Alcatraz Smedry is looking forward to a trip to the Free Kingdoms with his perpetually late grandfather --but first he has to deal with a massive glass dragon, fight off a particularly vicious Dark Occulator, and save his potentially undead dead father from a terrible fate.

I really enjoyed the first book in the series. The story was fast-paced and fun, and Sanderson twisted storytelling conventions in some entertaining ways. I was looking forward to further adventures with Alcatraz and his bizarre family.

I'm afraid, though, that I gave this book a bit of a rum deal. It came in for me at the library. I read it because I knew I could whip right on through it, fast as anything. But it wasn't at all what I felt like, and I'm afraid I coudn't really connect with it.

All the elements that made ALCATRAZ VERSUS THE EVIL LIBRARIANS such a good read are still present. The plot is tight; there's action-action-action followed by a quadruple dose of action. Alcatraz and his friends find themselves in over their heads time and again, and Sanderson develops increasingly inventive ways for them to finagle their way out of each new scrape. It's fun stuff.

But it's the way Sanderson plays with standard storytelling conventions that really sets the books apart. There's a concrete context here; Alcatraz knows he's writing a book, and he often breaks the fourth wall in order to communicate directly with his readers. He comments on what ought to happen, given the reader's presumed knowledge of story, and shows us how fiction works. For this reason, the series is probably best suited to children who've already read a fair bit and are familiar with most of the usual plots and devices. It's also got crossover appeal for adults.

And on top of all that, there's scads of snarky humor and more than a few hints that Alcatraz's life is set to get a whole lot darker in the coming books. I should've been all over it.

So it's a good book. It's fun and creative and tricksy and all that other good stuff, and I kept telling myself that I ought to be enjoying it. But, when push comes to shove, I can't say as I really did. I told myself what was great about it, but I never really felt it. I'm sure I'll tackle the next book one of these days, but it's not a high priority.

(This review originally appeared on my blog, Stella Matutina). ( )

We are currently reading it to my boys for their bedtime book and they enjoy it as well. You have to be able to handle a sarcastic teenager first person voice though. If that drives you nuts, then don't bother reading the book. ( )

This series improved on this title, with the first being a good read. As an evil librarian, should I say that? Check it out for some good laughs, and remember that Alcatraz is a liar... you can believe him. ( )

It wasn't too long ago that I read Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians, the first installment of the planned five-book autobiography of Alcatraz Smedry. Of course, you won't find these book in the non-fiction section of the library, but this is all a part of the Librarians' plot to discredit them. The books have even been published under the name of fantasy author Brandon Sanderson to add to the confusion. I enjoyed Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians immensely and knew that I would need to read the next book, Alcatraz versus the Scrivener's Bones. (Just, please don't tell anyone--as an evil librarian, I could probably get in a lot of trouble for this.)

Alcatraz versus the Scrivener's Bones picks up shortly after the first book in the series. Alcatraz is trying to meet up with his grandfather in order to leave the Hushlands and finally visit the Free Kingdoms himself. But, as usual when Smedrys are involved, things don't quite go as planned. The Librarians are still after Alcatraz--in particular his pair of rare and powerful Translator's lenses--and are beginning to become so desperate that they will even work with another, darker Librarian sect, the Scrivener's Bones. It's not too surprising then that the meet-up doesn't happen--especially considering Grandpa Smedry's Talent for arriving late. Alcatraz's exceptional Talent for breaking things doesn't always help, either. Soon it turns into a rescue mission. Joining forces with his newly discovered uncle and cousin (both with their own unique Talents), and aided by the Crystin Knights, Alcatraz journeys to the very dangerous Great Library of Alexandria in search of his grandfather and Attica Smedry--the father who he's never met.

If you didn't enjoy Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians you probably won't enjoy Alcatraz versus the Scrivener's Bones as it continues in very much the same vein. The humor is just as snarky, the storytelling just as random, and the plot just as wild. I absolutely loved it, but it is definitely not for everyone. A few of the tangents in Alcatraz versus the Scrivener's Bones didn't seem to work as well, but overall the book is a strong follow-up to Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians and perhaps slightly less goofy and more mature while still being a load of fun. And the continued world-building is fantastic.

Since the Alcatraz books are aimed at a younger audience (well, ages 9-99 according to Sanderson's website), the writing style isn't terribly complex and they're not incredibly long, either. Understandably, they make for pretty quick reads. Some references are probably more likely to be picked up on by older readers, but there is still plenty of material for everyone to enjoy. I'm definitely looking forward to the next installment of the series. I know that these will be books that I return to again when I need a fun, quick, pick-me-up sort of read. And since the second book was as good as the first (which can be tricky), I expect and hope that the rest of the series continues the trend. The only problem now is that I'll have to wait for the rest of the books to be published.

Experiments in Reading ( )

Sanderson, B. (2008). Alcatraz Versus the Scrivener’s Bones. New York: Scholastic
Press.

0439925533

So I know I reviewed the first Alcatraz book a few weeks ago, but what can I say, I enjoyed it. So here’s the second book. This time around, Alcatraz must search for his father and grandfather in the great Library of Alexandria (turns out it wasn’t destroyed, just moved. It’s a conspiracy).

While I will admit to loving this fantasy/science fiction series, I have a very small bone to pick with the titles. While the ‘versus’ technique is cute on one hand, it always places Alcatraz in opposition. But on the other hand, opposition creates tension and tension helps make for a good read. But on the other hand, in a binary infested world do we really need more binaries. Hmmm. That’s enough rambling and too many hands.

Now lets move on to the opening sentence. The “So, there I was,” phrasing is used in both books multiple times. This could turn into a fun writing exercise to do with students—Have them create their own stories beginning with “So, there I was….”

Once again, Sanderson includes the use of guns and violence in the book with no serious consequences. (however there is a repeated promise of death to the character, Bastille) On the plus side though, Sanderson maintains the strength of his enjoyable and humorous meta-narrative that explores the conditions of leadership and heroism. I made be forced to add him to the short list of authors that I would marry no questions asked. (This is a big deal, guys! This is a very short list and Sanderson just might get his name put on it).

Activities to do with the book:

Along with considering discussions of how to construct a tense and drama –filled narrative, students can also discuss if Alcatraz is a trustworthy narrator.
Another discussion would be to consider the way Western culture is viewed in the Alcatraz books. A reader can feel like an anthropologist, examining their own culture.

Overall, Alcatraz’s sarcastic voice could manage to entice many struggling readers. If that is the case, it’s important to maintain the sense of fun inherent in this series.

Favorite Quotes:

“You think you know me. You’ve listened to the storytellers. You’ve talked with your friends about my exploits. You’ve read history books and heard the criers tell of my heroic deeds. The trouble is, the only people who are bigger liars than myself are the people who like to talk about me” (Foreword).

For some reason, the more powerful a pair of Oculatory Lenses is, the less cool they tend to look. I’m developing a theory about it—the Law of Disproportional Lameness.)” (p. 2).

“I feel I need to break the action here to warn you that I frequently break the action to mention trivial things” (p. 7).

FOR MORE OF MY REVIEWS, VISIT sjkessel.blogspot.com

Another great book about Alcatraz and his talented family. This time they must deal with a pursuing Librarian while trying to find Alcatraz's father and grandfather. Plenty of little witty passages and full of entertainment. ( )

Excellent! Another home run from Brandon Sanderson. Absolutely hilarious. Brandon seems to have ironed out the wrinkles from the 1st book and has produced a great read. The only negative I can come up with (and it's small) is some of the later chapter beginnings (the first 2 paragraphs) get a little weird, but not monotonous like one or two of his tricks in the last book.

We meet up with Alcatraz a couple months after leaving him in the last book. He is sitting in the airport waiting to meet up with Grandpa Smedry so they can go home to the Free Kingdoms. As expected he's late, and in the meantime he's spotted by librarians who are trying extra hard not to let him escape. A Scrivener's Bone is one his pursuers. We meet a couple more of Alcatraz's relatives and Bastille's mother. We finally end up in the Library of Alexandria looking for Grandpa Smedry, Attica Smedry while trying not to be lured into trading souls for knowledge. Lots of adventure and hi jinks and a very enjoyable read. ( )

J ( )

This book was a very fun, silly read. This book does not take itself very seriously it is similar in genre to Harry Potter, but not as complex and has more humor. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Riordan's or Rowlings books.
I did not think it was as good as the first book, but the series definitely shows promise. It is a worthwhile read and i would recommend it. ( )

I didn't like this one as much as the first book. It took me about 255 pages to start to think it was worth reading.... But the humor and writing was much in keeping with the spirit of the first book. I am still eager to read the next installment. ( )

Alcatraz leads his allies through the soul sucking Library of Alexandria on a mission to save his father in the 2nd installment of his series. ( )

Summary: Several months have passed since Alcatraz's daring infiltration of a Librarian stronghold, and he and his grandfather have become two of the most hunted men in the Hushlands. They're in the process of evacuating to the Free Kingdoms, when Alcatraz decides to take a detour. He's received some clues that his dead father may not be so dead after all, and Alcatraz is going looking for him in the last place he was known to be heading: the Library of Alexandria, where every scrap of knowledge ever written down is stored. The wraith-like Curators stalk the maze-like halls, encouraging visitors to check out any book they like - the only catch is that the cost for checking out a book is your soul! Now Alcatraz must find a way to get himself and his team out of the library with their souls and bodies intact - for they're not only being hounded by Curators, but also hunted by a member of the Scrivener's Bones - a cult of Librarians that use the darkest of Dark powers.

Review: Too funny! It's often the case that sequels don't quite have the impact of first novels, but Alcatraz Versus the Scrivener's Bones manages to maintain the high levels of energy and snarky humor that characterized the first book, Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians. Of course, a little bit of the first-novel charm of having a new world to explore and new characters to meet has worn off by this point, but what this installment lacks in shiny new-book-itude, it makes up for with creative new plot twists, and with an increase in the maturity of the underlying message. Alcatraz has been thrust into the role of leader, and watching him struggle with it, at the same time he's coping with his own history, family, and powers, is interesting to watch. Not to fear, though - this is about the polar opposite of a preachy, moralizing book, and any lessons that Alcatraz learns about himself are well-disguised with his trademark sardonic humor, gleeful observations about how ignorant we Hushlanders are, and constant protests about how much of a liar he is.

Is this book serious literature? I'll let Alcatraz himself tackle that one:

"Anyway, let's talk about fantasy novels. First, you have to understand that when I say "fantasy novels," I mean books about dieting or literature or people living during the Great Depression. Fantasy novels, then, are books that don't include things like glass dragons, ghostly Curators, or magical Lenses.

I hate fantasy novels. Well, that's not true. I don't actually really hate them. I just get annoyed by what they've done to the Hushlands.

People don't read anymore. And, when they do, they don't read books like this one, but instead read books that depress them, because those books are seen as important. Somehow, the Librarians have successfully managed to convince most people in the Hushlands that they shouldn't read anything that isn't boring.

So, is it Serious Literature? No, but that's all part of the great Librarian Conspiracy anyways. Is it incredibly fun, laugh-out-loud funny, and worth reading anyways? Absolutely. 4 out of 5 stars.

Recommendation: If you haven't read Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians, don't start on the second book - a bad habit that Alcatraz says "ranks somewhere between chewing with your mouth open and making quacking noises when your friends are trying to study." But, if you need a little more fun in your life - and really, who doesn't? - then this series is highly recommended.

**All quotes are from an uncorrected proof and may not reflect the final published text.** ( )

Once again an extremely enjoyable YA book from Brandon Sanderson. This book is the second in the series begun with Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians. The sarcasm is off the charts, there is great adventure, and even some thoughtful ruminations thrown in. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good fantasy adventure, or just a series of good laughs. I would especially recommend it to tween and teen reluctant readers, who are sure to enjoy the humor and fast-paced escapades. I greatly look forward to a continuation of this wonderful series. ( )