Battle of the Bodkins (Max and the Midknights, #2)
by Lincoln PeircePublished by: Crown Books for Young Readers on December 1, 2020
Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Graphic Novel
Pages: 272
Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher
Max didn't expect knight school to be so tough. Luckily, she has her best friends--the Midknights--at her side. But when Byjovia is under attack, the Midknights will have to face beastly creatures, powerful spells, and their greatest foe yet--themselves?
Content Tags:
Perfect for readers who want:
- A mix of graphic novel and short paragraphs.
- Plenty of humor mixed in with adventure.
- A female protagonist learning to be a knight.
- Children fighting the status quo and following their dreams.
- An interesting, diverse squad of friends.
Many thanks to Crown Books for Young Readers and Rockstar Book Tours for a copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review and for inclusion on this blog tour.
The author’s other series, Big Nate, and the first book of this series are quite popular among our younger patrons at the library, so when I saw that there would be a sequel for this one, I decided to jump on it and see what all the fuss about this series was! I can definitely see why it appeals so much to young readers!
Battle of the Bodkins is the second in a graphic novel series that blends the written word with engaging pictures filled with humor, adventure, relatable characters, and a really fun squad.
As an adult reading it, I thought the story was a little simple, which is to be expected. It’s absolutely perfect for young readers reading up into middle grade or older readers who are perhaps more reluctant or struggle with reading, which makes it a pretty all-around versatile middle grade read. Besides which, it’s just plain old fun, darn it!
Mostly graphic novel, with a few paragraphs thrown in-between for good measure, this book has a fairly wide appeal as far as audience.
Not always the first thing you think about when you read a book, but my curiosity about this one stemmed from my patrons’ love for the author in general, so this is definitely something that stood out to me! I can easily see why kids love it.
The graphic novel aspect is perfect for struggling or reluctant readers, with a few paragraphs thrown in for practice while not seeming too daunting. There’s adventure and friendship, kids bucking “traditional” roles and following their dreams, and a plot that’s not too complicated or hard to follow, and even jokes for the older crowd.
Like the panels below, of course, which made me choke on my coffee when I hit it. I too hate snakes, spiders, and the majority of gluten-free pastas (even though I am, in fact, gluten intolerant).
Basically, for librarians and teachers and parents out there, this is a safe option for a wide range of ages that’s likely to be super engaging for them!
This book is absolutely filled with light-hearted humor, even while tackling some darker subjects, and I couldn’t help chuckling out loud.
Don’t get me wrong, these jokes are often juvenile and cheesy, but I have the mentality of a five-year-old and absolutely adore cheese, okay? If that’s not your humor, you’re probably not going to like this book. For me, I absolutely loved it, and it brought some much-needed levity to the main character’s introspection and doubts.
This book isn’t all humor, though, make no mistake. The main character, Max, is struggling with her self-esteem, and many of the characters are trying to figure out their place in life, which makes this all the more relatable.
Not that people generally expect kids to know what they want out of life, but this age group is filled with inner turmoil and a sense of trying to find where you belong in the world (or heck, mine was, at least), which this book speaks well to. Max wants to be a knight, even though females weren’t allowed to be, and she thought the biggest struggle would be just being allowed in, but it turns out … being a knight is hard. Many of the other kids are realizing that what they wanted to do with their lives aren’t as good a fit for them as they’d first anticipated, either, which I think is a fantastic message about trying new things and adjusting expectations.
There’s a little bit of something for everyone in terms of these characters, and together, they’re quite a squad!
Every knight needs a crew, after all, right? Max is the supposed hero from the first book trying to come to terms with what it means to be, and continue to be, a hero. Along for the ride, though, are all the characters she met in book one, who are having similar struggles. We get some fun new characters, though, too, like this delightful old wizard, Seymour, who is, for lack of a better description, quite the character.
I loved having the chance to see the old characters return and see their growth while at the same time being able to meet new ones. The two are married together marvelously, and I look forward to seeing where the next adventure will take this cast.
Can we just take a moment to appreciate Peirce’s rhyming skill and ability to spin up some really neat prophecies?
I love me a good prophecy. In fact, it’s one of my favorite things about middle grade books. Sure, adult books have prophecies, but they’re almost never the fun, catchy, rhyming sort that just stick with you after you’ve laid down a book.
I absolutely love Peirce’s rhymes in this series, including the prophecies! They’re so much fun, and they really stick in your mind. I had the benefit of being introduced to poetry I loved at a young age, and I think it’s something a lot of kids today don’t get, so I always enjoy seeing just a few rhyming couplets that kids can grip onto that later I can point to and be like, “See? Poetry can be fun!” This book series definitely delivers on that!
About Lincoln Peirce
Max and the Midknights, Lincoln’s first book for Crown Books for Young Readers, originated as an unfinished spoof of sword & sorcery tales. Returning to the idea years later, Lincoln rewrote the story around Max, a ten-year-old apprentice troubadour who dreams of becoming a knight. The result is a high-spirited medieval adventure, supported by hundreds of dynamic illustrations employing the language of comics. Of the lively visual format that has become his
trademark, Lincoln says, “I try to write the sort of books I would have loved reading when I was a kid.” When he is not writing or drawing, Lincoln enjoys playing ice hockey, doing crossword puzzles, and hosting a weekly radio show devoted to vintage country music. He and his wife, Jessica, have two children and live in Portland, Maine.
3 lucky winners will win a finished copy of BATTLE OF THE BODKINS
US Only.
Week One:
| 1/18/2021 | Two Chicks on Books | Excerpt |
| 1/19/2021 | Westveil Publishing | Excerpt |
| 1/20/2021 | A Dream Within A Dream | Excerpt |
| 1/21/2021 | BookHounds YA | Review |
| 1/22/2021 | Little Red Reads | Review |
Week Two:
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| 1/26/2021 | The Bookwyrm’s Den | Review |
| 1/27/2021 | Not In Jersey | Review |
| 1/28/2021 | Locks, Hooks and Books | Review |
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