Flight of the Phoenix (Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist, Book I)

Young Nathaniel’s parents are world travelers. When they set out on their most recent journey, they told him he was a bit too young to join them and they would send for him when he turned eight. He’s ten now and still hasn’t heard from them.

But then the family lawyer summons Nathaniel and his governess to his office. His parents’ airship went down somewhere in the Arctic and there were very few survivors. His parents weren’t among them. Nathaniel’s Aunt Phil, whom he’s never even met, has agreed to take him in.

But life with Aunt Phil might be more interesting than Nathaniel expects. Her pet dodo fills him in on some of the family secrets. The Fludds are a family of beastologists, scientists dedicated to caring for show more fantastic animals. Nathaniel and Aunt Phil set out on their second day together to supervise the birth of a new phoenix. But their plans go awry and Nathaniel is left in charge of the event. Can he see it through successfully?

What a cute little book! I read it in about an hour but I enjoyed myself immensely.

Nathaniel is a fairly complex character. He’s a timid little thing but Aunt Phil pushes him to face his fears. He has a kind heart that leads him to befriend creatures that Aunt Phil dismisses as pests. Most living things will respond with kindness when treated with kindness so he makes new friends this way. He has a big sense of responsibility that helps see him through some tight spots. He’s an artist and seems happiest when he’s drawing the world around him. I expected him to be a bit of a pushover but when Cornelius the dodo shows a bullying tendency, Nathaniel quietly stands up to him. Their interactions were fairly brief but made me smile.

Events hint at larger mysteries but don’t address them yet. Aunt Phil is surprised that Nathaniel hasn’t even received any letters from his parents in the three years they’ve been gone. What is going on there?

I overlooked the fact that the book is illustrated when I downloaded it to my Kindle Paperwhite. I don’t like the way my Paperwhite renders images (They’re usually tiny, dark, and grainy) so I usually check physical copies of illustrated books out from the library instead. Luckily, Kelly Murphy’s black-and-white drawings rendered beautifully. Nathaniel’s drawings are a bit childlike, as should be expected, but the other book illustrations are beautiful and charming.

This was a fun little adventure for the young and the young-at-heart. It should appeal to readers who relate to Hagrid and Newt Scamander in their love for beasts of the fantastic variety. show less

Nathaniel Fludd hasn't heard from his parents in over three years. He's been living with his comfortable, if not very interesting, governess. Suddenly, his parents are declared missing, Miss Lumpton disappears with the Tidy Sum left her in his parents' will, and he's on a train going to a new home and a distant cousin. Once he arrives, Nate's adventures start immediately. But is he really an adventurous Fludd? Or just a scared little boy who can't live up to his family's high expectations?

This is definitely a first book in a series - there are soooo many ends left untied. What happened to Nate's parents? What was Miss Lumpton hiding? Who is the mysterious ginger-bearded man? Will Nathaniel's drawings be important later on? I can't wait show more to find out!

Verdict: Kelly Murphy's black and white illustrations are charming and add to the gentle humor that runs through this story. The adventures are exciting, but not too perilous. A fun transitional chapter book (I just made that up - it's a little harder than a beginning chapter book, not quite a middle grade chapter book) that kids interested in strange beasts and adventures will enjoy. Pass this one to fans of R. L. LaFevers' Theodosia, any of the -ology books from Candlewick, and any child lucky enough to be a fan of David and the Phoenix.

ISBN: 978-0547238654; Published September 2009 by Houghton Mifflin; ARC provided by publisher at ALA 2009; Purchased for the library; Added to my personal wishlist show less

I got this book as an advanced reading copy through the Amazon Vine program. It is the first book in a series targeted at children. Previously I have read LaFevers Theodosia series and I enjoyed that series. This book is a short chapter book and was a very quick, fun read; as an adult it took me maybe 30 minutes to read.

Nathaniel never sees much of his parents; they are always off exploring and he's been left behind. Then a message comes that they have been "lost at sea". Suddenly Nathaniel's life is turned upside down and he is sent to live with his Aunt Phil. Aunt Phil immediately whisks him off on a crazy adventure to take care of a Phoenix. Ends up Nathaniel is the most recent of a long line of Beastologists.

This was a great kids show more book. It was fast-paced, creative, and both Nathaniel and Aunt Phil are likeable characters. In some ways this book reminds a bit of the The Spiderwick Chronicles (Boxed Set): The Field Guide; The Seeing Stone; Lucinda's Secret; The Ironwood Tree; The Wrath of Mulgrath. The chapters are fairly short and there are pictures throughout. This would be a great book to introduce a kid to chapter books. Kids that love animals, travel, and adventures will love this book. The story is concluded nicely, but there is room left for more books in the series.

A wonderful, creative book in a great new series. Anyway who likes the The Field Guide (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 1) or the Fablehaven series will like this book. The reading level is much easier than the Fablehaven series. I am looking forward to more adventures with Nathaniel and Aunt Phil in the future. show less

Nate’s parents have died whilst on an expedition and he is shipped off to a distant cousin he has never met. No sooner has he arrived than they are off to Arabia to oversee the birth of a phoenix. Apparently he is destined to become a beastologist - someone who studies rare and exotic beasts. Needless to say, things do not go smoothly and Nate is soon having an adventure even though he is not the sort of boy who enjoys adventures.
With its exciting adventure, short chapters and frequent illustrations, this book would suit children ready to move on from the very first chapter books.

Reviewed by Joan Stradling for TeensReadToo.com

After his parents are lost at sea, ten-year-old Nate is sent to live with a distant relative and learns the amazing truth about his family's history.

Before he can even unpack, Nate is whisked away on an adventure to Arabia. But Nate isn't the adventurous type.

When disaster strikes, Nate is left with only his accidental pet gremlin to help him care for the world's only remaining phoenix egg. If he fails to keep the egg safe long enough for it to hatch, the mythical creature will become extinct.

Fast-paced and full of fun, this is a great choice for the reluctant reader in your life . . . and any other reader, for that matter.

I immediately liked Nate and enjoyed the journey as he became show more NATHANIEL FLUDD, BEASTOLOGIST. I'm looking forward to book two and can't wait to see what adventure LaFevers will write Nate into next. show less

Eleven year old Nathan Fludd is from a family of famous adventurers but, unhappily for him, he's not one of them. Abandoned by his parents at age 8, he has spent the last three years living with a nanny and wondering when (if?) they will send for him. From the start of the story, he learns that his parents have died and that he'll be living with a distant cousin...a cousin who turns out to be the ticket to the life of adventure he never knew was stirring inside him.

This was a decent enough fantasy book for a children's series. It's no Fablehaven, but good for my third graders to get into the genre.