In Search of Goliathus Hercules

In Search of Goliathus Hercules honestly scared me a little when I heard about it.  A young boy finds out that he can speak with 6-legged insects and soon realizes he is becoming more bug-like by the day.  My immediate thought went straight to Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis and I am happy to report that In Search of Goliathus Hercules is (much) more interesting and exciting to read than Kafka.

Henri Bell’s father is lost in the Asia jungle, his mother is beside herself with worry, and forces Henri to be shipped across the Atlantic Ocean to live with his Great Aunt Georgie and her extensive button collection, but when something interesting happens one rainy day, Henri must make a choice that will affect his entire life.  This story is filled with mystery, intrigue, and adventure and was a delight to read.

I had a little trouble remembering all the characters’ names, but many of the secondary characters had great back stories with some character development that made them vital to the ongoing story arc.  This is Jennifer Angus’s first novel and I am excited to see what she can come up with next.  Her attention to detail, specifically to a Victorian-era traveling circus, British colony in Asia, and the search for new and exciting animal and insect species was very interesting to read.  Check out the author’s website here. Definitely take the chance to read this novel for the suspense, the bugs, or the adventure!

Title: In Search of Goliathus Hercules
Author: Jennifer Angus
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
Publication Date: 2013
Page Number: 352 pgs.