in the book. The snake-charmer, devious thief, magical powder that creates confusion type of magic portrayed in this book is a stereotype that desperately needs to be laid to rest, and my distaste with it seriously marred my ability to enjoy what was otherwise a fantastically engaging and original adventure book.
—Kate
I LOVED THIS BOOK. I listened to in the car while driving up to California and if anyone has a long road trip their planning, I would definitely recommend this book!!! It's a mystery about a printer's apprentice or devil named Mog whose life is turned upside down by the arrival of a ship named Son of Calcutta. The rest of the events that unfurl leave you on the edge of your seat and is very suspenseful. I usually fall asleep on car rides but I didn't fall asleep once while listening to this book. I really enjoyed it and highly recommend it .
—Deepa
