Eric Luper
Author of The Mysterious Moonstone
Series
Works by Eric Luper
Key Hunters 1 copy
Associated Works
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Gender
- male
Members
Reviews
Description
Stumbling upon a secret library, two friends are sucked into a book and thrown headlong into a perilous adventure.
Cleo and Evan have to sit out recess in the library, when their librarian disappears moments after speaking with them, they go to investigate. But the magical library they find brings more questions than answers, as they discover notes from a past librarian who also disappeared, and are literally pulled into the story of a book. Can they solve a mystery to get home? show more And if they even can, will they find any answers when they get back?
Disclosure
I borrowed this book for free from our library system, it was provided for my personal use. There was no agreement with the author, publisher, or any third party that I would publish a review. The following review is unsolicited, unbiased, and all opinions are my own.
Review – Spoiler Free
I feel like books marketed to this age range tend to give way too much away, or drop in lots of humor for the adults, that kids totally don’t understand and end up getting confused by or asking questions about. Why does there need to be humor for the adult reader? If it’s a good book, shouldn’t it just naturally pull the adult reader along anyways?
I didn’t get any of that with this book – I hadn’t solved the mystery early on, and most things that a kid might not know are explained casually in text. (My favorite of which is when one character is confused about what a Red Herring is, assuming it is a fish, and another character explains it in a line that isn’t clunky and doesn’t mess with the story line. This example also makes me wonder if subsequent books will point out other story devises in similar ways, which I’d be pumped for.
Some other fun things are: good character development with hints at more depth coming in later books, and a full page image in every chapter.
One of my favorite things was that Evan and Cleo actually did something – they didn’t just get whisked off to some adventure and stumble through, flying by the seat of their pants without actually doing anything. No, they were involved in the adventure in intentional, thoughtful ways, and had a big part in how everything turned out. It’s a short, fast read and Luper was able to comfortably fit a meaningful plot in there.
This is advertised as appealing to 3rd and 4th graders, but I would totally read this to a 3 year old who is excited to listen to books. It’s also advertised as 3rd grade reading level – I have no experience with this yet, so I can’t add opinion to that. It could easily be compared to Magic Treehouse books with comprehension and reading ability.
I have very little complaints about this book. There is some teasing, but it is just playful banter between good friends. There was also one spot where I mixed up two minor characters, but it was easy to get them straightened back out.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it! I plan to read the rest of the series, and if they’re all this good, we’ll most likely be buying the set. show less
Stumbling upon a secret library, two friends are sucked into a book and thrown headlong into a perilous adventure.
Cleo and Evan have to sit out recess in the library, when their librarian disappears moments after speaking with them, they go to investigate. But the magical library they find brings more questions than answers, as they discover notes from a past librarian who also disappeared, and are literally pulled into the story of a book. Can they solve a mystery to get home? show more And if they even can, will they find any answers when they get back?
Disclosure
I borrowed this book for free from our library system, it was provided for my personal use. There was no agreement with the author, publisher, or any third party that I would publish a review. The following review is unsolicited, unbiased, and all opinions are my own.
Review – Spoiler Free
I feel like books marketed to this age range tend to give way too much away, or drop in lots of humor for the adults, that kids totally don’t understand and end up getting confused by or asking questions about. Why does there need to be humor for the adult reader? If it’s a good book, shouldn’t it just naturally pull the adult reader along anyways?
I didn’t get any of that with this book – I hadn’t solved the mystery early on, and most things that a kid might not know are explained casually in text. (My favorite of which is when one character is confused about what a Red Herring is, assuming it is a fish, and another character explains it in a line that isn’t clunky and doesn’t mess with the story line. This example also makes me wonder if subsequent books will point out other story devises in similar ways, which I’d be pumped for.
Some other fun things are: good character development with hints at more depth coming in later books, and a full page image in every chapter.
One of my favorite things was that Evan and Cleo actually did something – they didn’t just get whisked off to some adventure and stumble through, flying by the seat of their pants without actually doing anything. No, they were involved in the adventure in intentional, thoughtful ways, and had a big part in how everything turned out. It’s a short, fast read and Luper was able to comfortably fit a meaningful plot in there.
This is advertised as appealing to 3rd and 4th graders, but I would totally read this to a 3 year old who is excited to listen to books. It’s also advertised as 3rd grade reading level – I have no experience with this yet, so I can’t add opinion to that. It could easily be compared to Magic Treehouse books with comprehension and reading ability.
I have very little complaints about this book. There is some teasing, but it is just playful banter between good friends. There was also one spot where I mixed up two minor characters, but it was easy to get them straightened back out.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it! I plan to read the rest of the series, and if they’re all this good, we’ll most likely be buying the set. show less
Description
With no experience or training, Cleo and Evan must rescue a top spy from a skilled criminal mastermind.
Just a few days ago, in a secret library under their school, Cleo and Evan were pulled into the story of a book. They had to live the story out to return home, and today they’re doing it again. Now, their role is as secret agents – not the best and not even accomplished, but simply the closest to the case. Armed only with a few spy gadgets, they must figure out how to find show more and rescue a captured top agent, all while working towards the story’s proper end so they don’t get trapped in the book.
Disclosure
I borrowed this book for free from our library system, it was provided for my personal use. There was no agreement with the author, publisher, or any third party that I would publish a review. The following review is unsolicited, unbiased, and all opinions are my own.
Review – Spoiler Free
This is advertised as appealing to 2nd -4th Graders, and being at the 3rd Grade reading level, I would read it to kids as young as 3.
I picked up this book after thoroughly enjoying reading the first in this series with out kids (read my review of The Mysterious Moonstone here), and I was not disappointed. The story starts out fast paced, and doesn’t really slow down until the end. Repeat characters are developed more as was hinted at in the first book, and more hints are dropped that they will continue to develop as the series progresses. Also, possibly difficult or new words are explained casually without breaking the story line.
One of my favorite things with this book, and with the first book too, is that Cleo and Evan are integral to the story. They are involved in the story line, make active decisions, and aren’t just taken for a ride. This is really shown in a few spots where their individual strengths (Evan’s book smarts, and Cleo’s impulsive, active reactions) are needed to solve specific problems.
Another thing that I really appreciate in this book: Evan cries. That may sound weird to like, but bear with me. It’s written as a simple fact, and the reader can understand his emotion behind it – it’s not an extreme jump for him, so it’s not written as dramatic or cheesy. I feel like this is a wonderful example of a boy’s emotions being seen and accepted instead of brushed past or made comical. Evan is a strong character; he is intelligent, funny, brave, a good friend, and he has emotions. (NOTE: I have previously written a review where I disliked a character’s crying. I feel like it’s all in how the characters’ emotions are presented, are they swinging erratically, are they without context, are they depicted in a weak or comical light, etc.?)
There are a few things that didn’t quite work for me with this book, but nothing crazy. The villain’s motive wasn’t incredibly strong, and Ms. Crowley, their new librarian, seems to just want to be mean, those combined made the negative forces a little lack luster. It was also a little predictable and a few spots were kind of cliché, but I feel like some of that comes with the spy story category.
Overall, the kids and I enjoyed this one, would definitely recommend it, and will continue to check out the remaining books in the series. show less
With no experience or training, Cleo and Evan must rescue a top spy from a skilled criminal mastermind.
Just a few days ago, in a secret library under their school, Cleo and Evan were pulled into the story of a book. They had to live the story out to return home, and today they’re doing it again. Now, their role is as secret agents – not the best and not even accomplished, but simply the closest to the case. Armed only with a few spy gadgets, they must figure out how to find show more and rescue a captured top agent, all while working towards the story’s proper end so they don’t get trapped in the book.
Disclosure
I borrowed this book for free from our library system, it was provided for my personal use. There was no agreement with the author, publisher, or any third party that I would publish a review. The following review is unsolicited, unbiased, and all opinions are my own.
Review – Spoiler Free
This is advertised as appealing to 2nd -4th Graders, and being at the 3rd Grade reading level, I would read it to kids as young as 3.
I picked up this book after thoroughly enjoying reading the first in this series with out kids (read my review of The Mysterious Moonstone here), and I was not disappointed. The story starts out fast paced, and doesn’t really slow down until the end. Repeat characters are developed more as was hinted at in the first book, and more hints are dropped that they will continue to develop as the series progresses. Also, possibly difficult or new words are explained casually without breaking the story line.
One of my favorite things with this book, and with the first book too, is that Cleo and Evan are integral to the story. They are involved in the story line, make active decisions, and aren’t just taken for a ride. This is really shown in a few spots where their individual strengths (Evan’s book smarts, and Cleo’s impulsive, active reactions) are needed to solve specific problems.
Another thing that I really appreciate in this book: Evan cries. That may sound weird to like, but bear with me. It’s written as a simple fact, and the reader can understand his emotion behind it – it’s not an extreme jump for him, so it’s not written as dramatic or cheesy. I feel like this is a wonderful example of a boy’s emotions being seen and accepted instead of brushed past or made comical. Evan is a strong character; he is intelligent, funny, brave, a good friend, and he has emotions. (NOTE: I have previously written a review where I disliked a character’s crying. I feel like it’s all in how the characters’ emotions are presented, are they swinging erratically, are they without context, are they depicted in a weak or comical light, etc.?)
There are a few things that didn’t quite work for me with this book, but nothing crazy. The villain’s motive wasn’t incredibly strong, and Ms. Crowley, their new librarian, seems to just want to be mean, those combined made the negative forces a little lack luster. It was also a little predictable and a few spots were kind of cliché, but I feel like some of that comes with the spy story category.
Overall, the kids and I enjoyed this one, would definitely recommend it, and will continue to check out the remaining books in the series. show less
As posted on Outside of a Dog:
When I was a kid, there was a Rodney Dangerfield movie called "Ladybugs", in which a teen boy (played by the late Jonathan Brandis) pretends to be a girl to play on an all girls' soccer team. There were cross-dressing jokes a plenty and some gender confusion when Matthew (posing as Martha) gets a crush on one of his/her teammates. For some reason, I loved this movie as a kid. I only mention this, because all the warm feelings I had for it came rushing back when show more I read Eric Luper's fantastically funny book, "Jeremy Bender vs. the Cupcake Cadets". I laughed at the same kind of jokes and enjoyed a similar gender bending adventure.
Jeremy Bender is your average guy. A little bit geeked out boating, a little bit picked on in school, and a little bit picked on by his older sister, Ruthie. Then one day, disaster strikes when, while working on his father's prize boat, he accidentally does some damage to the engine. Rather than admit his mistake, Jeremy formulates a plan to enter the Windjammer Whirl, win the $500 prize and repair the boat before anyone's the wiser. The catch? The Windjammer Whirl is for Cupcake Cadets only, and if there's one rule in the Cupcake Cadets handbook, it's No Boys Allowed. This isn't about to stop Jeremy, however, and he convinces his best friend Slater to go along with his scheme to pose as Cupcake Cadets to win the money. A couple of skirted uniforms later, "Jenna" and "Samantha" have entered a local troupe and start causing trouble wherever they go. They can't earn badges, can't pitch a tent, and can't seem to unload the eponymous cupcakes on the local populace. What are two guys-dressed-as-girls supposed to do, especially when one Cupcake Cadet gets too close to discovering their secret?
I chuckled a lot while reading "Jeremy Bender vs. the Cupcake Cadets", and not all the humor is derived from having boys in wigs and skirts parading around town. Jeremy is a naturally humorous character, and his humor is drawn from a very believable boy place. There's a lot here about the difference between boys and girls (the scenes between Jeremy and sister Ruthie are a perfect example of these, and all very, very funny), and Luper knows how to play the line, making the book relatable to both boys and girls, which is a tricky thing to do. This book is an easy recommendation for fans of Wimpy Kid (something of which I'm always in need) and funny gals like Judy Moody and Ramona. I know Luper typically writes for a young adult audience, but I'm very interested in seeing what else he's got for the middle grade crowd, because he sure knows how to play to it. show less
When I was a kid, there was a Rodney Dangerfield movie called "Ladybugs", in which a teen boy (played by the late Jonathan Brandis) pretends to be a girl to play on an all girls' soccer team. There were cross-dressing jokes a plenty and some gender confusion when Matthew (posing as Martha) gets a crush on one of his/her teammates. For some reason, I loved this movie as a kid. I only mention this, because all the warm feelings I had for it came rushing back when show more I read Eric Luper's fantastically funny book, "Jeremy Bender vs. the Cupcake Cadets". I laughed at the same kind of jokes and enjoyed a similar gender bending adventure.
Jeremy Bender is your average guy. A little bit geeked out boating, a little bit picked on in school, and a little bit picked on by his older sister, Ruthie. Then one day, disaster strikes when, while working on his father's prize boat, he accidentally does some damage to the engine. Rather than admit his mistake, Jeremy formulates a plan to enter the Windjammer Whirl, win the $500 prize and repair the boat before anyone's the wiser. The catch? The Windjammer Whirl is for Cupcake Cadets only, and if there's one rule in the Cupcake Cadets handbook, it's No Boys Allowed. This isn't about to stop Jeremy, however, and he convinces his best friend Slater to go along with his scheme to pose as Cupcake Cadets to win the money. A couple of skirted uniforms later, "Jenna" and "Samantha" have entered a local troupe and start causing trouble wherever they go. They can't earn badges, can't pitch a tent, and can't seem to unload the eponymous cupcakes on the local populace. What are two guys-dressed-as-girls supposed to do, especially when one Cupcake Cadet gets too close to discovering their secret?
I chuckled a lot while reading "Jeremy Bender vs. the Cupcake Cadets", and not all the humor is derived from having boys in wigs and skirts parading around town. Jeremy is a naturally humorous character, and his humor is drawn from a very believable boy place. There's a lot here about the difference between boys and girls (the scenes between Jeremy and sister Ruthie are a perfect example of these, and all very, very funny), and Luper knows how to play the line, making the book relatable to both boys and girls, which is a tricky thing to do. This book is an easy recommendation for fans of Wimpy Kid (something of which I'm always in need) and funny gals like Judy Moody and Ramona. I know Luper typically writes for a young adult audience, but I'm very interested in seeing what else he's got for the middle grade crowd, because he sure knows how to play to it. show less
Bold, active Cleo and her friend, shy, timid Evan, are very upset that their favorite librarian is gone. Ms. Hilliard has been replaced by mean, unfriendly Ms. Crowley and Cleo suggests something mysterious is going on. Evan scoffs until they discover a huge underground library and a magical key. It takes them back in time to Victorian England where they help a teen detective solve the mystery of the mysterious moonstone, a cursed jewel. Along the way they discover the meaning of the magical show more keys, some of Ms. Crowley's secrets, and the fate of Ms. Hilliard.
Black and white illustrations show dark-skinned Evan and exuberant Cleo transformed into Victorian dress and dropped down in the midst of a Sherlock Holmes atmosphere, including a mysterious Indian butler named Kumar.
On the one hand, this is a fast-paced mystery that kids will enjoy. It looks like the two protagonists will be traveling through history a la Magic Tree House and encountering various mysteries along the way. On the other hand, I thought the story was badly written. The writing was choppy, the dialogue stilted, and the characters stereotyped. Events happen and characters appear with little explanation or backstory. Additionally, there are some glaring historical anomalies - yes, it's a fictional story, but a girl and a dark-skinned boy couldn't just walk into high society with a teenager (why is Watson employed by the police anyways?) without a lot of questions and consequences. While I like the effort to add diversity to beginning chapter books, I don't like it coming at the expense of historical accuracy and whitewashing the treatment of minorities and women in the past.
Verdict: I'll keep looking for other chapter book series to offer my readers. I think time travel fantasy should be more historically accurate.
ISBN: 9780545822053; Published 2016 by Scholastic; Borrowed from another library in my consortium show less
Black and white illustrations show dark-skinned Evan and exuberant Cleo transformed into Victorian dress and dropped down in the midst of a Sherlock Holmes atmosphere, including a mysterious Indian butler named Kumar.
On the one hand, this is a fast-paced mystery that kids will enjoy. It looks like the two protagonists will be traveling through history a la Magic Tree House and encountering various mysteries along the way. On the other hand, I thought the story was badly written. The writing was choppy, the dialogue stilted, and the characters stereotyped. Events happen and characters appear with little explanation or backstory. Additionally, there are some glaring historical anomalies - yes, it's a fictional story, but a girl and a dark-skinned boy couldn't just walk into high society with a teenager (why is Watson employed by the police anyways?) without a lot of questions and consequences. While I like the effort to add diversity to beginning chapter books, I don't like it coming at the expense of historical accuracy and whitewashing the treatment of minorities and women in the past.
Verdict: I'll keep looking for other chapter book series to offer my readers. I think time travel fantasy should be more historically accurate.
ISBN: 9780545822053; Published 2016 by Scholastic; Borrowed from another library in my consortium show less
Lists
Awards
You May Also Like
Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 34
- Also by
- 1
- Members
- 2,894
- Popularity
- #8,853
- Rating
- 3.8
- Reviews
- 36
- ISBNs
- 128
- Languages
- 3