Fist I want to tell you to click on over to Susanna Leonard Hill‘s blog because she is having a vote for the best March pitch from “Would You Read it Wednesday!” My revised pitch is there for the chapter book I wrote “The Adventures of Tomato and Pea.” The pitch that wins the vote gets to have it read by a real editor – Erin Molta! Click HERE to go THERE and vote!
Lizzy Speare and the Cursed Tomb
By Ally Malinenko
352 pages – ages 9+
Published by Antenna Books on September 10, 2012
Lizzy S. Speare didn’t know why a bunch of people were angry at her father. First she heard a man who had a weird discussion with her father about her. Then some guy with an eye patch showed up.When the eye patch guy came, Mr. Speare told Lizzy and her best friend, Sammy, to get upstairs. Upstairs, where they think they’re safe, the first guy appears and takes Lizzy and Sammy with him to his castle… in New York City! His name is Jonathan Muse, and he says he helped William Shakespeare with ideas. He says that he was Shakespeare’s Muse, and he is immortal. Lizzy finds out that she is the last living descendant of Shakespeare himself! That isn’t all! The second guy (eye patch guy), Dmitri Marlowe, is a descendant of Kit Marlowe (an English playwright), and has kidnapped Lizzy’s father! Lizzy, Sammy, and Jonathan need to get him back!
The story idea behind this book was excellent! The combination of action and adventure, fantasy, myths and Shakespeare is cool! I liked the Lizzy character a lot. She was nice, and adapted to situations well. She was smart too. The story read pretty well, in a couple of spots I thought it got hung up, but the story kept me totally into the book. I found a couple of editing errors, and the “D” word was used twice, but other than that, the book was good for younger readers. I love the myths the story highlights! I am planning on reading the next book in the series!
I give this book 4 out of 5 bookworms.
–
–
Good luck with your pitch. Lizzy Speare has a good storyline and plot. I think I’d enjoy it. It’s nice that there is a chpater book like “Chase Danger” for younger kids that is cool. Like the play on words of the protagonist’s name. Good choices.
Thanks Ms. Tilton! I think you WOULD like the Lizzy Speare book! 😀
Good reviews Erik! The Lizzie book has an interesting story. And Chase Danger sounds like a great chapter book for little kids! Thanks and good luck with your pitch!!
Thanks Rhythm! 😀
Lizzy Speare is currently on our bookshelf – can’t wait to get to it! Thanks for your reviews Erik! 🙂
I think you would like it Ms. C!
They both sound awesome and I must get the spy one for Matthew! Thanks, Erik
I think Matthew would love the Chase Danger books! 😀
What a mixture of angles to this story…being the last living descendant of The Bard is a lot to live up to. Hope her prose is good! Lol!
She actually helped the bad guy rewrite a “stinky” play about their ancestors… 😉
wow! Quite an undertaking. I am intrigued.
🙂
Reblogged this on On The Plum Tree and commented:
Add your thoI wiughts here… (optional)
They both sounds great!
They are!
Anything that introduces Shakespeare ingeniously in a children’s book will captivate me. Will look out for these books. Great review, Erik. Your enthusiasm about these two books is infectious.
They are two great reads!