Why do I like Doolittle's work so much? Perhaps it's the way he grabs you right from the beginning. We are jolted into the story with this opening: "Like any other university, Harvard sucks. What makes it a great university is that it sucks harder than most." Tom is drawn into the eco "save the tree" issue when an important peaceful leader is being threatened. Perhaps I enjoy his books due to wishing this modern day Robin Hood existed. Perhaps it's because all books in his series can stand alone. Perhaps it's the way many important issues are brought out to the foreground to be thought about and explored. Or most importantly, perhaps it's the way in which Doolittle weaves words with wit, wisdom, adventure with a touch of reality thrown in to boot.