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102 reviews for:
Horten's Miraculous Mechanisms: Magic, Mystery, a Very Strange Adventure
Lissa Evans
3.81 AVERAGE
102 reviews for:
Horten's Miraculous Mechanisms: Magic, Mystery, a Very Strange Adventure
Lissa Evans
3.81 AVERAGE
I saw Horten's Miraculous Mechanisms on the shelf at my library a few weeks ago and each time I returned, I felt myself drawn to it. I couldn't resist the beautiful black-and-white visuals (I can't find the name of an artist anywhere in the book, but shout out to you for your beautiful chapter illustrations and the gorgeous cover) and the blurb sounded promising. The book is small, so I figured it was worth the risk. Even if I didn't like it, it's only 270 pages.
I definitely liked it. Our main character, Stuart (the book was originally published in the U.K. under the title Small Change for Stuart), moves back to his father's hometown and accidentally uncovers a series of clues that will lead him to the workshop his great-uncle (a famous stage illusionist by the name of Teeny-Tiny Tony Horten), which promises to be filled with amazing wonders and illusions of all kinds.
I was really tickled by this book. The blurb promises "the quirkiest of characters", and I certainly wasn't let down in that department: audacious triplets, a bumbling magician-in-training and a man overly preoccupied with factoids and crossword puzzles are just some, and I enjoyed every moment of dialogue and interaction Stuart had with these characters.
I had a few issues with the plot, namely that Tony Horten's trail of clues were put down decades ago (I don't know that we're given an exact number of years, but I think it's safe to assume at least thirty). It seems implausible that all of the parameters necessary for Stuart to reach the end of the trail would still exist and function properly. At best, however, it's a minor issue, and I didn't have trouble suspending my disbelief to go along with it. The book is a fun little ride, and I'm looking forward to book two (out in September!).
Horten's Miraculous Mechanisms is a clever novel that will delight young readers, especially fans of The Mysterious Benedict Society and The Invention of Hugo Cabret (I was reminded of both on several occasions, especially TMBS).
My Rating: 4/5
I definitely liked it. Our main character, Stuart (the book was originally published in the U.K. under the title Small Change for Stuart), moves back to his father's hometown and accidentally uncovers a series of clues that will lead him to the workshop his great-uncle (a famous stage illusionist by the name of Teeny-Tiny Tony Horten), which promises to be filled with amazing wonders and illusions of all kinds.
I was really tickled by this book. The blurb promises "the quirkiest of characters", and I certainly wasn't let down in that department: audacious triplets, a bumbling magician-in-training and a man overly preoccupied with factoids and crossword puzzles are just some, and I enjoyed every moment of dialogue and interaction Stuart had with these characters.
I had a few issues with the plot, namely that Tony Horten's trail of clues were put down decades ago (I don't know that we're given an exact number of years, but I think it's safe to assume at least thirty). It seems implausible that all of the parameters necessary for Stuart to reach the end of the trail would still exist and function properly. At best, however, it's a minor issue, and I didn't have trouble suspending my disbelief to go along with it. The book is a fun little ride, and I'm looking forward to book two (out in September!).
Horten's Miraculous Mechanisms is a clever novel that will delight young readers, especially fans of The Mysterious Benedict Society and The Invention of Hugo Cabret (I was reminded of both on several occasions, especially TMBS).
My Rating: 4/5
That was a good read. It was just a nice, innocent, kid story- story of a kid, not a kid's story, mind you. It was great to read something like this. After a while, you need something to remind you that there is adventure in the world, and magic.
This book was absolutely marvelous! I loved the fact that the book itself was tiny and portable, much like the protagonist, young Stuart. I simply adored his father and his witty yet counfusing statements that just had me smiling like an idiot because half the time I had no earthly idea what the man was saying, but I still found it vastly entertaining and educational.
The vocabulary is so vast, it's a wonder they even labeled it as a young adult novel. That's what I love about it though. Most of the time, the father would say something completely intelligent and the son would say "What?" and the father would translate. As simple as that, but that's what was so brilliant about it- it broadened the vocabulary of young readers in such a way as to not be boring.
It was an absolutely superb idea, and besides that fact, I quite enjoyed the plot of the book itself as well. The idea of the three identical triplets was shocking and intriguing. It was suspenseful and well written, and I just found the whole thing to be a delight.
The vocabulary is so vast, it's a wonder they even labeled it as a young adult novel. That's what I love about it though. Most of the time, the father would say something completely intelligent and the son would say "What?" and the father would translate. As simple as that, but that's what was so brilliant about it- it broadened the vocabulary of young readers in such a way as to not be boring.
It was an absolutely superb idea, and besides that fact, I quite enjoyed the plot of the book itself as well. The idea of the three identical triplets was shocking and intriguing. It was suspenseful and well written, and I just found the whole thing to be a delight.
Excellent except for the IDIOTIC Americanization of the book. It's BRITISH book for —s sake.
http://pussreboots.pair.com/blog/2016/comments_08/hortens_miraculous_mechanisms_aka_small_change_for_stuart.html
http://pussreboots.pair.com/blog/2016/comments_08/hortens_miraculous_mechanisms_aka_small_change_for_stuart.html
Cute chapter book with excitement and quirky characters. I like the male main character and ink drawings that begin each chapter.
Stuart Horton is a somewhat unremarkable main character, but I very much enjoyed the supporting characters and the story. April, May, and June are intelligent and comical girls, Leonora is endearing, and Jeannie is a truly unlikable villainess who meets her just end. The adventure itself is entertaining and quick. I will certainly continue to read the adventures of the Horton family.
it's nice to have one of these pseudo-victorian children's adventure stories in which the parents are neither dead nor evil.