Illustration by Emily Taylor
Flum is the comic relief in Honey Mountain. He is clumsy, hot-headed, often foolish and his speech is peppered with spoonerisms. He is, nevertheless, terrifically likeable, funny, extremely loyal, very affectionate towards his friends and intolerant of those he finds too proud and pompous.
When readers talk about the book he is nearly always mentioned and one grown up reviewer said “My favourite character would have to be Flum because he is energetic, goofy, and adorable, and every scene with him in made me laugh”.
Ruby, aged 11, wrote “I have just finished chapter 1 and it’s really good so far and I feel like I would be Kerflumdra because I’m very clumsy too”, demonstrating how children are keen to associate with characters in the imaginary world and connect with their foibles and failings.
When Flum graduated and it was time to choose his wings he picked the gaudiest pattern that he could find in all the colours of the rainbow. When his mother asked why he hadn’t gone for something more serviceable and suitable for a moth fairy he replied that as a born fool he might as well look like a jester.
During the course of the adventure each of the younger characters goes on a journey and faces one sort of challenge or another. They have to find a lot of courage that they didn’t know they had but they all step up to the plate and turn into heroes. Like those heroes of Star Wars they qualify to join the line-up, with chests puffed out, ready to receive whatever medals are going.
However, one question about Flum remains. Will he be like Sam Gamgee and retain the affection of the best-looking girl on the block, or I should say the most beautiful fairy in the forest?
