Margin Notes

Although it is often said, “Do not judge a book by its cover,” I personally believe this saying is purely metaphorical and not intended to be taken in the literal sense. Being an individual easily allured by aesthetic and unique artwork, I was instantly drawn to the old VHS style cover with the title Sunderworld V-01: The Extraordinary Disappointments of Leopold Berry. Upon examining this book, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that its author is non-other then Branson Riggs, an author whom I had enjoyed in middle school through the dark and alluring world he had created through his New York Time’s bestselling novel, “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.” Once more, I found myself encapsulated through Riggs’s mastery of worldbuilding.

Leopold Berry is a 17-year-old boy from Las Angeles who never seems to catch a break. When he was only twelve, Leopolds mother died of a terminal illness, forcing him to live with his hot-headed, self-centered, life coach father, Richter Berry. The only material things left connecting him to his mother is her yellow Volvo (Bessie), a 1987 LA tourist map (with a note “just in case” written in her handwriting), and a collection of video tapes of an old low budget kids’ fantasy tv show called “Sunderworld.”

Following the death of his mother, Leopold begins to have hallucinatory episodes, in which he sees creatures and scenes pulled directly from “Sunderworld.” On his 14^th birthday he becomes convinced that Sunderworld is real and that he is to follow the same path as the show’s protagonist. However, after waiting a whole day outside of his childhood home for a robotic Coyote bearing the keys to Sunder, Leopold begins to understand it had all been an episodic delusion triggered by trauma.

Three years pass and Leopold begins to see himself as very ordinary and completely average, and Richter always made a point to tell him how big of a disappointment he is. That is until,  over a span of three weeks, the Sunder hallucinations come back, and he is unsure if he should worry his best friend “Emmett” with this recent development. As the story starts, Leopold is sitting through an interview (arranged by his father of course) and out the window, behind the interviewer is a racoon engulfed in flames sitting a tree. It can’t possibly be real, but what if it is? Does this mean Leopold truly is chosen to save Sunder? Or is he as he is regularly reminded “impressively average.”

As mentioned previously, the strongest element contained within this novel is the world building. The setting of Las Angeles plays heavily into its atmosphere and story. The protagonist’s best friend (Emmett) is an expert on the city’s history, using his studious and passionate personality to add depth and background to settings. The fantasy elements of the novel add an extra dimension to the world and are integrated well into the city scape. The absurd fantasy initially introduced, often boarders on humorous, but as Leopold dives into this world, the magical quickly becomes the mundane. For example, popular fantasy novels such as “Harry Potter” separate the magical from the everyday, giving an otherworldly and alien element to the world. This novel differs in that a magical scene could include a parking attendant who is observed with leathery wings, or a pharmacy that sells magical focusers behind a locked plexiglass display case as if they were electronics. This seemingly average portrayal of the fantastical is a breath of fresh air.

The novel plays heavily on themes of feeling inadequate and fearing being average. The protagonist struggles with his self esteem and doubts his own abilities, often being tested and evaluated by professionals, only to be told he is “extraordinarily average.” Like most teens getting ready to make the jump from high school to the workforce or post-secondary, Leopold is constantly being challenged about his goals. Leopolds father, Richter, practically decides for him what he will do with his life, giving him few options and little agency over the direction of his life. Leopold expresses desire to work in the film industry, but this is quickly crushed by his father.

The constant failing of the protagonist is realistic because everybody fails, but this causes Leopold to slump lower and lower because of how alone he feels. However, by the novels end, Leopold realizes that he has been letting others’ perceptions of him hinder his personal potential, and once this realization occurs, Leopold begins to show his true potential. In conclusion I could not recommend this novel enough and based upon its end, I can not bear to wait for the second book in this series. Young adults will find relatability in the character of Leopold but it should be shared that this book is an emotional roller coaster filled with mystery.

Austin Gillespie is a BEd candidate at the University of New Brunswick. His undergrad was a major in History and a minor in English. Austin lives in Doaktown, New Brunswick and enjoys spending his time in nature, fishing, canoeing hiking, mountain biking, and ATVing. Austin also enjoys writing poetry and short stories while accompanied by his cats, Theo and Cheeto.