Figgs & Phantoms facts for kids

First edition

Figgs & Phantoms is a funny and mysterious young adult novel written and illustrated by Ellen Raskin. It was published in 1974 and received a special award called the Newbery Honor Book, which means it was recognized as one of the best children's books of that year.

What's the Story About?

The book tells the story of Mona Lisa Figg Newton, a teenage girl who lives in a made-up town called Pineapple. Mona lives with her very unusual family. Her mom, Sister Figg Newton, loves to tap dance! She also has several uncles with interesting nicknames: Truman the Human Pretzel, Romulus the Walking Book of Knowledge, Remus the Talking Adding Machine, and Kadota, who has nine performing dogs. There's also her cousin, Fido the Second.

Mona gets along best with her uncle Florence, who buys and sells old books. A big part of the Figg family's life is something they call "Capri." This is like a special family heaven or a perfect place they hope to reach. It's part of a tradition passed down through their family for many years.

Uncle Florence really wants to find his own Capri. But Mona is worried that if he succeeds, he might leave her all alone.

A Reading Adventure

This book is quite unique because it's like a puzzle for the reader! At the beginning, it hints that it's a "mysterious romance or a romantic mystery." However, the book doesn't directly talk about a mystery again.

Instead, to figure out some of the strange things happening in the story, readers need to pay attention to clues. Uncle Florence leaves behind hints in the form of books, history, and music. You might need to look into the writings of authors like Joseph Conrad and William Blake, or even the music of Gilbert and Sullivan.

You can enjoy the book just as a wild and imaginative journey. But if you follow the clues and solve the hidden mystery, you'll learn even more about Uncle Florence and the true meaning of his search. It's like reading a book and solving a secret code at the same time!