Reviews

Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson

stephclover's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

fmmiller88's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

5.0

jhurl's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

The librarians are evil so it is hard to see how they let us check out this book that gives it all away.  The librarians control all knowledge and only let us see so much and have primitive technology.  The other world exists in parallel.  In this book, the bag of sand is Alcatraz's inheritance and it makes a special lens - a translation lens we find out.  At the end (I did say spoiler), he finds out that he can read the note from his 'still lost' dad who has the other special lens.  The lenses give special power (oculator, tracker, firelaser, torture, .....).  Alcatraz grows up in Foster homes and gets moved often since his special power is breaking things.  I do like how the book uses these apparent weaknesses as strengths.  Like Grandpa Smedley is always late so nobody can shoot him because he is late for that...  Turns out his mom is from our librarians world and is his Foster Care case worker but she sells his inheritance and gets him tortured/killed so that is odd.  He learns how to use his power of breaking things just enough to save the day and take out the Dark Oculator.  He doesn't get the sand back but the bad guys already made the Translator lenses.  He says goodbye to his last Foster family and is off to the sequel.

0uroboros's review against another edition

adventurous funny inspiring lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Love the way Sanderson played with words, and his symbolism.
And the book is quite meta

rachaelbunny's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

ltyson's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

theunderfold's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

eesh25's review against another edition

4.0

Review to come.

karrama's review against another edition

5.0

We've all seen the boy who thinks he isn't special and has a rough life find out he has magical powers and an extended family that loves him before, but this one is hilarious. Alcatraz starts his journey to herodom in a foster home accidentally setting the kitchen on fire, only to find out that he is part of a family of super-powered, world-saving heroes from a land he's never heard of before. Don't worry, you've never heard of that land either, the librarians are keeping the information from you. Alcatraz and his family are out to ensure the free flow of information and stop the Librarians from taking over the world.

Their powers? Breaking things. Falling with style. Speaking gibberish. Arriving late. Needless to say, they are relate-able. The rest of the magic the librarians keep from us you'll have to read to believe.

forloveoflit_'s review against another edition

4.0

A really fun middle grade read from Brandon Sanderson! I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook version and I definitely will be recommending this to the middle grade/early high school readers in my life!