
"What no one knew was who the boy was, and neither did he. Wasn't a memory left in the boy's head; everything about his past was gone...except for the note." - Bran Hambric: The Farfield Curse by Kaleb Nation
We've all heard about them or seen them. You know, those odd little creatures with the conical hats found in gardens. Up to this point, I've never had the slightest desire to place a gnome anywhere near my home. But after reading Kaleb Nation's debut fantasy book, I just might change my mind. Maybe. It's a thought, anyway.
Of course Bran Hambric: The Farfield Curse
The book begins with a prologue. A six-year-old boy named Bran turns up inexplicably, locked in a bank vault in a city called Dunce--the only city in the world that does not allow magic of any sort. No gnomes, no mages. No magic. A banker named Sewey Wilomas discovers Bran in the vault and finds himself responsible for the boy due to a Finders Keepers Law. Bran ends up living with the very annoying Wilomas family, and they treat him like dirt. A ripped note stating his name and birth date is the only clue to his past. Fast forward eight years later. Bran still lives with the Wilomases and one fateful night finds himself face-to-face with a scary creature. He learns his mother was a powerful mage that used dark magic in horrific ways, discovers the reason for the torn note and determines the meaning behind a special crescent moon necklace. Along his journey of discovery he makes a few new mage friends and meets a gnome named Polland.
Young author Kaleb Nation creatively depicts an exciting magical world in his suspenseful middle grade/YA fantasy. There's many obvious similarities between Bran Hambric and the beloved Harry Potter series--orphaned boy, magical world, an evil counterpart, unpleasant family life. But Nation has developed the city of Dunce and all the people and creatures inside and outside the city entirely from his own imagination. The scenes involving the Wilomas family in the beginning of the book bog down the story a bit, but the pace picks up when Bran learns more about magic and meets some mages and magical characters. Written using uncomplicated language, the book is sure to appeal to all those young readers that have been clamoring for Harry Potter read-a-likes. Nation makes readers chuckle with his over-the-top characters and even a few clever word plays, like measuring magical power in witts, calling those with the most, brightwitts and those with the least, dimwitts. Just so readers know, there are a number of slightly violent scenes involving guns, death and troubling dark magic in this book but nothing is especially graphic. The enticing artwork by Brandon Dorman on the cover is worth a mention and deserves a big thumbs up. The book leaves quite a few questions unanswered and Kalab Nation has plans for a sequel. I'm hoping to learn more about the gnomes and their sacred Givvyng Tree!
As part of his homeschool education, Kaleb Nation started writing the book at the age of 14 and worked on it throughout his teenage years. Currently 20 years old, his young age makes this debut book an impressive accomplishment. Highly ambitious, Kalab Nation is also a successful blogger at his popular TwilightGuy.com website.
Bran Hambric: The Farfield Curseby Kaleb Nation. Sourcebooks Jabberwocky (September 2009); 464 pages; ISBN 9781402218576 (Ages 9-12/YA)
Book Source: ARC copy provided by for free by Sourcebooks. All quotations should be checked against final version. (View my full disclosure statement for more information about my reviews.)
Related links:
Bran Hambric - Official Website
Kaleb Nation - Author Website
Downloadable preview of the first 4 chapters of Bran Hambric: The Farfield Curse
List of Harry Potter Readalikes from Infosoup.org
Enter to Win Bran Hambric Prizes or an Exclusive Kaleb Nation Event Invite on Sourcebooks.com
Book Trailer:

To enter, leave a comment relevant to this post. Or, just for fun, if you are feeling particularly creative, think of an original gnome name and leave it in the comment section.
• For contact purposes, if you are a non-blogger or your email is not accessible in your blog profile, please leave a valid email address within the comment section.Three ways to gain extra entries (Maximum total entries is 4; please leave a separate comment for each entry):
• Contest is open to US only
• Contest ends on Monday, September 14th, 2009 at 11:59 PM CST.
• Winner will be chosen at random and sent an email notification.
1st extra entry: Follow Me! or subscribe by email or RSS reader
2nd extra entry: Blog about this contest then post your link in the comment section.
3rd extra entry: Follow me on twitter (iambrimful) and tweet about the contest.
112 comments:
I love the name for the city of Dunce! Please enter me!
nbmars AT yahoo DOT com
I follow you on Google Reader.
nbmars AT yahoo DOT com
Sounds like a great new magical world to explore. Gnomes are a newer twist, they seem to be less featured than elves and fairies. Please count me in!
JHolden955 (at) gmail (dot) com
I would love an entry
psyko_kittie12 AT yahoo DOT com
I love Kaleb Nation. He is amazing. And I love the gnomes!!!!! I am waiting until the day the book is ACTUALLY supposed to come out to buy it, but I would love a free copy. :)
email: gm.1995(AT)yahoo(dot)com
heard such great things about this book would love to win!
pls enter me;
sensitivemuse at gmail dot com
My grandson would love this book and I would love to win it for him
sylviawhit@gmail.com
I subscribe by email
sylviawhit@gmail.com
Sounds like a delightful book. I'd love to read it.
bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com
I subscribe via email.
bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com
I would name a gnome Yreme Celexa.
clenna at aol dot com
I subscribe via email
clenna at aol dot com
Interesting, I am in awe of people who are so creative in this way to create a new world with words!
Seems like a book that my teenage daughter and I would enjoy reading.
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com
email subscriber
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com
Do you think Dunce has a school named DUNCE ELEMENTARY? Wouldn't that be funny? (always the teacher in me, sorry). I'd LOVE to win this book@
I follow and think a cute gnome name might be Osceola (because I have two gnomes in my house and that is one of their names---long story)
Oh, email is kdhaney (AT) gmail (DOT) com
thanks for the chance!
I'm kind of out of the loop on the new YA novels. I would be interested to read this.
I would name a gnome Doodles :-)
marielay@gmail.com
I am a follower
I am a subscriber.
marielay@gmail.com
count me in please
throuthehaze at gmail dot com
follower
throuthehaze at gmail dot com
Sounds interesting, I'll enter. (:
truesummer05 [at] aim [dot] com
I also follow via email.
truesummer05 [at] aim [dot] com
I'd like to enter.
Email subscriber
bjhopper(at)me(dot)com
Twitter follower & tweet
http://twitter.com/bridget3420/status/3763657853
Jabbers Pavelwaldo! Cute name for a gnome!
delilah01809(at)yahoo(dot)com
Follower!
delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com
I am not very creative but I have posted this question for my children to answer
shopannies@Yahoo.com
following blog
shopannies@yahoo.com
tweeted http://twitter.com/shopannies/status/3767580429
shopannies@Yahoo.com
Kaleb Nation is so awesome! Did you know he made his own soundtrack for this book also? I can't wait till it comes out!!
Count me in for this chance to win his book!
Sarah
two_of_hearts_101 at yahoo dot com
I also follow you with Google Reader. :)
two_of_hearts_101 at yahoo dot com
Thanks for posting up this great review!
hmmm.... not feeling at all creative since it's wayyyy too hot today... but this does look like a fun read - my guys like fantasy tales
subscriber
I actually have an original female gnome name but I am bound to secrecy to share where I got it however it is:
"Grynvara"
It means mixer of potions
espressogurl at hotmail dot com
Email subscriber
espressogurl at hotmail dot com
Gnome name: Fitzelgrom
I'm an email subscriber.
Posted here:
http://babasfarmlife.blogspot.com/2009/09/cool-giveaways_04.html
Twitter/Tweet
http://twitter.com/Babasfarmlife/status/3776584991
Blogged
http://bridget3420.blogspot.com/2009/09/95-book-giveaway-list.html
bjhopper(at)me(dot)com
I have gotten alot of great info from your blog! Thanks! An original gnome name, huh. Let's see... how about "Hans"?
Zoe0825@verizon.net
This sounds like a magical and fun place. Great review! Please enter me
lovestoread0708(at)yahoo.com
I am a follower..
lovestoread0708(at)yahoo.com
Blogged:
http://trishasbookshelf.blogspot.com/2009/09/giveaways-of-day-97.html
I follow you on twitter @trishalynn0708 and I retweeted.
I love to read books like this-I am just a kid at heart :)
This sounds a bit like Harry Potter meets Artemis Fowl, and I loved both those series.
This sounds like a great book to read with my children.
ryspenc@yahoo.com
Looks like an interesting book.
right up my grandsons alley hope to win it for him
mverno@roadrunner.com
As a librarian, I'm always on the lookout for new books. This one sounds like it will capture the reader's interest.
Twitter/tweet: http://twitter.com/catrionalove/status/3936556075
Follower: catriona_sweeps
please enter me in the book giveaway con5459(at)gmail(dot)com
I think my daughter would love to read this book. Please enter me in the giveaway.
abfantom at yahoo dot com
Please include me in your giveaway.
Thanks
Debbie
debdesk9(at)Verizon.net
He is a great writer.
john ferris
guapo1317@live.com
i think a good name for a gnome would be 'big ed', it works the same way you call a big guy 'tiny'
I believe this young writer has a lot going for him, and who knows? It may be fanrasy or..maybe...he knows the land of Dunce??
I have a grandson (Sam) that this book would be perfect for. jelly15301@gmail.com
E-mail subscriber. jelly15301@gmail.com
This sounds like a fantastic read. Please accept my entry, thanks!
I would name a gnome Wiggy Tickletoes.
I subscribe to your feed via Google Reader.
email: fionen_ftw{at}fionen{dot}com
username: Fionen
Sounds like a fun read.
djeanq(at)gmail(dot)com
Such amazing talent at such a young age - I can't wait to read this book.
I love being able to escape into a fantasy world & become involved in all the new characters.
Thanks ~ megalon22{at}yahoo{dot}com
I follow on Google Friend Connect & subscribe via Google Reader.
megalon22{at}yahoo{dot}com
Awesome! This is definitely going to be a great book! I follow Kaleb on Twitter and watch most of his BlogTVs!
Now following blog!
Oh, and E-Mail ninjafanpire@hotmail.com
Following on Twitter, and Tweeted: http://twitter.com/NinjaFanpire/status/3957804725
Made a blog post about the contest: http://ninjafanpire.blogspot.com/2009/09/win-copy-of-bran-hambric-farfield-curse.html
My two granddaughters would really enjoy this book.
Carol M
mittens0831 at aol dot com
I subscribe by email.
Carol M
mittens0831 at aol dot com
How about "Harlin" for a gnome name. If it is lame. Sorry not really in the business of naming gnomes over here. But I would love to get my hands on that book.
I follow you on Twitter-CarolAnnM and I tweeted this giveaway.
Carol M
mittens0831 at aol dot com
This looks like a great book. I think my tween would enjoy it. A great gnome name would be Crackalacka. That's her softball name.
I follow and tweeted: http://twitter.com/qwills2cats/status/3958694557
This looks like a book I would enjoy
This looks like a great yound adult read!
theyyyguy@yahoo.com
THis is the type of book that my 9 year old loves to read. Thankyou
candieluster(at)gmail(dot)com
I subscribed via email. Thank you
candieluster(at)gmail(dot)com
I've always tried to win this and never have, so it's worth the shot :D
animalgurl55(at)hotmail(dot)com
My gnome is name Gnomer
Hiya great review. I love gnomes, unfortunately I ran mine over - when someone blocked me in my driveway. I named him freddie, now he's got no feet. I tweeted about this and am now a follower. Thanks for the contest.
My youngest would love to read this.
rsgrandinettti(at)Yahoo(dot)com
I'd love this! Thanks for sharing.
s.mickelson at gmail dot com
I love gnomes; in Scandinavia they play significant roles in mythology and folklore.
urchiken at gmail dot com
our oldest would love to win this book, he loves gnomes!
http://twitter.com/mrstls/status/3987960479
follower
Kaleb Nation is so awesome! Would love to win. Thanks
My nephew would love this!!! A new name for a gnome? Hmmm...let me thing...how about Pizzastilksin??? Lol Thanks!
sherri419 at gmail dot com
Oh this book sounds really good. I love that the author started creating the story at 14, love that!
I'm following!
Following & tweeted http://twitter.com/momof2dancers/status/3993192936
Sounds like a great read for my kids. Make me a winner!
It sounds like a great book for children. My granddaughter would love it. garrettsambo@aol.com
sounds like a very fun interesting book my nephew would love it thanks for the chance to win eaglesforjack@gmail.com
i follow thanks for the chance to win eaglesforjack@gmail.com
i subscribe thanks for the chance to win eaglesforjack@gmail.com
How about : "evilBgone"
this gnome would make all evil people turn into dust & send their souls straight to the devil.
zestywonderland@gmail.com
I subscribed to emails & to feed in reader & Follow on blogger!
zestywonderland@gmail.com
I adore Kalab Nation and am so excited to see his book out!
Follower!
sounds like a good book
I tweeted!
http://twitter.com/_HeatherAnne_/status/3998393715
My son would like this! I'm always looking for a new, interesting book for him to read!
jellibeenz1978@hotmail.com
Blog follower
jellibeenz1978@hotmail.com
Email subscriber
jellibeenz1978@hotmail.com
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