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Summary

A whimsical tale of a gnome who doesn't know how to sell a house perched atop a troll's head.

Stats

Genre: Early chapter book, fantasy

Series length: Standalone book

Violence: None

Magic/Supernatural: Strong in that the story is placed in a world with many mythological creatures like gnomes and trolls.

Romance: None

Christian/spiritual element: Light morality tale-style

Recommendation: Beginning readers who like stories that tickle the whimsy. 

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Opening lines: 

"I've got a house I want you to sell, Obadiah." Great Owl Minsky blinked his eyes. 

Obadiah Holmes got up from his desk and put out his hand to shake his old friend's wing tip.

"I didn't know you owned another house, Minsky," said Obadiah.

​"I didn't." 

House on Troll Hill
by Donita K. Paul

Obadiah sold real estate—houses, farms, mansions, hollow logs, and old boots. Some of his clients were small.

Obadiah’s father had sold real estate. His grandfather had sold real estate. His great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather had sold real estate.

And one day, Obadiah would give the keys to the office to his son.
Or maybe he wouldn’t.

Selling real estate in a land most people considered make-believe sometimes presented problems.
​
There were days when Obadiah wanted to tune pianos, dig potatoes, drive a bus, or fix toasters. Some days he didn’t like being the only real estate agent in the Enchanted Forest.

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