With a smidgen of Tim Burton''s touch of horror, The Boatman will tug at your heartstrings, especially if you live in the dark side like my friend Kat. She crafts her stories in such way that will grab your curiosity the moment you pick up her work. Disastrous and dismal stories are her forte. She thrives in them. And The Boatman is a shining piece I adore. The characters move the story along masterfully. The story itself kept me up for several nights. I couldn''t get enough of Izzy, Monty, and all the others. Dora Mitchell, the illustrator, perfectly captures these characters and brings the story to another level. So if you have an affinity for Lemony Snicket''s A Series of Unfortunate Events, pick up this book. It''s a cleverly written story that will show children they can be whoever they want, so as long they stand up for their convictions and never back down from anything. But I warn you now: don''t grab the oar. --Siobhan Bothwell, Novelties Book Reviews