Vin Fiz meet the Neddiad

"Vin Fiz" is a children's book by adventure novelist Clive Cussler (Sahara), and it's all about the adventure two kids have flying across country on an enchanted vintage biplane named on the book’s cover. The book is also being read in Charles’ class.
Frankly, the book is a lot of fun, and this morning, while pouring over the news, I found an NPR article about a similar book by Daniel Pinkwater entitled “The Neddiad.”

"That's a neat hat," he said.

"It's a hoghead hat," I said.

"Mine's a Stetson," the kid said. "You want to trade?"

"For keeps?"

"Let's see how we look," the kid said.

We swapped hats.

"How do I look?" the kid said.

"You look like a hogger," I said. "Try the bandana."

"You look like a cowboy," the kid said. "You want to make the trade?"

"My father gave me the hat," I said.

"So? My father gave me that one. Your father a railroad man?"

"Shoelace man," I said. "Your father a cowboy?"

"Nah, movie star," the kid said. "I'm Seumas Finn."

"I'm Neddie Wentworthstein."

"My father is Aaron Finn. You know who he is?"

"Not sure."

"Did you see The Three Musketeers?"

"Wait! Is he the guy who played Dart-Onion?"

"That's him. He was Dart-Onion, and he was Count Luigi in The Swordmaster."

"He's good! Is he like that in real life?"

"Nah, he's an actor. He's in the bar, studying the cowboys, so he can be one. Are you here with your father?"

"I'm on my own. I understand the room where I'm staying has a ghost."

"No fooling?"

"So I'm told."

"A real ghost? How do you know?"

"Come with me," I said to Seumas Finn. I walked him over to the desk. "Charley," I said. "Does room 107 have a ghost in it?"

"Yes, but it's not a real bad one," Charley said.

"It's really a real ghost?" Seumas Finn asked Charley.

"It's a ghost," Charley said. "You know, it appears, it vanishes. Would you say that was real, or not-real?"

"When my father comes out of the bar, tell him I went with Neddie," Seumas said. "My father is the guy with the biggest cowboy hat."

"I know. Dart-Onion," Charley said.

From Chapter 11, 'The Neddiad' by Daniel Pinkwater

And that was most of the whole chapter! It's a fun look into a cross country adventure (Chicago to LA) via train and as to where to read it, it's better than hunting down Charles to take a peep at the Cussler book, “The Neddiad” is presented as a serial, online, before its April 2007 release. From the website: “Chapter One is now online, and, beginning August 1st, 2006, one new chapter will be posted every Tuesday.” And even better, you can post messages for the auther (the Grand Poobah) at the book's site!

Read and hear the NPR article HERE
Read the book HERE