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Woundabout
Welcome to Woundabout, where routine rules and change is feared. But transformation is in the wind....
In the wake of tragedy, siblings Connor and Cordelia and their pet capybara are sent to the precariously perched town of Woundabout to live with their eccentric aunt. Woundabout is a place where the mayor has declared that routine rules above all, and no one is allowed to as questions--because they should already know the answers.
But Connor and Cordelia can't help their curiosity when they discover a mysterious crank that fits into certain parts of the town, and by winding the crank, places are transformed into something beautiful. When the townspeople see this transformation, they don't see beauty--they only see change. And change, the mayor says, is something to fear. With the mayor hot on their trail, can Connor and Cordelia find a way to wind Woundabout back to life?
In the wake of tragedy, siblings Connor and Cordelia and their pet capybara are sent to the precariously perched town of Woundabout to live with their eccentric aunt. Woundabout is a place where the mayor has declared that routine rules above all, and no one is allowed to as questions--because they should already know the answers.
But Connor and Cordelia can't help their curiosity when they discover a mysterious crank that fits into certain parts of the town, and by winding the crank, places are transformed into something beautiful. When the townspeople see this transformation, they don't see beauty--they only see change. And change, the mayor says, is something to fear. With the mayor hot on their trail, can Connor and Cordelia find a way to wind Woundabout back to life?
288 pages, Hardcover
First published June 23, 2015
6 people are currently reading
318 people want to read
About the author
Lev A.C. Rosen
16 books1,063 followersLEV AC ROSEN sometimes is sometimes known as L.C. ROSEN. He is the author of books for all ages.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
February 8, 2020
Learning English by myself through children's books. I really loved this book! And the vocabulary wasn't so difficult to understand.
May 25, 2015
What a delightful and whimsical book. Cordelia and Connors' parents die in an accident on their capybara farm and the children move to the town of Woundabout to live with their Aunt Marigold. Their arrival in Woundabout is perceived as wonderful by some and with trepidation by the Mayor and some of the other town folk. The siblings learn that everyone must follow a routine and that they will have to go away to boarding school and summer camp for most of the year and that they aren't supposed to ask questions; so they decide to try to figure out what is weird about the town on their own.
I really liked the characters in this book. Connor, Cordelia and Gray in particular. They're interesting and I liked that they had different lenses through which they viewed the world but understood when they were really still feeling the same way. The town is definitely an interesting place and it's origin story was definitely clever and interesting. I like how the authors used the town's issues as a way of explaining dealing with grief and it's importance. (I'm trying to be vague so as not to give away spoilers and it's most likely preventing me from making good sense.)
I really liked the characters in this book. Connor, Cordelia and Gray in particular. They're interesting and I liked that they had different lenses through which they viewed the world but understood when they were really still feeling the same way. The town is definitely an interesting place and it's origin story was definitely clever and interesting. I like how the authors used the town's issues as a way of explaining dealing with grief and it's importance. (I'm trying to be vague so as not to give away spoilers and it's most likely preventing me from making good sense.)
May 29, 2015
For a story about grief, Woundabout is remarkably uplifting. After the death of their parents, Connor and Cordelia move to Woundabout to live with their Aunt, and the city they find themselves in is strange and still and completely devoid of change or growth. In their need to move on after grieving, they push the city to move on as well, with mixed results.
The characters are young and sweet, curious and strong, and I was really rooting for them. The descriptions in the book are creative and wonderful too. The author describes the town's streets as looking like "someone had dropped a bag of them on the floor," and the sparse grass in the park "not like a carpet, but like a man going bald."
Woundabout is charming and clever, and I'd recommend it to readers who like their realistic stories to come with a pinch of wonder and magic.
*Book provided by Hachette Book Group at a library conference in exchange for...well, absolutely nothing. Librarian perks! :)*
The characters are young and sweet, curious and strong, and I was really rooting for them. The descriptions in the book are creative and wonderful too. The author describes the town's streets as looking like "someone had dropped a bag of them on the floor," and the sparse grass in the park "not like a carpet, but like a man going bald."
Woundabout is charming and clever, and I'd recommend it to readers who like their realistic stories to come with a pinch of wonder and magic.
*Book provided by Hachette Book Group at a library conference in exchange for...well, absolutely nothing. Librarian perks! :)*
May 30, 2024
I picked this book because of the cover and because there is a capybara in it. It turned out to be a middle grade book. I would recommend it for 8-10 year olds, but not much older.
April 30, 2019
An unusual fable about grief, growth, and change.
June 29, 2015
Okay, I read all books that mention capybaras. That's because I have a pet capybara. So I was very disappointed that the capybara in this book is a dog with another name. Except that it swims, it is exactly a dog, and a small dog at that. I had hoped that a children's book would actually strive to teach children something about the subject of their book, but such is not the case in this "middle grade" novel.
So why did I put "middle grade" in quotes? Because the author really talks down to the reader. I would not call this middle grade at all. It is definitely more suited for a younger audience, one where a parent reads a chapter per night while tucking their youngster into bed. The language and the concepts are simplistic. The story is more of a fairy tale than anything else. The horrific loss of the children's parents is glossed over in a single sentence. (Sadly, almost all the capybaras died too. Great, don't just stop with the people, kill off the animals too.)
The story is apparently about two children who are adopted by a gay couple. That's fine but since it isn't the norm, especially in a book like this, it needs to be explained a little bit. The only indications we get of this is that the children refer to two people called "Dad" and "Pop." I was confused by this, initially thinking that "Pop" might be a grandfather since people of different cultures often use different names for grandparents. Actually, at first I thought it was a typo. Anyway, the point is that some small amount of explanation is necessary. I'm not saying the author should explain about how two men can be parents, I'm just saying that somewhere they should mention that the two parents were men.
I only gave it three stars because it had a "capybara" in it. Really it deserved two.
So why did I put "middle grade" in quotes? Because the author really talks down to the reader. I would not call this middle grade at all. It is definitely more suited for a younger audience, one where a parent reads a chapter per night while tucking their youngster into bed. The language and the concepts are simplistic. The story is more of a fairy tale than anything else. The horrific loss of the children's parents is glossed over in a single sentence. (Sadly, almost all the capybaras died too. Great, don't just stop with the people, kill off the animals too.)
The story is apparently about two children who are adopted by a gay couple. That's fine but since it isn't the norm, especially in a book like this, it needs to be explained a little bit. The only indications we get of this is that the children refer to two people called "Dad" and "Pop." I was confused by this, initially thinking that "Pop" might be a grandfather since people of different cultures often use different names for grandparents. Actually, at first I thought it was a typo. Anyway, the point is that some small amount of explanation is necessary. I'm not saying the author should explain about how two men can be parents, I'm just saying that somewhere they should mention that the two parents were men.
I only gave it three stars because it had a "capybara" in it. Really it deserved two.
March 7, 2015
I really liked this one!
April 24, 2021
The only reasons I can see for reading this book are the diverse characters and its positive message about change being a good thing. Otherwise, the writing is awkward, the characters are one-dimensional (the sole character developement is that the boy is obsessed with architecture and the girl is obsessed with photography), the characters are not at all realistic, such as the fact that they never disagree, and the book is just plain weird. Wherever the authors decided to make things a bit more interesting, they'd throw in something weird that had nothing to do with the plot. For example, the kids have a pet capybara. It behaves just like a dog (unlike how capybaras really behave), but having a dog would be too normal.
A major selling point for this book is that the kids have two fathers, Dad and Pop. This is never discussed as being anything unusual in the book, but is just presented as completely normal. It's a bit surprising to not discuss it at all, but whatever, I'm okay with that. However, what is a little jarring is when the kids talk about when their two fathers had them as babies, as though they had been born into that family. Somehow, the biology just doesn't work that way.
A major selling point for this book is that the kids have two fathers, Dad and Pop. This is never discussed as being anything unusual in the book, but is just presented as completely normal. It's a bit surprising to not discuss it at all, but whatever, I'm okay with that. However, what is a little jarring is when the kids talk about when their two fathers had them as babies, as though they had been born into that family. Somehow, the biology just doesn't work that way.
March 12, 2022
This book had an interesting storyline, but overall read strangely. It was clearly meant for younger readers, but I feel like it also somehow wasn't. I liked the character that used a wheelchair and thought that her setting/attitude was cool and refreshing! However, other parts of the book almost read a bit "political" to me, even with myself not strongly identifying with a party. It seemed like the author's goal was more to share his ideas than to entertain younger kiddos. It is good for books to teach life lessons and such, but it was integrated strangely and a bit too directly. There was also quite a bit of "telling" rather than "showing", and too many of the same "this child liked photography" and "this child liked architecture" sentences that were unnecessarily repetitive and didn't flesh out the characters in the way the author seemed to think it would. In addition, basic concepts were often over explained, even for a middle grade audience. I probably would not recommend this book to friends, but did think it was at least interesting enough to finish reading.
picked up at a little-free-library in IL and later returned to the same library in IL. 📚🗺
picked up at a little-free-library in IL and later returned to the same library in IL. 📚🗺
July 7, 2024
Loved it, from the story to the message to the cool pics and the capybara.
I find it somewhat interesting that certain reviews say that a major selling point is the gay parents and they weren't "discussed" enough. I didn't pick up the book because of the gay parents and I liked it that it was not made an issue of - they were just any other parents who happened to be gay. In this story, it made gay parents seem normal. Not all these things need to be made a fuss over.
Anyway, the capybara was great.
I found the story was written suitably for younger children - it made it easy for me to whizz through. I liked the idea of the town that had a routine and what this revealed about them - the idea that questions couldn't be asked brought an appropriate amount of sinister and mystery to the story.
The story's main theme - change - and whether it's a good or bad thing and how to embrace it or whether we should avoid it - worked well in this tale. It's a really good message and the way it was told was imaginative and fun. We can't avoid change.
I find it somewhat interesting that certain reviews say that a major selling point is the gay parents and they weren't "discussed" enough. I didn't pick up the book because of the gay parents and I liked it that it was not made an issue of - they were just any other parents who happened to be gay. In this story, it made gay parents seem normal. Not all these things need to be made a fuss over.
Anyway, the capybara was great.
I found the story was written suitably for younger children - it made it easy for me to whizz through. I liked the idea of the town that had a routine and what this revealed about them - the idea that questions couldn't be asked brought an appropriate amount of sinister and mystery to the story.
The story's main theme - change - and whether it's a good or bad thing and how to embrace it or whether we should avoid it - worked well in this tale. It's a really good message and the way it was told was imaginative and fun. We can't avoid change.
January 1, 2018
This was one from my list to read, and I'm not sure anymore why it was. Two kids tragically lose their parents in an explosion on their capybara ranch, so they go live with their eccentric aunt in this weird town. There's no technology, and a lot of people think that the children arriving is a bad thing. Everyone has their own routine and no one is allowed to change them. The children find this confusing and upsetting. So of course they walk into the perfect way to change everything and everyone lives happily ever after.
There just wasn't anything to this story, I guess there was some character development but nothing seemed to go anywhere and it just felt like the authors were really trying to convince children that change isn't scary. I'm glad it was a quick read.
There just wasn't anything to this story, I guess there was some character development but nothing seemed to go anywhere and it just felt like the authors were really trying to convince children that change isn't scary. I'm glad it was a quick read.
September 18, 2021
After the death of their parents orphans Connor and Cordelia go to live with their aunt Marigold and their pet capybara Kip to live with Aunt Marigold and her butler Gray in the little town of Roundabout. One day Connor finds a key and tries to transform the town into some thing beautiful but the mayor says no change is bad.....
July 28, 2024
Loved reading this with my kids. My 8, 7, and 5 year olds were all into it! It’s a fun story for anyone who likes a bit of whimsical mystery, and also particularly poignant I think for children dealing with the loss of a parent or loved one. The childrens’ grief is presented in, I felt, a really accessible and not overwhelmingly tragic way.
January 4, 2017
This was a fun and interesting book. The story unfolded well and the mysterious town was an intriguing setting. The book did seem to skew a bit young for middle grade and may come across a little bluntly. That said I think the fun of the mystery makes up for this.
December 30, 2017
After their parents die, eleven year old Connor and his nine year old sister,
Cordelia are sent to Woundabout to live with their Aunt Marigold.
Rosen's Steampunk mystery is an allegory about grief and change.
There is also an underlying environmental message about alternative
energy(wind).
Cordelia are sent to Woundabout to live with their Aunt Marigold.
Rosen's Steampunk mystery is an allegory about grief and change.
There is also an underlying environmental message about alternative
energy(wind).
January 27, 2022
I had a great time reading this! It's intriguing, heartwarming and heartbreaking. I originally got this from the library for the capybara but the story itself is amazing. Change is the only constant in life.
January 9, 2018
Sweet orphan book with curious orphans in a mysterious town where nothing changes. I liked the fun adventure and the message of the importance of change in our lives.
July 25, 2018
I randomly bought this book at dollar tree for $1. I didn't realize it was a kids' book. I ended up thoroughly enjoying Woundabout.
May 16, 2019
3.5 ⭐ Cute story and loved the illustrations.
April 18, 2022
This book has such beautiful illustrations. I likes the story too, it's really interesting.
April 2, 2023
3 1/2 stars
July 2, 2023
Imaginative story. My 8 yo grandson loved it!
October 10, 2024
This was such a difficult read for me. It's one of those books that makes you think and cry at the same time. It was truly a beautiful story, but not particularly up my alley.
March 8, 2017
An interesting title that reminded me of Series of Unfortunate Events. Two orphaned kids sent to live with an unknown relative and find themselves in peculiar circumstances in a peculiar setting. Felt a little slow in places, redundant in others. Overall, setting and plot are strong enough to carry you through. For readers of SoUE looking for similar titles, this is worth a try.
September 18, 2015
4.5 stars
I had hoped this would be a 'find' for a book club I run, but on reflection, this is one for already confident readers who enjoy something a little different, rather than a group of differing abilities who may be used to something more straightforward.
This is wonderful though. In a start reminiscent of James and the Giant Peach and A Series of Unfortunate Events, our young heroes, Connor and Cordelia, are left orphaned by an unfortunate accident (not a stampeding rhino or fire) on their capybara farm. With their two fathers dead (yes, you read that right - it's never made an issue of at all, its inclusion interesting but never commented on). The two, with their one remaining capybara are sent to their aunt's house in the very strange town of Woundabout. Where all is not as it seems...
Woundabout is a dead-seeming town, devoid of life and laughter... change and questions are not permitted, by order of the Mayor.
I love this type of story - strangers arriving in a town and making changes, their newness bringing fresh air to a place. It's highly original though, with our children discovering some beautiful ways they can do something to make their own and other people's lives better.
Their grief is dealt with well - they don't just forget about their family and home, they are still suffering, which I was glad to see - too often protagonists seem to overcome death and move on into an exciting adventure.
There's a wonderful film to be had here as well, some great visuals, scenes and devices, as well as characters I'd love to see cast - the Mayor, their aunt, her servant who has a hidden past of his own.
The children learn to make a fresh start - and maybe... can Woundabout too?
The illustrations by the author's brother, black and white, suit the drabness of the town, and add to the spooky sense of the inhabitants' lives. They are also childlike and distinctive, with lots of detail older children will enjoy.
A really enjoyable read for confident upper primary children, a good mixture of sadness, mystery and adventure, with children at the heart of it all.
I had hoped this would be a 'find' for a book club I run, but on reflection, this is one for already confident readers who enjoy something a little different, rather than a group of differing abilities who may be used to something more straightforward.
This is wonderful though. In a start reminiscent of James and the Giant Peach and A Series of Unfortunate Events, our young heroes, Connor and Cordelia, are left orphaned by an unfortunate accident (not a stampeding rhino or fire) on their capybara farm. With their two fathers dead (yes, you read that right - it's never made an issue of at all, its inclusion interesting but never commented on). The two, with their one remaining capybara are sent to their aunt's house in the very strange town of Woundabout. Where all is not as it seems...
Woundabout is a dead-seeming town, devoid of life and laughter... change and questions are not permitted, by order of the Mayor.
I love this type of story - strangers arriving in a town and making changes, their newness bringing fresh air to a place. It's highly original though, with our children discovering some beautiful ways they can do something to make their own and other people's lives better.
Their grief is dealt with well - they don't just forget about their family and home, they are still suffering, which I was glad to see - too often protagonists seem to overcome death and move on into an exciting adventure.
There's a wonderful film to be had here as well, some great visuals, scenes and devices, as well as characters I'd love to see cast - the Mayor, their aunt, her servant who has a hidden past of his own.
The children learn to make a fresh start - and maybe... can Woundabout too?
The illustrations by the author's brother, black and white, suit the drabness of the town, and add to the spooky sense of the inhabitants' lives. They are also childlike and distinctive, with lots of detail older children will enjoy.
A really enjoyable read for confident upper primary children, a good mixture of sadness, mystery and adventure, with children at the heart of it all.
January 16, 2016
I can't say enough about this wonderful middle grade novel! Woundabout is the touching -- yet not heavy -- story of orphaned siblings Connor and Cordelia, who go to live with their aunt Marigold in the very weird town of Woundabout after the death of their parents. Woundabout is a strange, strange place, under the firm control of a dictatorial mayor who hates questions and any deviation from routine. The park is brown and dried up, the river barely flows, and wind constantly buffets the cliffs of the town. Connor and Cordelia, still reeling from their loss, have to adjust to their new lives, and decide to figure out the mysteries of Woundabout, both as diversion and to see if they can somehow find a place for themselves.
The writing is wonderful. There's humor and a light touch, even on the darkest of subjects. I love the portrayal of Connor and Cordelia (ages 11 and 9), who are tightly bonded, yet each have their own personality and interests.
The author and illustrator, who are brothers, are clearly in sync. The marvelous black and white illustrations throughout the book are wonderfully detailed and expressive, and perfectly capture the personalities of the characters and the town.
Woundabout is a terrific read -- whether you're an adult who enjoys reading good children's books for your own enjoyment, or you're looking for a book to share with the younger folks in your life, or you want a book to give to a young reader. Woundabout strikes me as a good choice for an adult/child read-aloud, or a great book for an independent reader in the 8 - 12 age range (or so -- I hate pinning a label on a book that older and younger kids would enjoy too.)
Check it out... for yourself, or for a kid you'd like to treat to a great read.
See more at Bookshelf Fantasies.
The writing is wonderful. There's humor and a light touch, even on the darkest of subjects. I love the portrayal of Connor and Cordelia (ages 11 and 9), who are tightly bonded, yet each have their own personality and interests.
The author and illustrator, who are brothers, are clearly in sync. The marvelous black and white illustrations throughout the book are wonderfully detailed and expressive, and perfectly capture the personalities of the characters and the town.
Woundabout is a terrific read -- whether you're an adult who enjoys reading good children's books for your own enjoyment, or you're looking for a book to share with the younger folks in your life, or you want a book to give to a young reader. Woundabout strikes me as a good choice for an adult/child read-aloud, or a great book for an independent reader in the 8 - 12 age range (or so -- I hate pinning a label on a book that older and younger kids would enjoy too.)
Check it out... for yourself, or for a kid you'd like to treat to a great read.
See more at Bookshelf Fantasies.
June 1, 2015
The concept of the plot was very intriguing (kids shipped to live with Aunt after parents die...Aunt lives in crazy town with bizarre Mayor who forbids both "change" and anyone asking questions), however the execution was lacking. The two main characters seemed rather flat. While I appreciated their respective interests in architecture/urban planning and photography, they seemed more of a means to an end than anything else. The continual comparison (Connor would say he felt like [insert architectural simile here], while Cordelia would say she felt like [insert photography simile here], but really they felt the same way.) got old in a hurry.
The drawings were a fun idea, but sometimes I thought the characters were just plain weird looking. Connor looked like an old man with a child's body; Aunt Marigold had one of the longest faces in the world. And I loved Cordelia's 'fro - but we only knew she had this mass of hair from the pictures; nothing in the text ever referred to it. (Which would make an audiobook version of this rather difficult.)
In the end, it seemed like a re-envisioned Lemony Snicket world that fell rather flat. It was clear that Rosen isn't used to/comfortable writing middle-grade books; it felt very forced and clunky as a result.
The drawings were a fun idea, but sometimes I thought the characters were just plain weird looking. Connor looked like an old man with a child's body; Aunt Marigold had one of the longest faces in the world. And I loved Cordelia's 'fro - but we only knew she had this mass of hair from the pictures; nothing in the text ever referred to it. (Which would make an audiobook version of this rather difficult.)
In the end, it seemed like a re-envisioned Lemony Snicket world that fell rather flat. It was clear that Rosen isn't used to/comfortable writing middle-grade books; it felt very forced and clunky as a result.
February 8, 2015
After the tragic death of their parents, siblings Connor and Cordelia are taken in by their aunt. Although they've received presents from Aunt Marigold in the past, they've never met her, and are understandably anxious. The town where she lives, Woundabout, is a decidedly strange place too, and children are not welcome there. As the two orphans and their capybara Kip try to settle in, they realize that this is a place where nothing changes. Even the park where they go to play is filled with barren trees and dead grass. When they stumble on the key to reinvigorating the town, there are many who want things to remain the same. While the theme here is a bit heavy-handed and obvious almost from the start, I still found myself pondering how some of us take refuge in our routines and avoid change because many changes, such as a loss, can be painful. Young readers will empathize with the children while smiling at the different mistaken names Aunt Marigold has for the capybara. From the descriptions and the illustrations, I think I liked him best of all. Some characters make only brief appearances, making me wonder why there were included.
November 28, 2016
Rosen, Lev Woundabout, illustrated by Ellis Rosen, 278 pgs. Little Brown and Company. 2015. $17.00. Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: G.
Connor and Cordelia were recently orphaned when their parents were killed in an accidental explosion. Now they have moved to Woundabout to live with their aunt. This is a strange town where nothing grows, nothing burns and the mayor has high expectations that the people will never veer from their routines. Nothing must change. The addition of these two children causes quite a bit of worry, especially as the mayor has lost an important “thing.”
This was a strange book. The writing seemed juvenile. A middle grade author should write for middle readers, not like middle readers. Much of the story was told rather than shown, like the best parts happened before the book even started. I’m not sure what to make of it, so I wouldn’t recommend this title.
EL - NO Lisa Librarian
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2016/...
Connor and Cordelia were recently orphaned when their parents were killed in an accidental explosion. Now they have moved to Woundabout to live with their aunt. This is a strange town where nothing grows, nothing burns and the mayor has high expectations that the people will never veer from their routines. Nothing must change. The addition of these two children causes quite a bit of worry, especially as the mayor has lost an important “thing.”
This was a strange book. The writing seemed juvenile. A middle grade author should write for middle readers, not like middle readers. Much of the story was told rather than shown, like the best parts happened before the book even started. I’m not sure what to make of it, so I wouldn’t recommend this title.
EL - NO Lisa Librarian
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2016/...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews