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Tom Calarco is the author / editor of eight books about the Underground Railroad including The Underground Railroad and the Adirondack Region, for which he won the year 2008 Underground Railroad Free Press award for the advancement of knowledge in Underground Railroad studies. His latest book was published on KDP in 2023, A Higher Law: The Life of Orson S. Murray, commissioned by his descendants. A graduate of the Creative Writing program at Iowa State University, he has written for many publications, including many years as stringer for antiques publications, a decade as a classical music reviewer, and for nearly a decade writing the column, “Profiles in Perseverance,” which highlighted the achievements of lawyers who overcame great personal obstacles to achieve success, for Diversity and the Bar magazine. Hi-doh Hi-dee Ha-Ha is his only published novel.
Reviewed by Janelle Fila for Readers' Favorite
Hi-doh Hi-dee Ha-Ha chronicles the adventures of a boy whose fantastic journey brings him the knowledge of the meaning of life through song, laughter, and heart-throbbing, death-defying deeds. I loved the illustrations in Hi-doh Hi-dee Ha-Ha by Tom Calarco. They were quirky and funny and fitted very nicely into the story. It reminded me of some great books that include pictures, specifically Sherman Alexie's The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian and Shel Silverstein's poetry books.
This story reminded me of the classic Wayside Story by Louis Sachar. Really quirky but cute and clever. Not too weird but just weird enough to be off the beaten track. And with character names like Deezel Doubtfodder, Smellifluous, and places like Gorge Ess Ness, I was reminded of Dr. Seuss and his crazy concoctions. Yet none of it felt over the top and none of it seemed forced or weird. It all strangely worked to make an interesting story.
I also enjoyed the different transformations and journeys Charles took along this trip. I think all kids have dreamed about escaping their everyday, normal, boring lives and finding themselves in an exotic new place (as a dandelion seed or a hot dog perhaps?). I used to make believe I was in the lands of all of the books I read, so I can totally see kids devouring the idea of becoming something so interesting and unique. The idea that there are so many different adventures is unique to this book. Charles doesn't just become one thing: he transforms into multiple different species and has so many wonderful experiences that kids of all ages will enjoy this story.
