Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
inspiring
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
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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:
Complicated
This one was a lot more action packed than all the previous books! Stakes are getting high for our kid of unfortunate luck lol. Nice little twist in the end and a great amount of humor in more subtle areas.
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
My 4th grade son and I both really enjoyed this book. It's silly, but it encourages the kids to think, which is always a plus. Really wish the author would write a 5th book since this one did end on a bit of a cliffhanger. It seemed there was still plenty more to tell.
Enjoyed this one, especially the bickering/flirting between Alcatraz and Bastille. Aydee's talent was hilarious. Looking forward to the last book finally being published this year.
I love this series. This was not a satisfactory ending, however, it appears that Sanderson is done with it [despite the cliffhanger ending] for the foreseeable future. Too bad because this is one of his best.
Why I read it: 4th in a series
The Plot: The boy with all the wrong Talents has a lot to prove and, as always, little time in which to do it. In this final adventure, Alcatraz faces an army of librarians--and their giant librarian robots--as they battle to win the kingdom of Mokia.
The Characters: Alcatraz seems to grow up a bit in this book, and as a narrator he is very likable and fun. Throughout the series, though, I've never really been able to connect with any of the characters to the point where I really cared what happened to them.
The Setting: In this book, we are mostly in the fantasy land of Mokia. The setting is fine, and Sanderson is capable of doing incredible world-building, but I think he saves that for his adult fantasy, and this is more about being clever and punny.
A Sample of the Writing:
Change.
It's important to change. I, for instance, change my underwear every day. Hopefully you do too. If you don't, please stay downwind.
Who Should Read This? People who have already read the first three books in the Alcatraz series--this series is for those looking for really, really light YA fantasy.
Final Thoughts: I've commented before on the humor in these books, and how some people might find it over the top. Well, in this fourth book, it got to me. There were some funny parts still, but a lot of the time it felt forced, and I actually got bored. This is the first time I've felt like skimming while reading a book by Brandon Sanderson.
Grade: C
Cover Thoughts: The covers in these are always fun. And what's even more fun is that Alcatraz (as the narrator) refers to a cover from a previous book during the story.
The Plot: The boy with all the wrong Talents has a lot to prove and, as always, little time in which to do it. In this final adventure, Alcatraz faces an army of librarians--and their giant librarian robots--as they battle to win the kingdom of Mokia.
The Characters: Alcatraz seems to grow up a bit in this book, and as a narrator he is very likable and fun. Throughout the series, though, I've never really been able to connect with any of the characters to the point where I really cared what happened to them.
The Setting: In this book, we are mostly in the fantasy land of Mokia. The setting is fine, and Sanderson is capable of doing incredible world-building, but I think he saves that for his adult fantasy, and this is more about being clever and punny.
A Sample of the Writing:
Change.
It's important to change. I, for instance, change my underwear every day. Hopefully you do too. If you don't, please stay downwind.
Who Should Read This? People who have already read the first three books in the Alcatraz series--this series is for those looking for really, really light YA fantasy.
Final Thoughts: I've commented before on the humor in these books, and how some people might find it over the top. Well, in this fourth book, it got to me. There were some funny parts still, but a lot of the time it felt forced, and I actually got bored. This is the first time I've felt like skimming while reading a book by Brandon Sanderson.
Grade: C
Cover Thoughts: The covers in these are always fun. And what's even more fun is that Alcatraz (as the narrator) refers to a cover from a previous book during the story.
I'm just going to say that the ending is in keeping with the character of the series.