Press:

 The Uninvited

Reviews of The Uninvited

"...The Uninvited is…the kind of engaging, evocative, nuanced book that has won Wynne-Jones numerous awards. But its dead-on, quirky dialogue and big messy issues should attract a wide readership from grade 9 up."

"...The story is genuinely scary, as Wynne-Jones evokes both the beauty and the potential violence of country life…With its dark legacies, intriguing relationships, hidden chambers, forbidden love, and flowing blood, The Uninvited has all the appeal of a sexy vampire, sans fangs."
                                                -- Maureen Garvie, Quill & Quire

"...The Uninvited is a first-rate thriller with lots of twists and turns (the ending is excellent) and some very sympathetic characters. It’s straightforward suspense writing that takes no shortcuts. This one is for teens who want to sit on the edge of their seat without any supernatural tricks."
                                               -- Colleen Mondor, the blog Bookslut

"...Wynne-Jones, who has proved with his A Thief in the House of Memory that he has the knack for endowing a setting with all the attributes of a living, breathing character, outdoes himself here…but the author’s greatest feat is the development of…three [leading] characters and their relationship to each other. By shifting among the trio’s points of view, the author explores how circumstances can shape the best and worst of us, and nothing is as simple as it first appears."
-- Jennifer M. Brown, the newsletter Shelf Awareness

"...The Uninvited [is] a thriller, mystery and family drama in one, written with Wynne-Jones’ usual lyric style, with a page-turning quotient that should propel most readers forward in a headlong rush…Wynne-Jones is well able to blend the drama and suspense of a thriller with a novel that has a rich literary texture."

“…Wynne-Jones has consistently raised the bar for literary thrillers: The Boy in the Burning House (rev. 11/01) and A Thief in the House of Memory (rev. 5/05) showcased his talents for suspenseful plotting, nuanced characterization, atmospheric sense of place, and humanistic themes; but The Uninvited may be the best one yet.” – Starred review, The Horn Book

“...Wynne-Jones (Rex Zero, King of Nothing) creates a tale of twisted family…The characters have strong voices and personalities—their realness, coupled with the idyllic setting, contrasts starkly (and thrillingly) with the story's dark side. If the number of letches and unbalanced individuals that Mimi attracts appears extreme, readers will probably be too caught up in the action to care. Ages 14–up.” – Publishers Weekly

"…The mystery of why her father has kept from her the information about Jay's existence takes a backseat to Mimi's own journey as she begins to bond with her half-brother and to stand up for herself in the face of these strange occurrences at their father's cottage. Wynne-Jones plants some tantalizing red herrings, and the plot will keep teens turning pages, but the author's greatest feat is in the development of these three characters and their connection to each other. By shifting among the trio's points of view, the author explores how circumstances can shape the best and worst of us, and nothing is as simple as it first appears."
-- Shelf Awareness

Rex Zero, King of Nothing

That smart and funny sixth grader introduced in Rex Zero and the End of the World (Farrar, 2007) is back. . . . Wynne-Jones perfectly and poignantly captures Rex's confusion with life and grown-ups . . . Laugh-out-loud funny… While it is not necessary to have read the first book to enjoy this one, children will no doubt want to read it after and will look forward to more adventures." —Starred, School Library Journal

"Wynne-Jones brilliantly plays Rex's comfortable childhood world against the adult one Rex is just beginning to discern; the elegantly simple child-logic he applies to the latter yields both catastrophic and heroic results... Well worth the ride." —Starred, The Horn Book

"Set in Ottawa in 1962, the story offers well-crafted, eccentric characters, laugh-out-loud humor, and a generous dose of 1960s culture... Fans and preteens contemplating that long bridge to adulthood will be charmed." —Starred, Booklist

"These seemingly uncorrupted characters are well aware of darkness. None of it touches their heroic childlike determination." —Kirkus Reviews

"Once again, Wynne-Jones handily balances the humorous quirkiness of his hero with truly troublesome undercurrents of adult concerns that disturb his peace."
—Bulletin for the Center of Children's Books

"Rex's fans . . . will be charmed." —Book Links

 "...a wonderfully textured story...Wynne-Jones' skill is most apparent in the cast of memorable characters who are so well-drawn that readers feel as if they were sitting right in the living room listening to the kids stomp up and down the stairs."
 - CM Magazine

 "Readers of 'Rex Zero and the End of the World' will cheer the return of this intelligent, funny, and totally original hero...Wynne-Jones creates a host of believable characters who jump right off the page an into your heart."
 - North Toronto Town Crier

 "Wynne-Jones goes from strength to strength...Every one of [his] characters is fully realized and every sentence interesting - this story never bows to the predictable. [He] captures perfectly the bizarre logic and comfortable arguments of family life."
 - Toronto Star

 "What more can be said about Tim Wynne-Jones and his remarkable stories? He is a gifted writer and continually creates characters to love and stories to make you stop and think."
 - Brandon Sun

"There are some laugh out loud moments. Descriptions are often memorable or lyrical as when Mother says things that happened during the war are 'like stones on your father's heart.' Thoroughly enjoyable tale of Ottawa in the sixties and some neat kids." —Sue Carita, The Toadstool Bookshop

Rex Zero and the End of the World

“Brilliant in its near stream-of-consciousness depiction of the world as Rex sees it . . . The meticulous plotting sets the enormity of world destruction against the equally cataclysmic concerns of childhood.  It’s a historic narrative that resonates eerily and effectively today.” –Starred, The Horn Book

"Wynne-Jones writes with a light, often humorous touch and maintains a perspective true to an 11-year-old's perspective. This winning hero paints a universe both hopeful and realistic, one that readers may well want to visit."--Starred, Publishers Weekly

"Delightfully nerve-wracking, eccentric and optimistic."  --Kirkus Reviews

“The sense of looming doomsday will hold readers, as will the timeless drama of moving and trying to fit in.” –Booklist

“A fast-moving, quirky romp through apocalyptic anxiety.”  —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Eccentric and charming.”    —VOYA

“An unusual and appealing title.”  --School Library Journal, May 2007

 "Despite the weighty themes, Wynne-Jones writes with a light, often humorous touch and maintains a perspective true to an 11-year-old's perspective... This winning hero paints a universe both hopeful and realistic, one that readers may well want to visit."
 - Publishers Weekly, starred review

 "The present-tense narrative is brilliant in its near stream-of-consciousness depiction of the world as Rex sees it... The meticulous plotting sets the enormity of world destruction against the equally cataclysmic concerns of childhood, all magnified through the lens of Rex's vivid imagination. It's a historic narrative that resonates eerily and effectively today."
 - Horn Book, starred review

 "[Wynne-Jones] has totally captured this particular historical moment and, through the enthralling narrative voice he's created, made it truly come alive to contemporary readers. A character who will utterly enchant readers, Rex Zero is funny (without always realizing how hilarious he is), creative, imaginative, inventive, and exasperating - everything you'd expect of a 10-year-old trying to negotiate his way through a world he doesn't always understand."
 - Quill & Quire, starred review

 "[Rex Zero and the End of the World] is a delightful novel with arresting characters, written for a readership that will find touchstones of its own."
 - Globe and Mail

 "Delightfully nerve-wracking, eccentric and optimistic."
 - Kirkus Reviews

 "Tim Wynne-Jones is in top form in this novel..."
 - Globe and Mail

 "Wynne-Jones does a masterful job capturing the time period in a novel that will not only appeal to boys today, but to their uncles and grandfathers as well."
 - CM Magazine

 "...an unusual and appealing title. ... the memorable characters and the animal mystery will keep the pages turning."
 - School Library Journal

 "...hilarious... Rex's family and friends are an amazing crew of appealing and intriguing characters... This novel will appeal to young readers who enjoy humour and learning about Canadian history."
 - Resource Links

Boy in the Burning House

"Wynne-Jones builds an action-packed thriller around the mysterious disappearance of a Canadian farmer . . . His son, Jim, starts to suspect foul play . . . after a teenage acquaintance, "crazy" Ruth Rose, makes some startling accusations . . . Will keep the pages turning." --Publishers Weekly

"Wynne-Jones weaves a strong, sensitively observed cast, plus themes of inner conflict, unlikely friendships, and the enduring power of hate, into a powerful tale." --Kirkus Reviews

"A gripping, fast-moving plot that offers the pure adrenaline rush of a thriller." --Starred, The Horn Book

A Thief in the House of Memory

"...this rich and rewarding novel will appeal most to thoughtful readers who appreciate a sad and bittersweet read."
 - School Library Journal, starred review

"From first chapter to last, Wynne-Jones masterfully evokes the surreal quality of faded memories enhanced or distorted by the imagination. Readers will be just as consumed as the hero is in his search for answers."
 - Publishers Weekly, starred review

 "Equal parts tricky and haunting: unambiguously memorable."
 - Horn Book

 "This beautifully written and distinctive novel combines a suspenseful mystery with an intriguing family drama about secrets."
 - School Library Journal

 "Whether he's making our skin tingle with unease in the dark mansion, or making us chortle at the witty, affectionate banter of Declan's school friends...his prose is polished to a gleam."
 - Quill & Quire

 "Wynne Jones' writing style is very vivid, fresh and evocative..."
 - Globe and Mail

 "Wynne-Jones' writing is beyond the familiar...In this prose, nothing is lost; like good poetry, each word carries its own weight and meaning."
 - Toronto Star

 "Wynne-Jones skillfully builds tension in his interdependent conflicts that emphasize the importance of the truth."
 - CM Magazine

 "In this complex and multi-layered coming-of-age novel...Tim Wynne-Jones, with his usual adept brush strokes, paints another portrait of an appealing teenager's internal journey as he struggles to understand his loss, to accept change, and to create meaning within his world. Highly Recommended."
 - Canadian Children's Literature - CBRA

 "...part gripping mystery and part psychological study of how the past influences the present. It is a short, surprising novel, beautifully observed and totally absorbing."
 - Young Post

"Becoming absorbed in this book is like entering a dream. From first chapter to last, Wynne-Jones masterfully evokes the surreal quality of faded memories enhanced or distorted by the imagination.  Alluring."  -- Starred, Publishers Weekly

"This is a beautifully written novel...rich and rewarding." 
-- Starred, School Library Journal

"Vividly written."  -- Booklist

"Melancholy, uncanny, and emotionally powerful."  -- Starred, Kirkus Reviews

"Wonderfully subtle...unambiguously memorable."  -- The Horn Book

"The book carefully builds its mood, accruing layers of unease.  Readers who have enjoyed the combination of edge and cool sophistication of Wynne-Jones' previous works will find this pleasingly unsettling."  -- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Wynne-Jones does an excellent job of keeping the reader guessing without ever being dishonest.  Every character is nicely rounded, and all grow as lines of communication open when memories are finally laid to rest."  -- VOYA

"Young adolescent readers can relate to the author's superb writing style and characterizations."  -- SIGNAL

"Kept me on my toes." -- A YALSA Teen YA Galley Reader

"A great mystery. . . . You can't put it down!" --A YALSA Teen YA Galley Reader

Ned Mouse Breaks Away

 "A very fine introduction to the not always gentle art of satire by one of children's literature's finest writers."
 - The Globe and Mail

 "Funny, light and deliciously different."
 - School Library Journal

 "This breezy novel brims with chuckles...Wynne-Jones's light-hearted caper perks along, fueled by Ned's sardonic wisecracks."
 - Publishers Weekly

The Maestro

"Complex and poignant, wrapped around a dramatic story line."
 - Publishers Weekly, starred review

 "A truly compelling adventure story."
 - Kirkus Reviews

 "...a gift for a group of readers not often enough offered work of this calibre."
 - Globe and Mail

 (as The Survival Game, UK Edition) "...marvelously tense... It's a remarkable book."
 - Books for Keeps (UK)

 (as The Survival Game, UK Edition) "Wynne-Jones paints a powerful picture of the effects of abuse... One of the most delightful aspects of this compelling story is Wynne-Jones's sharp perspicacity and language... An intensely enjoyable read for 12+."
 - Inis Magazine (Ireland)

Lord of the Fries

"Fresh dialogue, sympathetic and idiosyncratic protagonists, and surprises around every corner - these have become Wynne-Jones's calling cards, and he just gets better and better."
 - Publisher's Weekly, starred review

"These stories are, as always, written with breathtaking skill...another winner from one of our finest writers."
 - Quill and Quire, starred review

 "These stories are funny and full of the magic tricks of language."

1. Toronto Star

The Book of Changes

 "... with his prowess for crafting each tale so that it neatly comes full circle, Wynne-Jones makes the quotidian well worth reading about."
 - Publishers Weekly

 "The dialogue is laugh-out-loud funny in these touching short stories..."
 - Booklist

 "At the core of all these stories are surprises as delightful as the unexpected vacation from school."
 - Horn Book

Some of the Kinder Planets

"Funny and full of pithy, corkscrew logic and unique, unforgettable characters."
 - Horn Book, starred review

"Tim Wynne-Jones...has a good feel for young people...an outstanding collection of...contemporary fiction."
 - Quill and Quire, starred review

Stephen Fair

"Besides being adept at building a taut and involved story line and fleshing out offbeat characters, Wynne-Jones has a strong command of language, which emerges during his frequent plays on words."
 - Publishers Weekly, starred review

 "...a rich, allusive novel, the writing by turns lyrical and funny..."
 - Globe and Mail