Review: Very whimsical sequel
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 11, 2014
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.What a delightfully strange story! While still short, the second installment in the Delilah Dusticle series was twice as long as the first and had a lot more adventure. Delilah is no longer, “just a house keeper” and she is learning more and more about what she is capable of doing with her dusters.This was a very imaginative and enjoyable to read story. The descriptions are so vivid and I think this series would make a wonderful cartoon. I love that spiders and paintings being able to talk is perfectly normal to everyone! The strangest most fantastic element in the book is Delilah’s ability to control dust. I never would have thought of dust control as being an enviable ability, but Delilah can do some very useful and amazing things with dust.We also learn a lot more about what some of her friends are capable of too. I won’t say who, but a couple of them are exceptionally good at gathering information and sneaking around. Not only do we get to know some of her old friends better, we get to meet a very interesting and famous new friend.Apparently Delilah is related to Count Dracula, (Yes, that count Dracula) and he has been hearing all about his cousin’s ability to control dust. He is also throwing a yearly party, and he is in need of Delilah’s particular skills to get his house ready for it. This author’s version of count Dracula provided more than a couple of laughs. He was very flamboyant and full of life considering he is supposed to be a member of the undead.One of the guest at the party turns out to be rather villainous, and it was very entertaining reading about how Delilah and her friends dealt with her.The messages and themes in these stories are very good ones. It’s all about being the best version of yourself that you possibly can and not worrying about trying to be what you or others think you should be. Delilah could have spent her entire life trying to become an athlete, doctor, or lawyer, and she quite possibly would have been great at all of those things, but she never would have been as good at any of those things as she is with dust. These stories are all about looking for the extraordinary inside of the seemingly ordinary.This is a great book for parents to read with younger children, and children 10 years and older should enjoy reading it on their own or with a parent. There are some fun illustrations, and the story constantly moves. If you have a child who enjoys reading, this will keep them entertained and teach them a fine lesson all at the same time. The best part is, they will have so much fun while reading, they won’t even realize that they have learned something by the end. ;)