The Ickabog by J. K. Rowling (review)

Rowling, J. K. The Ickabog Scholastic, 2020 304p illus. Trade ed. ISBN 9781338732870 $26.99 Ad Gr. 4-7

In the flourishing kingdom of Cornucopia, rumors of the monstrous Ickabog are treated as just that, cautionary tales useful only to frighten misbehaving little ones into obedience. The creature proves to be real when King Fred himself encounters the green hairy beast, valiantly beating it back into the wild. At least that's the story his devious advisors Lords Spittleworth and Flapoon spin after a hunt goes awry and King Fred holes himself up in the palace, terrified of the monster he thinks he saw, which Spittleworth and Flapoon believe to be just a dog. The advisors use rumors, fake footprints, and an iron-fisted guard to scare the Cornucopia populace into submission and line their own pockets, but their luck runs out when a group of kids—all orphaned due to Spittleworth's machinations—find the real Ickabog and bring honesty and joy back to the kingdom. Rowling's first book for children since her Harry Potter series concluded is more morality play than epic fantasy. While it lacks subtlety, it pulls on similar themes as those books, particularly the ways in which grief and loss shape a person for better or for worse. The formal storytelling tone holds off any readerly attachment to the characters, but the occasional direct address adds humor and engagement, and the world of Cornucopia recalls that of Juster's The Phantom Tollbooth. Fans of that book, more so than readers of Harry Potter, may appreciate this tale of a broken kingdom put back right by kid ingenuity. Originally published online in 2020, the book is illustrated by submissions from readers.