If You're Reading This, It's Too Late (Hardcover)

by Pseudonymous Bosch (Author) "You will notice that I have numbered the chapters in this book backward..." (more)
Key Phrases: crown roast, Sound Prism, Lord Pharaoh, Terces Society (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
Grade 4–6—This stand-alone sequel to The Name of This Book Is Secret (Little, Brown, 2007) combines mystery, adventure, and fantasy. On their mission for the Terces Society, 11-year-old Cass and Max-Ernest must find the homunculus, a 500-year-old man born in a bottle, before Dr. L and Ms. Mauvais do. The evil duo plans to use him to uncover the secret of immortality. The use of an overbearing narrator to create a sense of danger works in the beginning, but grows tiresome toward the end. The numerous parenthetical comments and footnotes are often laugh-out-loud funny, but also draw readers out of the action. Bosch creates sufficiently quirky, well-rounded protagonists, while stereotypes suffice for the secondary characters, with the exception of the homunculus. Cynical humor shines through in the portrayal of the Skelton Sisters, an evil tween pop group in the employ of Dr. L and Ms. Mauvais. The dark illustrations, descending chapter numbers, and playful fonts will catch readers' attention. Fans of Lemony Snicket's "A Series of Unfortunate Events" (HarperCollins) will enjoy this slightly more fleshed-out read.—Kim Ventrella, Ralph Ellison Library, Oklahoma City, OK
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From Booklist
The adventures of aspiring magician Max-Ernest and survivalist-in-training Cass continue. As with The Name of This Book Is Secret (2007), the author often intrudes on the story to offer dire warnings to the reader that even reading this tale is too dangerous to consider, presumably because of a world-shatteringly nefarious secret and the evil machinations of the two young adventurers’ archnemeses, Dr. L and Ms. Mauvais. It’s a clever ploy that adds a level of heightened drama to the tale, which, underneath all the trappings, has some neat elements (a “Sound Prism,” a cantankerous homunculus) but lacks many true thrills. There are still codes for Max-Ernest and Cass to unravel and secret societies to infiltrate, but the injection of a third main cast member reeks of the old sitcom ploy of throwing in a hip new character in an attempt to make a show fresh. Chapter-opening illustrations add a lighthearted touch to this solid sequel, which is more character-driven than the first, and will hit or miss depending on what readers like more, the people or the puzzles. Grades 4-7. --Ian Chipman

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers (October 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316113670
• ISBN-13: 978-0316113670
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #14,171 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, November 3, 2008

By	TeensReadToo.com "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

This is a fun book with an interesting narrative. Cass and Max-Ernest are young adults who have recently been involved with a secret society, the details of which are located in the previous book in the series. Although you do miss out on some details of the protagonists, you could read this book without having read the previous installment, THE NAME OF THIS BOOK IS SECRET.

When you read IF YOU'RE READING THIS, IT'S TOO LATE, it is as though you are being told a story by the campfire.

The characters are well-developed, easy to relate to, and have a good sense of humor. Because of the short chapters and common footnotes, I see this as a great book for a reluctant reader. It is easy to pick up where you left off and it takes you down many paths at once, keeping you interested. The footnotes typically add a humorous aspect to an interesting mystery, allowing the reader to venture in a new direction before continuing on with the story.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It had a strong storyline with characters that took risks and maintained and created friendships.

Reviewed by: LaLeesha Haynes

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm a sucker for the snarky creature, October 3, 2008

By	DAS "reader" - See all my reviews

that hurtles across the chapters in this book. I don't want to give too much away, but he's called a homunculus. I loved the first book in this series, and I am glad the second one is just as good, just as witty, just as intelligent. Pseudonymous Bosch is even better at plotting the mystery, and adding complexity to the relationship between the young heroes, Cass and Max Ernest. They are joined by the intriguing Yo-Yoji, who looks like a Japanese anime character, even though he's American. He inadvertently complicates their friendship. Add that to the villainy of the villains....

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars PB reviews PB, January 15, 2009

By	Happy - See all my reviews

PB: Would you give yourself five stars?
PB: Only five?
PB: Five is all Amazon has.
PB: So Amazon's folly should limit my greatness?

Ok so read to the end of IYRTITL and you'll get it. I agree with the other reviewer who liked PB's interview with PB at the back of the book. That was hilarity worthy of...I don't know, someone hilarious! PB, I guess... These books remind me of the Benedict Society series except I think PB's are funnier and weirder... even though I like them both.

So yes, PB, go ahead and give yourself 5 stars...though I know you would, at the very least, anyways! And I hope there is a book 3.