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Weaver Tales #3
The Lumpy Duckling: Another Weaver Tale
Lumpy may be hefty with a misshapen mouth, but he’s funny and the most loyal friend Wheezy could ask for. When she meets Unwanted, she casts a wish for people to be able to see her best friend like she does. Her wish nearly kills him.
84 pages, Paperback
First published October 12, 2014
About the author
Kai Strand
26 books114 followersThanks for your interest in my books and me. I love talking books with readers and hope you’ll share your thoughts on my books by leaving a review and/or dropping me an email. It’s easiest to get a hold of me through my website (kaistrand.com). Perhaps you clicked on my bio to find out things about me, such as I hate to handle raw meat, I’m a wife and mother of four, a compulsive walker, and a Mozart fangirl. But since you stopped by, what I really want you to know is that I love that you read. Readers are smart, quick-witted, and usually good conversationalists—even if it’s only in their head. Introverts unite!
I write middle grade fiction because those are the most formative years of our lives. It’s when we are trying to claim our freedom, while still being restricted by rules. The things we learn in books can give us the skills to navigate that maze. I write young adult fiction because there are no limits to what message I share or how I share it. Plus young adult readers are some of the most passionate readers out there. I heart YA readers.
If you’d like an image of me as a writer, go ahead and picture me with my laptop in a quaint bookshop café, fingers flying over the keys while the words pour out of my fingertips. It’s much better than the real image of me in my pajamas with coffee breath, sinking into the me-sized crater in the couch, grumbling at my laptop when the words don’t come.
Read an interview with Kai here on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_...
I write middle grade fiction because those are the most formative years of our lives. It’s when we are trying to claim our freedom, while still being restricted by rules. The things we learn in books can give us the skills to navigate that maze. I write young adult fiction because there are no limits to what message I share or how I share it. Plus young adult readers are some of the most passionate readers out there. I heart YA readers.
If you’d like an image of me as a writer, go ahead and picture me with my laptop in a quaint bookshop café, fingers flying over the keys while the words pour out of my fingertips. It’s much better than the real image of me in my pajamas with coffee breath, sinking into the me-sized crater in the couch, grumbling at my laptop when the words don’t come.
Read an interview with Kai here on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_...
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 28, 2014
Friendship is an important part of our lives. Why do we like one person and another person not so much? What do we look for in a friend? Their physical appearance? Their sense of humor? Their intelligence? Can we be friends with someone if we have nothing in common?
In Award Winning Author Kai Strand’s latest MG novel, THE LUMPY DUCKLING: Another Weaver Tale, Eloise Talemaker, AKA Wheezy, worries about her friendship with her best friend, Lawrence Nightingale, AKA Lumpy, since they seem to have nothing in common. She knows what she likes about him but is amazed that he finds beauty in her freckles and wild red hair. Then one day, Wheezy meets a gnome-elf named Unwanted (one of my favorite characters from the other Weaver Tale stories), who grants her one wish and you know the old saying “be careful what you wish for.” Well, Wheezy soon regrets what she wished for and blames herself for…. That’s all I’m saying because I don’t want to give anything away.
Author Kai Strand’s characters make you either love them or hope they get what they deserve. Yes, there are the kids that tease and ignore the unpopular kids like Wheezy and Lumpy. Then there’s Lumpy. I have to say he’s my favorite character, but I won’t say why so you can see for yourself.
THE LUMPY DUCKLING: Another Weaver Tale is a story of friendship and looking inside a person for the beauty that’s there, rather than an outward beauty. It is a story of beginning teen love and promise. The stories the characters tell throughout the novel are fun and tell a lot about that character. And the letters between Wheezy and Lumpy will touch your heart. This novel would make a delightful story for school libraries and classrooms where the students could discuss what makes a good friend.
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In Award Winning Author Kai Strand’s latest MG novel, THE LUMPY DUCKLING: Another Weaver Tale, Eloise Talemaker, AKA Wheezy, worries about her friendship with her best friend, Lawrence Nightingale, AKA Lumpy, since they seem to have nothing in common. She knows what she likes about him but is amazed that he finds beauty in her freckles and wild red hair. Then one day, Wheezy meets a gnome-elf named Unwanted (one of my favorite characters from the other Weaver Tale stories), who grants her one wish and you know the old saying “be careful what you wish for.” Well, Wheezy soon regrets what she wished for and blames herself for…. That’s all I’m saying because I don’t want to give anything away.
Author Kai Strand’s characters make you either love them or hope they get what they deserve. Yes, there are the kids that tease and ignore the unpopular kids like Wheezy and Lumpy. Then there’s Lumpy. I have to say he’s my favorite character, but I won’t say why so you can see for yourself.
THE LUMPY DUCKLING: Another Weaver Tale is a story of friendship and looking inside a person for the beauty that’s there, rather than an outward beauty. It is a story of beginning teen love and promise. The stories the characters tell throughout the novel are fun and tell a lot about that character. And the letters between Wheezy and Lumpy will touch your heart. This novel would make a delightful story for school libraries and classrooms where the students could discuss what makes a good friend.
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October 27, 2014
Cute
Middle grade
Clean
Middle grade
Clean
December 8, 2014
A sweet coming of age tale of trying to find one's place in the world and within relationships. It's full of fun, youthful energy.
What sets this story series apart from other shorter fantasy reads in the middle grade category is the structure of the story. These children are word weavers, meaning they often challenge each other through every day events by communicating in poetic rhyming. Initially, I thought it might become too much or take away from the main theme of the story but it didn't. In fact it did the opposite by showing character quirks, beliefs, and reactions - inner emotions. I think kids this age will really gravitate to it. It makes them think.
The story has wonderful characters such a Eloise aka Wheezy, who sneezes in threes. She has a great attitude of being strong and sure of herself - on the outside, anyway. As events unfold, the reader learns there's more to Wheezy on the inside then she shows on the outside. Then there's her BFF Lumpy, who's always been the plump, smart boy on the block. He's practically a master at word weaving, always making it a playful game. A little competition between good friends sounds fitting and intriguing to readers of this age. I absolutely LOVE this concept.
As all good stories do, this one has roadblocks the main character must overcome. Through one dangerous wish that could have a grave outcome, Wheezy takes the reader on a journey of changing friendships as kids move from the elementary mindset and physical body to moments of awkward adolescence. How does he feel? How do I act? Will they still like me? There's even a bully to give the tale a deeper MG feel, although it's done in a new, fresh way.
By story's end, the true meaning of friendship shines through in a delicate and very sincere way. It's a wonderful teaching tool for kids this age. I'd recommend reading together, especially with 10-11 year olds. (Psst...if you're wondering if that little blue dude on the cover is Lump, it's not. You'll have to read to find out who he is.)
What sets this story series apart from other shorter fantasy reads in the middle grade category is the structure of the story. These children are word weavers, meaning they often challenge each other through every day events by communicating in poetic rhyming. Initially, I thought it might become too much or take away from the main theme of the story but it didn't. In fact it did the opposite by showing character quirks, beliefs, and reactions - inner emotions. I think kids this age will really gravitate to it. It makes them think.
The story has wonderful characters such a Eloise aka Wheezy, who sneezes in threes. She has a great attitude of being strong and sure of herself - on the outside, anyway. As events unfold, the reader learns there's more to Wheezy on the inside then she shows on the outside. Then there's her BFF Lumpy, who's always been the plump, smart boy on the block. He's practically a master at word weaving, always making it a playful game. A little competition between good friends sounds fitting and intriguing to readers of this age. I absolutely LOVE this concept.
As all good stories do, this one has roadblocks the main character must overcome. Through one dangerous wish that could have a grave outcome, Wheezy takes the reader on a journey of changing friendships as kids move from the elementary mindset and physical body to moments of awkward adolescence. How does he feel? How do I act? Will they still like me? There's even a bully to give the tale a deeper MG feel, although it's done in a new, fresh way.
By story's end, the true meaning of friendship shines through in a delicate and very sincere way. It's a wonderful teaching tool for kids this age. I'd recommend reading together, especially with 10-11 year olds. (Psst...if you're wondering if that little blue dude on the cover is Lump, it's not. You'll have to read to find out who he is.)
October 23, 2014
Today I’m reviewing Another Weaver Tale, "The Lumpy Duckling," by Kai Strand, third in her series. I must say that I love it as much or maybe more than the other two, which I’ve also reviewed. The first book, "The Weaver," sets up the story of the Tales, a village of Word Weavers. Then "The Wishing Well" is the next story about these quirky wordsmiths. This is such a great concept for a series. It showcases the author’s use of different writing styles, humor, and an endless cast of special characters. In "The Lumpy Duckling," we meet new characters with an exciting action scene plus a friendship that may grow into something more.
The main character is Eloise Talemaker, a skinny seventh grade girl with frizzy hair. Her nickname is Wheezy, because of her sneezing in threes. Her best friend is Lumpy, an overweight boy of thirteen, with his mouth lumpy with canker sores. They make an odd couple, but they appreciate each other and enjoy just hanging out together. They’re often teased by the popular kids, but true friends that they are, they rise above it.
One day Wheezy meets the gnome-elf, Unwanted, and makes a wish that others would see her friend Lumpy for the great person he is. This sets in motion a nerve-shattering and fearful scene that changes both their lives. Wheezy almost loses Lumpy twice—first from the accident, and then from how he changes as he heals.
This is a wonderful story of loyalty and friendship. It also shows how one’s fears and insecurities sometimes sabotage the good things we have in our lives. Like Wheezy, we have to learn to trust, to accept change, to be patient and understanding, and to try not to jump to conclusions. The end is most satisfying, but it’s an exciting, nerve-wracking ride to get there. "The Lumpy Duckling" is wholeheartedly recommended for middle grade readers.
The main character is Eloise Talemaker, a skinny seventh grade girl with frizzy hair. Her nickname is Wheezy, because of her sneezing in threes. Her best friend is Lumpy, an overweight boy of thirteen, with his mouth lumpy with canker sores. They make an odd couple, but they appreciate each other and enjoy just hanging out together. They’re often teased by the popular kids, but true friends that they are, they rise above it.
One day Wheezy meets the gnome-elf, Unwanted, and makes a wish that others would see her friend Lumpy for the great person he is. This sets in motion a nerve-shattering and fearful scene that changes both their lives. Wheezy almost loses Lumpy twice—first from the accident, and then from how he changes as he heals.
This is a wonderful story of loyalty and friendship. It also shows how one’s fears and insecurities sometimes sabotage the good things we have in our lives. Like Wheezy, we have to learn to trust, to accept change, to be patient and understanding, and to try not to jump to conclusions. The end is most satisfying, but it’s an exciting, nerve-wracking ride to get there. "The Lumpy Duckling" is wholeheartedly recommended for middle grade readers.
December 20, 2014
The Lumpy Duckling was a wonderful fairy tale about two friends. One friend Lawrence, nicknamed Lumpy because of his misshapen mouth from the candies he’s constantly eating and Eloise, nicknamed Wheezy because of all her sneezing were constant companions. While others made fun of Lumpy, Wheezy could see his true nature.
Wheezy is very bothered by the way the others treat Lumpy, so when she is afforded an opportunity to be granted a single wish, she wishes that others would see Lumpy the way that she sees him. Her wish leads to very unexpected consequences.
I liked the themes of loyalty and friendship in the story. This story reminds us to look beyond the exterior of a person to their personality and not just their looks. That’s a lesson we all need reminding of.
I loved the way this story tells us that we’d better be careful what we wish for. While we might get what we want, the way we might get it might be a whole lot more painful than we might expect.
This was a great updated retelling of an old fairy tale. It was clean, fun and will hold the interest of the readers. I gave The Lumpy Duckling 5 stars out of 5.
Thank you to the publishers for providing a copy of the book in exchange for a fair and honest book review. A positive opinion was not required. All thoughts are my own.
This review was published on my blog Shelf Full of Books http://kathrynsshelffullofbooks.blogs... http://kathrynsshelffullofbooks.blogs...
Wheezy is very bothered by the way the others treat Lumpy, so when she is afforded an opportunity to be granted a single wish, she wishes that others would see Lumpy the way that she sees him. Her wish leads to very unexpected consequences.
I liked the themes of loyalty and friendship in the story. This story reminds us to look beyond the exterior of a person to their personality and not just their looks. That’s a lesson we all need reminding of.
I loved the way this story tells us that we’d better be careful what we wish for. While we might get what we want, the way we might get it might be a whole lot more painful than we might expect.
This was a great updated retelling of an old fairy tale. It was clean, fun and will hold the interest of the readers. I gave The Lumpy Duckling 5 stars out of 5.
Thank you to the publishers for providing a copy of the book in exchange for a fair and honest book review. A positive opinion was not required. All thoughts are my own.
This review was published on my blog Shelf Full of Books http://kathrynsshelffullofbooks.blogs... http://kathrynsshelffullofbooks.blogs...
December 9, 2014
My Thoughts:
When I read the book description I immediately wanted to read it, let alone review it! It sounded fantastic. Then I got the pdf and I got a bit concerned because I was not a fan of the cover....at all. Now several things came to mind..was I really judging a book by its cover & could this actually play into a real world lesson from this book about outside looks?
Well yes it could and did because this book is fantastic. I know it is set for middle school to YA readers, but I was completely enthralled with the characters, story line and emotions of the book. I was laughing at some parts, relating to and being sad at other parts on how kids treat each other, groaning over some of the mishaps that Lumpy and Wheezy got into, and enjoying the end, though I wanted more of the story to keep reading to see what happened next!!(there are other books in the The Tales!)
This is a quick read and has a depth to the characters and storyline that I do not typically see in a children or YA book. I remember starting the book one night before bed thinking I would read for a few minutes....well the next thing I remember I was finishing the book and thinking but wait what happens with them next!! I went to put my Ipad down, saw the time and was like ooppsie! After reading it, and even now a few days later, I am still thinking of this story between friends, the town, the wish giving little creature and wondering what other wonderful stories and adventures are taking place in The Tales.
Full review @ www.meghanvarner.blogspot.com
When I read the book description I immediately wanted to read it, let alone review it! It sounded fantastic. Then I got the pdf and I got a bit concerned because I was not a fan of the cover....at all. Now several things came to mind..was I really judging a book by its cover & could this actually play into a real world lesson from this book about outside looks?
Well yes it could and did because this book is fantastic. I know it is set for middle school to YA readers, but I was completely enthralled with the characters, story line and emotions of the book. I was laughing at some parts, relating to and being sad at other parts on how kids treat each other, groaning over some of the mishaps that Lumpy and Wheezy got into, and enjoying the end, though I wanted more of the story to keep reading to see what happened next!!(there are other books in the The Tales!)
This is a quick read and has a depth to the characters and storyline that I do not typically see in a children or YA book. I remember starting the book one night before bed thinking I would read for a few minutes....well the next thing I remember I was finishing the book and thinking but wait what happens with them next!! I went to put my Ipad down, saw the time and was like ooppsie! After reading it, and even now a few days later, I am still thinking of this story between friends, the town, the wish giving little creature and wondering what other wonderful stories and adventures are taking place in The Tales.
Full review @ www.meghanvarner.blogspot.com
October 20, 2014
When Wheezy makes a wish for everyone to see her friend the way she does, it doesn't turn out quite the way she expected. Not only does Lumpy almost die, but he goes away for a long time, and when he returns, he's not the same Lumpy as when he left. Can their friendship survive?
Kai Strand explores friendship, perception, and the consequences of wishes in this fast-paced read.
Kai Strand explores friendship, perception, and the consequences of wishes in this fast-paced read.
November 17, 2014
The Lumpy Duckling by Kai Strand
The story of two children Eloise 'Wheezy' Talemaker and Lawrence 'Lumpy' Nightingale who are picked on by other children at school. Wheezy because of her asthma and Lumpy because he's fat and has shapeless lumpy lips.
One day while Eloise 'Wheezy' is having a particularly bad day sneezing 3 times at the slightest bit of dust that touches her nose and having the others pull her hair and making fun of her. On her way home near Mr Hollerhead's farm, Eloise 'Wheezy' runs into UNWANTED a gnome-elf who could be evil? although he says not! HE offers to make her wishes come true now she has felt his shocking bolts and wonders if she can trust him?! She decides to do so and wishes for Lumpy to not be made fun of at school by the other children.
One afternoon Eloise 'Wheezy' and Lawrence, who is Lumpy to her to but affectionately and they are walking up to the Gazing Pool to find tadpoles and stop for a meal and rest looking up at the clouds picking out dragons and such, when Lumpy reaches down to hold Eloise's hand but she does not hold his and runs off higher and higher towards the Gazing Pool but she cannot catch him! By the time she gets there it is nearly too late he has fallen into the water and is face down in the water. Oh no, Eloise tries to catch hold of him in the slow water but just when she thinks she has him, he is caught up in the flow of the water! She has to catch and hold on to him before he gets dragged over the falls in the faster moving water, Will Eloise manage to do it?
Or will a worst disaster happen?
Wheezy's Wish nearly kills Lumpy but you will have to read the story to find out what happens to Lumpy and Wheezy!
4 stars for this story that will make tweens love the book... as I did!
The story of two children Eloise 'Wheezy' Talemaker and Lawrence 'Lumpy' Nightingale who are picked on by other children at school. Wheezy because of her asthma and Lumpy because he's fat and has shapeless lumpy lips.
One day while Eloise 'Wheezy' is having a particularly bad day sneezing 3 times at the slightest bit of dust that touches her nose and having the others pull her hair and making fun of her. On her way home near Mr Hollerhead's farm, Eloise 'Wheezy' runs into UNWANTED a gnome-elf who could be evil? although he says not! HE offers to make her wishes come true now she has felt his shocking bolts and wonders if she can trust him?! She decides to do so and wishes for Lumpy to not be made fun of at school by the other children.
One afternoon Eloise 'Wheezy' and Lawrence, who is Lumpy to her to but affectionately and they are walking up to the Gazing Pool to find tadpoles and stop for a meal and rest looking up at the clouds picking out dragons and such, when Lumpy reaches down to hold Eloise's hand but she does not hold his and runs off higher and higher towards the Gazing Pool but she cannot catch him! By the time she gets there it is nearly too late he has fallen into the water and is face down in the water. Oh no, Eloise tries to catch hold of him in the slow water but just when she thinks she has him, he is caught up in the flow of the water! She has to catch and hold on to him before he gets dragged over the falls in the faster moving water, Will Eloise manage to do it?
Or will a worst disaster happen?
Wheezy's Wish nearly kills Lumpy but you will have to read the story to find out what happens to Lumpy and Wheezy!
4 stars for this story that will make tweens love the book... as I did!
April 27, 2016
My Review: Eloise and Lumpy are good friends who are made fun of by the other kids. Eloise, or Wheezy as the kids called her wander off the road into the trees on the Hollerhead property to avoid being a spectacle. She jumped when she heard an unexpected voice. Then she saw a small blue creature who stepped into the sunshine. She screamed and told the creature to stand where he was. He introduced himself as Unwanted and famous. He told her that he can grant wishes. He said to her, just one wish in exchange for the bottle of chocolate milk. If she could make one wish what would it be? She would make that wish for her fat friend who was always eating candy. So she wished people would see Lawrence Nightingale like she does. So Unwanted granted her wish.
It turns out her wish didn't quite go the way she expected. While they were out, Lumpy almost die, when he fell head first into the frigid water. He was taken to Paris as the hospital there has better equipment to handle his type of injury. Wheezy felt guilty and wonder if he would return. Would she be able to amend their friendships?
This book is very educational, we have to be grateful for what we have and who we are. We are not God, so we should be careful not to judge the physical appearance of others. And be careful what you wish for.
FTC Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion in any way.
It turns out her wish didn't quite go the way she expected. While they were out, Lumpy almost die, when he fell head first into the frigid water. He was taken to Paris as the hospital there has better equipment to handle his type of injury. Wheezy felt guilty and wonder if he would return. Would she be able to amend their friendships?
This book is very educational, we have to be grateful for what we have and who we are. We are not God, so we should be careful not to judge the physical appearance of others. And be careful what you wish for.
FTC Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion in any way.
November 28, 2014
This is a cute clean story about friendship and loving people for who they are on the inside regardless of how they look on the outside. I think 10-12year old s would enjoy it, but I'm not sure how many kids would actually pick it up because the cover isn't the greatest.I do like the title. It clued me in on what the book would be about. I was a little confused with the setting because some parts of the book seemed really 1800/1900ish time period while other times it seemed modern day.I also didn't understand about the story weaver talent. Maybe this book is one of many in a series and the story weaving is explained in a previous book? I'm not sure. Anyway,this was a fun read. What would you wish for if you could have any wish? I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 7, 2015
The main characters are two kids, Wheezy and Lumpy. They aren't popular and they are often teased by the other kids. However, they are the best of friends who only see the best in each other. When Wheezy has the chance to have a wish granted, she wishes that everybody would see Lumpy the way she does. Unfortunately, like most wishes, things don't turn out the way Wheezy had hoped.
while the story is a good one, I didn't always enjoy the writing style. It often felt stilted to me and didn't flow well. One great feature of the writing is that it will introduce most kids to quite a few new vocabulary words.
Overall a pretty good book for kids.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
while the story is a good one, I didn't always enjoy the writing style. It often felt stilted to me and didn't flow well. One great feature of the writing is that it will introduce most kids to quite a few new vocabulary words.
Overall a pretty good book for kids.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
December 11, 2014
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my review.
This is an amazing middle grade story about a girl and her best friend and a wish that she wishes she never made. A few tears were shed (of both joy and sadness) while I was reading this story, but I am so glad that I read it. This story reminds you what is important in life: friendships. Beautifully written, The Lumpy Duckling teaches you lessons that anyone no matter what age needs to be reminded of. I would recommend this book to kids of all ages, from 1 to 99!
Rating: 5/5 stars
This is an amazing middle grade story about a girl and her best friend and a wish that she wishes she never made. A few tears were shed (of both joy and sadness) while I was reading this story, but I am so glad that I read it. This story reminds you what is important in life: friendships. Beautifully written, The Lumpy Duckling teaches you lessons that anyone no matter what age needs to be reminded of. I would recommend this book to kids of all ages, from 1 to 99!
Rating: 5/5 stars
January 7, 2015
I was given this book for free to do a honest review. This is a book about Eloise who makes a wish for her best friend Lumpy who is a fat kid with sores on his lips. When Lumpy comes back changed Eloise who everyone calls Wheezy thinks she has lost her best friend. This book will teach kids of all ages that sometimes what you wish for can happen in a big way and what you see may not always be the truth. That some people may change on the outside but they are still the same on the inside and that your actions can hurt someone that you really care for. I also loved how this book rhymed a lot as it will keep kids more entertained. A really good book to read for all ages.
December 6, 2014
The Lumpy Duckling by Kai Strand is cute and simple, yet it has a unique twist on the ugly duckling story. The main characters Wheezy and Lumpy have easy to like, quirky personalities. I also found that I could relate to them without difficulty because I was shy and awkward as a child too, so I quickly got pulled into their lives. I would recommend this story and will be sharing this with my kids soon.
December 11, 2014
This was a cute story. It had a great message. I read it with my 9 year old and he tended to wander when there was too much description. But overall it was a cute story with a great message about friends and accepting differences.
March 10, 2020
This was a book I had received through email for free and had decided to give it a chance.
Definitely something that I wouldn’t be reading again.
Definitely something that I wouldn’t be reading again.
March 29, 2017
I've enjoyed all of the books in The Weaver series. This is my favorite out of the three. I love how Kai Strand intertwines the ugly duckling story with friendship.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews