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bookishperseus's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
wrentheblurry's review against another edition
4.0
I would have given this one 3 or 3.5, but both of my sons (12 and 10) gave it a 4, so I rounded up. The first one was better for me, mostly due to the bizarre plot of this title of the kids finding the homonculus, a creature grown in a bottle centuries ago. I liked the Jester character, though he wasn't in the book enough to really get to know him. I enjoy reading the character Yo-yoji with a "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" style of speech, to the amusement of the boys (and myself). Cass is starting to get on my nerves and bit, and Max-Ernest is coming into his own.
What saved the book for me was what made it for me in the first in the series--the omniscient narration combined with a cynical, self-referential style of humor. That is still present, and makes this one worth a read, especially if you are, like we are, committed to the series.
What saved the book for me was what made it for me in the first in the series--the omniscient narration combined with a cynical, self-referential style of humor. That is still present, and makes this one worth a read, especially if you are, like we are, committed to the series.
vnavarro's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
bekab20's review against another edition
5.0
My 10 year old begged me to read this every night! I mean who wouldn't want to read about kids using a mysterious Sound Prism to call a real life 500yr old homunculus! Or finally meet Peitro (shhh we won't tell who that is in case you still haven't read the first book). Do Cass and Max-Ernest defeat the goons of the Midnight Sun? Will Pseudonymous Bosch finally reveal his real name in the secret private interview of himself by HIMSELF?!
Querky, dangerous, imaginative, and keeps you wanting more...we survived reading it.... Will you?
Querky, dangerous, imaginative, and keeps you wanting more...we survived reading it.... Will you?
mezzosherri's review against another edition
4.0
A fun continuation of Pseudonymous Bosch's "Secret Series"--this book, #2 in the series, is built around the sense of hearing similarly to how book #1 was about the sense of smell. The plot remains a bit predictable (then again, I AM a 47-year-old woman reading a book designed for 10-year-olds), and PB's unreliable narrator schtick verges on twee. But the characterizations are strong, the addition of Yo-Yoji to the mix adds to the dynamic, the riddles are engaging, and it's all just so darn fun that I'm happy to be along for the ride.
N.B.--As with most series, PB has tried to leave enough bread crumbs so you could hypothetically jump into the series here. But, truly, it'll be SO much easier if you read book #1 (The Name of this Book is Secret) first....
N.B.--As with most series, PB has tried to leave enough bread crumbs so you could hypothetically jump into the series here. But, truly, it'll be SO much easier if you read book #1 (The Name of this Book is Secret) first....
1literaryfairy's review against another edition
5.0
A mind blowing sequel to "The name of this book is secret". Another silly, stuid, and fun book!
librariandest's review against another edition
3.0
This is a great audiobook with some music and different actors doing character voices. (I often dislike "full cast" audio, but this was an exception.)
I listened to this with my 8-year-old. She found some parts scary, though I'm sure they were intended to be silly. I'm talking bout the homunculus being a cannibal and eating villains. Overall, we enjoyed it and will continue reading the series. Note: my daughter is obsessed with the Mysterious Benedict Society series and I'm glad to get her into something different, so I forgive this book its weaker moments.
This was originally written in 2008 and it shows. There are some cringe bits, particularly when the carnival workers are being described and the narrator says things like, "They were little people, which is a polite way of saying midgets," etc. (The chapter is called "A Polite Way of Saying Weird".) There's also a part where Cass says Yo-Yoji would never have a bar mitzvah because he's Japanese -- fair enough, but nowadays I think we'd recognize that a person can be Jewish and Japanese.
On the other hand, this series was ahead of its time in that Cass has two grandpas who are a couple and it is treated as unremarkable (though gay marriage was not legal throughout the US until 2015).
I listened to this with my 8-year-old. She found some parts scary, though I'm sure they were intended to be silly. I'm talking bout the homunculus being a cannibal and eating villains. Overall, we enjoyed it and will continue reading the series. Note: my daughter is obsessed with the Mysterious Benedict Society series and I'm glad to get her into something different, so I forgive this book its weaker moments.
This was originally written in 2008 and it shows. There are some cringe bits, particularly when the carnival workers are being described and the narrator says things like, "They were little people, which is a polite way of saying midgets," etc. (The chapter is called "A Polite Way of Saying Weird".) There's also a part where Cass says Yo-Yoji would never have a bar mitzvah because he's Japanese -- fair enough, but nowadays I think we'd recognize that a person can be Jewish and Japanese.
On the other hand, this series was ahead of its time in that Cass has two grandpas who are a couple and it is treated as unremarkable (though gay marriage was not legal throughout the US until 2015).