November 17, 2008

Review: The Book of Nonsense by David Michael Slater



The day before their thirteenth birthday the father of feuding twins Daphna and Dexter Wax, Milton, returns from a book scouting trip with a mysterious old book. Daphna immediately knows what to do with it. She wants to take it to the new rare book shop that just opened up in earlier in the summer, The Antiquarian Book Center (ABC). Somehow the blind owner of the shop, Asterius Rash, mesmerizes Milton into giving him the book and promising to have Daphna return the next day to be his assistant.

What baffles both Daphna is that the book was full of nonsense. The writing was in an unknown language and these nonsense words seemed to change right in front of her eyes. Suddenly her father is stuck ill overnight and Daphna is forced to team up with Dexter in order to solve the mystery of the book because things aren't as they seem at The ABC and their lives are unexpectedly in danger.

The Book of Nonsense is Book One in a planned five book series. I enjoyed the adventure that the twins went on and I'm positive that the target age group of 9-12 year olds will love this book. The plot twists are imaginative and the characters are well developed. The ending was neatly tied up but at the same time there is a cliff hanger that will have readers looking forward to book two.

5 comments :

photoquest said...

I am so looking forward to getting this book for my daughter she's ready for a new series and this sounds right down her alley!

Wrighty said...

This book sounds really good and I have it on my TBR list. It reminds me of the series by Michael Scott for YA, The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel. I read the first one and I have the next one from the library now. Both series have a mysterious book, twins and other goodies. Great review!

Unknown said...

This sounds like a good book, and maybe even something the non-reader I know might enjoy.

Kaye said...

This sounds really good. i think my grandson might like this one, after I get to read it, of course. :)

masonsgranny59 said...

looks like a great book!