“Wouldn’t it be great if, somehow, by some miracle, the bond between father and daughter could be strong enough to overcome death? In Fred Holmes’s powerful new novel, The Ugly Teapot, we explore the enchanting power of that kind of love. The kind that refuses to give up hope. The kind that will never let go.”

—Reg Grant, author of
Storm: The Surprising Story of Martin Luther
(www.WordShaper.net)

“At its core a story of love and loss, Fred Holmes’s The Ugly Teapot uses classic forms of adventure and fantasy. It is a modern, thoughtful tale that reminds us... be careful what you wish for.”

—Carter Crocker, author of
Tale of the Swamp Rat and Last of the Gullivers

“The Ugly Teapot is a spellbinding novel that explores the ancient dilemma of tempting fate with a forbidden wish. Blending fantasy and reality, Fred Holmes takes you on a wild ride through the imagination of a young girl as she makes a life-altering choice. This is a great book for everyone, but especially for mothers and daughters.”

—Cheryl Ammeter, author of
Ivey and the Airship - Book I in the Aether’s Edge series

Never a dull moment

By 

Cheryl Koch

This review is for: The Ugly Teapot: Book One: Hannah (Volume 1) (Paperback)

First off let me start off by saying "OMG". This book is a must read and must purchase. I literally could not stop reading it. Mr. Holmes is a very talented writer. Reading about Mr. Holmes' background working on television shows, it helped him in this case with his first fiction novel. I have read many children and young adult books and this one will really appeal to both the younger and older audience.

Hannah is a fearless young girl. This is what I liked about her best. Than there is Hannah's father and traveling companions including Grif, Hannah's dog. One of the things I liked the most was the reference to the different stories like Aladdin and Tarzan. Of course, I can't forget the exciting, thrilling, magical adventure that Hannah and everyone else went on. There was never a dull moment to be had in this book. The ending left me wanting to read the next book.

The Ugly Teapot is a novel about 14-year-old Hannah Bradbury, a girl who is mourning her father’s death. Hannah's father, Gil Bradbury, was a famous photographer who explored and captured the wonders of the world while Hannah’s mother stayed home with Hannah and her two younger brothers at their house in Green Park, Tennessee. Gil was Hannah’s role model, and it seems like she has lost him forever after his death. However, Hannah soon finds out that may not be the case.

She discovers an old teapot that her father gave to her after one of his many expeditions. After examining the gift further, Hannah realizes it is no ordinary teapot, but instead a magical lamp. She rubs the lamp and a genie appears- but more importantly, so does the opportunity of three wishes that will take Hannah on a journey far crazier than any of her father’s expeditions.

Opinion: 

I really enjoyed reading The Ugly Teapot by Fred Holmes. From the very beginning, this novel captured and held my attention. The protagonist, Hannah, was a strong female character who exhibited bravery and strength throughout the story. She was very likeable, and I found her character easy to relate to.

I liked how this story was filled with action but still dealt with heavy subjects, including death and grief. I think the author did a nice job in finding the balance between happy and sad; some scenes were fun and adventurous while others provoked deep thinking. The plot was well-developed and executed, and the story kept me guessing until the very end.

Overall, I would definitely recommend The Ugly Teapot to any reader looking for an action-packed story with sentimental themes.