by Kenneth Oppel (Author), Robbie Daymond (Narrator), Listening Library (Publisher)

An Audiobook Review

INKLING, by Kenneth Oppel, is a very creative, exciting, and touching story about a … okay, you guessed it, a spot, or splot, of ink.  But how can you make a story out of that?  Oppel does it very well, just as in his wonderful space odysseys. He takes an unimportant “mistake” on a cartoon drawing board … and gives it life and heart. And animation. And a personality that everyone (kids and adults) will love.

One night, the splot escapes the drawing board. It’s a struggle because Mr. Rylance’s drawing board does NOT want it to go.  It needs the splot. Mr. Rylance needs the splot … and maybe a whole lot more.  For two years, since his wife’s death, he has not been able to draw his very popular graphic novels for kids. The ideas, the drawings, the characters and their speech bubbles, nothing … will come.

The blank paper mocks him. His editor stocks him.

Every day, the splot saw that sad, scared face. And on this night, it could take it no longer. Prying itself loose and off the table, and across the floor, the splot slid.  It was free!  Under the door, up the wall, onto a window.  Oops! Down it slides. (Inksplots cannot stick to glass – important later in the story.)  Down the hall … freaking out at the family cat! But under a door into Ethan’s room.

And that’s where the story actually begins.  Ethan is also having trouble with a school project. Everyone assumes that he can do the artwork for the team project – doesn’t he have a famous artist father??  But Ethan can’t draw!!  And the project is soon due.  Will he disappoint his friends? 

Enter the creature who CAN draw, and do it perfectly. The sweet, fun, fantastic story of Ethan and Inkling (which is what the boy names him/it) will mesmerize you with its creativity and wonder.  Inkling can draw anything!  He can even create in color. All he needs is food. A  newspaper, comic book, or adventure story will do. Of course, the words disappear as he gobbles up the ink. (He likes red the best!)  Inkling can even turn himself into an inky animated puppy, which Ethan’s young sister has been longing for since her mom “went away.”

Oh, yes, there is jeopardy and tension in the story, and the climax is a real nail-biter.  The most unexpected things happen!  Scary things!  And secrets are revealed. And then…. OH, NO!!!!!

As I said, reading Inkling is a wild adventure (or maybe I didn’t say that, but it is!).  Younger kids, all the way up through seniors (in rest homes, not high schools), will love this book.  I did.

Kudos to Kenneth Oppel!  And cheers to Robbie Daymond, too, for his excellent narration of all the characters. 

READ THIS BOOK!! Or better yet, listen to it!