Customer Reviews

Skullduggery

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

 

 

This book has it all -- history, suspense, friendship, and dark humor. Kids will be intrigued to learn about the 19th century practice of phrenology -- analysing someone's character and personality by the bumps and shape of one's head. Although the history and grave robbing scenes are interesting, it is really the friendship between the doctor and the boy that makes this book great.

This book has a very creative premise, is well-written with interesting characters, and got off to fascinating start. Halfway through this book I would have rated it with 5 stars. However, I found the last third somewhat disappointing. After creating a mysterious and fascinating antagonist, the author seemed to run out of plot ideas in terms of how to satisfactorily resolve the conflict between the protagonist and antagonist and as a result the ending was very flat as the story seemed to run out of gas without any real or compelling resolution.

From the writing, to the story, to the very cover, this book is a trip back to the 19th Century. At least once you'll check out the copyright page to see if this is a reprint of an older book. The characters seem to leap from a Dickens novel. Hopefully this is just a sample of great things to come from this author and illustrator. A highly enjoyable read for parents as well as kids, although be cautious about reading it as a bedtime story to the younger kids. They may prefer it in the light of day.

I thought this was a great book -- interesting, well written, exciting. But why, why, WHY would you put prostitutes in a book written for children? Granted, the references are oblique and your average adolescent would probably not get them. But they are utterly unnecessary to the plot. Early on, the main character is propositioned -- though he does not understand that that is what was happening -- and later on enters a seedy tavern where a young girl, "skirts in disarray," is passed out on the floor. This is not the material I want in books for my kids!

Ok, I don't know why I found this book intruiging! It took me awhile to read it, because it didnt started out slow. Then it gets moving! And thats why I give it 4 stars! Good book! Wonderful author! RECCOMEND... especially to anyone that wants to be a brain surgeon! This book is about how they would dig for skulls, so the DR. could help in his work. They got some famous skulls too!