It is a constant delight to me that, though they seem to be few and far between, creative and imaginative children’s novels are still being produced. One of my favorites is Trenton Lee Stewart’s The Mysterious Benedict Society series, the first installment of which was published in 2007. I’ve written about Stewart’s books before, and a recent reread has me firmly convinced that, given a bit more time, these novels deserve a place in the canon of Western children’s literature. Another standout is Gary D. Schmidt’s books, particularly The Wednesday Wars and The Labors of Hercules Beal. And while they are a little silly, I personally enjoy the first five Percy Jackson books by Rick Riordan.
The latest addition to this personal list is Jonathan Auxier’s Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes, a 2011 book that captured my attention with its thoughtful prose, air of mystery, and blind protagonist. Yes indeed, Peter Nimble is blind.
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