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ozblom24's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
jennymock's review against another edition
4.0
This book caught my interest right away. I really didn't think that it would. I very much enjoyed the humor, but I never laughed out out. I can see some of my students getting into this book and, potentially, the series. Mack is someone you can easily identify with even though some characteristics, like his laundry list of phobias, are pretty far out there.
michellehenriereads's review against another edition
4.0
My first reaction to The Magnificent 12, The Call would be odd, however, odd in a good way. It was off the wall funny and will tickle many kids imaginations. I had to read the sentence twice when we hear that Grimluk was married with a child at 12 and could no longer be carefree like he was when he was only nine years old. I certainly didn't expect that little odd twist.
The story line jumps back and forth from present day with Mack and three thousand years ago with Grimluk when the problems with the Pale Queen were ramping up. Both story lines have funny moments, though Grimluk's life is by far stranger.
This is an example of when the literary device of an ordinary hero works, because ...
To read my full review go to http://talesuntangled.wordpress.com
The story line jumps back and forth from present day with Mack and three thousand years ago with Grimluk when the problems with the Pale Queen were ramping up. Both story lines have funny moments, though Grimluk's life is by far stranger.
This is an example of when the literary device of an ordinary hero works, because ...
To read my full review go to http://talesuntangled.wordpress.com
kristenremenar's review against another edition
4.0
Fast, funny, action-packed, first in a series - easy sell to Percy Jackson fans. I read it in one morning and my son was clambering to get his hands on it next.
mikaiten's review against another edition
3.0
I actually really enjoyed this book. I'm so glad the next one is out now/soon because I think it will be just as good. Fun and funny characters, and a good plot so far. And the author didn't try to cram every little detail into one book. Good start to what I hope is a good series.
sillydog43's review against another edition
4.0
Great Book. For anyone who likes michael grants gone series. The way he writes is great for anyone from childhood to teen years.
nssutton's review against another edition
4.0
We got a copy of this book into the school library this week and it caused a little bit of a controversy in the sticker department. A co-worker wanted it labeled as humor and I wanted it to be labeled as adventure. I hadn't read many reviews of it, as not to cloud my Cybils judgment prior to reading, but from the obvious facts it was an adventure first. My co-worker, having flipped through it, was adamant that we market it as humor. Having now completed it, I humbly concede to her opinion.
This book is hilarious. I like the globe-hopping premise, the promise of new characters in each book and the pacing of alternating storyline chapters. I quickly warmed to Golem's diary for Mack, although it took me a little longer to realize that some of the character names were plays on other words. Blame it on the brain fog, I'm so knee deep into this cold and lost my voice completely somewhere in the middle of last night's midnight viewing of The Room.
As a side note, I'm interested to know if series that incorporate online components, such as those in this book, The Search for WondLa and The 39 Clues, are actually doing well among particular demographics of middle-grade readers. As a grown-up, I'm on the fence - I like that the book can be expanded into an experience, without necessarily having to be option for a television show or movie, but I still have some reservations. Is it meant to target reluctant readers, or those who need to immerse themselves completely into a series before moving on to the next big thing? Is there an equal level of participation among genders? What does it say about the future of reading experiences for children on the wrong side of the digital divide?
Although I wasn't crazy over Michael Grant's YA series, I'm looking forward to keeping up with this series and hope that it becomes the Next Big Thing.
This book is hilarious. I like the globe-hopping premise, the promise of new characters in each book and the pacing of alternating storyline chapters. I quickly warmed to Golem's diary for Mack, although it took me a little longer to realize that some of the character names were plays on other words. Blame it on the brain fog, I'm so knee deep into this cold and lost my voice completely somewhere in the middle of last night's midnight viewing of The Room.
As a side note, I'm interested to know if series that incorporate online components, such as those in this book, The Search for WondLa and The 39 Clues, are actually doing well among particular demographics of middle-grade readers. As a grown-up, I'm on the fence - I like that the book can be expanded into an experience, without necessarily having to be option for a television show or movie, but I still have some reservations. Is it meant to target reluctant readers, or those who need to immerse themselves completely into a series before moving on to the next big thing? Is there an equal level of participation among genders? What does it say about the future of reading experiences for children on the wrong side of the digital divide?
Although I wasn't crazy over Michael Grant's YA series, I'm looking forward to keeping up with this series and hope that it becomes the Next Big Thing.
jennutley's review against another edition
3.0
Premise: A long time ago, twelve 12-year-olds banished a evil sorceress for the longest period of time they could conceive of: 3,000 years. Now, our 12-year-old hero needs to find eleven other friends to help defeat her for good.
I think this one might have been more fun as a read-aloud and that a kid from 8-12 would have loved the humor a bit more than I did. A fun start to a series but not much for a first book. Seems like it was only about half a book. Trying to keep it short for a middle reader. I'll probably read the next just to see where it goes. And I'll try it with my middle reader sometime.
I think this one might have been more fun as a read-aloud and that a kid from 8-12 would have loved the humor a bit more than I did. A fun start to a series but not much for a first book. Seems like it was only about half a book. Trying to keep it short for a middle reader. I'll probably read the next just to see where it goes. And I'll try it with my middle reader sometime.
jscarpa14's review against another edition
3.0
***NOTE MY REVIEWS OFTEN CONTAIN SPOILERS***
David "Mack" McAvoy is a bright, but average twelve-year-old with caring, but somewhat neglectful parents. When he saves the school bully - Stephan's life by helping stem the flow of blood after the boy puts his arm through a window he is taken under the big brute's wing. Though at first he isn't sure this is a good thing, he's grateful for the protection when an old man shows up informing Mack is fated to be the leader of The Magnificent 12, a group of twelve-year-old's, who through magic must save the world from the evil mother of all monsters, The Pale Queen. He might have ignored the man, but for the aged assassin and monsters who show up at his middle school to kill him. And so Mack and Stephan embark on a journey around the world to locate the rest of the magnificent twelve. But can a group of twelve-year-old's really save the world?
In a way I'm glad that I read the second book in this series before reading the first. Don't get me wrong, it's a good book filled with adventure and some funny scenes, however it pales in comparison to the hilarity of its sequel - The Trap (review to be posted on release date). While this book might have received a higher rating from me than it did, I probably wouldn't have bothered to pick up another book in the series which is very obviously geared to children, not really the type of book meant to expand to include adult interest. The difference between this and The Trap is even though they're both clearly geared toward children The Trap keeps you laughing from beginning to end so you don't really mind the immaturity of the book as an adult reader. This book has funny moments which make you smile, but it doesn't reach the same level of funny as The Trap does.
What makes this adventure novel so appropriate for children is that Grant takes the adventure and makes it out right silly. And though his topics are somewhat violent in nature, he manages to skip the really violent parts by giving the reader two intertwining story lines at the same time. In some chapters you are in the modern world with Mack seeing his world turn upside down. In others you are three thousand years in the past with Grimluk, engaged in a war against the Pale Queen. None of the chapters are really gruesome or gory and parts that you would expect to be scary are so silly in nature that they're laughable. Grant engages in a wonderful method of bringing adventure to children with a distinctive voice and original style. To be honest the book probably deserves a higher rating but it's hard to give it that with the comparison to its sequel so fresh in my mind.
I don't know if I'd so much call the characters well developed, however I would call them memorable. I don't think the characters are meant to be well developed in this story because the more realistic you make them, the less laughable they seem. As the goal of this adventure novel is laughter for once I think this is a positive thing. There's Mack with his numerous phobias freaking out about everything. Stephan, the dumb but brave bully ready to protect him. With a bunch of other characters along the way. My favorite character in this novel is the Golem whose mostly portrayed though journal entries and text messages. Because he has a brain made from mud, clay and magic he takes everything literally. So for example when a teacher asks if Mack is still devouring books, he says yes and promptly eats a book for her then can't understand why he gets in trouble. If everything else in the book was deadly serious, the Golem's passages would still be enough to keep the mood light and children laughing.
Overall this is an excellent tale of adventure and laughter that I believe children, especially boys will love.
David "Mack" McAvoy is a bright, but average twelve-year-old with caring, but somewhat neglectful parents. When he saves the school bully - Stephan's life by helping stem the flow of blood after the boy puts his arm through a window he is taken under the big brute's wing. Though at first he isn't sure this is a good thing, he's grateful for the protection when an old man shows up informing Mack is fated to be the leader of The Magnificent 12, a group of twelve-year-old's, who through magic must save the world from the evil mother of all monsters, The Pale Queen. He might have ignored the man, but for the aged assassin and monsters who show up at his middle school to kill him. And so Mack and Stephan embark on a journey around the world to locate the rest of the magnificent twelve. But can a group of twelve-year-old's really save the world?
In a way I'm glad that I read the second book in this series before reading the first. Don't get me wrong, it's a good book filled with adventure and some funny scenes, however it pales in comparison to the hilarity of its sequel - The Trap (review to be posted on release date). While this book might have received a higher rating from me than it did, I probably wouldn't have bothered to pick up another book in the series which is very obviously geared to children, not really the type of book meant to expand to include adult interest. The difference between this and The Trap is even though they're both clearly geared toward children The Trap keeps you laughing from beginning to end so you don't really mind the immaturity of the book as an adult reader. This book has funny moments which make you smile, but it doesn't reach the same level of funny as The Trap does.
What makes this adventure novel so appropriate for children is that Grant takes the adventure and makes it out right silly. And though his topics are somewhat violent in nature, he manages to skip the really violent parts by giving the reader two intertwining story lines at the same time. In some chapters you are in the modern world with Mack seeing his world turn upside down. In others you are three thousand years in the past with Grimluk, engaged in a war against the Pale Queen. None of the chapters are really gruesome or gory and parts that you would expect to be scary are so silly in nature that they're laughable. Grant engages in a wonderful method of bringing adventure to children with a distinctive voice and original style. To be honest the book probably deserves a higher rating but it's hard to give it that with the comparison to its sequel so fresh in my mind.
I don't know if I'd so much call the characters well developed, however I would call them memorable. I don't think the characters are meant to be well developed in this story because the more realistic you make them, the less laughable they seem. As the goal of this adventure novel is laughter for once I think this is a positive thing. There's Mack with his numerous phobias freaking out about everything. Stephan, the dumb but brave bully ready to protect him. With a bunch of other characters along the way. My favorite character in this novel is the Golem whose mostly portrayed though journal entries and text messages. Because he has a brain made from mud, clay and magic he takes everything literally. So for example when a teacher asks if Mack is still devouring books, he says yes and promptly eats a book for her then can't understand why he gets in trouble. If everything else in the book was deadly serious, the Golem's passages would still be enough to keep the mood light and children laughing.
Overall this is an excellent tale of adventure and laughter that I believe children, especially boys will love.