This wonderful young adult (YA) story follows the adventures of Arnie Carver (the adopted name of Thayne Davidson Miller III), a 13 year old boy, This son of billionaires adopts his new name (suggested by his close friend and servant, Jacques) when he sets off for a school on the island of Demeverde, where Arnie hopes to break out of his seclusion and experience life among kids his own age.
The "plague" of the story comes later in the novel. First we are introduced to Arnie and his life as a billionaire's son; his school, the Global Optimum Developent Academy (GODA); and his new friends at the Academy, as well as his trusted companion, Jacques, who fills in a surrogate parent. The story is set in 2024 at the time of Arnie's thirteenth birthday, so there are plenty of echoes of present life, while also introducing some cool new technological items for fun (for example, flying around on your SlipDisc or keeping up with virmail).
This is an easy story to like, and the illustrations in this book add to (not detract from) the storytelling, while still allowing ample room for the imagination. There are enough adventures in this book (in addition to solving the mystery of a plague that has been affecting children around the world) to keep the reader going. Several competitions among school members are very entertaining and could have taken center stage as easily as solving the mystery of the plague.
The few complaints that I have with the book lie mostly with references to the outside world (for example, there is an evil character modeled on George Soros...why?) while the creations of pure imagination are much more interesting (wrinkled berries, anyone?). Then there are all the heavy handed references to GOD, even if it just means Global Optimum Development in the case of Arnie Carver. Still, these quibbles should not overshadow the charming characters, thought-provoking environment created for them, or the interesting plot twists and turns.
Overall, the book is a joy, and those looking for some new reading post-Harry Potter will find the world of Arnie Carver immensely satisfying in a completely different way. Certainly this book will appeal to the Harry Potter crowd without trying to mimic what makes the Potter story unique. Arnie Carver and the Plague of Demeverde is easily strong enough to soar on its own, enchanting its readers by creating its own new world.
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Comments: 15
Thank you eversomuch for this wonderful review. I am so gratified as an author that you "got" the fun of the story.
I am concerned, however, that the acronyms used in the book came off to you as religious. The acronyms for the Global Optimum Development Academy (GODA), the Global Optimum Development University (GODU), and Global Optimum Development Enterprises (GODEnt) are all pronounced with a long O in the first syllabyl to emphasize that the students, schools, enterprises, etc. are going places, moving, advancing. The acronymic references are not intended to refer to a deity and I have no intention to include any religious undertones in the book.
Any similarity between the names of Gregory Scorsos and George Soros are coincidental. I remembered a similar villain's name from a Bond film and liked it. Mister Soros is a wonderful man and great philanthropist who has at times pledged his entire fortune to supports ideals and values he believes are vital to the world. Gregory Scorsos, in absolute contradistinction, is maniacally fixated on his own corporate victory at all costs and would never give a dime to dying child unless he could find some way to exploit it for his own personal or economic benefit.
Most importantly, however, I am delighted that someone with as many reviews to her name as you would say, "the book is a joy." This father of six is delighted that you received the story in the exact same manner in which I intended it.
Thanks for sharing your resources of self, time, effort, energy, emotion, and intellect to read and review it.
Also just a note, I have a new blog with my book reviews, where this (among others) can be found:
http://readingandreviewing.blogspot.com/
Kenneth, I'm going to talk to the folks at the bookstore at my mall about getting this on their shelves!
Being a new author, none of the major prepublication reviewers picked up the book for review and I am having to push the book into stores exclusively through the efforts of readers like all of you.
It has been wonderful meeting everyone out here on the net and I look forward to continuing to correspond with everyone for a long time to come.
what you felt were deity references. In fact, I found the book, not supportive of any religion and very open minded and tolerant to all beliefs.
I especially liked the parts where students at GODA were able to select their own day
of spirituality and make decisions on their own as to what they did with their day. Sometimes even forgoing it.
I think this book will appeal as Rowling's does to a number of readers, young and old alike.
Kenneth, is the second book in the series ready yet?