The stand-alone sequel to The Doldrums, which the New York Times called "a dreamy charmer of a book," is a second tour-de-force by author-illustrator Nicholas Gannon. It brims with the spirit of exploration and celebrates the bond of friendship. The Doldrums and the Helmsley Curse is a timeless tale and a beautiful gift for a young listener.
Archer Helmsley's grandparents-famous explorers who went missing on an iceberg two years ago-are finally coming home. Archer is overjoyed, but he may be the only one. Rumors are flying that Archer's grandparents were never really abandoned on the iceberg; that they're making it all up. Archer knows that the rumors are false. With his best friends, Oliver and Adélaïde, and their new neighbor, Kana, Archer sets out during a snowstorm to rescue his grandparents' reputation.
In the tradition of Roald Dahl, Lemony Snicket, and Brian Selznick, Nicholas Gannon's wildly imaginative world of The Doldrums and the Helmsley Curse is packed with sly humor, an undeniably charming cast of characters, and the thrill of discovering secrets and adventures right in your own backyard.
With deft, literary writing, Nicholas Gannon once again creates a fully realized world and a story to sink into and explore.
Archer B. Hemsley and friends are back and yearning for adventure in this second beautifully told, stunningly-illustrated story from author-illustrator Nicholas Gannon.
After two years, Archer B. Helmsley's famous explorer grandparents are finally coming home. They had been missing - abandoned on an iceberg - and Archer and his best friends, Adélaïde L. Belmont and Oliver Grub led an adventurous mission to rescue them.
Archer is overjoyed by his grandparents' return. However, he seems to be the only one . . . Rumours begin to surface that Archer's grandparents weren't abandoned after all. People are claiming that they made it all up. Well, Archer knows those rumours are false, and with the help of his best friends and new neighbour, Kana, he is going to prove it. Off the foursome set, into a snowstorm and beyond, to restore his grandparents' reputation.
Archer B. Helmsley longs for adventure. But how can he have an adventure when he can't even leave his house?Archer B. Helmsley has grown up in a house full of oddities and treasures collected by his grandparents, the famous explorers. Archer longs for grand adventures but ever since his grandparents went missing on an iceberg, his mother barely lets him leave the house. So, along with his best friends, Adélaïde L. Belmont and Oliver Grub, Archer forms a plan to get out of the house and set off on a grand adventure with crocodiles and parachutes and danger. It's a good plan. Well, it's not bad, anyway. But nothing goes quite as they expected...
Archer B. Helmsley has grown up in a house full of oddities and treasures collected by his grandparents, the famous explorers. He knows every nook and cranny. He knows them all too well. After all, ever since his grandparents went missing on an iceberg, his mother barely lets him leave the house.
Archer B. Helmsley longs for adventure. Grand adventures, with parachutes and exotic sunsets and interesting characters. But how can he have an adventure when he can't leave his house?
It helps that he has friends like Adélaïde L. Belmont, who must have had many adventures since she ended up with a wooden leg. (Perhaps a crocodile ate it. Perhaps not.) And Oliver Glub. Oliver will worry about all the details (so that Archer doesn't have to).
And so Archer, Adélaïde, and Oliver make a plan. A plan to get out of the house, out of their town entirely. It's a good plan.
Well, it's not bad, anyway.
But nothing goes quite as they expect.
