This novel by Trenton Lee Stewart–his first for children–is a breezy, fun read that is also extremely intelligent–which is not surprising, considering that its four protagonists are all geniuses in their own unique ways.
The main character is Reynie, an 11 year old orphan who answers a very strange ad in the newspaper at the urging of his tutor. Throughout the book, Reynie and his three companions must solve a variety of puzzles, and uncover and utilize their strengths and compensate for each other’s weaknesses–so they can save the world, of course.
This novel is full of quirky, unique characters (one is a narcoleptic, and another never sleeps so she must eat constantly to have enough energy) with great Dickensian character names, such as Ladroptha Curtain and Constance Contraire, and the action, while brisk, never feels rushed.
I would highly recommend this book to Harry Potter fans, puzzle lovers, and anyone who likes their characters interesting and their plots complex.
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1 response so far ↓
Susan K // September 1, 2007 at 5:23 am |
I liked this one myself. I would also suggest The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin as a read-alike for slightly younger readers, or for those who want a faster read. It also features a host of quirky, memorable characters and a complicated puzzle/mystery that ties all the characters together. It’s quite a bit older than this book, but very good if I remember.