Not quite as sharp as most of Korman’s other plots, but also in a slightly different area and still interesting.

Not quite as sharp as most of Korman’s other plots, but also in a slightly different area and still interesting.


Rating:

** spoiler alert **
Knowing that this was his first book and written when he was still a very young teenager, I didn’t expect a whole lot from Korman. Given that I’ve enjoyed so many of his other books, I should have held him to much higher standards as he always seems to be able to deliver!
The balloon arriving at the school was a bit deus-ex-machina, but it played out so well both plot-wise and even comedic-ly–even tying in the flag incident at the start of the story–that who could fault him?




The Fish has to be one of the best and funniest characters. Korman is brilliant at character, structure, and overall story. How can you not love his work?!
I’ve just noticed that this is the seventh in a long series, so I’ve obviously got some catching up to do. I’m curious if anyone has purchased the rights? This would make a great television series, particularly if they’re all full of as much heart and fun as this one.
Rating:




Things have been growing nicely and generally organically, but the plant of the baby crying followed by the “let’s go explore downstairs” seems a bit too incredulous to me.


Interesting to read this while thinking about policy and government and some recent works of Francis Fukuyama all amidst the backdrop of the me too movement.
Odd that in a society that still has and can value words, that no one practices religion. References to the object of a cross that apparently no one remembers anymore.
Interesting themes on the importance of art and remembering developing.

