Twice Upon a Time
A very good very bad story
- Published: 1 May 2017
- ISBN: 9780143770688
- Imprint: Penguin eBooks
- Format: EBook
- Pages: 240
Twice Upon a Time is a delightful story full of wordplay, old-world charm and imagination, reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland.
Graham Beattie, Beattie's Book Blog
At heart, Twice Upon a Time is a story about dualism. The light and dark, kind and wicked, double-sided nature of people, objects and words are explored in this quirky tale. The book has a dreamlike quality in which nothing is as it seems and first impressions can mislead. There are puns and jokes and the author delights in playing with language. Young children will find the story funny and exciting while older readers will appreciate the humour and may recognise echoes from stories they have enjoyed in the past. The rhymes and palindromes provide a painless immersion in rich language.
Judith Laube, NZ Book Council
The way that the story combines such imaginative magical themes with settings that are so uniquely New Zealand is exactly what made The Loblolly Boy such a fabulous read. With imaginative characters, fast-paced dialogue and a great deal of lamingtons, Twice Upon a Time is a wonderfully fresh fantasy novel. I think that this book will be hugely popular with children who have a penchant for magic, quests and puzzles. As with all of James Norcliffe’s work, the writing is juicy with clever wordplay; it isn’t dry for a second, and will hook readers of all kinds.
Tierney Reardon, Booksellers NZ Blog
The mischievous wordplay, provocatively twisted plotline and numerous inside jokes mean that this book is probably most likely to be enjoyed by sophisticated readers of about 9 to 12, especially those who are already fans of James Norcliffe’s previous books.
Lorraine Orman, Magpies
Twice Upon a Time is underpinned by friendship and fun. . . . It's fast, persuasive, engaging. It's also neatly placed in the contemporary world: single-parent family; laptop; sugar rushes; a hint of dementia; a touch of New Age channelling. . . . This all suits a book energised by verbal invention, springy dialogue, existential questions, an occasional surfeit of adjectives, and the special logic of childhood. Norcliffe makes rewarding use of language's sheer improbability. Does a spitting image really spit? Why does one go back to the drawing-board, and not to the ironing- or diving-board. What's a quibble? . . . Warm, witty, and occasionally rather wise, witha nice leavening of mischief.
David Hill, NZ Books
I think Twice Upon a Time is going to be a boon to every teacher and bookseller who has wondered what to recommend after the 'Faraway Tree' series. However, the language has a lot more depth and imagination than Blyton's and I can see teachers rubbing their hands together as they get the kids involved dissecting the tricks and trips of the tongue Norcliffe uses to bring his characters to life. . . . Do you need any more convincing?! I reckon you should put Twice Upon a Time on your shelf alongside the classics: it’s traditional quest storytelling at its best, from a master of the form.
Sarah Forster, The Sapling
An enchanting story of a story, Twice Upon a Time is a charming junior fiction novel by award-winning writer James Norcliffe. . . . a delightful story full of wordplay, old-world charm and imagination, reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland.
Tomorrow's Schools Today NZ
A delightful junior novel with lots of wordplay. Think Alice in Wonderland.
Horowhenua Chronicle, Linda Hall