Customer Reviews

Flight of the Silver Turtle

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Note: For what it's worth in regard to how you take my review, I should point out that this book is aimed at kids but I'm an adult (theoretically).

This follow-up to "The 7 Professors of the Far North" is every bit as good as the original. In some ways it's even better, since the main characters have already been introduced, allowing Fardell to get right to the story. The word to describe the book is "relentless." Once it gets going, it moves at lightning speed and could be a little too intense for readers under 12. There are real bad guys in this story-- folks who think nothing of shooting the young heroes (there's a bit more gunplay than I expected). Of course, there's danger in the Potter books too, but those are fantasy-oriented so it takes some of the fear away, whereas this book is much more realistic (guns instead of spells).

But overall it's a fun, fast read. It never gets dull, and it's as clever and imaginative as the first book. In addition, the kids are all very positive role models and always try to do the right thing. Furthermore, they don't, as in other stories (books, movies, TV, etc.) aimed at kids, treat adults like idiots or set out to disobey them. Likewise, the adults (well, the good guys) are presented as kind, helpful, intelligent, and supportive. John Fardell, the author, doesn't have to resort to the "adults are stupid so we're on our own" mentality in order to tell a good story.

Since this book is a sequel, it helps to have read first one, but it's worth it, and the combined length of these two books is less than one Potter book. If you're looking for a book, or series, that DOESN'T deal with wizards and dragons etc., which it seems everyone is writing lately because of Potter's success, this is definitely worth your time.

One last note: The "Reading Level" listed above says 9-12 but remember, those numbers represent a suggested range of the lowest age that this book is appropriate for in terms of both difficulty, and content; it's not saying that only people within that range will enjoy it. As mentioned in my review it's a bit intense, so parents (or kids) might want to decide whether it is appropriate reading material. I know some 9 year-olds who could handle it and some 12 year-olds who might be scared. But definitely don't consider 12 to be the top age where someone would enjoy the book. I'm waaaaayyy older than that and I loved it.

I picked up Fardell's first story, 7 PROFESSORS OF THE FAR NORTH, at the International Spy Museum last year and have been awaiting obtaining the sequel. It is yet another roller-coaster adventure in the vein of those great old kids' series like Danny Dunn, with a touch of John Verney's Callendar family stories to boot. I found that I liked TURTLE not quite as much as PROFESSORS; the novel transportation feature the children use in the first book is just so memorable that the ones featured in the sequel pale slightly in comparison. Also, the villains of this novel seem more like conventional DOCTOR WHO type bad guys as opposed to the sinister machinations in the original, which reminded me of the menace in Pullman's THE GOLDEN COMPASS (NORTHERN LIGHTS). Still, TURTLE is a wonderful seat-of-your-pants read, with mysterious codes, adventures above and below, children who are smart but not smartass, and adults who are not stooges for the kids. I hope we see more of Sam, Ben, Zara, and the rest of the company in the future.

Great sequel to Seven professors! Every bit as good. It's unique, has action, and very creative. Anybody and everybody should read this book. It doesn't have to be read after seven professors, but it would be better. That is an awesome book too! Can't wait for scret of the black moon moth!!