X Files #05 Humbug (X Files Middle Grade) (Vol 5) [Paperback]

Les Martin (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Series: X Files Middle Grade

Gibsonton, Florida, is not your ordinary small town. It is a very special place for very special circus people - which FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully quickly learn when they go there to investigate a murder.

In trying to find out who killed the Alligator Man, Jason Glazebrook, in his very own swimming pool, they turn up some fascinating suspects - from Dr. Blockhead, who'd rather chew needles than gum, and sleeps on a bed of nails, to the town sheriff, whose past is just as colorful as the town he guards.

As the list of murder victims grows, Mulder and Scully discover that nothing in Gibsonton is what it seems. Trapped in a sideshow world of flimflam fakery where only danger is real, even the X-Files experts are getting weirded out...

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8?When FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully go to Gibsonton, FL, to investigate a murder, they quickly realize that there is something "very special"?if not down right weird?about this case. The murder victim is Jerald Glazebrook, better known as "The Alligator Man" in his profession as a circus and carnival sideshow act. All of the suspects are "different," to say the least, for they live in a town populated by freaks and sideshow performers. The murderer is a shocker, not only for who he is, but what he is. The pace in this mystery is brisk, and the characters are believable enough. This story takes the unusual and turns it around to show how much it has in common with ordinary matters. These bizarre twists make for some engaging, if not compelling, reading.?Jeanette Lambert, Nashville Metropolitan Schools, TN
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Les Martin has written and adapted dozens of books for young readers, including eleven X-Files novelizations, and Raiders of the Lost Ark and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom movie storybooks. He lives in New York City.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: HarperEntertainment; 1 edition (April 4, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 006440627X
• ISBN-13: 978-0064406277
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,054,132 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Ryan, A student at mshs, December 4, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: X Files #05 Humbug (X Files Middle Grade) (Vol 5) (Paperback)

A man is brutally killed in his own backyard by a foreign object. Two FBI agents are sent to investigate the death of Jerald Glazbrook. Agents Scully and Mulder find themselves in a town a freaks and side show performers. As their search intensifies for the killer more people are dying. Their suspects are anything but ordinary; Dr. Blockhead, who'd rather chew on some nail then gum, and the town's sheriff, how has a past that would stick out over most freaks in this town.

I feel his book had a plot that was sometimes misleading and confusing to read, although I did find it to have great-personalized characters. As you read deeper into the book you were able to able to get a good picture of what the characters actually looked and acted like. At no point did the author let the book drag on, there was always something happening. Whether it is another murder, or a clue to solving a murder, or another character being introduced into the story. Les Martin put a couple of unexpected twists into the plot that I never expected. At first the book seemed to be your average murder and investigation, but when agents Scully and Molder found themselves in a town of freaks they did not have any particular suspect since everyone seemed to be a suspect.

I would recommend this book to anyone that has some time on his or her hands and enjoys murder mysteries. It was not a book of great length nor the best I have read but I found it to be interesting enough to hold my interest.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Weird Things, May 28, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: X Files #05 Humbug (X Files Middle Grade) (Vol 5) (Paperback)

...FBI agents Moulder and Sculley investigate strange murders in Gibson, Florida. This isn't just a normal town it is a freak town or if you must Circus town. It attacks without warning. Now the agents are getting very weirded out, they have to solve this A.S.A.P.

The characters are weak except one Moulder he's so cool. .... They aren't believable. The setting is especially unbelievable. How could there be a whole town of freaks it's just not possible. My book was really easy to read it was like a fourth grade book. My book was pretty short so it went to the climax pretty fast. The conflict isn't real at all how could a blob cause so much carnage it doesn't make sense. This book doesn't seem to drag at all, this book is good like that. ....

I wouldn't recommend this book it is not that good. The best part was when they talked and introduced all the different freaks. That was cool to see what special trick they could do.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Weird things, March 8, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: X Files #05 Humbug (X Files Middle Grade) (Vol 5) (Paperback)

A review from Cody

FBI agents Moulder and Sculley investigate strange murders in Gibson, Florida. This isn't just a normal town it is a freak town or if you must Circus town. It attacks without warning. Now the agents are getting very weirded out, they have to solve this A.S.A.P.

The characters are weak except one Moulder he's so cool. The others are lame. They aren't believable. The setting is especially unbelievable. How could there be a whole town of freaks it's just not possible. My book was really easy to read it was like a fourth grade book. My book was pretty short so it went to the climax pretty fast. The conflict isn't real at all how could a blob cause so much carnage it doesn't make sense. This book doesn't seem to drag at all, this book is good like that. I was relieved because this book was kind of dorky.

I wouldn't recommend this book it is not that good. The best part was when they talked and introduced all the different freaks. That was cool to see what special trick they could do.