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The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge Audio CD – MP3 Audio, November 6, 2018

by M.T. Anderson (Author), Eugene Yelchin (Author, Illustrator), Gildart Jackson (Reader)

4.6 159 ratings

A 2018 National Book Award Finalist! Uptight elfin historian Brangwain Spurge is on a mission: survive being catapulted across the mountains into goblin territory, deliver a priceless peace offering to their mysterious dark lord, and spy on the goblin kingdom‚Äîfrom which no elf has returned alive in more than a hundred years. Brangwain‚Äôs host, the goblin archivist Werfel, is delighted to show Brangwain around. They should be the best of friends, but a series of extraordinary double crosses, blunders, and cultural misunderstandings throws these two bumbling scholars into the middle of an international crisis that may spell death for them‚Äîand war for their nations. A hilarious and biting social commentary that could only come from the likes of National Book Award winner M. T. Anderson and Newbery Honoree Eugene Yelchin, this tale is rife with thrilling action and a comic disparity that suggests the ultimate victor in a war is perhaps not who won the battles but who gets to write the history.

Reading age

10 - 16 years
Print length

6 pages
Language

English
Grade level

7 - 9
Dimensions

6.04 x 1.13 x 5.04 inches
Publisher

Dreamscape Media
Publication date

November 6, 2018
ISBN-10

1974930408
ISBN-13

978-1974930401
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Gary D. Schmidt
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Eugene Yelchin
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in Teen & Young Adult Historical Mysteries & Thrillers
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M. T. Anderson
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Pete Hautman
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Get to know this book

What's it about?
An elf and goblin embark on a perilous journey, encountering double crosses, blunders, and cultural misunderstandings, leading to an international crisis and a hilarious, biting social commentary.
Amazon editors say...
Put two award-winning authors together on a journey into fantasy and social satire and you get one heck of a delightful read.
Seira Wilson, Amazon Editor

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Dreamscape Media; Unabridged edition (November 6, 2018)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Audio CD ‏ : ‎ 6 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1974930408
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1974930401
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 10 - 16 years
Grade level ‏ : ‎ 7 - 9
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.04 x 1.13 x 5.04 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #8,933,608 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,480 in Teen & Young Adult Steampunk
- #7,209 in Teen & Young Adult Fairy Tales & Folklore
- #12,200 in Teen & Young Adult Sword & Sorcery Fantasy

Customer Reviews:
4.6 159 ratings

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About the author

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Eugene Yelchin

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Eugene Yelchin is a Russian-American artist best known as an illustrator and writer of books for children and young adults. Yelchin is a National Book Award finalist for The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge co-authored with M. T. Anderson and the recipient of Newbery Honor for Breaking Stalin’s Nose. He received Golden Kite Award for The Haunting of Falcon House, Crystal Kite Award for illustrating Won Ton, National Jewish Book Award for illustrating The Rooster Prince of Breslov, and SCBWI Tomie DePaola Award. Visit him at eugeneyelchinbooks.com

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5

159 global ratings

How customer reviews and ratings work

Customers say

Customers find the illustrations really cool. They also describe the storyline as unique, enjoyable, wise, funny, and uplifting. Readers describe the content as extraordinary and wonderful, delivered subtly with good humor and drama.

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Illustrations Storyline Content

9 customers mention "Illustrations"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the illustrations in the book cool, subtle, and sophisticated. They also say the story is boring.

"...It's the way it's told, through illustrations that beguile, narrative that at times seems at odds with the illustrations, and the epistolary format..." Read more

"...The composite illustrations are fabulous, and the story should appeal to adults and older kids, great for discussion about what propaganda,..." Read more

"...We all enjoyed it. The illustrations are cool too." Read more

"1. Fun Easy Read2. Some chapters written, others told via beautiful, highly detailed drawings.3. Elves and Goblins4...." Read more

8 customers mention "Storyline"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the storyline enjoyable, remarkable, and rip-roaring fun for kids and adults. They also say the book is delivered subtly with good humor and drama.

"...in ways that might go over some kids' heads, but is still worth the experience. It's not simply the plot that makes this book great...." Read more

"...The composite illustrations are fabulous, and the story should appeal to adults and older kids, great for discussion about what propaganda,..." Read more

"This is an enjoyable, quick read (I just did the last 250 pages in one sitting) with deep significance and a lot to discuss...." Read more

"This book is a great ride. Fun to read and filled with sarcasm & spirit. Our 6th grader read it twice - the second time out loud to me...." Read more

6 customers mention "Content"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the content extraordinary, clever, thought-provoking, and wonderful. They also say the book is great for discussions about propaganda, perception, and friendship.

"...What a great, fun adventure! It's clever in ways that might go over some kids' heads, but is still worth the experience...." Read more

"...the story should appeal to adults and older kids, great for discussion about what propaganda, perception and friendship mean...." Read more

"This is a funny and intriguing book with a very cool & different perspective while telling its story - which is the point! Loved the illustrations." Read more

"This is one unique and enjoyable fantastical story that every reader should indulge in reading. I loved it as did my 13 year old son." Read more

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Top reviews from the United States

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Debnev

Extraordinary!

Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2019

Verified Purchase

I bought this for my 11-year-old grandson, who loved it. I then read it myself so we could discuss it, and had a blast! What a great, fun adventure! It's clever in ways that might go over some kids' heads, but is still worth the experience. It's not simply the plot that makes this book great. It's the way it's told, through illustrations that beguile, narrative that at times seems at odds with the illustrations, and the epistolary format of (unintentionally hilarious) letters to the Elf King from one of his henchmen. All of these elements advance the plot, but they are full of their own charms and mysteries. In all, the story is about fear of "the other," how easy it is to misinterpret other cultures, the search for truth in conflicting histories, and the absurdities of war, all infused with some astute observations about the wealth and power. But it's also about the power of friendship and love, of course. Sophisticated, wise, funny, and ultimately uplifting. And the drawings are absolutely mind-boggling.

7 people found this helpful

Helpful

Kyra Molitor

Remarkable book

Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2020

Verified Purchase

This is very funny, thought-provoking, subtle and terrific. The composite illustrations are fabulous, and the story should appeal to adults and older kids, great for discussion about what propaganda, perception and friendship mean. I loved this and am sending it to my son and his family to enjoy together.

Helpful

Molly Lazer

An enjoyable meditation on history--and who gets to write it.

Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2019

Verified Purchase

This is an enjoyable, quick read (I just did the last 250 pages in one sitting) with deep significance and a lot to discuss. This would be a good addition to a middle or upper elementary school classroom library, or it could be used in a social studies classroom as an entry point to discussing how history books are written--and who gets to write them. Anderson's worldbuilding is extremely impressive, and Yelchin's art equally so. I wish I had been able to see images of what the goblin society ACTUALLY looked like--but, of course, this is the point of the book.

4 people found this helpful

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Ruby

A Dark Comedy About Diplomacy

Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2019

Verified Purchase

Very much a book of our times, covering perceptions of cultural differences and how the shared histories of two nations can challenge the reality of the other. I loved it and all the kids I've recommended it to have also enjoyed it.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Amazon Customer

Rip roaring fun for kids and adults

Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2019

Verified Purchase

This book is a great ride. Fun to read and filled with sarcasm & spirit. Our 6th grader read it twice - the second time out loud to me. We all enjoyed it. The illustrations are cool too.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

JJ Langlois

Well Made Book - Clever Concept

Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2019

Verified Purchase

1. Fun Easy Read
2. Some chapters written, others told via beautiful, highly detailed drawings.
3. Elves and Goblins
4. Story of finding common ground/working together/how similar we all are.
5. Funny
6. Friendships building theme

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Mark

Love it

Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2021

Verified Purchase

Funky. Creative. Very different. The entire family (2 kids 2 adults) enjoyed this book thoroughly.
highly recommend ....

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Samantha

Next tattoo?

Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2019

Verified Purchase

This is a funny and intriguing book with a very cool & different perspective while telling its story - which is the point! Loved the illustrations.

Helpful

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Amazon Customer

Fascinating fantasy

Reviewed in Canada on November 9, 2018

Verified Purchase

What an unusual, delightful book! The illustrations grabbed me immediately, then the written story drew me further in. It's fantasy and can be enjoyed simply as a story of two very different characters becoming friends, but there is so much more going on. I shall treasure this one and it will be re-read.

One person found this helpful

Gabriella V.

Bellissime illustrazioni e divertente

Reviewed in Italy on April 10, 2019

Verified Purchase

Per chi come me mastica poco inglese, trovo che il livello d'inglese sia più che accessibile, aiutato anche da disegni divertenti e belli da guardare. La copertina attrae i curiosi, perchè è assolutamente particolare.

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annabelle evans

Damaged

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 4, 2019

Verified Purchase

The book was damaged and dirty. The quality is not new as stated. This was a Christmas present for my nephew. Not impressed.