Alcatraz Versus the Scrivener's Bones

June 1, 2012
Gr 5-9-Alcatraz Smedry is back for another action-packed adventure in the second book (Scholastic, 2008) in the series by Brandon Sanderson. In this installment, he's joined by a cast of characters both new and old and they are joining forces to rescue his grandfather and the father he always thought was dead from the Library of Alexandria. They must deal with the soul-sucking keepers of the library and a dangerous "Scriveners Bone" who is out to destroy Alacatraz and his whole family. Once again, Ramon de Ocampo is able to keep the right balance between clueless and annoying in his vocalization of Alcatraz. The boy still has the habit of breaking off from telling the story to make random comments, many bordering on the overly absurd. Listeners, especially those who have not been introduced to Alcatraz before, may lose patience with this personality quirk. Alcatraz also launches into long "lessons" he hopes listeners will take from the book, and this becomes tiresome. However, the narrator's channeling of the character and his ability to convey the many detailed landscapes that Alcatraz enters as he moves through the library makes this a rousing tale that will especially please fans of the first volume.-"Shari Fesko, Southfield Public Library, MI"

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.