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missbookiverse's review
4.0
Typically Ardagh. Cheeky, funny, heart-warming, original and very darkly humoured. The ending made me very curious about book 2.
wrentheblurry's review
3.0
GENRE: Fiction, humor, adventure, realistic fiction elements.
SUMMARY: Le Fay McNally's typing prowess has earned her a place in the finals of the Tap 'n' Type competition. Le Fay's older sister Jackie, who is the clan's substitute mother, has created a plan that will enable her to take Le Fay's three other siblings on a bus ride to the competition for the price of just two. Le Fay will be traveling via train, with her expenses paid for by the competition's sponsor. The goal was to meet at the back of the hotel at a certain time, though things did not go exactly according to plan. The McNally clan was able to watch Le Fay do her best against the three other finalists, though the whole of the contest is overshadowed by the fact that the littlest brother, Fergal, falls to his death at some point, and we find out in a backwards fashion just how this occurred.
EVALUATION: The irreverent, self-referencing writing style of the author makes for a funny story, something that is not easy to manage when you've let your readers know early on that one of your characters dies. Yet the dark humor works, and knowing what happens at the end, but not how it happens will keep readers engaged.
WHY I WOULD INCLUDE IT: I think tweens will appreciate the unique way the tale is told, as well as the black humor. The descriptions are vivid, and there are a number of pictures scattered throughout the book to aid flavor to them. The book never takes itself too seriously, and ends up as a quick, good read.
READER'S ANNOTATION: Fergal dies on the first page, and the rest of the story is an adventure to let you know how he got to that point.
ITEMS WITH SIMILAR APPEAL:
• Lemony Snicket's a Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket.
SUMMARY: Le Fay McNally's typing prowess has earned her a place in the finals of the Tap 'n' Type competition. Le Fay's older sister Jackie, who is the clan's substitute mother, has created a plan that will enable her to take Le Fay's three other siblings on a bus ride to the competition for the price of just two. Le Fay will be traveling via train, with her expenses paid for by the competition's sponsor. The goal was to meet at the back of the hotel at a certain time, though things did not go exactly according to plan. The McNally clan was able to watch Le Fay do her best against the three other finalists, though the whole of the contest is overshadowed by the fact that the littlest brother, Fergal, falls to his death at some point, and we find out in a backwards fashion just how this occurred.
EVALUATION: The irreverent, self-referencing writing style of the author makes for a funny story, something that is not easy to manage when you've let your readers know early on that one of your characters dies. Yet the dark humor works, and knowing what happens at the end, but not how it happens will keep readers engaged.
WHY I WOULD INCLUDE IT: I think tweens will appreciate the unique way the tale is told, as well as the black humor. The descriptions are vivid, and there are a number of pictures scattered throughout the book to aid flavor to them. The book never takes itself too seriously, and ends up as a quick, good read.
READER'S ANNOTATION: Fergal dies on the first page, and the rest of the story is an adventure to let you know how he got to that point.
ITEMS WITH SIMILAR APPEAL:
• Lemony Snicket's a Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket.
crowyhead's review
3.0
A fun kids' novel in the tradition of Lemony Snicket and Roald Dahl, although possibly not quite of the same calibre.. I enjoyed it, but I probably won't actively seek out the sequels, unless I happen to see them at the library.
rochelle_reads's review against another edition
3.0
Ridiculous. Funny. Unexpected.
I read this as a child and I absolutely loved it, so when I found it in my school’s library I had to take it out! The twist at the end had me looking back at the page numbers to check! It did make me chuckle in places and I can see why I liked it at the time (it’s a little juvenile for me now).
I read this as a child and I absolutely loved it, so when I found it in my school’s library I had to take it out! The twist at the end had me looking back at the page numbers to check! It did make me chuckle in places and I can see why I liked it at the time (it’s a little juvenile for me now).
francomega's review against another edition
3.0
Cute. As someone who generally thinks in digressions, I enjoyed the writing style and the black humorous tone. In the Pratchett and Douglas Adams family of wit (high compliment here). Definitely juvenile fiction though, which is not a bad thing considering that is the intended audience. It would be odd if the author wrote a book for children and it was filled with sex and violence. Odd, and more than likely prosecutable. Hypocritically not odd, however, is an adult reading a book intended for children. It's all about context, which has nothing to do with a text written by a con, even a con sentenced for writing a dirty grade school novel. Like I said, it's all about perspective.
Recommended for wise ass kids who you'd like to be wise ass British kids.
Recommended for wise ass kids who you'd like to be wise ass British kids.
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