Customer Reviews

The Book of Nonsense (Sacred Books, Vol. I)

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3 star:		(1)
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An absolutely delightful read!!! I was swept away into a world of wonder, mystery and danger as I followed Daphna and Dexter trying to navigate a suddenly perilous world. Daphna and Dexter are fraternal twins whose personalities are as different as their physical appearance. Whereas Daphna is a bookworm and fancies herself to be very social even if not necessarily popular, Dexter is somewhat of an outcast both at home and in school. A day before the twins turn thirteen, their father returns from a book buying trip in Turkey(he is a book scout) with a very strange book. The book is frayed and damaged on the outside, with the inside seeming to contain a jumble of words that have no meaning or order.

Daphna persuades her father that he would probably be able to offload this weird book at the new bookstore that was opened a few months back during his absence. She is horrified when she watches her father get hypnotized by the creepy shop keeper who takes the book away from him and tries to exact further payment in the form of Daphna going to work for him. Daphna sets out on a quest to reclaim the book and save herself, finding a surprising ally in her brother Dexter. So begins a very wild ride through town as the twins try to outsmart the villain and his minion.

This book is excellent in capturing the personalities of its characters and displaying them in a realistic way that rings true. Daphna and Dexter's relationship is a perfect picture of sibling rivalry and petty jealousies. Each has a tendency to misunderstand even the best intentions of the other. I also thought it was very interesting the way that the author was able to show the attitude of youth to the aged without it being disrespectful or untrue.

This book is a true find and I think that everyone will enjoy it regardless of age. Keep an eye out for the little clues, they will come back and mean more than you thought.

This is book one in what I hope is going to be a very successful series.

This is the kind of kids' fantasy that parents will enjoy as much as their children will. It has a lickety-split pace, dry humor, and engaging characters in a story that continues to build until the very final chapter. And unlike other series novels in recent years, which tend to end just as things are getting good, this one has a satisfying resolution that still leaves doors open for future volumes.

Daphna and Dexter Wax, twins on the verge of young adulthood, are like any other siblings at their age, full of hope and vigor but completely intolerant of each other. Daphna is bookish, but Dexter is at war with the world. When their widowed father, a speculator in antique books, comes home from abroad with an ancient and puzzling codex, sullen Dexter slinks off while Daphna helps Dad find a dealer to pick up that old book.

That means that Daphna is the only one to see it when the antiquarian book dealer, Asterius Rash, uses hypnotic powers to bilk Dad and try to turn the twins into pawns in a battle for control of a primal language from humanity's earliest days. The plot takes on themes that were previously addressed, in less family-friendly ways, in Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash. But for all its appeal to wide-eyed youth, the youth characters aren't just innocent figures being acted on; their very youth, which makes everything new and wonderful to them, is what makes this story worth reading.

This book picks up one of the more interesting themes from recent youth fantasy, the idea that kids are aware of secrets that go right past their parents. Unlike writers like C.S. Lewis, whose child characters are simply rediscovering what the adults in their lives already knew, Slater and other authors of his type have latched onto the fact that young kids are capable of seeing the world with a kind of wonder which has been lost to us adults.

Nearly the entire book takes place on the twins' thirteenth birthday, a day that shoots them all over Portland, Oregon, trying to unlock the secrets of Asterius Rash and the Book of Nonsense before their father can give the whole game over into the old man's hands. As the twins descend into a Da Vinci Code-style labyrinth harkening back to the day after creation, more and more of the world they took for granted turns out to be freighted with significance. Secrets abound in this book, some of which will go right past young readers. Adults who have read well, however, will pick up subtle cues.

The plot rockets around, but never feels overstuffed, and allows the characters enough leeway to play as they need. And readers, one way or the other, will find themselves drawn along in a powerful, moving story that doesn't let up through the entire book. This is a stirring book full of wonder that will keep all ages entertained and guessing up to the final page.

David Michael Slater's Sacred Books series is likely to be the next to reach Harry Potter notoriety. The intricate storyline of the first book in the young adult series is filled with twists and turns that will stimulate young minds from the outset. It weaves magic and mystery into a tightly packed plot.

We first meet Slater's adolescent protagonists, twins Daphna and Dexter, as they while away the summer months, preparing for their thirteenth birthday. Daphna, the book worm of the pair, has discovered a rare used book store, called the Antiquarian Book Center, to occupy her time. She's eager to share it with her book scout father, who can surely appreciate the magnitude of her discovery. As she guides him down the aisles of books on magic and the occult, she encounters some frightening revelations about the proprietors of the dusty shop.

Daphna's father has a book he wishes to sell to the owner, Asterius Rash, but what he doesn't realize is that he's just given the old man an important tool to add to his arsenal of world domination. What Daphna originally believed to be a book of nonsense is actually written in an ancient language that bestows the reader with amazing power. The problem is, the book's been enchanted to prevent Rash from being able to read it. Consider the fact that he's also blind, and he's going to need the services of someone connected to the book's history to decipher the spells. Daphna and Dexter unknowingly fit the bill.

Daphna and Dexter are two resourceful teens, as they soon find out. It seems everyone around them is hiding something, and they're going to have to put the pieces together and solve the mystery while saving their own lives. With the degree of subtle foreshadowing, the reader can stay one step ahead of the twins throughout most of the adventure. It's not so great that it spoils the element of surprise, however.

There are a few loose ends left that I suspect will be tied up in future installments. The twins discover a mysterious stash of money that is left unexplained, and I'm not quite sure of how large a role the father plays in the history of the book. It doesn't seem logical that he would be the unassuming participant he's made out to be.

Some alarmingly gruesome events transpire in the book. Daphna and Dexter are no stranger to death by the end of the novel. The two siblings are forced to face some serious truths about themselves and each other. But in the end, they're that much stronger for it.

The Book of Nonsense launches straight into action from page one and refuses to relent throughout the story. Slater leaves no room for boredom or even down time, which will keep the reader glued to the pages. This type of book demands to be read in one sitting. It should be a hit with even the most selective readers.

Soon to turn 13, Daphna Wax can't wait to show her father the new bookstore in town - the huge store only sells books about magic. Her father is also excited - he sells rare books and he has a book he thinks the owner might want to buy. Daphna will soon regret bringing her father to the store as he begins to act strangely after his visit there. Daphna and her twin brother Dexter are worried about their father and are convinced that there is something bad going on in the bookstore, but as they barely get along, they investigate separately. Their investigation will draw them closer together as they learn not only the truth about the bookstore, but also the truth about things in their lives and their parents lives. But will all this knowledge come too late?

"The Book of Nonsense" is a good fantasy book for children. In many ways it is the classic good vs. evil type of book with well-defined characters and some thrilling moments. Daphna and Dexter are both well-written characters and children will have no problem identifying with them. While both of them are battling the bad guys they are also battling some truths about themselves and readers will feel sorry for Daphna as she realizes some things in her life aren't as they seem. Many children will identify with Dexter as he reveals a long hidden secret. The supernatural elements are well done, although readers will realize what Asterius Rash is up to long before Daphna and Dexter do. Author David Michael Slater does tend to rely on coincidence a bit too much, especially the way Daphna finds a letter from her long deceased mother, but there are also some genuine plot twists in the novel that make it exciting.

"The Book of Nonsense" is the first book in a five book series and ends on a cliffhanger that will leave readers eagerly waiting for the next book in the series. Well done.

The Book of Nonsense by: David Michael Slater

Don't let the title fool you this book is anything but nonsense!

Twins Daphna and Dexter couldn't be more different, but they are forced to work together when there father discovers a very old and mysterious book. Daphna and Dexter soon discover that the words in this book can literally change the world. When someone evil gets a hold of the book it is up to them to stop him. I don't want to give too much of the story away as there are quite a few twists and turns.

Thoughts: This was a quick and fast passed read that I quite enjoyed. Words can be very powerful. I think that the author used this idea any interesting way. I also enjoyed the characters of Daphna and Dexter. They were both very sympathetic and well developed characters. In particular I liked Dexter because of his struggles with dyslexia.It must have been difficult for him hiding this secret from everyone. I didn't feel as sympathetic towards Daphna as seem came off as a bit of a know it all. My only complaint about their father's character didn't seem to be as well developed. However the story really focuses on the Daphna and Deter so maybe my complaint is unfounded. Still it bothered me for some reason.

Their were also some twists and turns in the book that I did not see coming. I always enjoy being caught by surprise. I'm definitely looking forward to the rest of the book in this series. I'm dying to know what it going to happen to Daphna and Dexter next.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy or wants a fun and quick book to read.

Daphna loves going to bookstores and everything about them from choosing a book to trading books. You can imagine Daphna's excitement when a new bookstore opens called The Antiquarian Book Center. Daphna calls the bookstore ABC. This bookstore is not like anything Daphna has ever experienced. ABC only specializes in books about magic. Also what is up with the owner, Mr. Rash? He is one odd bird. After only spending a short time with Mr. Rash, Daphna's father comes home acting really weird. Come join the adventure with Daphna.

For only being thirteen, I thought Daphna was very smart both book and street. She is a very cute and sweet girl. I was surprised at how quickly this book read. Who knew that going to a bookstore could be so dangerous. I started it in the morning and by the afternoon I had finished reading it. The Book of Nonsense is a fun, quick young adult read that teens will enjoy. The Book of Nonsense is book one. Seeing as to how book one was good I am sure the next book will be just as good.

Words have power! Every writer and reader knows this and that is why they surround themselves with words.

Daphna and Dexter are twelve-year-old twins. On the eve of their thirteenth birthday, all heck breaks loose.

Daphna has found an interesting bookstore the summer that her father has been gone looking for rare books. Their mother is dead. When she brings her father to that bookshop strange things start to happen. The owner, a wizened old blind man, has affected her father, and her father has promised the owner that Daphna will work for him starting the next day, her birthday.

Dexter, who doesn't like his sister, follows Daphna to the bookshop and figures out that the old man is hypnotizing her. Daphna and Dexter then have to figure out together the mystery and save both of their lives.

I enjoyed this story and will be waiting to read the next one. Daphna and Dexter are well-written and easy to root for.

I really enjoyed the fact that the author has written about dyslexia. My oldest daughter has light dyslexia, which is how the author described Dexter's condition. Words move on the page and fall off. Many people are ignorant about this disorder. They believe that if you are dyslexic then you only see letters and numbers backwards. My daughter's dyslexia is hard to treat, and even though she wears glasses that seem to keep the letters on the page, she has had a hard time catching up with her peers because of very ignorant teachers and administrators. So thank you, Mr. Slater, for bringing that disorder to the surface.

I will definitely be looking forward to the next installment of the SACRED BOOKS series.

Reviewed by: Marta Morrison

The Book of Nonsense is the first volume of a new series, Sacred Books, geared towards young adults.

Thirteen year-old twins Daphna and Dex are in a heap of trouble. Their father, a rare book scout, has come across a magic book - seemingly full of nonsense - that someone else wants very, very much to own. Bad enough to employ long-forgotten magical tricks to obtain the book. Bad enough to hurt one twin and enslave the other to obtain the book. To save their family, the world at large and each other, Daphna and Dex must decipher hidden meanings and seek out the past to thwart the evil people who want to use the Book of Nonsense to rule the world.

I'll admit to being petty and having a problem with the protagonist's name, Daphna. For the first three chapters, every time I read her name I thought it was a typo since the name is so close to Daphne.

The author did an excellent job of jumping right into the action in the first paragraph -- almost too good because there was little to no backstory and this led to a bit of confusion as I tried to figure out who was who and what certain acronyms stood for. Like the name Daphna, though, this critique was small potatoes.

The main characters were very well written and fleshed out. I was impressed with the author's ability to do this in a relatively short period of time. Both Daphna and Dex were sympathetic teenagers with their fair share of teenage concerns. They aren't portrayed as perfect and that is something people of all ages can identify with. The bad guys, on the other hand, are clearly evil and I appreciate the distinction. For the 10-13 year-old crowd, I don't know that evil in shades of gray would have been appropriate. The author clearly knows his audience!

If you love old books, book collecting, or magic then you'll be delighted with this book. While you shouldn't expect it to be the next Harry Potter series, it is a bit more mature than, say, A Series of Unfortunate Events. I fully expect author David Michael Slater to really come into his own as the series progresses and the next book in the series, due out in Fall 2009, will likely be anticipated by the young adult crowd (and me, too).

As for an age recommendation -- 10 to 13 years would be just about perfect. There's a bit of violence, although not graphic, that might make it unsuitable for any ages younger than that. As for the adults - give this one a look, you will likely enjoy what you see.

When a rare bookstore opens in town, Daphna and Dexter are intrigued by the cryptic volumes within. But the mysterious store owner, Asterius Rash, is only interested in one particular book - a book so rare it involves magic just to possess it. Daphna and Dexter come under Mr. Rash's spell, and in an effort to break loose, they delve into a world of the past - uncovering family secrets, and the true meaning of The Book of Nonsense. With more twists than a roller coaster, The Book of Nonsense will keep you continuously involved and turning the pages. It's perfect for both fantasy and mystery readers.

This weekend I sat down to read The Book of Nonsense. I read the first half in one sitting, and the second half in the next. I really liked the engaging style it was written in. The descriptions created vivid pictures in my mind, and truly brought the story to life. Book scouts do not get much coverage in the juvinielle literature. It's great to see a book that exposes children to a new way to look at books. I would recommend this book for as a great gift for your upper elementary and middle school students.