Christopher Mahoney

recommended for: ages 9-13 & all the way up including boys & reluctant readers (& reluctant writers)

I read the advance readers’ unedited copy, a paperback edition. It has significantly fewer pages (265) than does the hardcover edition (31 4 pages) due out on 2/2/09. I wonder what, if anything, I missed. I’m tempted to read “the whole book” if, in fact, there are significant differences/additions. I did notice some typos, although I also often notice those in final copy published books.

I really liked the writing style of this author. This is an engaging story with likeable characters. It’s a rollicking good time that many kids will enjoy. I see it for 9-13 year olds, both boys and girls, and as an adult who enjoys children’s and young adult books, I liked this book, which is geared to middle school readers. The villain was a bit over the top evil, but it worked ok for me, given the whole story. The kids were empowered, but the adults were not relegated to a back seat either. The reader must be willing to suspend disbelief in order to be entertained by this story, something that I found easy to do.

There’s a companion web site where readers can write alternate text, which apparently the author checks, or will be checking when the book is officially published. This makes this book even more appealing to reluctant readers, and reluctant writers too. It could also spark an interest in the sciences, even though it’s science fiction extremely heavy on the fiction.

Oh, and it’s obvious that sequels are planned, and I’m looking forward to any that get published.… (meer)

I think this book would be great for the intended age group. I loved the images described throughout the book as well as the little chapter drawings. I really felt like I knew what things were supose to look like. The book has a "Willy Wonka" feel to it without the candy. Christopher Mahoney also has an interactive website for this book. The end of the book holds a gold enevelope containing a code so you may log on to the site and change the story around to better fit your liking. I could not get this part to work, but it may have been just me. I am looking forward to the next book to see what happens on the adventure.… (meer)