I picked up The Neddiad from the used book shelf at the local bookstore just because I loved the cover. It’s a charming, humorous story, full of fascinating facts and eccentric characters. Written for 10-12 year olds, The Neddiad is the story of a kid named Neddie Wentworthstein in post-WWII America as he journeys across the country and acquires a small object of great value. The significance of the object is revealed to Neddie and his friends as they are pursued by some bad guys. Only the fate of the entire world hangs in the balance!
Neddie Wentworthstein’s adventure begins in Chicago. Neddie, about age 10, is the son of a successful businessman. Mr. Wentworthstein made his fortune selling shoelaces to the military during WWII. When Neddie mentions in passing that he would like to one day visit the Brown Derby restaurant in Los Angeles, Mr. Wentworthstein uproots the whole family (Neddie, mom and sister Eloise) to move to LA. They take the train, and on this part of the adventure, Neddie meets a variety of interesting characters, including a Shaman named Melvin in Albuquerque. Melvin, after observing Neddie in a kind of museum called the Indian Building, gives him a small stone turtle, telling him to hang on to it. As Neddie continues his journey west, he meets a famous actor and his son Sean as well as a ghost named Billy, and a suspicious character named Sandor Eucalyptus who is intent on stealing that turtle. Once in LA, even more folks get drawn in to Neddie’s tale, including a school security guard who looks a lot like Melvin.
Through Neddie and his friends, the reader learns a lot about turtles, dinosaurs, the Roman Coliseum, and Hollywood. While Neddie, with the help of his friends, does a pretty good job protecting the turtle, inevitably the bad guys find a way to get the upper hand and Neddie learns exactly what is on the line: the fate of the world.
Pinkwater’s writing is delightful. In my head, this book was narrated by Daniel Stern (à la The Wonder Years). It’s slightly daft, very humorous and reminiscent of “quest” literature in which the hero must travel to unusual places and deal with folks who might be an obstacle or might be an oracle. At one point, Neddie and his friends go to a live radio quiz show called “Who Knows?” The subject is “turtles” and Neddie’s friend Iggy and a guy they call Crazy Wig (who might be a shaman, too) reveal a lot of important information about turtles, tortoises and terrapins. The Rolling Donut is a frequent hangout for Neddie & co and this is where they encounter their nemesis as well as some space cops. The final action takes place at the La Brea Tar Pits (which translates at “the the tar tar pits” because La Brea means “the tar”). Neddie is a pretty cool hero who doesn’t let it go to his head.
This is an enjoyable tale that would be fun to read along with your kids. One of the overriding messages in it is not to worry, because worrying doesn’t get you anywhere, and to believe in yourself. But I wouldn’t say that imparting a message is the aim of this story. I think it’s just meant to be fun, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
