The Death (and Further Adventures) of Silas Winterbottom by Stephen M. Giles

Does the amount of hair and the type of pet determine the wickedness of the villain? After reading The Death (and Further Adventures) of Silas Winterbottom by Stephen M. Giles I would argue that it does matter. I mean look at Dr. Evil, he has no hair and a tiny kitty. Silas Winterbottom, on the other hand has a full head of hair and a pet crocodile. He personifies evil.

Silas Winterbottom is dying and he needs an heir. He sends for his nieces and nephew to determine which unsuspecting kid will be his “heir”. There is Adele, a red head with a mad scientist for a mother. Dear Old Mom threatens to send her to an orphanage if she does get the money. Then, there is Isabella an uncommon criminal that will do “anything” to be picked as the heir. Finally, there is Milo. He parents were killed by a volcano. Milo lives with his grandfather and wants nothing to do with the fortune. The three are forced to join forces to stop Uncle Silas.

I loved this book. It was funny and suspenseful. I wish it was in paperback because it would be our next Guys Read Book Club book.

Thank you Sourcebook Publishing for providing the ARC.

Masters of Disaster by Gary Paulsen

It is hard to believe that I am two weeks into a new school year. My plan this past summer was to post numerous entries on The Boy Reader and comment on other blogs. Oops, that didn’t happen. I guess I needed a break. I am back with a fun book for reluctant readers that are proficient readers. I really want to focus on that. It seems much is written about reluctant boy readers that struggle and are below level, but not much on reluctant boy readers that read at or above grade level. They seem to be the boys that would rather go to the dentist then read.

Anyhow I received in the mail Gary Paulsen’s new book Masters of Disaster. It is a fun read. Three junior high boys set out to be “famous”. Actually it is Henry that wants the fame and adventures he just drags his friends Riley and Reed along for the ride and in Reed’s case literally and off the roof of the neighbor’s house. The short chapters make it easy for a teacher to read at night during the first weeks of school. This, also, makes it appealing to the reluctant reader. With many of Paulsen’s books the content is better for fourth and above.

Look forward to more posts. I really am back to blogging.

Thanks Random House and Knopf Delacort Dell