THE VOLUME OF POSSIBLE ENDINGS

One child raised in secret and another assembled from mechanical and magical parts find themselves enmeshed in a deadly scheme to usurp the throne of Fontania in this high-spirited second sequel to The Traveling Restaurant (2012).

Dorrity’s peaceful life in the otherwise childless hamlet of Owl Town is abruptly upset when she discovers a magic book that spells out five cryptic and troubling predictions. This is quickly followed by the arrival of a clockwork boy recently escaped from the workshop of King Jasper. Though annoyingly ignorant and self-pitying, “Metalboy,” as she dubs him, turns out to be a doughty friend as the two are swept into a series of captivities and escapes. Along with trucking in a busy supporting cast that ranges from animals transformed into people and vice versa to a trio of inept anarchists roaring about on motorbikes, Else contrives a plot that leaves neither characters nor readers much chance to catch their breaths. Many chases and narrow squeaks later (highlighted by a nerve-wracking ride in a small homemade submarine…with a bear), a tumultuous face-off brings just deserts. Despite a tendency to overestimate her ability to sneak about undetected, Dorrity is a clever, resourceful sort, and better-read children will find in Metalboy engaging echoes of both Pinocchio and the Tin Woodman.

An entertaining romp, more comical than scary and with a poignant but hopeful close.