The Knick Knack Nightmare (Perry & Arvin Adventures, Book 2) (Book) - 6/4/2018 6:15:53 AM
Figurines Go Wild in a Funny, Clever Novel
The Knick Knack Nightmare (Perry & Arvin Adventures Book 2) by C. M. Bacon is subversive and playful fun. Inhabiting the sleepy, vividly depicted town of Shelbyville with richly developed characters, Bacon proceeds to show how everything can go absolutely haywire in original and amusing ways. The second novel in the Perry and Arvin Adventures, the story continues the odd manifestations that come from a magic coin that Perry inherited from his father. Once a crazy little bronze knight figurine covets the coin all hell breaks loose, with an army of tiny figurines wreaking havoc.
Bacon has a lively writing style and a wry sense of humor (As Arvin’s mom reports of a wild scene of out-of-control knickknacks, “‘Dragons.’ She limped into the kitchen. ‘Lots of dragons.’”), locating his narrative the commonplace meets the fantastical. That means crystal sparrows keep smashing into doors to spectacular effect, crystal kangaroos hop across window sills, plaster frogs croon, sad clowns mope, and happy faced garden gnomes engage in assorted mischief.
The onslaught of the knickknacks is hilarious even as real dangers lurks. Indeed, when it comes to issues of adolescence that both Perry and Arvin must confront, there is some serious business going on. In particular Perry must deal with his mother’s budding romance with Marvin and his own issues with his girlfriend Emilia. Ultimately, a conversation with Emilia late in the novel forces Perry to come to some hard self-realizations.
Despite all the extraordinary circumstances of the novel and spectacular literal and figurative fireworks, on one level the novel remains a story about Perry finding his way at 15. That Bacon has revealed so much about the struggle of adolescence in such a fine, funny, and entertaining novel is testament to his skills.
