Shelly's Book Blog

Jeremy Cabbage and the Living Museum of Human Oddballs and Quadruped Delights , by David Elliott, was simply a delightful read. This book, like D. L. Garfinkle's Fowl Language series and Kevin Bolger's Sir Fartsalot Hunts the Booger, was recommended by Michael Sullivan.

Jeremy Cabbage is an orphan (yes, it's another orphan story!) who lives at Harpwitch's Home for Mean Dogs, Ugly Cats, and Strey Children, owned and operated by a horrible woman named Hulda Harpwitch. He lives in a town in which the Baron Ignatius von Strompié III, a careless and stupid man, makes up silly laws and seems not to care that the people are poor and overworked.

Jeremy eventually is adopted by a family of cloons, who are a minority race of people living in the city who look very much like clowns -- big red noses, big feet, etc. The cloons love Jeremy very much and provide a good home for him, but the Baron and his henchmen seem to have other plans.

This story reminded me of Jean Ferris's wonderful books, Once Upon a Marigold and Twice Upon a Marigold, which are also full of warm, good-hearted characters and comically nasty villains. Jeremy Cabbage is a clever and very funny book. I enjoyed it very much!