The Keys to the Kingdom #2: Grim Tuesday

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8–Just 15 minutes after Mister Monday(Scholastic, 2003) ended, with Arthur Penhaligon cleaning up the mess the slothful Mister Monday made of Earth, the asthmatic orphan is summoned again. His new adversary is Grim Tuesday, and once again he finds himself in a battle to the death to get the Second Key. If he gives in to the errant Days or loses the battle against them, he knows they will destroy his own home on Earth as well as the Denizens and inhabitants of the magical House, including his new friend and stalwart companion Suzy Turquoise Blue, one of the children spirited away from plague-ridden Europe by the Pied Piper centuries earlier. Grim Tuesday's weakness is greed, and the themes running through this book all revolve around excesses of manufacturing, copying, and accumulation. As before, Nix creates unusual characters, artifacts, and settings. Once again, Arthur proves himself a worthy hero as he overcomes his fears, weaknesses, and setbacks in order to save the people and the worlds that are depending on him, whether they know it or not. But of course, there will be more challenges to come. The series is aimed at a younger audience than Nix's masterful Sabriel (HarperCollins, 1996) and its sequels. While occasionally longer than they need to be, Arthur Penhaligon's adventures are absorbing and entertaining, with worthy characters and thought-provoking situations.–Susan L. Rogers, Chestnut Hill Academy, PA
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Review

"[Garth Nix is] the coolest read in the playground." Amanda Craig PRAISE FOR MISTER MONDAY: "I just loved Mister Monday, which is an amazing, no-holds-barred fantasy by Garth Nix. This is destined to be a cult series. Every chapter seems to bring something new and wonderful and ends with another surprise. In all honesty, I've never read anything quite like it and I simply can't wait for Tuesday." Anthony Horowitz "Magic splashes across every page! With a likeable unlikely hero, fast-paced plotting and a plethora of mystical oddities, this series is sure to garner a host of fans." Publishers Weekly starred review --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.