Mewtwo Strikes Back (Pokemon, the First Movie) [Paperback]

Tracey West (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 7 and up

This novelization of an epic adventure pits the stars of the television series--Ash, Pikachu, and their friends--against a genetically engineered super-Pokemon intent on conquering the world. Based on a popular video game for Gameboy and Nintendo, this movie was a box-office hit in Japan. The U.S. version includes 15 minutes of new footage and new Pokemon creatures. Full-color photos.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic (November 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439137411
• ISBN-13: 978-0439137416
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #882,415 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Tracey West is the author of more than 200 books for children and young adults, including the Pokémon chapter books and the popular Pixie Tricks series. In 2009 her new series, Hiro's Quest, premiered in Scholastic Book Fairs. She lives in New York's Hudson Valley with her husband, three stepkids, and a variety of small animals.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Be moved-- Read this!, October 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Mewtwo Strikes Back (Pokemon, the First Movie) (Paperback)

This book is a great story for kids of all ages and for the young at heart. So as not to spoil it for anyone, I'll just say this: It weaves a story of the value of life, and will entertain the children for hours.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Togather we read, November 30, 1999

By 

Delaina Tighe (Saudia Arabia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mewtwo Strikes Back (Pokemon, the First Movie) (Paperback)

I read this book book with my young son, three chapters a night. He could not wait for bedtime every night. I could'nt wait to get to the next chapter. I now understand the whole pokemon thing much better. The ending brought tears to my eyes and my son was wide eyed. We live in Saudia Arabia where there is no pokemon so it was just by luck we found this book and we are desperatly looking for more. We recommend this book to all parents and children who love to read togather.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Misrepresentation of main character, March 6, 2000

By 

QuickMan - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mewtwo Strikes Back (Pokemon, the First Movie) (Paperback)

This book is okay, and great for the kids, but it missrepresents Mewtwo terribly. This book has been written like most kids' minds work: a villian cannot be good and bad at the same time. There is no happy medium. Yes, there are kids who grasp the concept of a "friendly nemisis" pretty well, but there are those who do not. Therefore, in the book Mewtwo is misrepresented and portrayed as a shallow villian who's only desire is to be a world conquerer.

This is not at all how the origonal movie portrays him. The only reason Mewtwo lashed out like he did was because he was protecting himself, confused, and blinded by rage. Then, disillusioned by mankind, he set out to destroy it. Total and complete genocide. He didn't know that what he planned to do was wrong. The thought never crossed his mind. he was only a few days old, for crying out loud!

This book, though great for younger readers, isn't how the movie was. The author has given Mewtwo a massive inferiority complex and a real short temper, and set him loose to stomp Tokyo to the ground. Even though he admits his mistakes at the end, the response seemed forced and stale. Even rehearsed.

In the beginning, even the other characters, the scientists, could've been more developed. They didn't seem right. They didn't seem professional. Even Prof. John Smith (aren't we the clever character namer?) seemed to not know his profession. Glass tube with red fluid? Try artificial womb with simulated amniotic fluid. Cloning machine? Puh-lease...

Sure, it works for the little kids, but older fans and others may find it frustrating, and insulting to their intelligence. A more accurate novelization? Try the Art of Pokemon: The First Movie. It's much better.