Hollowpox: The hunt for Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend
Hatchette Australia, 2020. ISBN: 9780734418241.
(Age: 9+) Highly recommended. Hollowpox: The hunt for Morrigan
Crow is the third book in the popular Nevermoor series
written by young Queensland author Jessica Townsend. Readers of Nevermoor
and Wundersmith
will not be disappointed in Hollowpox as the author has
certainly maintained her momentum in creating an intensely exciting
and imaginative read that continues the enthralling journey of
Morrigan Crow. The story begins with thirteen year old Morrigan
arriving at Station 919 and enjoying the quiet moments before her
eight fellow 'brothers and sisters - Loyal for Life' arrive. They
travel to Wunsoc, the Wundrous Society's 100 acre campus to begin
their final day of the term. Surprisingly they all have a timetable
change and take a new class labelled "Containment and Distraction"
together. The reason for this class is simply quite brilliant. The
bond these nine very talented and clever scholars have developed is
instrumental to the storyline and throughout the course of the book
they are called upon to support each other often. The chapter titled
'Book Bugs' is true testament to this loyalty. Morrigan spends her
evenings and term holidays in the extraordinary Hotel Deucalion
living with her patron Jupiter North and an assortment of larger
than life characters always involved in the most unbelievable and
often humourous situations. In this story Morrigan begins to be
trained in the Wundrous Arts of being a Wundersmith and becomes
completely fixated with the process of learning from The Book of
Ghostly Hours. Running parallel to her training is an unfolding
drama with the peaceful Wunimals turning violent after contracting
what is suspected initially of being a virus. It is given the name
Hollowpox as after the Wunimal has exhibited ferocious and
uncharacteristic behaviours they are left hollow. The city of
Nevermore is placed in lockdown, curfews are set and Wunimals are
left in isolation. This is so reminiscent of Australia in 2020 that
readers will clearly be able to identify with the feelings of the
characters. It also highlights elements of racism in the Nevermore
community and the sense of fear of the unknown that creates chaotic
and dangerous situations. The evil Ezra Squall reappears in this
story and his bond and interaction with Morrigan continues. Will
Morrigan be able to save Nevermore from the Hollowpox curse and at
what cost?
For those readers who have not yet read the first two books in the
series or those that are worried they may have forgotten elements,
do not fear as the author has cleverly interwoven aspects of the
first two books into the story to subtly provide background
information. The ability of Jessica Townsend to continue to hold her
audience's interest and to explore and write using her fanciful
imagination allows this novel to be a fabulous read for both
children and adults.
Themes: Themes: Magic, Fantasy, Adventure, Good vs evil, Friendship,
School, Danger, Humour, Loyalty.
Kathryn Beilby