Assessment:
Plot/Idea: Wright crafts a fundamental hero quest plot starring 13-year-old Toby Baxter and a host of magical friends, all of whom gladly face immense dangers to help Toby fight the evil trolls threatening to destroy his friends’ home. The worldbuilding is lacking in rich descriptors at times, but will likely serve the intended audience well, and Wright generously sprinkles the narrative with valuable lessons.
Prose: Told in prose appropriate to the protagonist’s age, and brimming with references to contemporary comic book and fantasy culture, Wright endeavors to build an immense illusionary world for younger readers. Though some of the attempts fall flat, there are moments of magic in between.
Originality: Wright borrows heavily from several well-known fantasy novels, although the story takes on a life of its own eventually. Getting there is slow, however, and readers may experience déjà vu in multiple places.
Character Development/Execution: Toby, an intriguing young boy who morphs from unlikely hero to selfless leader in the space of a few pages, is a likable protagonist and easy for younger readers to relate with. His vulnerability, and eventual transformation, easily draw parallels to the struggles many young fans may be facing.
Date Submitted: July 12, 2022
What to Expect: Fantasy, adventure, coming of age, family, stories.
Toby Baxter doesn't read books. He thinks they are boring and would much rather read comics, where the heroes are spectacular, and every page is action-packed. However, when he finds himself sucked into his very own story, complete with an Author who seems to be writing Toby's every move for him, Toby realizes there's more to being a hero than he ever imagined. Caught in the middle of a battle between good (the elves) and evil (stinky trolls), with his own magic sword in his somewhat shaky hands, Toby has to learn to use the power he's been so unexpectedly given. If he doesn't, he may lose the battle – and himself in the process.
Like many fantasy adventures, the quest in Toby Baxter is about finding oneself and one's place in the world. As a reluctant reader, Toby is a thoroughly sympathetic main character, embodying the idea that you don't need conventional book smarts to be emotionally intelligent and socially wise. Readers will love his slightly tongue-in- cheek fantasy adventure quest, drawing as it does on a wealth of popular culture snippets, from King Arthur and The Hobbit to Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Star Wars. Wright's narrative voice is quirky and engaging but does not obscure the important messages in the narrative about what it means to be heroic.
Overall, Toby Baxter is an exciting adventure and a thought-provoking exploration of what it means to grow from boy to man.
—The Children's Book Review
Lighthearted and conspiratorially didactic; an agreeable romp toward adulthood.
In this middle-grade novel, a teenager journeys to a Tolkien-inspired fantasy land to act as its hero.
On the day before his 13th birthday, Toby Baxter looks out the classroom window and sees what appears to be a hobbit. Toby is into comic books and Marvel movies, not literary fantasies like Tolkien’s The Hobbit and C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Still, when he wakes at night to find a middle-aged man named Author in his room, he can’t help following him through the closet and into his own adventure. Toby is transported to a world where his coming is foretold and he is known as a hero. There is a magic sword encased in rock, inscribed “I.C.E. Call Toby Baxter.” The hobbit Toby saw turns out to be an elf wearing hairy boots. The elves are at war with the trolls, and though they try to live normal lives (eating large meals and playing Australian rules football), another crisis has arisen in this long conflict. Can Toby lead his new friends to victory or will Clygon, Tribal Chief of the trolls, steal his power? Through his actions, what sort of hero does Toby aspire to be? Wright employs a jocose narrative style, telling the story from Toby’s perspective (third person, past tense) but with sporadic authorial asides: “Every sound startled him. Every birdcall caused him to duck—did he just step into a pun?—until he finally relaxed.” Toby is a typical middle-class American teen who carries much of his real-world personality into the fantasy setting. He is quick to suspend disbelief yet never entirely unaware of reality. Though fired by determination and assailed by doubts, he remains happy-go-lucky and too easily distracted by food. Wright reimagines stock fantasy characters (elves, trolls, gnomes) to be more everyday in their outlooks, less a product of quest narrative requirements. While there are perhaps too many elven characters with too little to distinguish them, their society as a whole has more personality than most. The story moves at a good pace, albeit with plenty of asides, and offers a laudable twist (a Star Wars–esque “don’t give in to the dark side”). Young fantasists will enjoy having their eyes opened.
Are you looking for a fantasy book to enchant your middle-grade reader with epic adventures, giants, elves, trolls and, other magical creatures? Our latest certified great read might be just what you and your magic-loving young reader need. The Adventures of Toby Baxter: The River Elf, the Giant, and the Closet by Tim Wright is sure to delight your kids and transport them to worlds they can only dream of. We recommend it to fifth-sixth graders who have already read The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
The Adventures of Toby Baxter follows the superhero-obsessed almost thirteen-year-old boy, Toby Baxter. He is super excited and eagerly awaits his superhero themed birthday party. But little did he know he will be surprised by a total stranger on his birthday night who appears and asks for his help. In the blink of an eye, Toby’s transported to a magical land where he encounters elves, trolls, and other magical creatures. River elves consider Toby Baxter as their savior. But Toby thinks otherwise. According to him, he is a mere thirteen-year-old with no magical powers to help them. But soon this ordinary boy will realize the true meaning of being a H.E.R.O. (Honorable Enterprising Responsible Original) and gets more than the ability to retrieve a legendary slaying sword. He, along with his new friends are drawn into a centuries-old war between elves and a legion of stinky trolls.
In this page-turning fantasy tale, Tim Wright creates a riveting story where one boy must figure out why he is the key to his brand-new world, and understand the all-important question by his grandfather: How will you use your power?
The Adventures of Toby Baxter is a fantasy mystery of epic proportions–and it’s captivating from page one. The reach of this book extends from middle- grade readers all the way to adults of any age. Try it, you’ll see what we mean. The pages are full of intrigue and twists and mystery–all while Toby struggles to find his place and purpose in his new world. The setting is lush, the creatures are awesome–and just as lovable as the characters, and the bad guys are pretty freaking scary. Full of fun, rich in suspense and brimming with adventure!
