This isn't What It Looks Like AND You have to Stop This by Pseudonymous Bosch

This Isn't What It Looks Like and You Have to Stop This by Pseudonymous Bosch
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date: September 2011 & September 2013
Pages: 432 & 352
Source: Library
For: Fun
Series: The Secret Series, Books 4 & 5


Summary of Book 4 (from goodreads):

Cass finds herself alone and disoriented, a stranger in a dream-like, medieval world. Where is she? Who is she? With the help of a long-lost relative, she begins to uncover clues and secrets--piecing together her family's history as she fights her way back to the present world.

Meanwhile, back home, Cass is at the hospital in a deep coma. Max-Ernest knows she ate Time Travel Chocolate--and he's determined to find a cure. Can our expert hypochondriac diagnose Cass's condition before it's too late? And will he have what it takes to save the survivalist?

Summary of Book 5 (from goodreads):

I always feared this day would come. A secret is meant to stay secret, after all. And now we've come to this: the fifth and final (I swear!) book in my saga of secrets.
A class trip to the local natural history museum turns dangerous, or perhaps deadly--and I don't mean in the bored-to-death way--when Cass accidentally breaks a finger off a priceless mummy. Forced to atone for this "crime" of vandalism, Cass and her friends Max-Ernest and Yo-Yoji go to work for the mummy exhibit's curator, only to be blamed when tragedy strikes. To clear their names--and, they hope, to discover the Secret--the trio must travel deep into a land of majestic pyramids, dusty tombs, mysterious hieroglyphs, and the walking dead. Egypt? Or somewhere much stranger . . .

In the midst of it all, the Secret still lurks. You're out there, reading and talking about it, and now my life--and chocolate supply--is in the greatest danger yet. So please, with a cherry on top, I'm begging you: you have to stop this!

Things I Liked:
I had a ridiculously hard time getting back into book 4.  I kept forcing myself for some unknown, crazy reason to finish.  I'm not sure why I felt like I had to read the whole series, but I did.  I'm not sure if it was just the book or if it was me, but I eventually hit the point of no return(ing the book to the library unfinished), so I kept going.  It was a good thing I had the last one too.  I kind of started getting an inkling of what was going to be the Secret before it arrived.  I'm glad to have finished this series.  It was atypical and rather humorous at times, if annoying as well.

Things I Didn't Like:
Yeah, I really struggled to care about anything going on.  It's been a super long time since I read the first three books, so I really didn't want to keep going.  But I pounded through and I'm done now.  I started to be really annoyed at how repetitive some of the descriptions of people became.  Max-Ernst, Cass, their parents, pretty much everyone was the same.  I liked some of the puzzles they had to figure out.  And I still think the series is really clever in conception and good in the execution as well.  Maybe too juvenile and annoying at times for me.

Read-alikes:
Not much, though it sometimes felt like Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: none

Overall rating: ***

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: This Book is Not Good For You by Pseudonymous Bosch

Posted as part of Tween Tuesday, hosted by GreenBeanTeenQueen.

This Book Is Not Good For You by Pseudonymous Bosch
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date: September 2009
ISBN: 9780316040860
Source: Library

 

The secret to the most delicious tasting chocolate in the world?  What could be bad about that?  Unfortunately, this book is not good for you, and thus I can't tell you anything about it.  Oh, except Cass' mom has been kidnapped by an evil master chef who, for the ransom, wants a magical instrument with super powers that will allow the Midnight Sun access to the secret.  Read at your own risk.

Things I Liked:
Once again, this series delights and surprises me.  I love the wit and the dry humor and the positively extraordinary plot.  This book delves not only into the realm of the unbelievable, but it also manages to poignantly discuss the actions of people who are under stress and what we will do to save our families.  A romping, funny, good time of a book that will delight kids and adults of all ages.  And make you crave chocolate like you never have before.  Favorite parts:

You know, people always warn children about taking candy from strange adults.  But they never warn us adults about taking candy from strange children.  All those sweet-looking kids who sell boxes of candy bars on the street to help pay for their schooling - how do we know what's in those bars?  And don't get me started on that nefarious institution designed to lure unsuspecting customers into buying mysterious frosted goodies: the bake sale.  p 36

I'm not anti-vanilla, just pro-chocolate.  I wanted to make that clear for all the villains, oops!  I'm sorry, I mean vanillains, out there.  You know who you are. p 190

Things I Didn't Like:
I imagine the humor and side notes would get old if you read all the books at once (well, if your are an adult, maybe not a kid).  But one at a time, they are a delight!

Read-alikes:
Read the first two books in the Secret Series by Pseudonymous Bosch
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
Reminds me also of the Alcatraz series by Brandon Sanderson

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: none

Overall rating: ****

Totally unrelated, but I posted my 400th book review last week! Crazy!

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: If You're Reading This, It's Too Late by Pseudonymous Bosch

If You're Reading This, It's Too Late, since you are already embroiled in this deadly game of secrets. Cass and Max-Ernst are waiting impatiently to be initiated into a very secret society, but in the mean time, they become caught up in Dr. L and Ms. Mauvais' latest scheme for power.  Will they have what it takes to become a member of the society, or rather, will they even survive until they can become members?  Only reading this book will tell, though I certainly hope you won't pick it up, since it's filled with horrible secrets.

Things I Liked:

Oh how I love the sarcasm and snarky nature of these books.  Pseudonymous is a master of stating humorous nothings.  He manages to write a funny story without intending to.  I always get a kick out of the footnotes and the ever-present author's fear and reluctance to write the story, especially the "lost chapter."  Here's a sample of his humor:

"Readers, you're all the same.  Spoiled, every last one of you.  Lying there with your feet up, yelling for someone to bring you more cookies.  (Don't tell me they're chocolate chip because then I'll be really mad!)  I'm sorry, I didn't mean that - this whole writing business is making me crazy." p8

Things I Didn't Like:

The ending seemed a bit flat after all the build up.  It also seemed wrapped up enough that there may not need to be sequels, though I imagine there will be.

Read-alikes:

Start with The Name of This Book is Secret (first in the series)
Reads like A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
Also a bit like The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:

s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: none

Overall rating: ****

Sarcasm is a very hard thing to do right - any favorite snarky books?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage,
I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: The Name of This Book is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch

The Name of this Book Is Secretand you really shouldn't be reading it. Cass and Max-Ernst become friends when they discover a mysterious box containing a symphony of smells - and a missing magician, presumed dead. Now they are both being drawn into a dangerous secret that attracts villains right and left. Can they find the missing magician and figure out the secret before they are captured?

Things I Liked:
This book is absolute silliness and I loved it. Not only is it full of devious secrets and hilarious footnotes, but also has a touch of something deeper - it isn't all about being silly. I enjoyed the crazy adventures Cass and Max-Ernst experienced throughout, though I definitely think younger kids will enjoy them more. Then again, the author's tongue-in-cheek tone throughout might appeal to older readers as well. Here are just a few of my favorite quotes:

"The writer of a novel is like the dictator of the novel; he makes all his characters do exactly what he wants them to do, and say exactly what he wants them to say. But please don't draw any conclusions about the kind of people who write novels. After all, not all novelists are power-hungry madmen - some are power hungry madwomen." p.126-127 (footnote)

"Cass and Max-Ernest found themselves in a small, vault-like library crammed with books - piles and piles of books - all of them, you could tell at a glance, rare and priceless. Some were gilded and encrusted with jewels...It was like walking into a treasure trove of books, hoarded by pirate librarians." p.270

You know I couldn't resist the pirate librarians. :)

Things I Didn't Like:
The characters are definitely not fully developed, but this is definitely not a character-driven story. The strength of the book lies entirely in its humor and the absolute fun of the plot and writing.

Read-alikes:
Definitely reminiscent of A Series of Unfortunate Eventsby Lemony Snicket
A bit like the Alcatraz books by Brandon Sanderson
The footnotes reminded me of Larklight by Philip Reeve

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->
some parts a bit scary

Overall rating: ****

Do you like books that directly address the reader and provide commentary throughout, or does it distract you? (And does anyone know if there is a technical term for when the author talks to the reader?)

If you buy through my Amazon linkage,
I will get a very small percentage