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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
Originally read: February, 2008
Reread: September, 2008
Reread: September, 2008
I realize this book is geared toward children in the upper elementary school grades, however, I found it simplistic and uneven. I don't think I'll read more in the series.
You know what? Sometimes kids' books come up on your Kindle Daily Deals for $1.99 and you go, "Gosh darn it, I'm going to read that."
So I did, and I am happy I did. I don't think I need to read more Disney After Dark til I have kids to read it to/with, but it's great to know it's out there--and who DIDN'T have this exact fantasy as a Disney-going kid, I mean REALLY? And Ridley Pearson, Starcatcher of my heart, he just gets it right all the damn time.
So I did, and I am happy I did. I don't think I need to read more Disney After Dark til I have kids to read it to/with, but it's great to know it's out there--and who DIDN'T have this exact fantasy as a Disney-going kid, I mean REALLY? And Ridley Pearson, Starcatcher of my heart, he just gets it right all the damn time.
Set in the Disney world parks, this book was fun. Good read if you have been to Disney more than once...they talk about many of the attractions and characters. I wish that there had been a bit more interaction between Fin and the Disney Characters..
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Who doesn’t love the idea of Disney after closing. I read this back in middle school and it still hold the test of time with me. Still so good!!
not the best writing, definitely out of date now in terms of descriptions of characters.
Back story: So, I read this book back in my middle/high school years and I never finished the series. I am currently student teaching in a 5th grade classroom and my students are always asking for recommendations and I never have any that are age appropriate. Finally, I remembered how much I liked this series when I was their age and recommended it. That's when I realized that there are many books in the series that I haven't read and that gave me the urge to want to read them...but I had to start from the beginning.
Review: Now here I am, I've just finished the book for the second time and I might even like it more now as an adult. When I decided to start the series over, I thought I would have to force myself to read the books again because I can no longer relate to the characters (they are around 13/14 years old and I will be 22 this month). Although I can't relate to the characters now, reading this series brings me back to my middle/high school years. I found myself to be just as hooked, if not more hooked reading it this time around. There's just something so fun about reading through this mystery of what happens to Disneyworld when the lights go off and everything closes. I think this is something everyone wonders and Pearson captures the idea perfectly. I already have book 2 in my backpack ready to read.
Review: Now here I am, I've just finished the book for the second time and I might even like it more now as an adult. When I decided to start the series over, I thought I would have to force myself to read the books again because I can no longer relate to the characters (they are around 13/14 years old and I will be 22 this month). Although I can't relate to the characters now, reading this series brings me back to my middle/high school years. I found myself to be just as hooked, if not more hooked reading it this time around. There's just something so fun about reading through this mystery of what happens to Disneyworld when the lights go off and everything closes. I think this is something everyone wonders and Pearson captures the idea perfectly. I already have book 2 in my backpack ready to read.
Is there even a 0 star because... I did not like this book at all. I gave it a chance but never in this world or any other world I would have finished it!
The best thing about this book is that it sure does make me appreciate certain other - better - authors so much more.
This was the only Ridley Pearson book I've read, and I can't tell whether the writing in this one is lousy because he's trying too hard to appeal to and talk down to kids, or if all of his other books are like that. I hope for his sake it's at least the former.
Reading some of the other reviews here, reviewer Hannah hits many nails on their heads. I can't figure out why any of the characters are supposed to be likeable. I simply never find out anything substantial about them, as far as their significant past live events or deep emotional conflicts. I'm guessing Pearson is doing that thing a lot of adults-writing-for-kids do, which is assuming that young readers will relate to the young characters because they, too, are young. Like, "hey, he goes to school and is nagged by his mom a lot, just like me!" It's too bad he forgot to write in anything that makes the main character Finn - or anyone else for that matter - stand out as being interesting in any way.
If the National Treasure movies are basically family-friendly Disney versions of The Da Vinci Code, the plot of Disney after Dark is an even more watered-down National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets. It turns out there are secrets hidden by Walt Disney himself through the Magic Kingdom, such as hidden letters inside the scenes of the rides that can only be seen through 3D glasses. I'm pretty sure that idea is ignorant of how 3D glasses actually work, but then again we also find out eventually that magic exists, so maybe they're...magicked glasses? Unfortunately it isn't the fun, consistent, rules-explained-ahead-of-time magic, but the apparently-making-up-how-it-works-as-you-go-along type. It's also dull and annoying when the story revolves around a mystery and gathering, but pretty much all of the hunches the team guesses at turn out to be luckily correct on the first try so, so often.
And not to repeat too much of what Hannah said, but oh my goodness, YES, I hated that "it's a small world" resolution too. That would be too stupid for a cereal commercial, let alone a novel that, according to the Goodreads info page, has won a literary award.
My "second-dumbest" moment pick goes to the passage that takes place not too long after Finn is attacked by audio-animatronic pirates, when he is again confronted by pirate-clothed figures, and the narration helpfully explains to his that these aren't real pirates, but the same audio-animatronic pirates from before. Yes, thanks for that.
I wanted to give up on this one halfway through and only didn't for the sake of finishing something I've started, but I have no desire to read further into the series. Even if it does end on a lame cliffhanger.
This was the only Ridley Pearson book I've read, and I can't tell whether the writing in this one is lousy because he's trying too hard to appeal to and talk down to kids, or if all of his other books are like that. I hope for his sake it's at least the former.
Reading some of the other reviews here, reviewer Hannah hits many nails on their heads. I can't figure out why any of the characters are supposed to be likeable. I simply never find out anything substantial about them, as far as their significant past live events or deep emotional conflicts. I'm guessing Pearson is doing that thing a lot of adults-writing-for-kids do, which is assuming that young readers will relate to the young characters because they, too, are young. Like, "hey, he goes to school and is nagged by his mom a lot, just like me!" It's too bad he forgot to write in anything that makes the main character Finn - or anyone else for that matter - stand out as being interesting in any way.
If the National Treasure movies are basically family-friendly Disney versions of The Da Vinci Code, the plot of Disney after Dark is an even more watered-down National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets. It turns out there are secrets hidden by Walt Disney himself through the Magic Kingdom, such as hidden letters inside the scenes of the rides that can only be seen through 3D glasses. I'm pretty sure that idea is ignorant of how 3D glasses actually work, but then again we also find out eventually that magic exists, so maybe they're...magicked glasses? Unfortunately it isn't the fun, consistent, rules-explained-ahead-of-time magic, but the apparently-making-up-how-it-works-as-you-go-along type. It's also dull and annoying when the story revolves around a mystery and gathering, but pretty much all of the hunches the team guesses at turn out to be luckily correct on the first try so, so often.
And not to repeat too much of what Hannah said, but oh my goodness, YES, I hated that "it's a small world" resolution too. That would be too stupid for a cereal commercial, let alone a novel that, according to the Goodreads info page, has won a literary award.
My "second-dumbest" moment pick goes to the passage that takes place not too long after Finn is attacked by audio-animatronic pirates, when he is again confronted by pirate-clothed figures, and the narration helpfully explains to his that these aren't real pirates, but the same audio-animatronic pirates from before. Yes, thanks for that.
I wanted to give up on this one halfway through and only didn't for the sake of finishing something I've started, but I have no desire to read further into the series. Even if it does end on a lame cliffhanger.