Scan barcode
jcarsrud's review
4.0
This was a fun read aloud to the kids. Kind of silly, but they liked that. We need to go to House on the Rock and some of the other odd places in the US because the book made them sound so interesting!
lornarei's review
2.0
What's good: I loved the idea of following their route via google maps. If I were a kid I so would have done this. I even considered it, but I am not usually reading at the computer. A fast read with enough humor that it is sure to appeal to kids.
What I didn't care for: the "eidetic memory" as a device for the author to provide educational travel information got old fast. Mom reading out of her guidebooks was just as effective and more believable. The whole story with Dr. Warsaw just didn't make sense to me. But I will read the next one. As they head toward the East Coast, the places they will be visiting are very familiar to me, so that should be fun.
What I didn't care for: the "eidetic memory" as a device for the author to provide educational travel information got old fast. Mom reading out of her guidebooks was just as effective and more believable. The whole story with Dr. Warsaw just didn't make sense to me. But I will read the next one. As they head toward the East Coast, the places they will be visiting are very familiar to me, so that should be fun.
sandraagee's review
3.0
This was kind of a cool book. I liked how the book included instructions on how to follow Coke and Pep's journey across America using Google Maps or Mapquest - that was a fun interactive touch. I've got a few relatively minor quibbles with the writing (why does Coke get all the cool tallents/ideas/action?), but generally I think that this book has enough action and intrigue and just the right amount of humor to make readers happy. Might be good for fans of the Thirty-Nine Clues series.
As a bonus, this book's climax takes place in Wisconsin. I now have a not-so-strange urge to visit the House on the Rock.
As a bonus, this book's climax takes place in Wisconsin. I now have a not-so-strange urge to visit the House on the Rock.
raquel_reading_stuff's review
1.0
Predictable, corny, unlifelike, and boring.
Who wants to read about a road trip?
I acknowledge this book is for younger readers, but the mix of near-death situations and mature concepts aren't right for kids. Also, the plot is way too straightforward (Let's go here! Now let's go there! Now...). The main characters are dimensionless and so are the villains. Also some pretty basic things are left out or just glossed over.
EX: "We almost died? Well, who cares? Let's just not say anything. Mom and Dad won't notice!"
"Hey kids, where have you been for the last hour? Well, who cares? Let's just eat dinner!"
The parents are portrayed as pretty unintelligent, and they're really bad at their job. None of the characters seem to remember the seriousness of anything that has happened for over a page, which is really annoying and makes things quite corny.
I would recommend it to nine or ten year olds, but as I mentioned, some elements like killing, dying, etc that are in the book aren't really right for that age group either.
2 stars= pretty darn bad, but had a smidgen of potential. I really don't think it will get any better.
Who wants to read about a road trip?
I acknowledge this book is for younger readers, but the mix of near-death situations and mature concepts aren't right for kids. Also, the plot is way too straightforward (Let's go here! Now let's go there! Now...). The main characters are dimensionless and so are the villains. Also some pretty basic things are left out or just glossed over.
EX: "We almost died? Well, who cares? Let's just not say anything. Mom and Dad won't notice!"
"Hey kids, where have you been for the last hour? Well, who cares? Let's just eat dinner!"
The parents are portrayed as pretty unintelligent, and they're really bad at their job. None of the characters seem to remember the seriousness of anything that has happened for over a page, which is really annoying and makes things quite corny.
I would recommend it to nine or ten year olds, but as I mentioned, some elements like killing, dying, etc that are in the book aren't really right for that age group either.
2 stars= pretty darn bad, but had a smidgen of potential. I really don't think it will get any better.
msjaquiss's review
1.0
This may have been the least interesting book I've ever read. I hated the brother and disliked both parents and all of the supporting characters. The sister seemed like a foil for the super brilliant brother and wasn't portrayed as particularly smart or capable. The plot involved the kids being asked to keep secrets from their parents and them lying repeatedly, breaking the law and actually getting away with murder. They also had to avoid hired assassins and cheated death multiple times.
Kids might enjoy the action-packed story but I couldn't wait to get this book behind me and hope I never have to read another.
Kids might enjoy the action-packed story but I couldn't wait to get this book behind me and hope I never have to read another.
kaypendragon's review
3.0
A delightful series beginning, with a focus on Roadside America.[return][return]Many plot points are rather implausible, and the plot tends to get bogged down a bit in the middle but it has promise. Interested to see if the rest of the series can pull through.