When I requested this from my library, for some reason I thought it was a graphic novel. When I got the book, I was hesitant at first, because the story sounded really silly. And not in a good way. But it was. Silly, I mean, and in a good way. This delightful tale of adventure had me hooked from the first, and when the ostrich took up the responsibility of caring for his "man-chick," I was a goner. I just could not put this book down. ( )

This book was adorable ( )

Literary Merit: Good/Okay
Characterization: Weak
Recommended: Maybe
Level: Middle School

Quirky, lighthearted fantasy. The premise is a typical journey story, but the characters and twists keep the reader guessing. A girl sets off to find her wandering cow and comes across a host of odd characters, including a lost secret emperor, energetic boy, ostrich who falls in love with her cow, and more, as well as trickster ancestors who are constantly interfering. The villains are pretty one dimensional but sorting through the commotion of revolving characters and mistaken identities keeps everyone searching for their missing counterparts. The tone felt similar to The Girl Who Drank the Moon, but without the emotional depth that tied it together. I never grew attached to any characters and felt myself scanning rather than reading as I tried to hurry towards the end. This one didn't stick with me because the story felt just as wandering and confusing as the journey it was about. A hard sell to most readers, who would need to initially like this particular brand of humor and fantastical journey. ( )

It all starts with a missing cow, a missing ostrich, and a missing emperor. Throw in an intrepid dairymaid, a lad in search of adventure, a sturdy woodcutter, a widow with a baby, a sleazy carnival owner, and many other quirky characters, and you have a funny and exciting tale for middle grade readers. I enjoyed listening to this audiobook, and think it would be a great choice for family road trip listening. ( )