March 2010

Author/s: Henry Chancellor
Publisher: Oxford University Press UK
Reviewed by: Esta Burger, Age: 15 years
ISBN 13: 9780192720849

When his mother goes looking for his father, Tom is sent off to his weird uncle and aunt in the Scatterhorn Museum. The museum is old and deteriorated. The animals are dusty and neglected. From the look of it, Tom thinks he is going to have a boring Christmas. That is until he sees a wolf run down the corridor in the museum when he went to look for uncle Jos’ glasses. Unexpected guests arrive at the museum and uncle Jos is very upset because the two are Catchers. Scatterhorns and Catchers never talk to one another and especially do not trust one another, as the family war has been going on since as long as anyone can remember.

Tom discovers an incredible, magical secret about the animals in the museum. Just as the secret is about to be explained, a burglar steals some of the animals in the museum. But he/she is also looking for something else. What could it be and who is the burglar? In fear of being framed for the robbery, Tom hides in a chest. He wriggles into the pieces of material in the chest until he suddenly falls and lands in another chest. When he opens the door, a fantastic world reveals itself with Scatterhorns and Catchers and mysteries all leading up to one thing. Tom travels to far places in the past and present and he even sees a bit of the future. He visits India, Mongolia and several other places. Tom’s Christmas was far from boring! He discovers fighting beetles, talking eagles, terrifying tigers, catholic mice and a live dodo. He befriends many interesting people and comes face to face with destiny. In the end not everybody gets a happily ever after and Tom still has to go to the place where his parents are, but he ends up stronger and wiser and with a lifetime of memories of fantastic adventures.

I loved the book! When I saw the cover, I thought it was going to be boring and too childish. But on the very first page, I was captured by it. It is an exciting fantasy, but also has life lessons and truth in. I loved it because it’s written sensibly. If there’s an obvious clue, Tom sees it. He’s clever and surprises the reader every time. It’s not easy to figure out the plot, which makes you want to read on. The scenery is also described very well; you almost feel like you’re there yourself. I would recommend it to all teenagers. Even if you don’t like fantasy, you should read this book, because the story flows in a realistic and logical manner. Most fantasy writers get so caught up in the imaginary stuff that the natural way of reasoning is abandoned with the fire spitting dragon. This book is exactly the opposite. It’s written in such a way that you feel you could believe in talking eagles and time travelers. It’s excellent!

Link to online catalogue
The Museum’s Secret