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Jimmy is an alien from the planet Attalia. He made his home on earth, in the village of Esh with a lady named Ethel, before moving to Roombelow and into the care of Amanda and Mr McDonald, Roombelow’s mayor.
Roombelow is the land below the surface of the earth, and is a magical place. It’s inhabited by many different magical beings, including witches. In the past, Jimmy has been on many adventures with (and for) the chief witch Matilda and her apprentice Jade – who is prone to making mistakes with her spells.
Now, a new adventure awaits Jimmy – and not just one with witches and magic. He’s nearing adolescence, and is beginning to find he’s struggling with mood swings and bouts of depression (even if it’s not said as much in the book, the inference is there), as well as loneliness and a longing for a special connection. We travel with Jimmy and one of the elemental witches as they strive to save inhabitants of The Emerald Lake from the deadly serpents which are attacking it. We find out early on in the book that Jimmy isn’t a big fan of snakes, after a mishap with a spell that Jade was casting, so his decision in taking part in this endeavour is one of huge bravery.
As much as I did enjoy the story line and themes in The Adventures of Jimmy Crikey: The Emerald Lake, I wasn’t overly enamoured with the actual story-telling. At times, it felt rushed – moving from one scene to another with blinding speed. Whereas at other times, it was as though there was too much details; we’re told the exact motion of sitting down. It’s discombobulating. One moment, you’re walking with Jimmy, collecting magical mushrooms in Esh – the next you’re sitting with him eating a meal with the mayor of Roombelow. There’s no transition; it’s just happened.
That aside, it is actually a very sweet book – tackling themes of growing up and teenage hormones in a way that isn’t too patronising. It would be great for children aged around 9 to 12 years old – showing them that it’s OK to not know what it is that’s wrong when you’re feeling down. That it’s OK to talk and ask for help.
S. A.
Originally published on Reedsy Discovery as part of their ARC program. Read the review here.
You can buy The Adventures of Jimmy Crikey and the books in the series before this, by clicking the name of the series. They are also available on Kindle Unlimited to read for free.