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Aug 17, 2010

Tween Tuesday: The Call (The Magnificent Twelve, #1) by Michael Grant


Cover Love: Yeah, it's a very eye catching cover. I like how we see a clear shot of our hero, but the things he will have to fight are kind of misty. Leaves a bit to the imagination.

Release Date: August 24, 2010

Summary from Good Reads:

Twelve-year-old Mack MacAvoy suffers from a serious case of mediumness. Medium looks. Medium grades. Medium parents who barely notice him. With a list of phobias that could make anyone crazy, Mack never would have guessed that he is destined for a more-than-medium life.

And then, one day, something incredibly strange happens to Mack. A three-thousand-year-old man named Grimluk appears in the boys' bathroom to deliver some startling news: Mack is one of the Magnificent Twelve, called the Magnifica in ancient times, whatever that means. An evil force is on its way, and it's up to Mack to track down eleven other twelve-year-olds in order to stop it. He must travel across the world to battle the wicked Pale Queen's dangerous daughter, Ereskigal—also known as Risky. But Risky sounds a little scary, and Mack doesn't want to be a hero. Will he answer the call?

This is the first Michael Grant book I have read, but it did two things, made me want to read his Gone series and made me look forward to reading the next book in The Magnificent 12 series. I think that when a book gives a reader a good feeling about the author and makes the reader want to seek out more by that same author it is a good sign.

This was a funny book! When a blurb from Gordon Korman says "Welcome to Monty Python meets Lord of the Rings" you know you are in for quite a ride. Mack's life gets turned upside down first when he saves the life of the school bully and then when he discovers he is one of the Magnificent 12. My favorite part of the story is the buddy relationship that develops between Mack and the bully he saves, Stefan. In fact, the whole first chapter that describes Mack and his phobias (he has a lot of them) and the bully system at their middle school had me in stitches.

This book will be an easy sell for a lot of kids especially middle grade boy readers! I hope that you all take the time to pick up a copy for a reader in your life.

(Tween Tuesday is hosted by the GreenBeanTeenQueen. Check her out!)

5 comments:

  1. Anonymous8:05 AM

    I haven't heard of this one! It sounds fantastic!!! So glad you featured it. I will definately be adding that one to my classroom library. Thanks thanks thanks!

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  2. Thanks, I'm glad I could give you a few laughs. I'm having enormous fun writing these books. I would write them for free -- but don't tell my publisher that.

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  3. Jana, Wyatt and I absolutely adore the Gone series. In fact, Wyatt just finished the third book, LIES. And how cool is it that Michael Grant posted right above me?! Wow!! :-)

    We'll be ordering this book - thanks for the review.

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  4. Cool! It sounds like something that could be done very well or be done very badly. But with Michael Grant behind it, I'm sure it is excellent. Thanks for the review!
    Here's my Tween Tuesday

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  5. Wow, Michael Grant commented! thanks so much for taking the time.

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