Augie Hobble lives in a fairy tale-or at least Fairy Tale Place, the down-on-its-luck amusement park managed by his father. Yet his life is turning into a nightmare: he's failed creative arts and has to take summer school, the girl he has a crush on won't acknowledge him, and Hogg Wills and the school bullies won't leave him alone. Worse, a succession of mysterious, possibly paranormal, events have him convinced that he's turning into a werewolf. At least Augie has his notebook and his best friend Britt to confide in-until the unthinkable happens and Augie's life is turned upside down, and those mysterious, possibly paranormal, events take on a different meaning.
"Smith huffs and puffs and blows the roof off his first novel... Plot elements that include groan-worthy humor, paranormal mysteries, special special federal agents, a desert chase, and sock-in-the-gut tragedy. Give ["Return to Augie Hobble"] to readers who wish Bridge to Terabithia had been written by Polly Horvath. Bravo, Lane Smith!"
Booklist, starred review
"Two-time Caldecott Honoree Smith, in his first novel, does an impeccable job of introducing heartbreak while keeping the mood light... Readers may feel as disoriented as Augie when Smith shifts from recognizable ground to add an otherworldly dimension, but it works because Augie deserves an ending that makes him whole again."
Publishers Weekly, starred review
"...sudden death, a rash of missing pets, initially garbled but increasingly coherent and revealing messages from the great beyond, clairvoyant visions, robbery, lycanthropy and even mysterious government agents. It takes Smith to keep what could become a hot mess percolating happily along toward a just conclusion. Portraits, collages, hand-drawn comics and other illustrations done in a range of styles add characteristically postmodern notes to this roller-coaster ride. Great fun, with hardly a trope or theme left unspun."
