The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Book Review of Funny, Inspiring, Children’s Novel
Nov 9, 2009
Published in 1961 by Yearling, a division of Random House, Norton Juster’s The Phantom Tollbooth is a young adult novel that brings to life a child’s imagination through the story of young Milo, and teaches a hidden lesson in the process.
A Fun Story With Good Characters
Milo is a boy who does not enjoy school, or home, learning or playing. When a toy tollbooth appears in his bedroom one day, Milo’s curiosity is just enough to make him pass through into a world where imagination takes over. There Milo meets peculiar characters in peculiar places.
On his way to a place called Dictionopolis, Milo stops thinking and finds himself in the Doldrums, where thinking is not allowed. In Dictionopolis, Milo meets people who use as many words as possible, sell words in the word market and eat words at a banquet. There Milo also learns of lost princesses, Rhyme and Reason, and sets out on a mission to rescue them.
On his way to a placed called Digitopolis, Milo encounters a scientist who creates unpleasant sounds and an orchestra conductor whose orchestra paints the colours in the world. While Dictionopolis is a place where words are most important, Digitopolis is where numbers are more important. Only the return of Rhyme and Reason will make the two kingdoms find peace.
Great Writing and Imagination
Complete with illustrations by Jules Feiffer, The Phantom Tollbooth is a story that touches all five senses with its amusing characters and their individual viewpoints. From an orchestra that paints the sky rather than making music, to a soundkeeper who claims to love silence, but stores all recorded sounds in her castle, the novel inspires the imagination while entertaining the reader.
As The Phantom Tollbooth is intended as a children’s novel or for young readers, it is a great activity exercising the uses of words and numbers in a way that feels fun rather than educational. The novel also sneaks in lessons about making the most of life, as Milo learns never to waste his time.
A Novel for Everyone
While the novel is written for young readers, it can also be an interesting read for adults who enjoy dabbling in the ridiculous. The book is written in such a way that adults will better understand the fun of the language for example: Milo meets a watchdog who is a dog with a clock in his side and makes sure no one wastes any time, and a spelling bee who is an insect that insists on spelling everything out.
The Phantom Tollbooth makes a fantastic gift for a young reader. It is a great novel for anyone who likes to stretch the imagination and laugh at the result.
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