The Mystery of Silas Finklebean

April 1, 2006
Gr 3-6 -In this slapdash sequel to "Fries Alive!" (Little Brown, 2005), the nine-year-old genius and his giant spuds are preparing to compete in the local science fair. They discover a hidden tunnel under the Burger Castle, the Funkhouser family's restaurant, and encounter a weird apparition floating in the air. Deciding that ghosts would make an unbeatable project, they begin to research the Castle's history. They learn that it was once owned by inventor Silas Finklebean, who vanished mysteriously. When they find his laboratory and logbook of plans, they attempt to reconstruct his time machine. Meanwhile, town bully Adam Spanker and his father, owners of the rival Patty Cakes restaurant, are plotting to drive the Funkhousers out of business. Can Freddy and the Fries find a way to save the Castle? The over-the-top action is often difficult to follow and there is little depth of character. The pervasive body and insult humor is reminiscent of a second-grade playground. Black-and-white cartoon illustrations are mildly amusing, but add little. Adult thriller author Baldacci is aiming at Captain Underpants graduates, but this novel lacks both the imagination and the underlying logic of that gleefully anarchic series. Steer readers to Dan Greenburg's -Zack Files - (Grosset & Dunlap) or Jon Scieszka's -Time Warp Trio - (Viking)." -Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL"

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