HUBERT INVENTS THE WHEEL

Fifteen-year-old Mesopotamian Hubert will never be the Hauler his father hopes he will. Hubert takes after his mother; he’s a scrawny, brainy inventor. Still, he tries to please his dim-but-well-meaning, sledge-driving Dad since Mom was lost in an unfortunate umbrella incident. Hubert and his onager (small horse with large attitude) Hodja invent in their spare time. Though founded on sound ideas, Hubert’s inventions always go wrong until he invents the wheel and changes society—and puts it in danger from hunky-but-desperate Assyrian leader Ajax. Ever the answer man, Hubert saves his city from Ajax’s plot and all ends well. Anachronism, silly humor and slapstick abound in this history-that-never-was adventure. Some of the humor will shoot over the most astute of the target audience: Vain Queen Eridu likes statues of herself; everyone knows she has an Edifice Complex. However, there are enough laughs and action to keep readers reading, and Shelly’s cartoon illustrations are an asset. (Fiction. 9-12)