The Adventures of Vin Fiz [Hardcover]

Clive Cussler (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

Ten-year-old twins Lacey and Casey Nicefolk live on a tiny herb farm in California, wishing they could see the world . . . but how, when times are so hard? That is where Sucoh Sucop comes in (you may notice his name is Hocus Pocus spelled backward).The mysterious man leaves the twins a magic box that can transform any toy into a life-sized reality. Soon Casey and Lacey, and their faithful hound Floopy, are soaring cross-country through the sky in the enchanted Vin Fiz, Casey’s model of a Wright Brothers biplane.Yet the ride is not a smooth one. The twins encounter danger after danger, and must rescue a town held captive by gold-hungry bandits, not to mention a runaway train full of terrified passengers!

In the tradition of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang comes an old-fashioned adventure full of magic and heroism that will take young readers on a journey not soon forgotten.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5–Cusslers first childrens book is a tribute to an airplane that crossed the United States in 1911. It is the tale of Casey and Lacey Nicefolk, who receive a gift from a hired hand that allows them to make their toys real and life-sized. First the twins make a tractor for their parents farm, and then they use the magic to create an airplane designed by the Wright brothers that they call Vin Fiz. They decide to fly across the country to New York. On the way, they rescue townspeople who have been turned into gold-mining slaves by an evil man, keep a steamboat from crashing into a barge, stop a runaway train, and rescue two girls from going over Niagara Falls in a boat. Unfortunately, the book suffers from a lack of characterization as well as problems with gender stereotypes. Lacey, the female twin, is never the hero in the adventures. The writing is stilted and the story fails to come to life even though the situations have the potential to be exciting.–Tasha Saecker, Caestecker Public Library, Green Lake, WI
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

The guy I read Tom Clancy --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Philomel; 1ST edition (February 21, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399244743
• ISBN-13: 978-0399244742
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #303,631 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Clive Cussler began writing novels in 1965 and published his first work featuring his continuous series hero, Dirk Pitt(R), in 1973. His first non-fiction, The Sea Hunters, was released in 1996. The Board of Governors of the Maritime College, State University of New York, considered The Sea Hunters in lieu of a Ph.D. thesis and awarded Cussler a Doctor of Letters degree in May, 1997. It was the first time since the College was founded in 1874 that such a degree was bestowed.
Cussler is an internationally recognized authority on shipwrecks and the founder of the National Underwater and Marine Agency, (NUMA) a 501C3 non-profit organization (named after the fictional Federal agency in his novels) that dedicates itself to preserving American maritime and naval history. He and his crew of marine experts and NUMA volunteers have discovered more than 60 historically significant underwater wreck sites including the first submarine to sink a ship in battle, the Confederacy's Hunley, and its victim, the Union's Housatonic; the U-20, the U-boat that sank the Lusitania; the Cumberland, which was sunk by the famous ironclad, Merrimack; the renowned Confederate raider Florida; the Navy airship, Akron, the Republic of Texas Navy warship, Zavala, found under a parking lot in Galveston, and the Carpathia, which sank almost six years to-the-day after plucking Titanic's survivors from the sea.
In September, 1998, NUMA - which turns over all artifacts to state and Federal authorities, or donates them to museums and universities - launched its own web site for those wishing more information about maritime history or wishing to make donations to the organization.
In addition to being the Chairman of NUMA, Cussler is also a fellow in both the Explorers Club of New York and the Royal Geographic Society in London. He has been honored with the Lowell Thomas Award for outstanding underwater exploration.
Cussler's books have been published in more than 40 languages in more than 100 countries. His past international bestsellers include Pacific Vortex, Mediterranean Caper, Iceberg, Raise the Titanic, Vixen 03, Night Probe, Deep Six, Cyclops, Treasure, Dragon, Sahara, Inca Gold, Shock Wave, Flood Tide, Atlantis Found, Valhalla Rising, Trojan Odyssey, Black Wind, Treasure of Kahn and Arctic Drift (the last three with his son, Dirk Cussler) as well as The Chase; the nonfiction books The Sea Hunters, The Sea Hunters II and Clive Cussler and Dirk Pitt (R) Revealed; the NUMA(R) Files novels Serpent, Blue Gold, Fire Ice, White Death, Lost City, Polar Shift, The Navigator and Medusa (written with Paul Kemprecos); and the Oregon Files novels Sacred Stone and Golden Buddha (written with Craig Dirgo) and Dark Watch, Skeleton Coast, Plague Ship and Corsair (written with Jack Du Brul).
Clive Cussler lives in Arizona.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A thrilling, fun, and imaginative story, February 23, 2006

By 

A Customer (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Adventures of Vin Fiz (Hardcover)

Ten-year-old twins Casey and Lacey Nicefolk live on an herb farm in California with their parents and basset hound Floopy. The small farm requires lots of hard work, but Casey and Lacey love their home. They swim, boat, and camp in the nearby forests, and of course they go to school and help their parents with chores on the farm.

One day, a strange man named Mr. Sucoh Sucop and his mule, Mr. Periwinkle, arrive at the herb farm. Mr. Sucop offers to work there for free in exchange for food and lodging. The farm never earns any profits; it makes just barely enough to keep going, so Casey and Lacey's parents gladly accept the offer from the stranger.

Mr. Sucop works hard everyday, and then joins the family for dinner. Afterwards he disappears into the barn, locking the door behind him. Casey and Lacey are curious about what the strange man could be up to, but they respect his privacy. Finally, at the end of the harvesting season, Mr. Sucop lets the twins in on his very special secret. Inside the barn he has built a magical mat. Anything placed on the mat will magically transform into a life-sized, fully functioning version of that object! Mr. Sucop gives them two rules: first, the twins must believe with all their hearts that the magic will work; and second, they must only use the magic for good. With that, Mr. Sucop leaves the farm.

The twins try out the magical mat on a toy tractor, and it works! Suddenly, parked in their barn is a real-life tractor. Casey and Lacey give the tractor to their parents to use on the farm. Next, in the cover of the morning darkness, they transform one of Casey's model airplanes. They name the life-sized plane Vin Fiz, and set off with their dog Floopy on an adventure they will never forget.

THE ADVENTURES OF VIN FIZ is a fun and imaginative story that will thrill any and all readers. Clive Cussler fills the pages with exciting quests (like rescuing a runaway train) and tosses in a bit of silly humor for flair (including some of the characters' unusual and pun-like names). For an extra bonus, Cussler artistically slips in some interesting trivia, like how a steam engine works, so readers may even learn something along the way.

--- Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman, author

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a GREAT book!, March 7, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Adventures of Vin Fiz (Hardcover)

My mom saw this book and bought it for me. I noticed that Clive Cussler wrote it and I remembered that my Dad loves this writer. Well, I do too! I liked that it was an adventure that started in one of my fovorite states! I also liked that it was about kids my own age that helped solve problems and nearly saved peoples lives. I suggest this book for all kids my age (10).

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Way to Start 'Em Young, Clive!, February 28, 2006

By 

Kara J. Jorges "Avid Reader" (Minneapolis) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Adventures of Vin Fiz (Hardcover)

Casey and Lacey Nicefolk are 10-year-old twins living on an herb farm near Castroville, California. One summer, their father hires a hand, Sucoh Sucop, who builds things in secret in the barn. The day after harvest, before moving on, Mr. Sucop gives the twins a device he's built that can make their toys real.

After first turning a toy tractor into a real one for their father, the twins turn a Wright Brothers model airplane into a life-size machine and hop in for an adventure across the United States. As they make their way to the Atlantic with their Basset hound Floopy, they find a number of adventures along the way, each involving a rescue and feats of derring-do by the twins, their dog, and Vin Fiz, the airplane.

Dirk Pitt fans hoping for a toned-down Pitt-style adventure shouldn't bother. This is a story for kids and the plot is far from intricate. What we get instead is a cute, fun adventure grade schoolers will enjoy, full of silly names to tickle their funny bones, as well as a number of fun facts to learn along the way. Both Casey and Lacey are likeable kids with good values, too. Cussler fans with kids should definitely pick this one up and get them started young.