Sanderson, Brandon. Alcatraz versus the Shattered Lens. New York : Scholastic Press, 2010.
Plot: Alcatraz's shock at his father's abrupt and unscheduled exit leaves him confused and frustrated, but he does not have the luxury of considering it. Tuki Tuki is under attack by an army of evil Librarians, but no other nation seems willing to help. Determined to spare the country, Alcatraz escapes, hoping to lure the power of the knights to the battered country. Yet, the knights seem reluctant to mobilize. Alcatraz must take the place of the fallen king, armed only with his talent for breaking things, quick wit, luck, and friends' advice. Can the country last? Will the talent assist more than cripple? Why do the librarians press their attack? How does the war relate to his father's journey? Will he fulfill the prophecy of the cheese sandwich?
Genre: Humor, Fantasy
Reading Level: Grades 4-7
Similar Titles: Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians, The Legend of Spud Murphy
Personal Thoughts: If Lewis Carroll and J.R.R. Tolkien wrote a book together, it would be much like this one. The high stakes, unexpected heroes, and mythical powers of fantasy collide with goofy chases, airplanes shaped like butterflies, and koala-flavored ice cream. Brandon peppers his novel with parodies of popular writing techniques, clichés, and fantasy elements. For example, during one notable scene, Alcatraz plans to simply sneak into a guarded city under the cover of night. When his companions complain about the plan, he offers an addendum. They will sneak into the city under the cover of night while quoting Hamlet. They do, and hijinks ensue.
One minor complaint. The novel ends on a severe cliffhanger. However, the author only signed a contract for four novels. He may be trying to force the publisher to offer him an additional contract, or he may just wish to leave with an open ending. Either way, it is frustrating for the readers. Frustrating enough to encourage a reader, say, a potential librarian, consider the dark side...
Side note: I may or may not have actually received the maternal unit's permission to use her glasses for the picture.
No comments:
Post a Comment