The Problim Children

Want a book that you won’t be able to put down, then pick up Natalie Lloyd’s, The Problim Children. Just beware, this book is rumored to be part of a trilogy, and the next books aren’t even close to coming on the market yet. Ugh! Why do author’s do this to me? They publish these great first books in a series, and I am left waiting impatiently to find out what is going to happen to the odd, but yet so loveable, Problim family.This book is just quirky in every way, and it is amazing! The opening pages introduce you to each of the Problim children and their house in the swampy woods. However, when one of the Problim children accidentally destroys their home, the Problim children must come up with a solution. With their parents nowhere to be found at the moment, the Problim children set off to find the home of their late grandfather. They find it, and it’s even quirkier than the Problim’s themselves.The Problim’s are not met with kindness and excitement when they arrive at the grandfather’s abandoned home. Instead, they have the displeasure of meeting Desdemona O’Pinion. Flabbergasted that the Problim children arrived just as Desdemona was about to gain control of the suspicious Problim house, she does everything in her power to make problems for the Problim children, including calling the Society for the Protection of Unwanted Children. However, the Problim’s will not be deterred, and they head off to make their grandfather’s home their own. That was until they notice suspicious clues all around the house, clues that seem to have been left for his grandchildren. But, why would Grandpa Problim leave these clues? Are the Problims in danger? Was Desdemona O’Pinion on to something?

The seven Problim children's names and character traits come from a rhyme about which day of the week they were born on. "Monday's child is fair of face (Mona), Tuesday's child is full of grace (Toot), Wednesday's child is full of woe (Wendell), Thursday's child has far to go (Thea), Friday's child is loving and giving (Frida), Saturday's child works hard for a living (Sal) but the child who's born on the Sabbath day is good and wise in every way (Sundae)." I absolutely adored these siblings, they're all so unique and have such varied likes and abilities. Sundae is the oldest, followed by Sal. Thea and Wendell are twins who are starting to branch out from sharing everything together. Toot is just as his names describes, the youngest of the bunch who is prone to farts that have their own unique smell, it's how he communicates with the other children and they've begun cataloging them (their probably up to #200 by now). Frida is stealthy, refers to herself as the Fox and talks in rhymes. My favorites are Thea and Mona. Thea is fearful and not at ease around the children in the neighborhood, her special bond with her brother is really sweet and it's sad when she gets jealous when Wendell starts to become friends with their next-door neighbor, Violet O'Pinion. Mona, she's something special, she's slightly scary, smart, secretive and imaginative and made me think of Wednesday from the Addams Family. The Problim's reminded me a bit of them, in a none spooky or creepy way. They both are a tight-knit family and have interests that other people might think are slightly strange. Morticia had carnivorous plants that could wrap themselves around you, and Sal engineers flowers that have a particular smell, keeps a foggy garden of Wrangling Ivy and carries his gardening tools on his sleeve ala Edward Scissorhands. Wednesday had her spiders, and Mona has a Venus flytrap and circus spiders that she can send out to deliver messages. Both had neighbors who were curious yet also slightly scared of them. Yet both are totally fine with who they are, they aren't changing their personality to fit in. One very fun example is how at Thea and Wendell's birthday party they celebrate with the Problim family traditional "smash cake" (just like it sounds smashing your face into your cake).Despite the initial lukewarm welcome they receive from their neighbors, the siblings still reach out and try to make friends. Always conveying the important, beautiful message of "look at someone heart-first," that "there's never an excuse to be cruel. When you meet someone new, think first about all the good and the sad and wonder and worry that's probably blooming in their heart. Just like yours." If you've read The Key to Extraordinary or A Snicker of Magic, then you certainly will enjoy The Problim Children it has the same quirky magical feel to it with the bonus of a mystery based on rumors about a family feud, a riddle involving a prophecy of sevens and a treasure hunt for something that might be hidden somewhere in the house. There are even mechanical animals like a squirrel with a purple tail, brass rabbit's and who could miss out on circus spiders?Favorite lines:"Tell me a tale worth telling back.""Any treasure worth finding is worth seeking. And you seek with your head and your heart-not just your dusty sneakers."

Natalie Lloyd has a way with words that always draws you into her books. For example in this one, you may leave with a strong desire to have tacos on just about any day of the week...In this first book of a planned trilogy, we meet the seven Problims, each with their own style and traits, including Toot who, well, you can probably guess what he does (and in case you don't, Natalie gives footnotes after each toot explaining what he was trying to communicate). The Problims have just moved to town, without their parents who are on an expedition somewhere, but unfortunately they are not welcome to their new town. There seems to be history with the Problim family and another family and everyone is afraid history may just repeat itself.With Natalie's penchant for words and magic, this family will find its way into your hearts and you'll be ready for more Problims. And tacos....

I would probably love anything Natalie Lloyd writes, even her grocery list! Her trademark fun and excellent imagery is present, with a family of strangelings that captivates the reader. And like A Snicker of Magic and The Key to Extraordinary, adults will like the books as well as kids. Cannot wait for the second in this 3-part series. Heart First Problims!

The book is decent but nothing is resolved at the end. The reader doesn’t get any satisfaction at the end.

I love this author's use of language. The plotting seemed looser, more chaotic, and younger than I was used to from her, but still good. I wasn't expecting it to be a series, but that may have been my own lack of due diligence.

What a wonderful weaver of words is Natalie Lloyd! I have enjoyed all of her books and this one does not disappoint! Certain phrases and combinations of words just jump off the page as one to be written down and remembered. I find myself caring deeply about the characters she creates and feel a wide range of emotion intertwined in the events. I can't wait to have more Problems!!!

Interesting premise based on the days of the week and sevens. Seven children one born on each day of the week. Problim kids not problems.