The Keys to the Kingdom Book 3: Drowned Wednesday Booktalk
- Grades:Grades 3–5, Grades 6–8
About this book
Scholastic Booktalk
Arthur didn’t expect to go back into the House, but the invitation from Lady Wednesday wasn’t optional.
It should have gone smoothly. The plan had been carefully detailed—the ship, the Permission for a mortal to cross the Line of Storms into the House, the sailing instructions, and the cardboard invitation from Lady Wednesday. But then things had gone terribly wrong, just as they had when Arthur had visited the House on Monday and Tuesday, and received the first two Keys to the Kingdom.
A magical flood swept into Arthur’s hospital room where he and Lucy were talking and swept them away, along with the hospital bed they were in. “Transportation will be provided,” the invitation had said, and the flood was undoubtedly part of it. As soon as he’d read the invitation, Arthur had prepared for a sudden departure. Now, all he and Lucy could do was hold onto the bed as it was tossed by the waves. But then the ship that had suddenly swept up next to the bed took Lucy (who wasn’t even supposed to be there) instead of Arthur, and he was forced to cross the Line of Storms with only the invitation for protection. But a steel framed hospital bed isn’t a raft, and soon after Arthur had passed into the House, it began to sink, with no land or ships in sight. In fact, all Arthur could see was a huge, mostly submerged ball, only a few yards away.
It turned out to be some kind of marking buoy covered with a sticky red substance that got all over Arthur’s hands. There was a brass ring near the top. He reached up and pulled it, and it came out with a pop, followed by a shower of sparks and a loud ticking noise. Seconds later it exploded and black smoke poured out, making a black cloud that split into eight parts, formed into black seabirds that screamed “Thief,” and flew off in the direction of the eight points of the compass rose, leaving the now empty ball behind.
Arthur pulled himself inside to wait for someone to show up. When a ship finally appeared, it heaved-to, and a small boat was rowed towards him. Rescue seemed certain until the Denizen crew saw his red-stained hands, and recoiled in fear and horror. “He’s got the Red Hand. Feverfew’s mark! We’re all doomed!” It seemed that the buoy was marking one of the treasure chests owned by the evil pirate and Sorcerer of Nothing. The birds had flown away to tell him of the theft, and he would soon be arriving in his magical ship of bone, the Shiver. Terrified, the crew hustled Arthur and the treasure chest on board and set sail immediately.
And so began the third adventure of Lord Arthur, Master of the Lower House and the Far Reaches. It was time for him to try and find the third key to the kingdom and the third part of the Will of the Architect. His first two journeys into the House had been dangerous, with many dark and difficult consequences that Arthur had to deal with. His third journey promised to be even more deadly. And what would happen to Lucy, swept into a world where she didn’t belong, and that she didn’t understand?
On Monday, the first day, there was mystery. On Tuesday, the second day, there was darkness. And now, on Wednesday, the third day, there are pirates and kidnappings and death. Will Arthur and Lucy survive, or will this journey be the end of everything?
This Booktalk was written by librarian and booktalking expert Joni R. Bodart
- Subjects:Literature, Literature
