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janislynne78's review against another edition
4.0
A new addition to the EBOB list this year! Both Aiden and I really enjoyed it. Great time travel tale with good tie-ins to classic literature and history.
_ravenclawreads92_'s review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sandsing7's review
3.0
3.5
Cute series to read with my 10yo. It keeps enough of the original that it may inspire him to read the real thing or look into the history further. (Clean)
Cute series to read with my 10yo. It keeps enough of the original that it may inspire him to read the real thing or look into the history further. (Clean)
lbuckley22's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
tami_provencher's review against another edition
4.0
The Last Musketeer is a combination time travel/adventure story. It begins in the present with 14-year-old Greg Rich and his family arriving in Paris at the invitation of one Michel Dinicoeur. Monsieur Dinicoeur is an official at the Louvre (a famous art museum in Paris) and had contacted the Rich family–who is in dire financial straits–about acquiring the 17th-century antiques in their possession which had been passed down in their family for generations.
Although Greg’s parents are trying to “spin” this visit to Paris as a family vacation, he is not fooled. He is also disturbed by the demeanor of Michel Dinicoeur when they finally meet him at a private entrance to the Louvre with the truck containing their family’s (now former) possessions. That’s why, when he accidentally discovers a diary written by his great-great-grandfather, Jacob Rich, hidden in the desk that–until now–has always been in his bedroom he hides it from Dinicoeur.
Greg’s vague suspicions are proved correct when Dinicoeur causes himself, Greg, and his parents to be catapaulted back through time to medieval Paris. King Louis XIII is on the throne of France and the Louvre is in the process of being converted from a medieval fortress into a royal palace. Immediately upon arrival in 17th-century Paris Michel Dinicoeur has the authority to accuse Greg and his parents of treason and attempting to assassinate the king. Although Greg escapes into the streets of Paris, his parents are thrown into La Mort–the king’s dungeon–and sentenced to death in three days’ time.
Completely out of his element in every way, Greg climbs the wall into the garden of the Cathedrale de Notre Dame and meets another 14-year-old boy, Aramis, one of the individuals destined to be immortalized as one of the Three Musketeers in the novel Alexandre Dumas will write in the 1840s. After befriending Aramis, Greg also encounters the other two future members of the Musketeers, Athos and Porthos. In asking for the help of his three new friends to rescue his parents Greg joins the four boys (he takes on the role of the fourth Musketeer, D’Artagnan) into the quartet of honest, stalwart heroes they will eventually become by helping to coin their catchphrase: “All for one and one for all!” (Dumas always claimed his stories of the Three Musketeers were based on actual people.)
The pace of the boys’ adventure increases steadily throughout the narrative, ending in a spectacular climax! Without giving away the ending I WILL say that the book did not the way I expected and I am anxiously awaiting the June 2012 release of the sequel!
As a student of French history, civilization and culture, specializing in 19th-century French feminist art, I am thrilled with the way medieval France leaps off the pages to encompass the reader completely. I highly recommend this book as a stand-alone adventure story. It’s also a terrific lead-in to the classic story of The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas, or a unit on medieval French history.
Although Greg’s parents are trying to “spin” this visit to Paris as a family vacation, he is not fooled. He is also disturbed by the demeanor of Michel Dinicoeur when they finally meet him at a private entrance to the Louvre with the truck containing their family’s (now former) possessions. That’s why, when he accidentally discovers a diary written by his great-great-grandfather, Jacob Rich, hidden in the desk that–until now–has always been in his bedroom he hides it from Dinicoeur.
Greg’s vague suspicions are proved correct when Dinicoeur causes himself, Greg, and his parents to be catapaulted back through time to medieval Paris. King Louis XIII is on the throne of France and the Louvre is in the process of being converted from a medieval fortress into a royal palace. Immediately upon arrival in 17th-century Paris Michel Dinicoeur has the authority to accuse Greg and his parents of treason and attempting to assassinate the king. Although Greg escapes into the streets of Paris, his parents are thrown into La Mort–the king’s dungeon–and sentenced to death in three days’ time.
Completely out of his element in every way, Greg climbs the wall into the garden of the Cathedrale de Notre Dame and meets another 14-year-old boy, Aramis, one of the individuals destined to be immortalized as one of the Three Musketeers in the novel Alexandre Dumas will write in the 1840s. After befriending Aramis, Greg also encounters the other two future members of the Musketeers, Athos and Porthos. In asking for the help of his three new friends to rescue his parents Greg joins the four boys (he takes on the role of the fourth Musketeer, D’Artagnan) into the quartet of honest, stalwart heroes they will eventually become by helping to coin their catchphrase: “All for one and one for all!” (Dumas always claimed his stories of the Three Musketeers were based on actual people.)
The pace of the boys’ adventure increases steadily throughout the narrative, ending in a spectacular climax! Without giving away the ending I WILL say that the book did not the way I expected and I am anxiously awaiting the June 2012 release of the sequel!
As a student of French history, civilization and culture, specializing in 19th-century French feminist art, I am thrilled with the way medieval France leaps off the pages to encompass the reader completely. I highly recommend this book as a stand-alone adventure story. It’s also a terrific lead-in to the classic story of The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas, or a unit on medieval French history.
rfulleman's review against another edition
4.0
The Last Musketeer by Stuart Gibbs is another one of Mr. Gibbs fun MG stories. It's full of adventure and daring, difficult situations that the protagonist, Greg Rich, manages to get through. Greg is transported back to Paris, France in the year 1615. Battling Richelieu to save his parents from death, Greg comes across The Three Musketeers, but these young boys don't even know each other at this stage in their lives. They had yet to become those legendary swordsmen from Alexander Dumas' stories.
This story offers an interesting look at what Paris looked like 400 years ago, the people, the sights, and the smells.
I'd easily recommend this book to any young library patron, and even as a quick, entertaining read for anyone not so young.
This story offers an interesting look at what Paris looked like 400 years ago, the people, the sights, and the smells.
I'd easily recommend this book to any young library patron, and even as a quick, entertaining read for anyone not so young.
murderpigeonsgobump's review
1.0
i admittedly haven’t read middle grade fiction in a while but i do remember it being better than this, and while some parts were okay throughout the book i couldn’t get over how completely insufferable greg is. for plot convenience and making him actually useful to the rest of the musketeers he has the most random skills such as fluent french, fencing, rock climbing,horse riding and swimming (explained away by the fact that he used to be rich and these are apparently normal rich kid activities?). but added on to this is him being a complete idiot. yes it’s probably disorienting being thrown into 17th century france but pretty much every person nowadays knows at least something about time travel or at least enough not to mention things from the future, yet somehow greg manages to say something “strange” almost every other sentence and it’s infuriating to read.
mullinstreetzoo's review against another edition
Interesting story line—not sure how close to Dumas’ original so now I have to go back and read that. Decent YA title—no romance, no foul language, no violent deaths. An imaginative look at the Paris of Louis XIII.
abigators's review against another edition
4.0
A good, quick read! It had an interesting plot and well developed characters. I really enjoyed this book, and will definitely continue reading the series.