The Umbrella Maker's Son by Katrina Leno

What worked:

A setting of never-ending rain is very unique and Oscar is the only character who doesn’t mind getting wet. The author introduces forty-seven different types of rain and it feels like the narrative includes every one of them! The opening pages describe a looming blanderwheel, like a monsoon, but the narrator teases that its deadly force won’t become part of the story until later in the book. A wall separates the Toe from the wealthier parts of the city and the constant rain inexplicably falls only on the Toe. The buildings in Oscar’s apartment complex are given bird names, he lives in Dove, and his father’s workshop is located in the Alley too. The Gray Lighthouse was built offshore to warn of dangerous waters but it now sits vacant and unused. Ships no longer dare to sail the Gray Sea.

Saige is Oscar’s best friend even though her cousin is a neighborhood bully. Saige is confined to a wheelchair but it rarely seems to be a handicap for her. Oscar says Saige is the smartest person in the world and the inventions she creates and things she pulls from her backpack reinforce his thinking. The two devoted friends meet every night in Fort Cleverbuckle, their hideout atop Saige’s apartment building, to support each other through tough times. Saige learns that her family is moving to the other side of the wall. Oscar is told that he’ll need to leave school and become his father’s apprentice even though his true love is carving wooden figures.

Footnotes can be found on almost every page to explain the abundant vocabulary distinct to this book. Some of the footnotes act as aside comments to readers that often add amusing touches to the narrative. The book includes a glossary at the end with descriptions of all the different types of rain, food, and geography found in the story. Random chapters are titled Blanderwheel (Part 1), Blanderwheel (Part 2), and so forth to remind readers that a huge storm can strike the characters at any moment. The whole story is written like the narrator is speaking directly to readers and the informal style makes it approachable to a younger audience.

What didn’t work as well:

For a place that’s seen non-stop rain for ten years, it’s amazing the citizens aren’t wading through water every day.  The rain doesn’t seem like much of a problem except that everyone except for Oscar carries an umbrella wherever they go. It’s not a big deal but it’s something that bugs me.

The Final Verdict:

Oscar’s kindness and loyalty will endear him to young readers and the author’s writing method blends levity with Oscar and Saige’s adventure. The setting and conflict are innovative and the author’s use of sentence structure develops suspense as the plot nears its climax. Overall, I highly recommend you give this book a shot.