The Lifters, by Dave Eggers

This is one of the newer books in the library since the start of the new year, and one I didn't really pay much attention to until a student returned it and told my human that it was good. So, he brought it home and I gave it a try! It reminded me of a mix of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein, and something Neil Gaiman might write. In other words, it was quirky and odd, but it kept you reading...it isn't anything I can put my paw on as far as what I liked and what I found odd, it was simply a mixture of everything. But a good mixture! The story is a fantasy tale where this force called The Hollows blows tunnels underneath places where people are experiencing sadness or turmoil.  Gran, the main character, finds himself becoming one of the Lifters - someone who tries to keep the ground from collapsing- and thus houses, schools, churches, buildings, etc. I can't totally compare it to anything else I've read, which on its own is a good thing - so often books seem to follow the same script a lot, so something different is a welcome change! But it's almost too quirky...I don't know - YOU read it and let me know what you think! I give it 4 paws...how many would you give it?