Chris Mould

first off, the scary looking figure on the cover is the hero of the story; the artistic style of the illustrator makes everyone look sinister. inside, the story about the founding of the baker street irregulars was fair but ignores the fact that, in the canon, they were formed without watson's knowledge, quite probably before he even knew holmes. my main issue with the story is that the telling of it was uneven, verging on erratic. the first half went smoothly enough but elements were just show more thrown in in the second half willy-nilly. for example, the titular tattoo is barely mentioned in the first part and only seen on one person; later it is mentioned that the guy was a member of the dragon clan (gang would've been a better word choice, among many options) and that must be why he has the tattoo. there was no mystery involved in the tattoo itself, uncovering the meaning of it, or how it ties into the current crime. i know this is a chapter book but the mystery could've been better executed. in fact, the main story isn't a mystery at all but an adventure: the kids who become the first irregulars trying to rescue a kidnapped friend but, since they see her being stashed in a warehouse, it's only a question of how. the secondary storyline, which could be considered a mystery, sees no investigation, is only given occasional lip service, and resolves itself in a twist anyone over the age of twelve could see several chapters prior. i'm not sure i recommend this book even for the target age group. show less

Roaming werewolves…fiendish pirates…and a talking fish? When 11-year-old Stanley Buggles learns that he has inherited his long-lost great-uncle’s estate, he has no idea that an entangled web of mysterious characters and foreboding secrets await him at Candlestick Hall. Brazened by a relentless curiosity, Stanley wrangles the courage to uncover the answers he seeks. The 176 pages of text are divided into 12 moderate chapters, characterized by a blend of descriptive language conveyed show more through a third person perspective and bouts of modest dialog. Dramatic images of varying size and expanse emerge throughout the book—from small illustrations that pop amidst the text to full-page visual displays that bring the tale to life. These intricate black pen drawings richly portray characters, objects, and scenes with exceptional finite detail through artful lines, shading, and texturing. At the cusp of the switch from transitional chapter book to a middle level reader, this book boasts a humorously dark and intriguing story that will appeal to children across a wide spectrum of ages. Younger readers may need additional support of a more advanced or adult reader, as they will likely encounter unfamiliar words and contexts. show less

When I first came across a banner for The Icy Hand by Chris Mould, I thought it would be an incredibly fun book. With a werewolf, a headless ghost, angry pirates back from the dead and a talking fish, how could it possibly go wrong?

*sigh* Let me tell you how…

Within the first 30 pages, this book was off to a bad start. Part of its problems are poor transitioning. There are times when it goes from one event to another, hours later, without any break. The pacing and tempo is either all over show more the place or completely M. I. A. from this book. My thoughts on this issue were that, given it’s listed for ages 9-12, maybe it’s a style that works for the younger, less patient audiences?

So I grabbed my 9-12 year old (Maggie, age 10), and read her the books description. Like me, she thought werewolves, headless ghosts and pirates sounded promising. However, after only a few pages, she brought the book back to me saying, “It’s not my thing. I like stories with main characters in them.”

Which brings us to another problem with this book. The characters are poorly developed and rather two-dimensional. It is possible that they were developed in book one, which I have not read, but I’m disinclined to believe that. Again, with the characters, this book is all over the place. They do this then that… sometimes seemingly without purpose.

There is a bright spot with this book. The illustrations are fantastic. They’re dark and creepy, but still maintain a safeness that keeps them from being terrifying to small children. In some ways, the illustrations remind me of the Lemony Snicket series (though I don’t know exactly why), but they are uniquely Mould’s creations.

While The Icy Hand by Chris Mould has a few problems, it’s not entirely unlikeable or readable. I’d be willing to bet, though, this is one of those books that would make a much better movie. I definitely think it’d be a really cool movie, but it’d probably be better to make one of the whole series instead of just one book.

Click for full review: http://thekoolaidmom.wordpress.com/2009/03/31/the-icy-hand-by-chris-mould/ show less

Stanley Buggles has inherited Candlestick Hall from his uncle, Admiral Bartholomew Swift. He is beginning his second trip to Crampton Rock - and it will be just as exciting as his first (you can read about his first adventure in The Wooden Mile). When he arrives at the Hall, he is warned of a grave danger approaching from the north. Stanley must work with his friend Daisy, the headless ghost of Admiral Swift, and a talking pike to foil a duo of ghostly pirates and protect the magical Ibis. show more If he succeeds, there are many more adventures ahead of him. If he fails.....

This story has a little of everything - mystery, intrigue, ghosts, pirates, a talking fish, and a brave, young protagonist. This is the perfect series for those youngsters who are enthralled with Harry Potter, Pirates of the Caribbean, and The Chronicles of Narnia. Mould's writing is fast-paced and is he is able to hold the attention of kids and adults alike. In addition, the illustrations are captivating, adding another level to this already wonderful book. I highly recommend The Icy Hand - It makes me wish my son was younger, so we could read it together. show less