Young Adult Spotlight: "Humpty Dumpty Jr: The Case of the Fiendish Flapjack" by Nate Evans, Paul Hindman, and Vince Evans

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Humpty Dumpty Jr: Hardboiled Detective
The Case of the Fiendish Flapjack Flop
Nate Evans, Paul Hindman, and Vince Evans
120 pp. Sourcebooks Jabberwocky. $4.99
Pub. Date: 10/1/2008
ISBN-13: 978-1402212451

Reviewed by Paul Stotts

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“I’m a good egg who always cracks the case. One morning, sitting at my desk, I watched the sun rise out my grimy window. Dawn light played peek-a-boo through the tall skyscrapers of the gritty city.

My city.

New Yolk City.

A crazy, dangerous, beautiful town” – Humpty Dumpty Jr. “The Case of the Fiendish Flapjack Flop”

“The Case of the Fiendish Flapjack Flop” is the first book in the new children’s series “Humpty Dumpty Jr.: Hardboiled Detective.” A quirky noir-influenced detective story starring one tough egg, “The Case of the Fiendish Flapjack Flop” is utterly charming and sure to captivate even the pickiest of young readers. Beautifully illustrated and populated with imaginative characters, the story had me cheering Humpty Dumpty Jr. along as he cracked the case (even with the plethora of groan-inducing puns). It’s great fun, and in the end has a wonderful childhood magic associated with it.

Humpty Dumpty Jr. is relaxing at his desk one day, looking out his window at New Yolk City, when his phone rings. A woman screams on the other end before the phone line goes dead. Checking his caller ID, Humpty discovers the call came from Patty at Pat-A-Cake Bakery. Rushing to the scene of the call with his trusty magic wand in hand (which is an eggbeater in reality), Humpty finds the Pat-A-Cake Bakery in shambles and Patty missing.

Humpty isn’t the only one scoping out the bakery. A filthy young boy named Rat flings himself at Humpty thinking he’s responsible for Patty’s disappearance. It seems Patty had been feeding Rat, winning over his loyalty in the process. Humpty and Rat finally straighten out the misunderstanding, realizing that they’re both on the same side. Not surprisingly, Rat and Humpty soon team up to unravel the mystery behind who kidnapped Patty. Does it have anything to do with Patty’s competitor, Crusty Crinkles Bakery?

Authors Nate Evans and Paul Hindman have created a cool little riff off the classic detective story. They’ve perfectly captured the tone and nuances of the hardboiled P.I. story. Just call this egg-noir. Surprisingly to me, the whole concept worked beautifully. The story is engaging to the very end, and the action is fast and furious enough to keep anyone’s attention. Some of the jokes may be too sophisticated for kids like the bit with the “red herring,” but parents reading the story with their children should find these parts amusing. This makes “The Case of the Fiendish Flapjack Flop” perfect bedtime story material, delightful for parents and kids alike.

Humpty and Rat are both wonderfully developed and filled with a loveable quirkiness that easily wins you over. Humpty radiates a delightful charm and a goodhearted nature. He’s one egg you don’t want to see get scrambled. Rat is loyal, brave and willing to go the extra mile for his friends. Together, they embody the very best qualities of humanity. All of the minor characters in the book, particularly Rosebriar, “Johnny” Cakes, Mr. Fum and Mr. Crinkles, are utterly memorable, brimming full of life and creating an indelible impression in their short time on stage. There are no bland, flat characters here as New Yolk City is inhabited by only the most vibrant of personalities.

Along the course of the story there is some mild cartoon violence. During these fight scenes, Rat and Humpty survive by their wits rather than by their brawn, outsmarting instead of out-fighting. The underlying message of solving confrontations with intelligence rather than resorting to violence surely presents a positive message for children.

The illustrations by Nate Evans and Vince Evans in “The Case of the Fiendish Flapjack Flop” are beautifully done. Overflowing with personality, the art makes Humpty and Rat’s adventure come alive for the reader. Little details in some of the scenes had me chuckling, and I found myself greatly enjoying the creative vision of the artists. It strengthens a sharp story even more and steadily builds upon the book’s disarming charm.

Last Word:
“The Case of the Fiendish Flapjack Flop” is an incredibly charming tour-de-force starring one loveable little egg private eye. A well-executed detective story with beautiful illustrations, this gem of a book is sure to thrill kids and excite their imaginations. This is the very best type of magic. Dare I say it’s egg-cellent!

Final Grade: 83 out of 100