The Brothers Flick: The Impossible Doors
by Whitney Cogar, Ryan Haddock, Nick Wyche, David Stoll, Jim Campbell, Rebecca TaylorAlso by this author: Verse Book 1: The Broken Half, Verse Book 2: The Second Gate, Ghoster Heights
Published by: Wonderbound on October 11, 2022
Genres: Middle Grade, Graphic Novel, Mystery
Pages: 208
Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher
Rating:
Sherlock Holmes meets the Wayside School in this Middle Grade supernatural sleuthing graphic novel about the Flick brothers - four siblings searching for explanations to outbreaks of supernatural strangeness and otherworldly weirdness in their Edwardian-era hometown.
A bump in the night? They're on the case! At Strander House, things are…weird. There’s an ogre wedged in the closet, and you have to be careful not to slip on the leak coming from the ocean in the attic. What’s possibly weirder than the fact that you can walk into the bathroom and end up in next Tuesday are the four brothers who investigate these strange supernatural occurrences…the Brothers Flick! Leo, Desmond, Remy, and Cub seek to get to the bottom of every shadow you swear you saw move. If they happen to stumble upon answers to the mysterious disappearance of their own family along the way, all the better.
For fans of Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, Gravity Falls, Whispering Pines, the Hardy Boys, the Winterhouse series, the Greenglass House series, and the Wayside School series!
Content Tags:
Perfect for readers who want:
- Graphic novels
- Books for struggling or reluctant readers
- Magic set in the real world
- Sibling bonds and brothers supporting each other
- Short, episodic chapters featuring interesting mysteries
- A positive atmosphere of children supporting each other
- A magical house with all sorts of mysteries lurking around each corner
Many thanks to Wonderbound and Rockstar Book Tours for a copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
I’m a sucker for mysteries featuring siblings in and of themselves, but the fact that this was a graphic novel caught my attention. Plus, the blended fantasy elements? Color me intrigued!
The Brothers Flick is a fun middle grade mystery with fantastical twists, filled with a mysterious house that’s not quite what you expect, sibling bonds, found family, and a host of charming creatures.
The chapters are short and episodic, perfect for struggling or reluctant readers, though maybe not as concrete as a single storyline, so your mileage may vary. The illustrations are cozy and fun, the story is magical and mysterious, and there’s so much to love about these brothers that I don’t even know where to start!
Welcome to Strander House, a place of refuge for children who are lost or lonely, where things aren’t quite what they seem.
Strander House has a way of attracting things. Lost children. Those looking for a place to belong, even for a little while. Strange and mysterious creatures. Starting on the very first page with the gargoyle that has trouble staying in his spot . . . and maybe a teensy bit of trouble with authority, too.
While the story itself is charming, the house itself is a mysterious, magical setting. You never know what you might find lurking around any corner. And usually, whatever you find isn’t what it first appears, either. I loved all the twists and turns in this house. I would 100% want to live here! Stubborn gargoyles included. Actually, that’s part of the charm. I don’t really want to say too much more about the house, because discovering all the secrets is part of the fun!
Expect the unexpected with this book. That’s sort of a big part of the charm!
Not only from the house, which I’ve already said, but also the characters! The main characters are three brothers (the Brothers Flick), and each has their own very distinct personality.
Leopald Flick is a young, budding detective. Also the most likely to lead his siblings into trouble. Not intentionally, of course, but he’s never seen a mystery he didn’t need to solve . . . for the most part.
Desmond Flick is the parental figure of the group. He tempers his two extraordinary brothers, but that doesn’t make him any less extraordinary on his own. Someone has to keep the house running and take care of the children who reside there.
Then there’s Remington Flick, who is wheelchair bound, but that doesn’t slow him down at all. He’s the whiz of the family, coming up with inventions that are ingenious and sometimes bordering on magical.
These kids are obviously mature for their age, and since their parents’ death, they’re all each other have. But at the same time, they’re still siblings! The little bits of sibling rivalry or arguing get me every time, and they had me cracking up!
This book is broken down into mini-adventures, with one overarching mystery surrounding the house and the brothers. Add that to the fact that it’s a graphic novel, and it’s the perfect read for struggling or reluctant readers!
We have a lot of those at my library, so it’s something I’m always looking out for. Readers who want a long, drawn-out plot that concludes at the end may want to steer clear of this one. Instead, each chapter is almost episodic in nature with just one overarching mystery, which ends on a cliffhanger, to be continued in the next book (I assume). And it’s a doozy!
The contained stories in each chapter, though, make it an easy book to pick up, read for a little bit, and set back down, without having to invest a ton of time in each session. It doesn’t feel as concrete as a larger, more tightly knitted plot, but it does really drive home the appeal and magic of Strander House itself, and I look forward to more adventures with this group!
About Ryan Haddock
Ryan Haddock has wanted to write books since he was six years old. Over the years, his career aspirations also included rock star, lawyer, rock star lawyer, and teacher, but writing books never left his heart. Thank goodness someone finally let him write a book.
Ryan resides with his wife and kids in a charmingly quaint city known for its ridiculously fast internet and a jingle about a train.
About Nick Wyche
Nick Wyche lives in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains with his wonderful wife, Suzanne, overlooking the Tennessee River. He has been obsessed with comics and cartoons for over 4 decades and still can't believe he gets to draw professionally.
2 winners will receive a finished copy of THE BROTHERS FLICK: THE IMPOSSIBLE DOORS, US Only.
Ends November 1st, midnight EST.
Week One
| 9/26/2022 | A Dream Within A Dream | Guest Post |
| 9/27/2022 | @allyluvsbooksalatte | IG Spotlight |
| 9/28/2022 | BookHounds YA | Guest Post/IG Post |
| 9/29/2022 | Lady Hawkeye | Guest Post/IG Post |
| 9/30/2022 | Review Thick And Thin | Review/IG Post |
| 10/1/2022 | amandainpa | Review/IG Post |
Week Two
| 10/2/2022 | #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog | Guest Post |
| 10/3/2022 | Mom with a Reading Problem | Review/IG Post |
| 10/4/2022 | Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers | Review/IG Post |
| 10/5/2022 | Rajiv’s Reviews | Review/IG Post |
| 10/6/2022 | @enjoyingbooksagain | Review/IG Post |
| 10/7/2022 | More Books Please blog | Review/IG Post |
| 10/8/2022 | @meetcuteromancebooks | Review/IG Post |
Week Three
| 10/9/2022 | One More Exclamation | Review/IG Post |
| 10/10/2022 | Little Red Reads | Review |
| 10/11/2022 | RavenzReviewz | Review/IG Post |
| 10/12/2022 | Ya Books Central | Guest Post |
| 10/13/2022 | Two Chicks on Books | Guest Post |
| 10/14/2022 | GryffindorBookishNerd | Review/IG Post |
| 10/15/2022 | @ablueboxfullofbooks | IG Review |
Week Four
| 10/16/2022 | @jaimerockstarbooktours | IG Spotlight |
| 10/17/2022 | @jacleomik33 | IG Review |
| 10/18/2022 | @froggyreadteach | IG Review/Read Part of Book Out Loud |
| 10/19/2022 | The Bookwyrm’s Den | Review/IG Post |
| 10/20/2022 | Two Points of Interest | Review/IG Post |
| 10/21/2022 | Nerdophiles | Review/IG Post |
| 10/22/2022 | hodophile_z | Review/IG Post |
Week Five
| 10/23/2022 | pickagoodbook | Review/IG Post |
| 10/24/2022 | The Momma Spot | Review/IG Post |
| 10/25/2022 | @thebookishfoxwitch | IG Review |
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This sounds fun. I like the premise and the illustrations.
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Just finish reading this graphic novel. It great and I want more. I like the quirkiness of brothers and the house they live it. It remains me of Wayside School
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