17 Mar Review: The Quest of Danger
The Quest of Danger
Once Upon a Tim; book 4
Written by Stuart Gibbs ; illustrated by Stacy Curtis
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2023
ISBN: 9781665917476 (hardcover)
$16.99 CAD
176 pages
Ages: 7 to 11 years old
Review by Kyra Paquet
All hope seems lost when Tim and his ragtag crew are about to fall over the edge of the earth (down a waterfall) in a small, wooden boat. After being miraculously saved by a mermaid princess, the crew sets sail for Atlantis to find and return her father’s stolen trident. Their journey to Atlantis is riddled with witty banter and lots of dangerous enemies (a kraken, a cyclops, an evil prince). Very often, the crew will use their wits to escape precarious situations. The author incorporates a fun glossary into the book, which they identify as an “IQ booster”, in the margins of the pages. Gibbs breaks the fourth wall to identify words such as “disparaging” and “inconspicuous”, then cleverly explains the term to the reader. The story is LGBTQ+ positive, depicting a budding romance between Princess Grace and the brave knight Belinda. Although The Quest of Danger is the fourth installment of a series, it can still be read as a standalone novel. The fast-paced, punchy narrative will keep young readers engaged!