Series
Genres
Description
Toby Lolness may be just one and a half millimeters tall, but he's the most wanted person in his world, the world of the great oak Tree. Toby's father has made a groundbreaking discovery: the Tree itself is alive, lowing with vital energy, and there may even be a world beyond it. Greedy developers itch to exploit this forbidden knowledge, risking permanent damage to their natural world. But Toby's father has refused to reveal his findings, causing the family to be exiled to the lower branches. Only Toby has managed to escape, but for how long? And how can he bear to leave his parents to their terrible fate?
Publication
Walker Books Ltd (2008), 400 pages
User reviews
LibraryThing member jolerie
"Every brain has its key," his father always used to say. "Mine is my bed. Yours is your plate. Eat before you think, or you'll think badly."
Standing a full one and half millimetres tall, Toby Lolness may not be much to look at, but what he lacks in height, he more than makes up for in his larger
Toby Alone is pure gold. The story, the characters, the place, brought me back to a time where everything was magical. A tree was not just a tree, but the home for thousands of little people and all manners of creatures and critters. Where the grass was not just grass, but the border that separated two different worlds, as far apart and strange as two differing planets. A story that not only opens the door of imagination for children and adults alike, Toby Alone is wonderfully reminiscent of a combination of The Borrowers meets Roald Dahl. The book brilliantly weaves in social commentary on environmental responsibilities and respecting the differences in one another, but is never heavy handed or overly blatant in its message. Highly recommended for the child in all of us!
Standing a full one and half millimetres tall, Toby Lolness may not be much to look at, but what he lacks in height, he more than makes up for in his larger
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than life curiosity and appetite. The son of a brilliant scientist and the only daughter of the wealthiest family around, Toby and his family live in The Tree. Their lives are turned upside down when a discovery made by Professor Lolness could potentially save The Tree if used responsibly, but if abused in the wrong hands, may spell the disaster for the only home Toby has ever known. Running for his life with enemies hunting him on every branch, where friend has become foe, exiled and alone, Toby will have search deep within himself to find the courage and strength to be the hero he never imagined existed.Toby Alone is pure gold. The story, the characters, the place, brought me back to a time where everything was magical. A tree was not just a tree, but the home for thousands of little people and all manners of creatures and critters. Where the grass was not just grass, but the border that separated two different worlds, as far apart and strange as two differing planets. A story that not only opens the door of imagination for children and adults alike, Toby Alone is wonderfully reminiscent of a combination of The Borrowers meets Roald Dahl. The book brilliantly weaves in social commentary on environmental responsibilities and respecting the differences in one another, but is never heavy handed or overly blatant in its message. Highly recommended for the child in all of us!
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LibraryThing member SmithSJ01
A highly enjoyable Sunday morning spent reading this book. Although aimed at young adults this is a book that should appeal to an audience of any age. At times it is so easy to forget that Toby is actually teeny tiny and lives in a tree! I so wish I could read French as I would love to read it in
Every now and again there are some wonderful translations by Francois Place and they add so much to the story, especially (I imagine) for children. I felt how I feel when ever I pick up a Roald Dahl book - you have a fabulous story but then Quentin Blake's illustrations just add something else to it.
The story is a reflection on society although many other aspects could be taken away from the book. What you get from it will depend firstly on your age I believe. Secondly it depends on your interest or on what level you are reading it. On its own, it's a tremendous story, after that you can see aspects of environmental issues and a society who want to prosper but at the detriment of future generations. It is a novel about love and fighting for what you believe in. It is truly magical!
It's not quite a five for me, although I have a feeling that the second part will achieve the five. The characters are convincing and I think the setting is truly imaginative. It does borrow on other children's stories but I feel they have been used as stimulus to get the story started and then it has taken off on its own. I seem to be talking myself into 5 stars here but I will stick with my original 4.5 ;-).
Happy reading.
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it's native language, however the translation was excellent and I don't really feel I'm actually missing anything.Every now and again there are some wonderful translations by Francois Place and they add so much to the story, especially (I imagine) for children. I felt how I feel when ever I pick up a Roald Dahl book - you have a fabulous story but then Quentin Blake's illustrations just add something else to it.
The story is a reflection on society although many other aspects could be taken away from the book. What you get from it will depend firstly on your age I believe. Secondly it depends on your interest or on what level you are reading it. On its own, it's a tremendous story, after that you can see aspects of environmental issues and a society who want to prosper but at the detriment of future generations. It is a novel about love and fighting for what you believe in. It is truly magical!
It's not quite a five for me, although I have a feeling that the second part will achieve the five. The characters are convincing and I think the setting is truly imaginative. It does borrow on other children's stories but I feel they have been used as stimulus to get the story started and then it has taken off on its own. I seem to be talking myself into 5 stars here but I will stick with my original 4.5 ;-).
Happy reading.
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LibraryThing member ThorneStaff
Toby Alone is a translation from the French; the first in a two-part series that really needs the second part in order to have a satisfactory ending to the story as a whole. It premises a Lilliputian community of 10 cm high persons who live in a large tree and consider the tree their entire
Through a series of events Toby ends up alone, his parents in prison, and the story centers on his attempts to free them. There is; however, no satisfactory ending to this particular book; thus I look forward to reading the ending of the 2-part series, which should be published in English in late fall of 2010.
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universe. They live much as humans do, with the exception that they face the types of problems only 10 cm high persons would face - giant beetles, birds, etc. that pose a threat to their existence. Toby and his family have been exiled from the upper reaches of the tree because Toby's father, a scientist, will not share a particular discovery he's made with the powers that be - a discovery that if it was shared could lead to the total destruction of their world.Through a series of events Toby ends up alone, his parents in prison, and the story centers on his attempts to free them. There is; however, no satisfactory ending to this particular book; thus I look forward to reading the ending of the 2-part series, which should be published in English in late fall of 2010.
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LibraryThing member TammyPhillips
Toby Alone has classic elements shared by other juvenile fiction such as Watership Down and The Little Prince. There are strong allegorical undertones throughout that make this novel a strong candidate for use in the classroom. I look forward to reading the sequel.
LibraryThing member Megabaker
An allegorical tale for children about environmental issues, this book would make an excellent read for a middle school class. It is full of possibilities for discussions about morals, character motivation, and ties to our own world. The only downside to the book is that the ending is very
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unfinished, necessitating reading the sequel. (Note: there is some violence in this book, though less than in many fantasy books) Show Less
LibraryThing member edellaporta
Really original and imaginative. Great adventure story while giving reader a fresh perspective on ecology.
Awards
Parents' Choice Book Award (2009)
IBBY Honour Book (2010)
The White Ravens (2007)
Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire (Winner — 2007)
Language
Original language
French
Original publication date
2006
ISBN
1406313157 / 9781406313154