“That Unconscious Forest was the very picture of uncivilization…but who could say anything for sure about going-ons…where strange wonders congregate and conspire against all of human so-called common sense?” Uncle Leonard “Unc” was a mad scientist, a hermit dwelling in the Unconscious Forest. A fire and explosion signaled his demise and decimated his woodland cottage. Unc’s creation, a frankensteinian-like critter, was bequeathed to his nephew, Lemuel, a resident of the village of Hmm. Why oh why, was Lem gifted “a creature” while his younger sister, Shane scored Unc’s life savings of $74.25?

Yonder, created by Unc, “disarranged your entire deductive facility.” He was about one and two-thirds the height of an emperor penguin. His appearance was baffling; “imagine Unc in his lab, splooshing genes up in a blender, or slapping mismatched rutting species together.”

Let’s introduce Yonder to his new family and visit his digs in Hmm. Lemuel was an unauthorized fix-it man who often traveled from job to job by railroad hand-car. What was he to do with a “hazardous uncultured…mal-discontent animal,” this veritable lifestyle changer? Lemuel’s sister Shane, a fortune teller with an office in the garage, was keen on using her new found wealth to finance her run for mayor of Hmm. The reader’s visit to Hmm, with its eccentric characters, is packed with realistic themes that emerge through laugh out loud and madcap dialogue. References to our human frailties come to light and cannot be denied.

-Readers beware! Yonder has knocked all of Lem’s books to the floor choosing to sleep on his large bookcase. Unfortunately, books to Yonder’s taste might be eaten. What dietary whims this beast possesses!.

-Yonder, a shy outsider, might disappear without a trace. When he became nervous, he was chameleon-like. He might turn into a grassy bump on a hill. His fur might camouflage itself into “the same colors and layout as the tulip wallpaper” in Shane’s bedroom. “His fur at times had the quality of shredded sponges and could retain oodles of dampidity.” With his gamey odor he really needed to be shaved and scrubbed down with an SOS pad.

-As campaign advisor to mayoral candidate Shane Washington, Yonder’s presence on the campaign trail was deemed a “voter magnet”. Shane claimed she was expanding everyone’s opportunity for happiness by running. She claimed that if elected, Lem would be required to pay an Inheritance Tax for Yonder.

-A visitor, wearing a seedy blue cape shadowed Yonder, appearing everywhere the creature was seen. The stranger/ visitor was nicknamed “The Strangitor” by Lem. Was the Strangitor kin? Lem’s protective instinct kicked in. After all, he was Yonder’s owner and was developing a fondness for his pet.

Yonder, the unique mixed beast inhabiting Hmm, as imagined by author Richard Martin, allows the reader to embark upon a magical journey that playfully and humorously touches on themes such as morality, medical ethics, politics, and delves into the intricacies of family. This reader couldn’t help but seek membership into Yonder’s posse! Kudos to author Martin for writing this unique, one of a kind, hilarious read peppered with popular culture fun references.

Thank you Apprentice House Press and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review