By Norton Juster
Copyright 1961
The Phantom Tollbooth is the story of a bored 10-year-old boy
named Milo. He was tired of school,
bored with his toys – really not interested in learning or doing anything - until the day a mysterious tollbooth appears
in his bedroom and he starts on an exciting journey through a magical kingdom. An adventure awaits him. He and two new companions, a watchdog named
Tock and a bug named Humbug, are charged with the responsibility of returning the
two princesses, Rhyme and Reason, to the Kingdom of Wisdom.
At one point, while driving peacefully along the road, Milo and
his friends are suddenly flung from the car and sail all the way to a small
island. Where have they landed? On the Island of Conclusions, of course. How did they get there? The way most people do – by jumping.
Unfortunately, it’s not as easy to leave the Island which is
why it is quite crowded. There is no
jumping away. The only way back is to
swim. Humbug complains that he doesn’t
like to get wet.
“Neither do they.
That’s what keeps them here. But
I wouldn’t worry too much about it, for you can swim all day in the Sea of
Knowledge and still come out completely dry.
Most people do.”
This book is so packed with wit and allegories about
knowledge and learning that I want to go back and read it again soon because I’m
sure I missed some gems.
What have I taken away from The Phantom Tollbooth this time?
It’s all a matter of viewing the world around us with wonder
and excitement. It’s about taking risks,
learning new things, and taking on adventures.
As far as the Island of Conclusions – don’t fall into the trap of judging
someone without knowing all the facts. It’s
a waste of time and it usually results in poor decisions. It’s much harder to swim through the Sea of
Knowledge, but the effort is worth it!
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