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sevenacrebooks's review
4.0
Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read and review this title.
The Mattigan family is off on another adventure! This time to debunk the existence of J-Rod, an escaped alien from Area 51. While Marcus Mattigan is off to Area 51 to meet Colonel Michael Blanchard to prove the disappearance of the base’s missing alien is false, the children head off on their adventure to rescue J-Rod themselves. With big sister Maddie acting as group leader, the twins Max and Theo go on an adventure that includes a Las Vegas casino, an alien convention, and a fifth-wheel camper.
There is just enough sibling squabbling to keep the dialogue real and just enough suspended belief to allow the story to work. Kids running loose in a Vegas casino? A child hiding out in the camper while Dad drives to the secret military base? It’s just kooky enough to keep kids interested. The interactions between the siblings were just right-not too sweet and not too snarky. This was a fun read for kids who are just starting out with chapter books and doesn’t contain any offensive language or violence.
The Mattigan family is off on another adventure! This time to debunk the existence of J-Rod, an escaped alien from Area 51. While Marcus Mattigan is off to Area 51 to meet Colonel Michael Blanchard to prove the disappearance of the base’s missing alien is false, the children head off on their adventure to rescue J-Rod themselves. With big sister Maddie acting as group leader, the twins Max and Theo go on an adventure that includes a Las Vegas casino, an alien convention, and a fifth-wheel camper.
There is just enough sibling squabbling to keep the dialogue real and just enough suspended belief to allow the story to work. Kids running loose in a Vegas casino? A child hiding out in the camper while Dad drives to the secret military base? It’s just kooky enough to keep kids interested. The interactions between the siblings were just right-not too sweet and not too snarky. This was a fun read for kids who are just starting out with chapter books and doesn’t contain any offensive language or violence.
booksteacupnreviews's review against another edition
5.0
*** Note: I received review copy of this book via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to publisher, author, and NetGalley. ***
Alien, second in Mysterious Monster book series that started right from the end of first book Bigfoot, in which Mattigan kids got involved in conspiracy that did lot of damage to their dad’s image but it also changed their mind, now they believed in Mysterious monsters. In this book Mattigan kids wanted to help their father in solving the mystery of Alien rumors in Las Vegas and prove it all fake but with their own plan.
Characters-
Mattigan kids- Maddie (12), Max (10), Theo (8) – were again so smart, brilliant, more mature and different from other kids of their age. It was proved more than once during their hotel stay in Las Vegas. Their father, Marcus Mattigan was big skeptic who was hosting a show ‘Monstrous Lies with Marcus Mattigan’ proving that all fantasies and monsters are fake. I loved this adorable kids and their father. This was most fascinating family I ever read.
What I liked-
Book was narrated again in third person mesmerizing story teller voice. The beginning, introductory chapter, was great with overview of Mattigans and their next adventure. I loved Mattigans’ illustration throughout the book. Max was great with putting puzzle together and was true spy in the book. Theo was such cute and innocent boy, this little guy was so charming and made me smile. Maddie’s motherly care for her siblings didn’t go unnoticed and again she was such impressive big sister and daughter. Their understanding regarding their father’s skeptic nature and that he is not ready for facing the real monsters and accepting the truth of it was remarkable.
I loved Mattigans’ research on the aliens and rumors around it. Till the end of the book it kept me wondering whether Alien story was a real or not and what will happen if they found real Alien. This book had less twist and turns compared to first one, kid’s plan of capturing alien was unpredictable but who was the alien at the end, I could see it coming. Author did great with suspense and the twist just before alien’s mask was uncovered at the end was surprising.
Walkie talkie, spy kit, spy tips, teachable moments, and aliens will definitely pique interest of young readers. One of the moment that I truly love which was teachable moment for children and also showed maturity of Mattigan kids was gambling at casino and how Maddie and max phrased people playing there as ‘Zombies’.
End was great and this line so fits the end of the book,
“What happened in Vegas got out of Vegas.”
There is some family mystery as well which I’m sure will be uncovered in future books of the series and I’m looking forward to read more about Mattigan family and their monstrous adventure. I have a feeling by the end of the series Mattigans’ basement is going to be flooded with monsters. 😉
Overall, it was fun entertaining alien mystery that all kids would love to read.
Alien, second in Mysterious Monster book series that started right from the end of first book Bigfoot, in which Mattigan kids got involved in conspiracy that did lot of damage to their dad’s image but it also changed their mind, now they believed in Mysterious monsters. In this book Mattigan kids wanted to help their father in solving the mystery of Alien rumors in Las Vegas and prove it all fake but with their own plan.
Characters-
Mattigan kids- Maddie (12), Max (10), Theo (8) – were again so smart, brilliant, more mature and different from other kids of their age. It was proved more than once during their hotel stay in Las Vegas. Their father, Marcus Mattigan was big skeptic who was hosting a show ‘Monstrous Lies with Marcus Mattigan’ proving that all fantasies and monsters are fake. I loved this adorable kids and their father. This was most fascinating family I ever read.
What I liked-
Book was narrated again in third person mesmerizing story teller voice. The beginning, introductory chapter, was great with overview of Mattigans and their next adventure. I loved Mattigans’ illustration throughout the book. Max was great with putting puzzle together and was true spy in the book. Theo was such cute and innocent boy, this little guy was so charming and made me smile. Maddie’s motherly care for her siblings didn’t go unnoticed and again she was such impressive big sister and daughter. Their understanding regarding their father’s skeptic nature and that he is not ready for facing the real monsters and accepting the truth of it was remarkable.
I loved Mattigans’ research on the aliens and rumors around it. Till the end of the book it kept me wondering whether Alien story was a real or not and what will happen if they found real Alien. This book had less twist and turns compared to first one, kid’s plan of capturing alien was unpredictable but who was the alien at the end, I could see it coming. Author did great with suspense and the twist just before alien’s mask was uncovered at the end was surprising.
Walkie talkie, spy kit, spy tips, teachable moments, and aliens will definitely pique interest of young readers. One of the moment that I truly love which was teachable moment for children and also showed maturity of Mattigan kids was gambling at casino and how Maddie and max phrased people playing there as ‘Zombies’.
End was great and this line so fits the end of the book,
“What happened in Vegas got out of Vegas.”
There is some family mystery as well which I’m sure will be uncovered in future books of the series and I’m looking forward to read more about Mattigan family and their monstrous adventure. I have a feeling by the end of the series Mattigans’ basement is going to be flooded with monsters. 😉
Overall, it was fun entertaining alien mystery that all kids would love to read.
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