Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Wanting to be Harry, 5 Mar 2007
It's clear that this book is following in the footsteps of Harry Potter. Like so many books today it is written almost as a movie script, right down to the cutaways and background scenes between the action. there are some scenes (the panicked journmey back from the hospital) that add little to the plot, but are clearly written with the big screen in mind. The whole Harry Potter formula is there, especially in the dynamics of the triangle of children, adults and mysterious evil.
That said, the book creates a real feeling of menace and Archie and his family are real, fallible, beleiveable people ina confusing and unpredictable world. This book gripped my daughter's imagination (she's six) and I read her the whole book over three summer days until my voice went hoarse.
Withou giving too much away, the weak point of the book is the little bit after the denoument. It's all too pat and simple, setting up Archie for a future of amny more books, but with a very clumsy concept - right down the the silly contrived name 'I.C.E.' So strange, as the rest of the book has maturity and seriousness; the 'final conflict' between Archie and arch-enemy is handled well and is a fitting climax without too much of the Deus ex machina. I think a darker and less obvious backstory could have been found.
We look forward to the next title.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Courtesy of Teens Read Too, 4 Feb 2007
On the night before his tenth birthday, Archie Stringweed notices something a little strange. The wind seems to be talking to him. Is that possible? Archie thinks it can't be, so he doesn't say anything to anyone about it. But that's just the beginning of the odd occurrences. There's the present from his Uncle Rufus, that he obviously wasn't supposed to get, from the dirty looks he keeps seeing his mother give the box. Archie doesn't see what the big deal is; it's just a harmless coin. Until he overhears his parents talking about all the presents Rufus has sent that have been hidden. That seems like a pretty big deal. Then there's his normally intelligent father suddenly becoming extremely forgetful. There's the snowstorm that only seems to be occurring over the Stringweeds' house, the giant bird that flies through his window carrying a coin that's a lot like the one he got from Uncle Rufus,and the glowing green ball that shows up every so often when Archie is alone. Then suddenly Rufus himself miraculously reappears after years and years of travelling. Archie is having a very eventful tenth birthday.
According to Uncle Rufus, that's not surprising. He tells Archie that there is a curse on all of the firstborn Stringweed children; on their tenth birthday, or shortly after, they will completely lose any courage they have. Not that they won't want to do things, they will just talk themselves out of it. Even simple things like flying in a plane, or going on the train, or taking a vacation. This of course seems crazy to Archie. How can someone lose all of their courage? But when he thinks about his dad, it seems like it might be possible. And horrible.
Rufus claims that Archie can break the curse, with the help of some family heirlooms and clues that Rufus has sent. The heirlooms would be all of the presents that Rufus has sent that Archie has never gotten, and the cards that came with them. Finding these things is only one of many obstacles Archie will have to overcome. Not the least of which is the wind. It really is talking to Archie, and it's not about to let him break the curse. In fact, it's coming for him.
Archie is confused, scared, unsure, and not even close to prepared. But if he can break the curse he not only gets to keep his own courage, but give his dad and grandfather theirs back. That seems like a pretty big deal.
A good adventure that teaches a great lesson: Courage is continuing in the face of fear. A lesson worth learning and remembering at any age. And this is a decidedly fun way to learn it.
Reviewed by: Carrie Spellman
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Blows along at gale force, 16 Nov 2006
I really really liked this book! Didn't want to read it at first as the blurb isn't inspirational but it turned out to be a great yarn. Annoyingly the battle the whole book was elading up to was a little short and the ending includes something (won't spoil it) which I really feel should have been left out. Overall, I really feel that it is a nicely written little tale and well worth a read!
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