Escape Hat is a middle-grade fantasy fictional novel by Adam Kline set in a mythical land. The story's protagonist is Cecil Bean, while the antagonist is the evil black cat called Millikin. There is a conflict between good and bad luck because each is struggling to control the world, and Bean is caught in this conflict. Kline's main themes in the novel are the importance of loyalty and the mysterious forces of nature. The author also uses various literary elements such as imagery, paradox, and metaphors, among others, to enhance readers' experience.
Bean walks alongside his best friend, the lucky rabbit called Leek. Leek is a very important character in Bean’s life because he ensures that Bean is protected from bad luck. However, the biggest enemy of the lucky rabbit is Millikin, the evil black cat doing everything within his power to bring down Bean. The first theme that emerges from the friendship between Bean and Leek is loyalty. Leek is cautious and very loyal to Bean because he tries to keep away bad luck that is following Bean wherever he goes. One day, the evil black cat succeeds in hatching an evil plan that vanishes the lucky rabbit. Without the lucky rabbit, Bean struggles with bad luck and vows to look for his friend under whatever circumstance. On the other hand, Leek does his best to find Bean, ready to overcome many obstacles to reunite with Bean and protect him. Therefore, loyalty emerges as a vital theme. The other theme is the mysterious forces of nature because Cecil does not understand why he faces bad luck, and to get out, he must consult the magician.
To enhance readers' experience, Kline uses imagery to enable readers to see, smell and hear the events in the novel. For instance, when Cecil meets the magician, he is asked to smell his hat and predict if it is ordinary. Cecil says, “But apart from smelling a bit like the Great Imbrolio, it certainly seems quite normal." The only way Cecil can recover from the evil curse is by telling him the smell of the magician's hat if it is ordinary. In conclusion, Escape Hat is a debut children-entertaining novel by Kline, an award-winning screenwriter. The novel has animated illustrations and pictures to augment readers' experience, and that objective is easily achieved.
