No Other Story. Dr. Cuthbert Soup. Illustrated by Jeffrey Stewart Timmins. New York, NY: Bloomsbury (Distributed in Canada by Penguin Canada), 2012. 243 pp., trade pbk., $8.99. ISBN 978-1-59990-824-3. Subject Headings: Time travel-Fiction. Inventions-Fiction. Family life-Fiction. Humorous stories. Grades 4-7 / Ages 9-12. Review by Inderjit Deogun. *** /4

excerpt:

Experts say that freezing to death is actually one of the more pleasant ways to go, and can result in a feeling of euphoria. Still, given the option, I believe that most people in search of a euphoric sensation would choose a roller coaster over death by exposure.

But the Cheesemans and Professor Boxley were given no such choice as they sat on the harsh, cold ground, their body temperatures dropping quickly and steadily along with any hope for survival.

Hallucinations are common in cases of hypothermia, and Penny was the first to slip into the world of the surreal when she imagined she heard a dog barking. The distant sound was accompanied by what sounded like the buzz of a motor.

The third and final installment of the “A Whole Nother Story” trilogy finds Ethan Cheeseman along with his children, Jason, Catherine and Simon, en route to rescue Olivia Cheeseman from certain death. While in pursuit, via a super-secret time machine, they’ve been kicked off the Time Arc and are now stuck in Some Times, a dimension that forces them to contend with cavemen, dinosaurs and Vikings simultaneously.

     No Other Story boasts many of the qualities readers have come to love about the trilogy: Far-flung adventure, “expert” advice and boundless silliness. This final addition to the trilogy also continues to offer smart, strong female characters, namely Catherine Cheeseman and Big, who are up to any challenge no matter how dire the circumstances. However, there’s a new gem to be found in No Other Story that will have fans clamouring to read the book and that’s the revelation of the mysterious Dr. Cuthbert Soup.

     If readers are in search of the next Lemony Snicket, then they need to look no further.

Recommended.

Inderjit Deogun is a communications professional in Toronto, ON.

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