5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A thrilling debut that promises amazing things to come, June 15, 2007
This review is from: The Revelation (Sprouse Bros. 47 R.O.N.I.N.) EPISODE 1 (Paperback)
Fifteen-year-old twins, Tom and Mitch Hearn live a cushy lifestyle in New York's Upper East Side that many people only dream about. Housed atop a palatial, three-story brownstone, the boys have never wanted for anything in their lives. But when their father fails to return from an unexpected business trip, and makes no contact with the boys or their live-in caretaker and butler, Mr. Chance, "the Chance Man," for over a week, they become worried, and start to believe that their beloved father could, quite possibly, be in grave danger. While this may be true, the boys are unsure of what to do to locate their father, and bring him safely home. After all, while Mitch may be a science and computer whiz, and Tom has all the appropriate skills to kung-fu his way to victory, the two are still mere teenagers who love skateboarding and video games as much as the next teen, and have no clue what they're up against. When they encounter a black-clad ninja underground in the subway station, however, they begin to suspect trouble. Accosted by the thug in the late afternoon, the two barely escape with their lives, and return home to find that their father, along with Mr. Chance, have been keeping secrets from the both of them for almost an entire decade. With this new turn of events, however, those secrets have been let loose, revealing a hidden secret that would make anyone's head spin. According to Mr. Chance, both he and the boys father are members of R.O.N.I.N., a rogue crime-fighting organization with a history that dates all the way back to feudal Japan. With this new information, the boys begin to realize why Mr. Chance is so concerned about their father's whereabouts, and come to the conclusion that their father is in severe danger. But that's not all. Now that Mitch and Tom have discovered the secret of R.O.N.I.N., they have each been recruited to join the organization, and fight crime and evil side-by-side with Mr. Chance, their father, and a wide array of other organization members. While the boys are only too happy to comply with the request, and experience a little danger and adventure; they can't help but feel that, since they've been lied to for so many years, it's up to them to learn a little more about R.O.N.I.N. on their own. Using Mitch's science smarts, the two find themselves mixed-up with Laura Ting, a girl with kung-fu skills that far surpass those of Tom, who managed to snag first place at the Citywide Science Fair last year, leaving Mitch's project in the dust. Laura's family is in danger, being attacked by a criminal mastermind known as Roman Maldeen. Roman Maldeen is determined to steal the invention that could change the computer world from Laura's father, and is delivering various threats to the Ting family. Taking Laura under their wing, Tom and Mitch realize that the leisurely hours they spent reading comic books are now a thing of the past, and that if they want to see their father again, they'll have to spend every waking moment training, and working to become the most effective R.O.N.I.N. members possible.
I've been a die-hard SUITE LIFE OF ZACK AND CODY fan since the show first premiered on the Disney Channel, and my passion for the show has only grown with each hilarious episode. So when I heard that the boys - Dylan and Cole Sprouse - were releasing a book series, I couldn't deny the fact that it certainly peaked my interest. Upon completing the novel, however, I realize that THE REVELATION does quite a bit more than just peak your interest. In fact, it takes you on an unexpected adventure through Chinatown, the Upper East Side, underground subway stations, and even hidden laboratories, and places the reader smack dab in the middle of non-stop action. Tom and Mitch Hearn are amazing characters, who honestly take bits and pieces of both Dylan and Cole's personalities, and bring them to life within the pages. Tom's oft-times clueless view of the things surrounding him, and the problems at hand are humorous; while his passion for kung-fu, and ability to execute amazing moves at the drop of a hat lends a sense of adventure to the mix. Mitch, on the other hand, is intelligent, and, I believe, my favorite character out of the two. His refusal to give up, no matter how hard things get is admirable, and his hack-worthy computer skills bring a sense of "smarts" to the tale, which is a nice balance to the athleticism displayed throughout THE REVELATION. I find it refreshing that the author, Marc Cerasini, introduced a female character, in the form of Laura Ting. Laura's beauty, paired with her amazing kung-fu ability, and intelligence is a fabulous addition to the series, and the fact that she is a female off-sets the story, and makes it accessible to readers of both genders looking for a bit of adventure. Cerasini's inclusion of black-clad ninjas, and descriptions of New York City, and the grimy sewer system are intoxicating; while his ability to inject an intelligent, computer science-like twist to the tale really make THE REVELATION one of the most original new books to hit the 'tween genre all year. A thrilling debut that promises amazing things to come.
Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer
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