The Whatnot

By: Stefan Bachmann

Narrated by: Peter Altschuler

The Whatnot is the acclaimed international bestseller and sequel to Stefan Bachmann's riveting debut novel, The Peculiar, which Publishers Weekly called "an absolute treat for readers of any age," and which the Los Angeles Times compared to "Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment, Charles Dickens's A Tale of Two Cities, and more recent classics, such as J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter and Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events."

Twelve-year-old Pikey Thomas is missing an eye, a family, and friends of any sort. One day, running from bigger boys set on bullying him, Pikey finds himself in front of a grand, beautiful house. There he meets and helps a black-winged faery who is injured. It's a small gesture of kindness and bravery in steam-powered Victorian London, where faeries, now banned, are on the run or imprisoned; where the human armies are preparing for war; and where the changeling Bartholomew Kettle, aided by Arthur Jelliby, still searches for his missing sister, Hettie. This is the epic, dark, imaginative, unforgettable, and ultimately hopeful sequel to Stefan Bachmann's acclaimed debut novel, The Peculiar.

"An enthralling read . . . Bachmann combines the pleasures of a Dickensian cast of characters with the eldritch qualities of British faerie lore and adds a touch of steampunk to entice readers into an alternate universe in which the English are on the verge of war with the fay. The breathtaking beauty of his prose is coupled with a plot that also leaves his audience breathless."—School Library Journal

Faery story that boys will love

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Another brilliant book from Stefan Bachmann.
This kid is a fabulous writer with an educated imagination and a great sense of humor.

What did you like best about this story?

The references to Dickens and the witty jokes, had us laughing, while the dark sinster plots had the kids on the edge of their seats.

Which character – as performed by Peter Altschuler – was your favorite?

Hettie

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Not Like any fairy story you would expect, It is BETTER.

Any additional comments?

Hoping the author has composed music for this volume as well.