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yodamom's review
4.0
Four big fishy stars-Young Harrison Harrison is moving to a new town with his big water creature research obsessed mother. Not something he really wants to do but the other choices are much less appealing. Almost immediately he is left alone when his mother needs to go off on one of her research trips to track giant creatures. He is quickly placed in the local school, which is not at all the average school. He is treated like an outcast, unable to communicate with these odd students. The town is isolated, his rented house even more so, no internet, no cell phone service. There is a mystery that effects him in this location one he will soon encounter and his dreams or nightmares may may come true.
The staff at the school are all really off center. Weird off beat, unusual in their lessons. The library was my favorite room, you will find a great mystery there.
I loved it. It is a book for all young adults to old souls. The adventure is waiting, bring your swim suit and jump in.
The staff at the school are all really off center. Weird off beat, unusual in their lessons. The library was my favorite room, you will find a great mystery there.
I loved it. It is a book for all young adults to old souls. The adventure is waiting, bring your swim suit and jump in.
shiggythefiggy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
sandygx260's review
4.0
If you loved "We Are All Completely Fine", this book is for you.
Unfortunately, too much Lovecraft-inspired history weighs down the story. That and repetition from Gregory's previous books compels me to kick off a star. Wait, yet another large female villain wears pink eye shadow? Readers remember those details.
This almost reads like a YA novel, which seems odd from Gregory.
Still, not a bad read for a gloomy September Sunday.
Unfortunately, too much Lovecraft-inspired history weighs down the story. That and repetition from Gregory's previous books compels me to kick off a star. Wait, yet another large female villain wears pink eye shadow? Readers remember those details.
This almost reads like a YA novel, which seems odd from Gregory.
Still, not a bad read for a gloomy September Sunday.
defaultnamespace's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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? It's complicated
4.0
angelslayer's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Enjoyable read. Excellent banter dialogue, especially in the second half of the book. Cool world, lovely setting, great work incorporating mythos.
The Scrimshander is an incredibly cool villain. Great concept.
The Scrimshander is an incredibly cool villain. Great concept.
kyledhebert's review
4.0
A very satisfying adventure tale with a good mix of comedy, mystery and eldritch horror.
dantastic's review
3.0
When he was three, Harrison Harrison lost his father and his leg in a boating accident. Or was it? Now, at age sixteen, he moves to the Massachusetts town of Dunnsmouth for his mother's latest research project. When she goes missing, Harrison quickly finds Dunnsmouth has more than its share of secrets...
Harrison Squared was a tough nut to crack for me. Aside from the missing leg, Harrison Harrison was kind of a Gary Stu. Also, I hated his implausible name. Who the hell would do that to their kid? Anyway, despite being a curmudgeon, I wound up being entertained by it.
Taking place in a safe, Pat Boone version of HP Lovecraft's world, is a fish out of water, coming of age tale that happens to include a nerfed version of the Cthulhu mythos. Harrison struggles to fit into a school of fish worshipers only to have his mother disappear. The rest is a Hard Boys mystery featuring fish people and their townie cohorts trying to open a portal and summon Urgaleth.
The writing was standard YA fare. The kids are smarter than the adults, everyone has overly clever dialogue, etc. While I knew Harrison would live, there was a sense of jeopardy at times. The ending was a little too easy but the book had series written all over it so I wasn't all that surprised. There were some Lovecraft references that I thought were hilarious. "My people do weird things with geometry," or something to that effect.
I thought the supporting cast were more interesting than Harrison. Aunt Sel, Lydia, Lub, and some of the others really livened things up. I wouldn't have minded learning more of The Scrimshander's past, however.
Although it wears its influences on its sleeve most of the time, if there had to be a young adult Cthulhu mythos tale, I'm glad it was this one. Annoyances aside, I wound up liking it. I could see it being a gateway book into deeper and darker things. Three out of five stars.
Harrison Squared was a tough nut to crack for me. Aside from the missing leg, Harrison Harrison was kind of a Gary Stu. Also, I hated his implausible name. Who the hell would do that to their kid? Anyway, despite being a curmudgeon, I wound up being entertained by it.
Taking place in a safe, Pat Boone version of HP Lovecraft's world, is a fish out of water, coming of age tale that happens to include a nerfed version of the Cthulhu mythos. Harrison struggles to fit into a school of fish worshipers only to have his mother disappear. The rest is a Hard Boys mystery featuring fish people and their townie cohorts trying to open a portal and summon Urgaleth.
The writing was standard YA fare. The kids are smarter than the adults, everyone has overly clever dialogue, etc. While I knew Harrison would live, there was a sense of jeopardy at times. The ending was a little too easy but the book had series written all over it so I wasn't all that surprised. There were some Lovecraft references that I thought were hilarious. "My people do weird things with geometry," or something to that effect.
I thought the supporting cast were more interesting than Harrison. Aunt Sel, Lydia, Lub, and some of the others really livened things up. I wouldn't have minded learning more of The Scrimshander's past, however.
Although it wears its influences on its sleeve most of the time, if there had to be a young adult Cthulhu mythos tale, I'm glad it was this one. Annoyances aside, I wound up liking it. I could see it being a gateway book into deeper and darker things. Three out of five stars.
blodeuedd's review
4.0
I read this one in a night. I was all put it down and do something else, but no I could not put it down and do something else. I HAD to finish it. The perfect read it in a night book.
Harrison comes with his mum to this strange town. The kids are kind of Stepford-esque. The school is weird. There is a church in town and something strange about that too. Everyone is just...strange. Very nice and spooky premise.
Harrison's mum disappears and he wants to find her. He refuses to believe she is dead, and more strange thing will now happen as he goes on a hunt for answers.
What on earth is going on in this town? Something that is not normal that is for sure. And what about those dreams of his, about something gigantic hiding in the sea? There is where the whole Lovecraftian thing comes in, and yes I love that.
I wanted to know what would happen, what actually was going on, and if we would see one of the Old ones. The ending was, an ending. But there were still loose ends so pleeease write more, I need more. It still works like this too, but hey if a book is good, then of course I want more. What happens after this book you know.
I think it was called YA and not YA. But either way, I do recommend it. Great book, great story. A book you can't put down.
Harrison comes with his mum to this strange town. The kids are kind of Stepford-esque. The school is weird. There is a church in town and something strange about that too. Everyone is just...strange. Very nice and spooky premise.
Harrison's mum disappears and he wants to find her. He refuses to believe she is dead, and more strange thing will now happen as he goes on a hunt for answers.
What on earth is going on in this town? Something that is not normal that is for sure. And what about those dreams of his, about something gigantic hiding in the sea? There is where the whole Lovecraftian thing comes in, and yes I love that.
I wanted to know what would happen, what actually was going on, and if we would see one of the Old ones. The ending was, an ending. But there were still loose ends so pleeease write more, I need more. It still works like this too, but hey if a book is good, then of course I want more. What happens after this book you know.
I think it was called YA and not YA. But either way, I do recommend it. Great book, great story. A book you can't put down.
branch_c's review
4.0
I should know by now that I always enjoy books by Gregory, even though his subjects so far have been rather dark for my taste. This one is a bit less so, having a somewhat YA feel, with a teenaged protagonist as its serious yet cleverly humorous narrator. The setting and supporting cast of eccentrics make for an original take on the prototypical Lovecraftian town where horror lurks. And when things get darker toward the end, the sharply written bantering dialogue keeps things light and enjoyable. All in all a fun story, the best new fiction I've read so far this year. I have to say that the ending is a bit unsatisfying, and apparently this book is a sort of prequel to We Are All Completely Fine, so even though that one promises to be darker than this one, I'll probably be on the lookout for it.