The Hunchback Assignments by Arthur Slade Grades 6-10 288 pages Wendy Lamb Books September 2009 Hardcover     Modo has spent the last four years isolated behind the great walls of Ravenscroft. Rescued as a youngster from a traveling freak show, the deformed hunchback with the inimitable ability to shape-shift into any human form is now the ward of gentlemanly Mr. Socrates. Unbeknownst to Modo, Socrates has been training him to be an essential agent for a secret society known as the Permanent Association. As an underground band of criminals, branded the Clockwork Guild, hatch a plot to take over the British government by controlling London’s hierarchy and stealing its underprivileged youth, Modo and his beautiful sidekick, Octavia Milkweed, search for answers. But Modo is a novice, and time is running out. When Mr. Socrates disappears, desperation sets in as the two embark on a deadly quest to stop a terrorist plot. The Hunchback Assignments is a new steampunk tale of mystery and intrigue - think The Hunchback of Notre Dame meets James Bond within the setting of Victorian London. Dark and creepy, this action-packed story is filled with the gripping suspense of a cat-and-mouse game with deadly consequences. Seasoned author Arthur Slade develops his main character so well that the reader immediately feels for the poor deformed creature while becoming engaged in his heart and mind. The ending comes as a major letdown only because Book Two is not readily available. Keep your eyes peeled for The Dark Deeps. Unfortunately, at time of this writing, its release date remains a deep dark secret.     web reviews   Niki Masse Schoenfeldt/2010 for curled up with a good kid's book   For grown-up fiction, nonfiction and speculative fiction book reviews, visit our sister site Curled Up With a Good Book (www.curledup.com)