The Quest of Danger (4) (Once Upon a Tim)

What worked:
This book has a light-hearted air to it as the characters encounter another humorous adventure. This is exemplified by Ferkle as he was learning to be a village idiot before joining Princess Grace, Tim (an apprentice knight), and his cousin Bull (actually a girl named Belinda). Tim and Belinda were abandoned by their knight mentors (Sir Cumference and Sir Cuss to name a couple) who now follow Grace’s evil brother. Prince Ruprecht is that foul character and he plans to marry a princess in this book to get her family’s riches. Tim and his friends must survive a deadly waterfall, sea monsters, and a tsunami to stop Ruprecht and foil his scheme.
The author includes IQ Booster words throughout the story. The narrator says this is to convince parents and teachers that the book is actually educational and not just a silly tale. These words are identified by IQ Booster icons and are followed by explanations of their meanings. There’s an entire page where the narrator explains how he will explain the IQ Boosters. Readers will be surprised that these words and their meanings add amusement to the narrative. For example, a cyclops is myopic, which means he can only see things that are close to his eye, but nothing is close to the eye of a giant monster.
There are references to the earlier books but this one can easily be read independently. The fast-paced narrative will keep young readers engaged as there is constant action. The characters sometimes use their wits to escape dangerous situations while other times they’re saved by sheer luck. The story is told in first-person through the eyes of Tim so readers can get a look at his inner thoughts. Princess Grace hints that she has a crush on Bull and Tim stews over the need to inform her that his cousin happens to be a girl too. A witch changed Tim’s pet dog Rover into a giant frog and now his fr-dog’s blend of abilities come in handy. However, they’re just as likely to create new complications.
What didn’t work as well:
Some young readers might not appreciate the IQ Boosters as the descriptions create interruptions in the plot. However, the author has produced a silly story, and the unique method of sharing advanced vocabulary and meanings fits his style.
The final verdict:
The author of the Spy School books is known for his quirky narratives so readers will have a sense of what to expect. The plot moves rapidly from one unusual incident to another and the abundance of humor will keep readers amused. Overall, this is a fun book to read and I recommend you give it a shot.

This latest addition to the series picks up from the cliffhanger of book 3 and sets up events to continue for a future book 5. This time Tim and his friends are saved by Merpeople, which is a timely setting after the much-anticipated release of the new Little Mermaid movie and interest is high. Tim is tasked by King Neptuna to get his trident back from Prince Ruprecht who stole it and is in the famed city of Atlantis.
Along the way, Tim and his friends face terrible danger they maneuver in quirky and unexpected ways with plenty of IQ boosters for vocabulary and funny illustrations.
Gibbs does lightly approach the topic of an LGBTQ+ love interest with Princess Grace’s evolving deep respect for Tim’s friend and fellow knight Bull, who is really Belinda in disguise. Tim worries over Grace’s feelings throughout the whole book because only he knows Belinda’s secret identity.
Final Verdict: This series continues to be a fun fantastical read with tons of vocabulary and illustrations and snarky scenarios great for reluctant readers. This book is great for ages 7-10.