7 /10 1 Votes
Originally published 1 October 2005 | 3.5/5 Goodreads | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Hubert Invents the Wheel is a historical novel developed by Claire and Monte Montgomery about the invention of the wheel. The book took 1.5 years to write and publish. The creators sent it to 65 publishing companies. Of those recipients, 64, including Disney, rejected it. The story centers on a 15-year-old Sumerian boy, Hubert, who is trying to be an inventor. His father, Gorp, tries to stop Hubert. Hubert succeeds in creating a wheel to work faster, but the Assyrians use his invention for evil. Hubert must save his people.
School Library Journal's review indicates that the story is liberally sprinkled with modern concepts and references like road rage, a "new and certified pre-owned sledge dealership", and an "edifice complex". It further indicates that the book "[balances broad comic scenes with] wordplay and lively dialogue." Missouri teachers selected the book for their Reading Circle program and PBS TeacherSource recommended it, among others.