Happenstance Found (Books of Umber Series #1)

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More About This Book

Overview

Twelve-year-old Happenstance awakens in a cave with no memory of who he is or how he came to be there. Soon a mysterious trio arrives to take him away: the explorer Umber, the shy archer Sophie, and Oates, whose strength and honesty are both brutal. Hap and his new acquaintances narrowly escape the cavernous underworld and make their way to Lord Umber's bustling jewel of a harbor city, Kurahaven.

Once there, Hap learns that Lord Umber is an extraordinary man — he's a merchant, adventurer, inventor, royal adviser, and chronicler of all things monstrous and magical. But Umber's accomplishments can't answer the question closest to the boy's heart: Who is Happenstance?

Desperate to uncover clues in his new, baffling surroundings, Hap accompanies Umber on dangerous and unusual missions. But Hap soon learns that there are powerful enemies inside the kingdom, and a ruthless assassin is hot on his trail. Faced with many unknowns, Hap knows one thing is certain: There's a reason Umber has chosen him...if only he could determine it.

P. W. Catanese's richly spun fantasy chronicles one boy's quest for answers and hope in a world riddled by knowledge and power corrupted.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

Catanese (the Further Tales Adventures) dazzles in the first of the planned Books of Umber series by wittily subverting genre tropes. Happenstance, a boy with strange green eyes, wakes up in a cave with no memories of who he is or anything about the fantastic world in which he lives. He soon encounters Lord Umber, an adventurer who seems familiar with our world as well as his own, and his two companions-a brute cursed to be forever truthful and a one-handed artist and archer. En route to Umber's home, they discover that Hap can see in the dark, leap many feet in the air, speak numerous languages and go without sleep. As the group attempts to learn about his origins, they're forced to confront a supernatural assassin and secrets from Umber's own mysterious past. Catanese packs a lot into the book: rich characterizations (Umber, who turns out to be from another dimension, suffers from depression and wishes he had his meds), well-choreographed action sequences and genuinely surprising twists at the end. As auspicious start to the series. Ages 8-12. (Jan.)

Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Children's Literature
When Happenstance is found in the cave by Lord Umber, Oates, and Sophie, he does not remember who he is, where he is, or how he got there. But the strange man Umber has a note with information about him and wants to take him away. The foursome manages to flee the giant worm that guards the cave and travel by Leviathan ship to Kurahaven. Life continues to be confusing for Hap. Lord Umber will not reveal information and Oates does not seem to like him. The group is followed by a creature who obviously wishes them harm. All Hap knows is that everyone he meets is dazzled by his brilliant green eyes. Hap spends his time reading Umber's journals and trying to learn Umber's secret. When the secret is finally revealed, Hap learns that the fate of Umber's world, our world, is largely in his hands. Catanese has put a slightly different twist to a post-apocalyptic story. Readers, both young and old, will anxiously await future titles in the "Books of Umber" series. Reviewer: Shirley Nelson
More Reviews (2) Fewer Reviews
School Library Journal

Gr 5-8

Happenstance Found, 12, does not remember who he is, where he came from, or any details of his former life. He wakes up in an underground cavern, accompanied by a mysterious stranger who refuses to tell him anything about his origins. The stranger hands Hap over to personable, yet in many ways equally mysterious, Lord Umber. Acting on the stranger's advice, Umber invites Hap to join his company. They immediately meet with adventure and danger, and Hap learns that Umber is a man of diverse talents and boundless curiosity. Umber discovers that Hap can see in total darkness, jump to extraordinary heights, and sense when momentous events are about to occur. Hap is also being pursued by a menacing figure, which he and his companions dub "the Creep." In the final conflict with this character, Hap's ingenuity, abilities, and loyalty are tested. He triumphs over his adversary, but enough tantalizing loose ends are left to be resolved in the sequel. Though some may lament the uneven characterization, there's plenty of adventure and mystery to appeal to fans of Catanese's earlier works.-Misti Tidman, Boyd County Public Library, Ashland, KY

Kirkus Reviews
The beginning of a moderately engaging fantasy series employs a number of tropes readers will find familiar-perhaps irritatingly so. Happenstance-Hap-appears in a world he doesn't know. He has no memories but a lot of languages, and he does not need to sleep. He is found by the wildly curious, intensely aware and distinctly manic-depressive Lord Umber, who clearly has a plan for Hap. The pair travels to Umber's city of Kurahaven with the help of three unlikely and elaborately contrived characters. In Kurahaven, the action slows a bit while Hap learns about the world, discovers a few of his talents and sees the effect his startlingly green eyes have upon the populace. The climax, which involves a rockslide and a race down a collapsing stairwell and crumbling walls into the sea, comes straight from Indiana Jones. There's a little bit of preaching, especially when Umber explains his own origins, and barely a pause without resolution at the end to prepare readers for the next installment. (Fantasy. 8-12)

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781416953821
  • Publisher: Aladdin
  • Publication date: 12/22/2009
  • Edition description: Reprint
  • Pages: 368
  • Sales rank: 54,423
  • Age range: 8 - 12 Years
  • Lexile: NC700L (what's this?)
  • Series: Books of Umber Series , #1
  • Product dimensions: 5.10 (w) x 7.60 (h) x 1.10 (d)

Meet the Author

P. W. (Paul William) Catanese was born in New York and grew up in Connecticut, where he lives with his wife and three children. When he's not writing books, he draws cartoons and works for an advertising agency.

Interestingly, the letters in "P. W. Catanese" can be rearranged to spell "want escape?" Paul figures that's why people read books like his.

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 26 )

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 26 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted April 8, 2012

    What to read

    My freind is reading and i what to read but i cant because mom what let. Help!!!!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 20, 2012

    Who

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 4, 2011

    Love

    This book was on my shelf and it looked univiting until i tried it. Awsome

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted September 27, 2011

    Hap

    I really do not like this book,but it is a blue bonet,so I have to read it.

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted February 2, 2011

    Diffrent

    The Book of Umber series has a new concept that I've never read before. I wouldn't say this book eould fits any child's taste, but anyone who thirst for fantasy, I would recommend this book. Although it's a juicy story, it includes a dark side, choppy ending, and a nasty cliff hanger. Overall it is a neat story.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 30, 2009

    I Also Recommend:

    9780142413685 9780786849604 9781423120377 9780142411735

    I'm a mom of two boys and I enjoy reading what they are reading.

    This is a wonderful story for middle schoolers and up. The action never stops and the twists and turns are not complete until the end. There are monsters, magic, science and technology with evil villains and heros that come in all shapes and sizes. There are many hints of what is to come and many questions left unanswered. I can't wait for the next installment of The Books of Umber.

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