Dillweed's Revenge: A Deadly Dose Of Magic (2010) - Plot & Excerpts
Dillweed is the unfortunate child of parents who care much more about themselves than about him. He is not neglected per se, but he doesn't get much parental love or attention. His parents like to travel and have a good time, and he wished he could too. In the tradition of Matilda, the Baudelaire kids and the Willoughbys, Dillweed is left mostly to his own devices. The ink and gouache illustrations are almost more eloquent than the story, and certainly more entertaining. The story has been done many times before, and done better many times before. Still, it's an entertaining read, but perhaps not for its' intended audience. Dillweed wants to go on adventures with his pet Skorped, but his parents neglect him and leave him behind and the servants treat him like a slave. When they all threaten Skorped, Dillweed releases his shadowy monsters and one by one they end up dead. With everyone out of the way, Dillweed finally gets to go on adventures of his own.The deaths and Dillweed's preceding dark magic are implied through the pictures but never directly stated. The text is simple, and the illustrations are expressive and humorous with nice details to enhance the tale of adventure and danger. One must interpret what is meant by "Umblud made a foolish mistake." This is not very hard when Umblud is shown pouring the contents of a bottle marked with a skull and crossbones into his glass and is next seen with only his legs sticking out from the edge of the page and his glass spilled on the floor next to him. But it is good for encouraging kids to help you tell the story and teaching them to read illustrations. As long as you don't mind sharing this rather macabre tale with them and explaining what exactly Dillweed does to draw forth his monsters and why everyone is dying. It has a lot for adults and kids who like a little naughtiness in their stories.As has been said before, it reminded me a lot of Edward Gorey and Lemony Snicket. Very dark, lots of evil adults treating children badly and getting their just desserts. But it also shows the (rather extreme) measures people will go to to protect the ones they love.
What do You think about Dillweed's Revenge: A Deadly Dose Of Magic (2010)?
Really quirky little story. Limited text but fabulous artwork. How childrens books should be.
—Tasha
A great little story about a young boy's imaginative attempts to get back at authority.
—missbossy97
More creepy than spooky in a quirky way. Not for young children.
—leferdion
