Customer Reviews

The Adventures of Blue Avenger

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is a wonderful book, which is fairly well described by the reviews above. It is a kind of real-life fantasy, where the main character adopts a comic-book superhero persona and immediately starts living a comic-book superhero type existence, where he is instantly popular at school and nothing serious goes wrong. (In some ways, this book is like a teen version of Laurie Colwin's Happy All the Time. There is no traditional conflict, not among peers, not between kids and parents or teachers or society. There are tragedies, but they are all in the past.) The themes are mature: sexuality (a very sweet version of it), personal responsibility, the ways in which people advance themselves at a cost to others. The author is very ambitious, and not all of what she tries works, but a great deal does. One issue: my wife mistakenly bought this for our 10-year-old son, for whom it is clearly inappropriate. It is not so clear what group of kids should read it. Kids old enough to appreciate a condom-buying scene (a high point in the book that is clearly, if coyly, divorced from the conventional reasons for buying condoms) and smart enough to like the frequent philosophical discussions and ironic authorial intrusions will generally have moved beyond Young Adult fiction. They may resent the undercurrent of goody-goody preachiness (the protagonists predictably and enthusiastically opt for chastity; there is a lot of anti-vulgarity propaganda) and the odd reticence that produces a great deal of very unspecific talk about sex ("He pondered the difference between love and lust." "Their hormones were raging.") Basically, this is a book that has to fit into a narrow window of opportunity in which kids have enough interest and information to care about the themes but will find the coyness comforting. Also, although it is not a "girls' book" per se, girls will probably like it a lot more than boys - it is really a girls' fantasy about the perfect boyfriend.

The Adventures of Blue Avenger is overall a very good read. It starts off fairly intriguing, and the plot continues to develope chapter after chapter. This is not a book where you will skip parts, as I... er... well, tend to do.

This novel has great character development. The main characters are lively, intelligent, and people who you'd like to be friends with. An interesting thing about this book is how the social life of Blue (the main character) is portrayed. It seems as if there really isn't any teenage nastiness, or at least not much of it. I think this makes it better than the average book, even though it may not be that realistic. It's refreshing to not read about teen social problems every single page.

Another great thing about this book is the way it works through philosophical questions, mainly the ever-lasting predestination versus free will question. The author brings the questions up throughout the story just enough to keep it largely interesting, but not overkill.

I would say that this book is more appropriate for ages 12 and up. Some of the subjects in it are not something you'd want an eight year-old to read, despite the cover.

All in all, I would recomend it to anyone who is looking for great summer reading. I know that sounds really vague, but it's the truth. I was skeptical when it arrived, but as soon as I started reading it, I was hooked!

that a book on such a serious topic could be so much fun to read? If someone had come up to me and asked "Would you like to read a book about free will?", I probably would have just said "No way." But Blue Avenger turned out to be one of the funniest things I've read in a while. It all starts on his 16th birthday, when David Schumacher decides to change his name to Blue Avenger after a character he created. In doing so he becomes a unique sort of superhero, simply solving everyday problems, like finding the perfect lemon meringue pie recipe. (I tried it, and it really honestly doesn't weep.)There's plenty of humor along the way, as in the memorable condom-buying scene and classroom discussion. There's a romantic side, thanks to his close friend Omaha Nebraska Brown. There are small seemingly meaningless moments that come back in the end, somewhat like Harry Potter. And of course, there's the free will issue- it really makes you think without taking over the story or getting boring and technical. I knew very little about free will before reading this, but now I can honestly say I have an opinion on it.

Is it realistic? Not really. But will it make you think and laugh out loud? You bet. And that's the whole point anyway.

...the author regretably allowed her political leanings to intrude. The preaching on gun control and socialized medicine marred an otherwise amusing and, at times, charming story.

One other criticism; I'm sure most readers will recognize the implausibility of the protagonist's classmates' responses to his decision to change his name to "Blue Avenger" and even to wear a costume to school. Sorry, but that would just be begging for ridicule, if not outright tormenting from other kids.

An excellent book about a remarkable young hero, who is grappling with the old philosophical problem of free will. If every event has a cause, then how can we be free? And if we are not free, then how can we be held morally responsible? This book, more successful, I think, than the second in the series (though that was still far superior to most teen fiction out there), illustrates this problem extremely well at the same time as it introduces some very intriguing and likeable characters who face real world problems and solve them in real world ways, while managing at some level to feel like superheroes. While it touches on some themes (death and sex, both touched upon in a very sensitive and non-explicit fashion) that may be too mature for very young children, I think the book would be appropriate and enjoyable for anyone over 12 years old (and I mean anyone without age limit, since I bought this for my daughter and picked it up one night and couldn't put it down).

I find it hard to believe that only a few reviewers gave this book 5 stars. I'm inclined to agree with the obviously youthful reader who declared, "This is the greatest book ever written!" It's not, of course -- but it's an awful lot of fun.

Beautifully written, laugh-out-loud funny, sad but not painful, and brilliantly constructed, with as meaty a consideration of fate and free will as you are likely to find in a work of contemporary fiction. NOTE TO THE HIGHBROW CROWD: Ya don't have to use long sophisticated arguments to get the heart of a matter like this; if this book doesn't get you thinking about personal responsibility, then you probably aren't used to thinking much.

NOT FOR KIDS UNDER 14, it contains some sexuality and vulgarity but comes down squarely on the conservative side of these issues.

Everything you could ask for in a "young adult" novel; don't miss it.

David Schumacher is an ordinary boy with an ordinary life who wants to be important and help people. He doesn't know how to go about doing this, until his sixteenth birthday, when he decides to change his name to Blue Avenger. With his new, unusual name, Blue becomes brave and courageous. Within a matter of days, he becomes a town hero. First, he rescues his principal from a swarm of killer bees. He then discovers how to make `weepless' lemon meringue pie, even getting his recipe put in a nationally famous advice column. Furthermore, Blue delivers his new girlfriend, Omaha Nebraska Brown, to her half brother's wedding that's at a jail in Walla Walla. He also finds a dermatologist who will allow Blue to anonymously pay for his friend's acne treatment. But, most importantly, Blue solves gun problems in Oakland by getting the mayor to outlaw bullets and replace them with tranquilizing `winger stingers.' So, Blue Avenger finally gets the recognition he craves and fulfills his destiny. This entertaining book with the underlying theme of free will vs. destiny is suitable for anyone 12 and older.

This book is SO much like 'Holes' But that doesn't mean that once you've read one that you've read the other. Adventures of Blue Avenger is about a sixteen year old boy who decides to change his name to Blue Avenger. Taking on his new identity, he also gains a new strength. He befriends the girl of his dreams, Omaha Nebraska Brown, invents the ultimate recipe for a 'weepless' meringue pie (which I have yet to try), and does a whole bunch of other super hero stuff. I thought this was a very good book and I think that you all should go and get it and read it because it is definitely worth it.

Simply put, this is a wonderful young adult's novel. It's engaging, funny, and mysterious. The main character's actions reach out to anyone who ever wanted to change their life in some dramatic way, and be reborn into, to quote the bard, a brave new world. The novel also adresses social, family, and philosophical issues in such a way that you find yourself interested and thinking thoughtfully without realizing it. The story inspires young people to change what they don't like, including themselves. This is a fantastic book, and I recommend to anyone who wants an absorbing, touching and funny read.

This little book is a great read for all ages. There is philosophy, fame and fortune, family issues, and fun facts and descriptions, not to mention a great pie recipe! I found this book at a local thrift store and what they say is true - one man's trash is another man's treasure!