Juv Fantasy: A Plague of Bogles, Catherine Jinks

A Plague of Bogles
Catherine Jinks, illustrated by Sarah Watts
ISBN: 9780544087477
Sequel to How To Catch a Bogle, focusing on former street-thief Jem.
Read June 10, 2015

This sequel starts off with Jem searching for Sal Pickles in righteous vengeance for her double-dealing in the first book.  Along the way, he comes across reports of bogle attacks, and takes them to Alfred, even though he's not only retired but moved across town.  Not in the least deterred, Jem forces Alfred back into bogling by strength of will (and a few skillful applications of guilt trips) until Alfred himself is hooked by the strange emergence of a plague of bogles.  The nightmare, child-eating creatures are solitary and territorial, so why are so many of them converging on Newgate Market area?  Is it because of the underground river?  The new sewer works?  The disruption of the church graveyard and crypts?  Or is there a more sinister and human explanation for the rise of creeping terror?

Just as much fun as I remember the first one, and I like the switch to the new protagonist Jem.  His obsession was well-played, and well-deserved, and I also liked the small touches that gave hints into his background without ever devolving into flashbacks or maudlin reminiscing (bogle-despair notwithstanding).

Excellent continuation, and we've got one more coming: The Last Bogler, from Ned's perspective.

Juv Fantasy: How to Catch a Bogle, Catherine Jinks

How to Catch a Bogle
Catherine Jinks, illustrated by Sarah Watts
ISBN: 9780544087088
Juv historical fantasy: Street-level London victoriana features an angel-voiced child as bogle bait.
Read last summer

I could have sworn that I reviewed this book when I read it, but I guess I missed it.

Birdie is the cream of the crop.  She's not a street-sweeper, or a thief, or a ragpicker or a mudlark, or even a lace or flower maker.  Oh no.  She's better than all those street trash, because she has a real job.  She's a bogler's girl, and she's the best that ever was.  Her voice is clear and childlike, and her courage is strong.  Besides, she's got to take care of Alfred, the old bogler.  He needs someone to care for him.

But Birdie has come to the attention of a lady academic, who is also taking an interest in the world of bogling, and pretty soon, Birdie is going to have to make some hard decisions about her life.



Really solid storytelling, excellent characters, and the bogles are creepy as hell.  Reminded me strongly of Y.S. Lee's (also excellent) Agency series, or of Berlie Doherty's Street Child.