Customer Reviews

On Top of the World (Tom Swift, Young Inventor)

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

 

 

Tom Swift, Young Inventor is back on top with book #5-On Top of the World. Science and adventure are blended with a fast-paced mystery/thriller. I liked the facts about Mount Everest woven into the story, I feel like you would finish this book and know a little bit more about this area of the world. Great for kids of all ages. One bad thing about the book- the characters use "Dude" way too many times. The editors could spend little time making these characters sound real and not what they think "cool" kids sound like!

I began reading the Tom Swift Jr. stories back in 1960 and have collected every TS book out there starting with the original series circa 1910. Unfortunately, that includes this series - a terrible abuse of the name Tom Swift. The stories are ridiculously unimaginative and the writing (I am an author so I do know a few things about the writing game) is poor at best. Where other TS series seemed to be aimed at 12-18 year olds, this entire series, and this book, seemed aimed at 8 year olds.

In this story, Tom goes to Mount Everest to try out his foil snowboard, test a robot version of a Sherpa, and to encounter (surprise!!!) a yeti. Who could have seen that coming?

The plot line is so thin you can see right through it and the lack of writing skill exhibited is like having an uncomfortably large elephant not just in the room with you, but actually standing on your foot. Grinding down.

It isn't any wonder that they stopped after just 6 of this series.

There is better fan-written fiction out there than this book and series.

I continue to be impressed by this new Tom Swift series, which pairs fast-paced, fun stories with knowledge sidled in (to Mom's delight). In "On Top of the World", your child will be entertained (top priority), but also will learn about Mount Everest (the people, the terrain, the challenges), the intricacies of dealing with robots, technology and less-than-moral humans; having courage to do the right thing, even though you might lose your chance at fame, and how to survive in an avalanche! Highly recommended.

This series is not at all like the previous Tom Swift series. The hero has gone from someone deserving respect to being a rude, arrogant egotist. Very disappointing if you have read earlier Tom Swift versions.