First Terrific Book of the Season!

After-summer greetings, all you reader guys! Summer's over now and, even though the Iron Guy is always somewhat sad to see summer go, he's also always glad at this time of year because that's when many of the coolest books come out. For example this fall we get The Blood of Olympus, the latest and final book in the Percy Jackson's The Lost Hero series. We also get The Copernicus Legacy: The Serpent's Curse, the second book in Tony Abbot's unbelievably good new series. I've also ordered  Alvin Ho : Allergic to the Great Wall, the Forbidden Palace, and Other Tourist Attractions by the fabulous Lenore Look--which actually came out in August, so it's technically a summer book. No matter. The Alvin Ho books are possibly the funniest books out there and I can't wait for this one!!


But today I want to tell you about Flashpoint, the latest and last book in the Unstoppable series from The 39 Clues. And is it ever good! Exciting, funny and intense, this book is a fitting end to the adventures of Dan and Amy Cahill. Here we go, everybody--J. Rutherford Pierce, the ruthless media tycoon who took the Cahill serum that gives super strength and intelligence, is about to announce his plan to run for president. But that's not all--the presidency is his first step to world dictatorship. And he's manufacturing enough serum for an army at a secret chemical plant. The only way to stop him is complete the formula for an antidote. Pierce knows about this, however, and has sent out not only his serum-enhanced goons but also his own serum-strengthened son, Galt, to stop them. On top of that, Amy has taken the serum also--but this one is the original Cahill concoction, which kills whoever takes it in seven days. And Amy took it five days ago! Even if they manage to find the last ingredient for the antidote (unlikely), could they avoid the Pierce minions (more unlikely) and get the antidote to Pierce on his heavily-guarded island (most unlikely of all) before Amy succumbs to the serum's effects?  Oh, man! Oh! Man!!! The only way you'll find out is by reading this book! But I guarantee one really good,wild and exciting ride if you do!

This book gets the Iron Guy Seal of Approval as ONE TERRIFIC BOOK!!

And let me know if you've read it and liked it. Leave your thoughts in the "Comment " section under this post. And also tell me which branch of the Cahill family you belong to, if you're also an agent. I don't mind saying that I'm a Tomas--only fitting for a MANLY MAN like the Iron Guy!

Unstoppable: Countdown--More 39 Clues Thrills!

As I said in a post back in my February 27 post, everything stops when a new 39 Clues book comes out. And there's a good reason--these books are full of action, suspense and exotic locations. Plus more than a few laughs. Just the kind of things guys are looking for in their books. And Unstoppable: Countdown by Natalie Standiford is another sure-fire winner in this third series of the adventures of the Cahill clan.

Amy and Dan Cahill, along with their friends Jake and Atticus Rosenbloom, are on their way to Guatemala to find the next ingredient for the Cahill serum antidote and it's tremendously important that they find all the ingredients. Why? Because J. Rutherford Pierce, the media giant, has taken the Cahill serum and become the strongest, cleverest and most charming person on earth. Now he's determined to become President of the US--and, as one character notes, from there it's only a short step to dictator. The only hope is to put together the antidote. But Pierce's muscular, serum-enhanced goons are everywhere and there are many more of them than there are friends of Dan and Amy. And Pierce also has a factory that looks like it's going to mass-produce serum for an army of henchmen. Nellie Gomez, Dan and Amy''s au pair and co-conspirator against Pierce, has infiltrated that factory, posing as an organic chemistry expert. But how long can she keep up the ruse? Pierce is sure to find out--then what happens? And then Amy has to face the unthinkable choice--Dan's life is in extreme danger and the only solution is to take the vial of Cahill serum hidden in her backpack, even though the serum kills you within a week. Will she do it?? 

Oh, man, you've got to read to find out!! I really enjoyed every thrilling moment of this book and you will too. It's got everything you like about this terrific series and packs a strong emotional punch too, especially with the tension between Amy, Dan, Jake and Atticus. And this book perfectly sets up the next and, I think, the last book in this series. At the end, things become so bad for the Cahills that there may not be a way out. Pierce may really and truly be unstoppable. Then what becomes of the rest of the world? As I said, you've got to read this one!

And be sure to check out the 39 Clues website for more fun and Cahill info. AND be sure to write to us in the Comment section underneath this post if you're a 39 Clues fan--or write us a review in the Comment section if you've read any of the 39 Clues books!

Unstoppable: Breakaway and The Copernicus Files: The Forbidden Stone

Greetings, fellow reader guys! We've survived the month of the Mushy Holiday; in fact, a lot of us survived something far worse--the SNOWPOCALYPSE of 2014!! Yes, my brave and hearty guys, the snow came and covered huge portions of the country this month.  Especially in Charlotte. Yes, the snow came in thick and heavy but did it stop the MANLY MEN in Charlotte? Never! You see a picture of us manfuly going out to get our bread and milk.  And did the snow stop the Iron Guy from getting to the library?  HA!! I just hitched up my trusty dogs and mushed on in.

Well, I'm just being goofy, of course. The schools and libraries were closed for almost a week. It made for a minivacation and it was fun, sledding and making snow ice cream. And I got some reading done. Some it related to my 2014 resolution but these books caught my attention and I just had to tell you about them first.

Unstoppable: Breakaway by Jeff Hirsch


Everything stops when a new 39 Clues book comes out. This third series is proving to be every bit as fun and exciting as the other two. Dan and Amy are still leading the charge to find the components to make the antidote for the Cahill serum. Why? Because J. Rutherford Pierce, owner of a giant media conglomerate, has discovered the serum and is on a fast track to world conquest. They, along with Jake and Atticus Rosenbloom, travel to Tunisia for the second ingredient, only to find it exists only in a place that--well, many people thought never existed! Meanwhile, Nellie Gomez infiltrates the Trillon laboratories to see what connection it has to Pierce's plans. What she discovers shocks and scares her--and it will do the same for you!
And Pony, their resident computer hacking genius, finally meets the ultimate computer hacker--who is working for Pierce! Along the way, the Cahills meet Pierce's serum-enhanced goons and are called criminals by major newspapers. Plus the responsibility of leading the Cahills drives Amy off the emotional deep end, causing her to take hugely dangerous mission to the Arctic alone. Guess who she meets there--that's right, more of Pierce's henchmen! Can she possibly survive? Can any of the Cahills? Could anyone? You've got to read this one to find out!


The Copernicus Files: The Forbidden Stone by Tony Abbot

Now I didn't know about this one and was intrigued. It's all about guardians of a 400-year-old secret that could change the world, an evil organization that will stop at nothing to find it and some kids who unexpectedly find themselves caught up in all this and must solve puzzling riddles to find pieces of the old secret.

Wait a minute--does this sound familiar?

All 39 Clues fans would immediately shout, "YES!" Some would even think it'd be a rip-off series but I knew better. How'd I know?  Because of the author, the wonderful Tony Abbot. He's written a lot of terrific books for guys of all ages, such as The Secrets of Droon, Kringle and The Postcard. So I figured this one would be good and I was right! Mr. Abbot spins a tale that really hooked me and I spent all day with it until I reached the very end!
Wade Kaplan's dad is an astronomer, giving Wade a love for the stars. His uncle Henry even gave him an old star chart, beautiful and mysterious. But then a cryptic email from Uncle Henry puzzles him and before he and his father can figure it out, they learn that Uncle Henry has been murdered! They go to Berlin for the funeral but learn there was more to Henry than they guessed. And then they find out that their home back in the US has been broken into! Pieces of puzzles start coming together and soon they are on the run from the shadowy organization that wants the pieces of the secret and routinely wipes out people who get in their way. Wade and his family and friends have to outwit and outrun the bad guys in creepy old tombs, dense jungles and tropical caves. But what could simple and ordinary kids and grownups do against ruthless worldwide killers?
As I said, this one hooked me and it'll hook you! It's got everything that we love about The 39 Clues--action, narrow escapes, truly bad villains, exotic locations and characters we come to know and cheer for. Don't waste any time, guys! Go and check it out NOW!! You'll be really glad--and then you'll be holding your breath for the next one.

And if you've read either or both of these books, write in and tell us!

Unstoppable--More 39 Clues Excitement!

The votes are all in from the Battle Bunny vs Barbarian Battle Bear poll and guess what--we had a tie!! So neither of them won! Would that mean they'd be locked in everlasting battle? I was afraid that would happen but then the quick-thinking Iron Guy did what he does best--he got out the right book. Battle Bunny got into it so much that he forgot his plans for world domination.

And what book was it? You guessed it-- Unstoppable: Nowhere to Run by Jude Watson. It's the first book in the newest 39 Clues series. And it's good!

Amy and Dan Cahill are back but now they're facing their greatest challenge yet. A big media mogul named J. Rutherford Pierce has sent his minions to photo Dan and Amy and smear their names in his tabloids. And muscular goons are following them--and nearly killing them! J. Rutherford Pierce looks unnaturally healthy. He put together a huge media empire in 6 months, when he had failed at all his businesses before. How did he get to be so crafty and smart? And why his goons super strong? Why don't they get tired? Is it possible that Pierce found the formula to the Cahill serum? If so, he truly is unstoppable! That's bad news for the rest of the world. Are Dan, Amy and friends even able to stop the unstoppable. For the world's sake, they'll have to! Otherwise--well, it's too terrible to think of what will happen!

This book has all the things we guys love about The 39 Clues--fast-paced action, narrow escapes, ultra-bad villains, old secrets hidden in cryptic codes and exotic locations. All our friends are back too; Jake and Atticus, Ian Kabra, Jonah Wizard and Hamilton Holt, as well as new ones like Pony, the ultimate computer geek. And new villains too, like J. Rutherford Pierce and Waldo, who is really April, the ultimate computer hacker. Plus, as always, there's a coded message. Can you crack it, guys? (hint--Greek alphabet)
I really enjoyed this one and hope the rest of the books in this series will be as good. I was, frankly, disappointed in the last book of the Cahills vs Vespers series--too many loose ends and no real background to Vespers One's identity and no explanation of how the Doomdsay device worked--but the first book in that series was really good. I was disappointed when that series, that started out so well, ended the way it did. I hope this one stays as good as this first book. But if they are--well, we have a really fun ride ahead!

I know this book has been out for a while but, if you haven't read it, it would be great to have over the holiday break. If you haven't read The 39 Clues, start with The Maze of Bones and read the whole series. The 39 Clues website too. it's a lot of fun! What a great way to spend all those days between now and the day after New Year.

And are there any 39 Clues fans out there? Any Agents? If so, what branch are you? I don't mind saying that I'm a Tomas. Just the right branch for the IRON GUY!!

Day of Doom--The Last 39 Clues Book--Well, at Least the Last Cahills vs. Vespers Book

Hey, everyone, this is your friendly neighborhood Iron Guy, coming to you with a dual review of Day of Doom by David Baldacci, the last book in the Cahills vs. Vespers series. Our good friend Michael read the book before I did. He and I have slightly different perspectives on it, so let's hear what Michael says first:


Cahills Vs. Vespers, book 6
Day of Doom
by David Baldacci
    This is it, guys! The final battle against the Vespers! As you may remember from the last book, the four friends had just discovered that the Vespers were planning on building Archimedes' doomsday device with which to take over the world. Well, this book is basically answer after answer to every question since Vespers Rising. What does Amy's gear/ring do? What does the Doomsday device do exactly? What's Isabel going to do? Is Pheonix still alive? Will the hostages escape? What will happen to the Wyomings? What does the serum do? Who is Vesper One? And one more thing... four important people will die. Alistair was just the beginning. Who will they be? Every single one of these questions is answered in this epic last book of the second series in The 39 Clues. By the way, unlike a lot of other series finales I've read, this one has an absolute perfect ending.
    But guess what guys? It's not over! A third series called Unstoppable will premiere in fall of this year with the first book being Nowhere to Run by Jude Watson. And, as I always say, don't miss the Steven Spielberg movie series starting in 2014!

Michael Lanier
Pianist, guitarist, banjoist, autoharpist, jaw harpist, Ukeist, Mandolinist


Very good, Michael. Thanks! He's captured the book much better than I could have and he's right--the story is exciting and epic and a fitting conclusion to this terrific series. But I'm not quite as enthusiastic about this one as he is--and I'm not sure why. It was fun, just like all the other 39 Clues books have been, but it just wasn't as grand and glorious a conclusion as I had hoped it would be. Like Into the Gauntlet was. All the other books in this series were terrific but I thought this one was good. Even very good--but not truly and amazingly good, so good that it makes me miss my bus stop, so good that I can't wait for my lunch hour so I can run in and read a few more pages, like the others have been. Maybe it's because I'm a boring old grownup and have read a lot of books and it's harder to impress me. Maybe because I felt a little disappointed when I finally learned the secret behind those mysterious texts from AJT. Maybe because it became obvious to me who would save the day in the end (although I didn't see that coming at first--and neither will you!!) BUT, all that said, this is still a good, fun, thrilling read and you should not miss it!

OK, all you 39 Clues fans out there, let me hear what YOU think. Do you agree more with Michael or me?? And are you excited about the upcoming movie series? I think Michael and I would agree that we can hardly wait!!!

Michael's Christmas Gift; Three New Reviews of Cool-Sounding Books

Greetings of the Season and Ho-Ho-Ho to all you reader guys out there. I know you can hardly contain the excitement of getting ready to be out of school for nearly two weeks!! Plus, add Christmas into the mix, and you all are probably about to burst. Well, our old and faithful friend Michael has gotten into the holiday spirit and is sharing three reviews of books that boys might like:

The Missing, book 5
Caught
by Margaret Peterson Haddix
    Something's wrong with time. It's frozen, and only time travelers can move in it. But how are Jonah and Katherine supposed to know that in frozen time, if four time travelers touch, they'll be sent to a random time period. Or maybe... not so random. This time the missing kid is Lieserl Einstein, daughter of Albert, if you haven't guessed. But this book focuses more on Albert's wife, Mileva. Jonah and Katherine must stay with her to find Lieserl, but being a scientist herself, is she smart enough to figure out the secrets to time travel? Unlike Sabotaged, this book has no action in it at all, which was a little disappointing. On the other hand, if you've ever wanted to pry into the life of Albert Einstein, but never had the attention span for a biography, then you'd probably like this book. And once again, Haddix introduces a new concept of time travel: frozen time in a time hollow. I must say this, though: the surprise at the end of book is worth all the somewhat-boring history facts building up to it. Basically, it's worth the read. Look for the next two titles of the Missing: Risked and Revealed.

Cahills Vs. Vespers, book 5
Trust No One
by Linda Sue Park
    In this book, the Cahills will be betrayed by one of their own. In this book, the Vespers' master plan will be revealed. And in this book, someone will die. The Cahills, Rosenblooms, Starlings, Wizards, Holts, Kabras, and one Tolliver are at it again, either trying to rescue their family from bondage... or escape from it. This book's stolen item is the Voynich: an ancient manuscript that has never been translated. This book will see Dan, Amy, Jake, and Atticus all over the world. Plus, Amy is still mixed up about Evan and Jake. And the team finally takes a guess about who Vesper One is. Now, allow me to say something here: When The 39 Clues first started, it was for fourth graders. As the books progressed, the maturity level of the books kept rising. What started as a man in black showing up here and there is now a full-blown knife and gun show. And for people who have grown up with the series, like me, that's all fine and dandy. But for younger readers, this book in particular may prove to be a little too mature. Aside from the bloodiness and language, there are actually a few jokes about nudity. So if you're 10 or 11 and you're reading this, just be careful. But for 16 and 17-year-olds, like me, this is a great book that you won't want to miss. Look for book 6: Day of Doom by David Baldacci, the last book, coming in March 2013. And always remember: Steven Spielberg directs the 39 Clues movie saga, starting in 2014!

The Infinity Ring, book 2
Divide and Conquer
by Carrie Ryan
    For all of you who read the books but don't play the game: The books start off where the online episode of the game ended, and vice versa. So although book 1 promised a trip to Paris 1792, this book starts in Paris 885, where Vikings are about to attack! Not knowing exactly what the Break is supposed to be, Riq uses his skills to do what he thinks will fix it. But has he really helped, or only made things worse? This whole book is pretty much a war, so it's much more action-packed than book 1. For 11-year-olds though, it may be a little bloody, and there's a scene where a Viking describes torture in great detail, which even made me shudder. All in all though, this book is a great read, and the action scenes are pretty good considering there are no guns. Look for book 3: The Trap Door by Lisa McMann.

Michael Lanier
Pianist, guitarist, banjoist, autoharpist, jaw harpist, Ukeist, Mandolinist

Thanks, Michael!! I've had to be very careful not to read your review of Trust No One because I just checked it out! Take a look at these books, guys, and tell me if you agree with Michael or not. I'll try to write something before Christmas but  you know how the best-laid plans go. So have a great holiday season, Michael and all you reader guys!!

A Big Three from Michael!

Life has been busy again for the Iron Guy and the last post I made was before Labor Day!  Wow. Hard to believe it's been that long. I'm busily working on new stuff but, in the meantime, our old friend Michael has come through again with three top-notch reviews. Let's hear him out:

My Wierder School, book 6
Mayor Hubble is in Trouble!
by Dan Gutman
    Mayor Hubble, after the incident in Mr. Burke is Berserk!, has been released from jail and is running for mayor again, believe it or not. Meanwhile, A.J. decides to run against Andrea for president of the third grade at Ella Mentry School. But when Mayor Hubble offers to rig the competition in exchange for A.J.'s promotion of him as next mayor, A.J.'s unsure about the whole thing. Will he accept the mayor's tempting offer, or will he submit to an inevitable loss? This series is definitely getting better, but it could be even better than it is now! I wish it was just a little funnier, and nearly every paragraph has a running gag in it. It's still worth reading though.

The Infinity Ring, book 1
A Mutiny in Time
by James Dashner
    Dak and his friend Sera live in a future America where a force called the SQ rules everything, and the world is going downhill fast. But when the two meet a secret society called the Hystorians, everything changes. Using an infinity-shaped time machine that Dak's parents made, the two, along with a young Hystorian named Riq, go back in time. Their goal is to fix things in history that never should have happened. In this case, it's saving Christopher Columbus from being thrown overboard in a mutiny. But the mutineers don't give up easily... and neither does the SQ. Now, although this book is original, it could be a lot more exciting, and it's obviously a copy of The 39 Clues. There's a blue bar on the front cover that says, "Read the book, follow the guide, play the game". The first page has a quote from the book on it. Book two will be written by a different author. And it's put out by Scholastic! The thing is, now that Cahills Vs. Vespers is declining in popularity, The Infinity Ring will surely take over as the most popular kids' series out there by the time Cahills Vs. Vespers is over. Now, which do I think is better? Personally, I'd stick with Cahills Vs. Vespers. But I'll still keep up with The Infinity Ring.

Reviews coming soon: Cahills Vs. Vespers, book 4: Shatterproof, by Roland Smith---- N.E.R.D.S., book 4: The Villain Virus, by Michael Buckley ----------- Amulet, book 4: Prince of the Elves, by Kazu Kibuishi

Cahills Vs. Vespers, book 4
Shatterproof
by Roland Smith
    Amy, Dan, Jake, and Atticus are at it again when Vesper One tells them to steal the Jubilee Diamond right out of the Pergamon museum. But when things go wrong, the team finds out that the whole thing was a setup. What now? Milos Vanek is hot on their trail. And by hot I mean that he's never more than a few miles away from them. How will they shake him loose? Jonah, Hamilton, and Erasmus are still on Luna Amato's trail. Will she lead them to something valuable? Plus, the hostages attempt an escape. Will it work this time? This is definitely better than book 3 and is worth reading! Look for book 5, Trust No One by Linda Sue Park in November, and the movie series starts in 2014!

Michael Lanier

Pianist, guitarist, banjoist, autoharpist, jaw harpist, Ukeist


Thanks, Michael!! I always look forward to seeing your reviews. Yeah, I agree that The Infinity Ring is definitely a copy of The 39 Clues, so I haven't picked it up. How about YOU--have you checked it out or bought it? Did you like it? Is Michael right and will this be the next 39 Clues? Speaking of which, don't pass up the Cahills vs. Vespers series!! They're every bit as good as the first and possibly better. I  REALLY liked Operation Trinity and hope to review it soon. I checked out Shatterproff last week and can't wait to start it.
Anyway, let us all hear what you're reading and enjoying. If you need any help in figuring out how to send a review, just check the instructions on the left-hand side of the page. So what are you waiting for??? Get those fingers on those keyboards and tell us!!

Fun Stuff for the Labor Day Weekend (More Blasts from the Past)

Hey everyone, it's Iron Guy Carl, blogging at you from the end of summer. Yes, summer's over. It's always a little tough getting back to the grindstone, but, mercifully, the grownups created something to make  reentry less painful.  And that is the Labor Day weekend!! A big three-day weekend to kick up some fun before settling back into the routine. Some guys like to go to the beach over this weekend, some play or watch sports and some like to hang out. But all the readers of this blog like READING. With that in mind, let me give you a few favorite reads from the past. These will be good for those car trips or the times spent chilling out around the homestead. These books are picked randomly but every one of them is great fun for a Labor Day weekend and all of them are guy-proven great reads. (If you want to find out any more about them, click on the tab under this post--for instance, click on the "Alvin Ho" tab if you want to learn more or read reviews)

Any of the Alvin Ho books

Funny, funny, funny!!! The tales of a second-grader who's afraid of everything. Guaranteed to make you hold your sides--because, if you don't, you'll split them laughing!



The Leviathan trilogy by Scott Westerfeld

Walking war machines vs fabricated animals in an alternative history of World War I. Lots of adventure, action and things that blow up.Great reads!

The 39 Clues series

Most of you probably know about these books, but if not---go get one right away!! They pull you in and won't let go!

 How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell

One of the great guy books of all time that asks the question, "Could you eat 15 worms in 15 days?"



The Brixton Brothers mysteries

Mystery, fun, and excitement as Steve Brixton (he has no brother--he just thinks it sounds cool) unravels criminal plots. Besides, where will you find out that all librarians know 9 forms of martial arts?



All right, guys, go out there and have a great weekend. And be sure to tell us what you read (or listened to, if you love audiobooks) when you get back!

Michael Sends Us Even More Reviews of Cool Books for Guys!

Greetings to all you reader guys out there! I'm sorry I haven't posted lately but life at the library has been especially busy. That's good because it means lots of people are using us, but it also means the Iron Guy doesn't get to write about terrific books as much as he'd like. Fortunately, there are faithful friends like Michael who keep us up to date on the latest and greatest reads. Let's hear what he has liked lately:

The 39 Clues: Cahills Vs. Vespers, book 3
In the Dead of the Night
by Peter Lerangis
Amy, Dan, Jake, and Atticus continue their quest to stop Vesper One. He's sent them to get another item, but this time he hasn't given them any clues as to what it is! Or has he? Could their be a hint hiding in his message? Also, Dan continues to struggle with what to say to his dad's recent text. How do you respond to someone who's been alive for nine years and never told you? Also, Erasmus reveals that Arthur Trent was a Vesper... which means he's still a Vesper. But there's one other possibility too... is it really Arthur Trent sending those texts, or another Vesper? Meanwhile, the Wyomings are out to kill Atticus because he's something called a Guardian. Will they get their way? Jonah and Hamilton are also looking for clues to stop Vesper One in other places, but they're not making much progress. The seven hostages are growing close to crazy, but they make an idea to escape. Will they succeed? Lastly, Ian Kabra, finally examining that burnt paper from book 1, finds something worth looking in to, but that means he must visit a person that no reader or Cahill ever wanted to see again. For excitement and suspense, this book delivers! Much better than book 2! Look for book 4: Shatterproof, by Roland Smith, coming in September, and watch for the movie saga beginning in 2014!

Mal and Chad, book 2
Food Fight!
by Stephen McCraine
The two friends are back in this all-new adventure! Chad keeps having nightmares that a giant lion is biting off his tail. This concerns Mal, so he invents a machine that can enter Chad's dreams so they can take down this monster. But is it possible for dream objects to come to the real world too? Meanwhile, Mal wants Megan's attention (apparently nothing became of their relationship from book 1), so he decides to make a club. But did he make the wrong decision by making Zachary club leader. Also, laughter abounds as Mal creates and invisibility spray, and his mother mistakes it for hair spray! This thrilling, incredibly well-drawn, and laugh-out-loud comic book will have readers off all ages entertained until the very last page. Also, be sure to read the daily web-comic at malandchad.com!

Michael Lanier
Pianist, guitarist, banjoist, autoharpist, jaw harpist, Ukeist
Thanks, Michael! I just checked out In the Dead of Night and it looks good already! Like all the 39 Clues books, this grabbed me right away. And I never heard of Mal and Chad, so I'm definitely going to check them out. How about YOU? Have YOU read either of these two? Did you like them? Hit that "Comment" button and send us YOUR own review!

The King's Ransom, Big Johnson Bone, Alvin Ho and Other Books to Get Excited About!

Yes, yes, yes, guys, this is one exciting month! Not only have I read three terrific new books, but two my most eagerly-anticipated books of the year have come in. I'm talking, of course, about The Secret of Ashona by Kaza Kingsley and The Whisper by Emma Clayton. What??? Did you say you don't know about them?? Well, let the Iron Guy educate you! The first one is the latest book in the fan-tastic Erec Rex series and the second is the sequel to The Roar, which was one of the most thrilling sci-fi books I've ever read. You can see my review here and you'll also see that it got 7 comments, the most for any book ever reviewed on this blog. You can also click on the "Erec Rex" label under this post to see what I've written about those books and why I like them so much.

All right, enough about things I'm going to read. Here's some great stuff I've already enjoyed:

The King's Ransom by Jude Watson
This is the latest in the Cahills vs. Vespers series, which is a continuation of the great 39 Clues series. In this one, Vesper One, that totally evil leader of the Vesper family, still has seven of Amy and Dan Cahill's relatives and friends held hostage. Vesper One is ordering Dan and Amy to find an antique map as part of the ransom for the hostages. Of course, Vesper One doesn't give the directions to the map or how to retrieve it; the villain gives only the deadline. If it's not delivered before then...
This book has the thrills, spills, and action that you always find in this series but there is also a BIG surprise at the end that will hit you like an A-bomb!

Stupid Stupid Rat Tails: the adventures of Big Johnson Bone, frontier hero by Tom Sniegoski with artwork by Jeff Smith
This is one fun read! It's a graphic novel based on the Bone characters and it's seet in a time before the Bone series takes place. Big Johnson Bone is a frontier explorer in the Davy Crockett tradition. In other words, he's tough enough to ride tornadoes and ain't afraid of nuthin'! So when a tornado really does pick him up, he lands in a new valley. It turns out, however, that the woodland creatures in the valley are terrorized by the rat creatures. Well, who else would rescue them but Big Johnson Bone! So he strides up to the cave of the Rat Creature Queen--and gets swallowed by the Queen's giant son!! Can he survive? Well, getting eaten by giant ugly creatures is just a minor inconvenience for Big Johnson Bone! This is a rip-roaring good yarn. Included in this book is "Riblet", another story by Tom Sniegoski with artwork by Stan Sakai. In this one, the cute woodland animal creatures are playing until Riblet, the little pig, gets captured by the rat creatures. Isn't that terrible? Yes, it is--for the rat creatures! You'll laugh our loud at this one. I sure did!
PS: The illustrations in this book are in black and white, like the original Bone series. If you'd like to see them (and others) in color, be sure to check out Bone: Tall Tales by Jeff Smith and Tom Sniegoski.

Alvin Ho: Allergic to Dead Bodies, Funerals and Other Fatal Circumstances by Lenore Look
Alvin Ho, the second-grader who's afraid of everything, has to go to a funeral! Yipes! Alvin's grandfather's best friend died unexpectedly. His grandfather is very sad, of course, and Alvin tries to make him feel better by agreeing to go to the funeral. Everyone is very proud of Alvin but then the boy realizes something terrible--he's actually going to have to do it! Can he overcome his fears? For his grandfather's sake? This book is every bit as good as the other three Alvin Ho books (and that's saying a lot!) but in a different, more subdued kind of way. It isn't as bust-your-gut, laugh-out-loud funny as the others, except for one part I'll tell you about in a minute, but it will make you smile a lot and give some good insights into growing up. I liked it a lot and recommend it highly to all reader guys. And there is one part that did make me laugh uproariously. Alvin is too afraid to talk in school, so when his grandfather's friend dies, some kids think it's actually Alvin's grandfather! Will he ever tell what really happened? And if not...well, you got to read it to find out! It will make you laugh!! Besides, how could you resist a book in which the dad curses in mock-Shakespearean language? Listen to what he says while trying to fix the car: "Thou goatish crook-pated canker ratsbane...Thine horrid image doth unfix my hair." That's right--I told you that you'd laugh!

PS--the photos of the new Erec Rex book and The Whisper didn't turn out well, so I'm putting better pictures down here. Either the flash reflected off the covers or it was the glow of manliness that radiates from the Iron Guy.



All right, men, go find these books! And let us know what you think of them.

Michael Keeps Them Coming In with The Medusa Plot and Amulet 4.

Do you remember how, at the end of the last post, I asked you guys to keep those reviews and surprises coming? Well, our good friend Michael (King of Books and Time Travel) has done just that! He's sent in not one but two reviews of some really good-sounding reads. Let's see what Michael has to say:

The 39 Clues: Cahills Vs. Vespers, book 1

The Medusa Plot

by Gordan Korman

The most anxiously awaited book of the year is finally here! The Vespers are a secret family that has been after the master serum for decades. But the Vespers aren't all related. They hire people to do their dirty work. So no Cahill is truly safe. The Vespers kidnap Fiske Cahill, Nellie Gomez, Reagan Holt, Natalie Kabra, Ted Starling, Alistair Oh, and Pheonix Wizard. Amy and Dan, having narrowly avoid kidnapping themselves, are recieving myterious mesages from Vesper One. They must do what he says and steal the famous painting "Medusa", or one of the kidnapped Cahills will be killed. Can Amy and Dan do it in time? Will the branches cooperate? And who is Vesper One? This new book is brilliantly written with more than five thriller scenes. Introducing new characters Pheonix and Leila Wizard and Evan Tolliver, this book is truly an instant classic that no one should miss out on! And be sure to look for book 2 in December: A King's Ransom by Jude Watson. And don't miss the epic movie saga starting in 2014!

Amulet, book 4

The Last Council

by Kazu Kibuishi

Finally Emma has arrived in Ceilis, home of the Guardian Council. Now all she has to do is warn them of the elf king, and everything will be fixed, right? Not so easy. Emma must undergo a series of tests put on by the Guardian Council against other stonekeepers. The strongest will survive, the weakest will die. It's possible for all the competitors to survive, but it's also possible that none should make it. And if the stonekeepers pass the tests, the reward will be far greater than any of them could imagine. Introducing new characters Ally, Vigo Light, Cecil, and Dagno, and featuring the return of Miskit and Cogsley, this book is beautifully illustrated and has incredible action and drama. So don't miss out on this one-of-a-kind graphic novel!

Thanks, Michael!! I have to agree with you totally about The Medusa Plot. It's really, really, really good and I can hardly stand waiting for the next one. There is a lot of action, as in all the 309 Clues books, and lots more secrets and mysterious characters. (Do you think Evan can be trusted? Why did they find a Lucian symbol in the factory? How old is the Vesper family? Could they really have had something to do with Mount Vesuvius?) Ah, there's a lot to figure out! (Although this book is not perfect--I had a very hard believing that the art thief, who had taken so much trouble to steal that painting, would stop looking for it because Dan "crashed" the boat)
And I've never read any of the Amulet graphic novels but you made me really curious now! May have to go and check them out.

Thanks again. Be sure to go and get these books, guys! You've heard from another reader guy (as well as the Iron Guy) just how good they are!

Micahel and the Iron Guy Write About Vespers Rising

Our good friend Michael, King of Books and Time Travel, has sent us another first-rate review:

The 39 Clues, book 11

Vespers Rising

by Rick Riordan, Peter Lerangis, Gordan Korman, and Jude Watson

The Cahills have always had a secret enemy: the Vespers. They're a secret organization that hires the best people to do their dirty work. They want to be the most powerful people in the world. But they're not after the serum. Gideon Cahill had a ring that is much more dangerous than the serum. And the Cahills, generation after generation, have had to protect it from the clutches of the Vespers. This book takes you through four stages of Cahills, Vespers, and the ring. The first is Gideon Cahill, 1507, followed by Madeleine Cahill, 1527, Grace Cahill, 1942, and finally Amy and Dan Cahill, present. It's brilliantly written, and it's by the best authors to write it. Discover a secret more powerful than the serum. Discover the ring. Discover the Vespers.

Thanks, Michael!! He's hit it right on the head--this is a brilliantly-written book, full of mysteries, exotic locations, and the extreme action you've enjoyed in the first ten 39 Clues books. I was afraid of being disappointed because sequels are often not as good as the originals, but have no fear, bold reader guys, Vespers Rising is every bit as good and maybe even better!
So go get it before the Vespers discover the secret of the ring! And if you've read it, send us your thoughts in the Comments tab under this post. (and that goes for you grownups as well)

Time Out for The Black Book of Buried Secrets

The NCAA tournament (aka March Madness) officially starts today! Woo-hoooo!! This year's tourney promises to be another memorable event. But every game has a few scheduled time outs, so I'm going to take one and tell you about a truly terrific book. It's The Black Book of Buried Secrets, the companion book to the absolutely fan-tastic 39 Clues series. I enjoyed this book a lot! There's excitement, adventure and lots of information about the different branches of the Cahill family. Great reading for fans of the series or even those who haven't---who haven't---oh, no, something's interfering with my posting. This is exactly what happened when I wrote about Into the Gauntlet, the last book in the series----

TOP SECRET MESSAGE TO TOMAS HQ

This is Agent Flexing Bear, reporting form the Tomas stronghold in Charlotte, NC. (Everyone thinks it's only a library, HAHAHAHAHA!) I have just read The Black Book of Buried Secrets and, wow, is it good!! Not only is there a whole ton of info about all the Cahill branches and their spy techniques (useful to know since we're ALL in such great danger from the Vesper family), there are a lot of really exciting stories. Besides, you get to find out all sorts of cool stuff--what happened to Dan and Amy after they got back to the States, Isabel Kabra's trial, stories about the founders of the Cahill branches, biographies of famous Cahill agents, plus a truly great introduction by the one and only Rick Riordan. I couldn't stop reading this book, even when when doing my weight-lifting exercises.


BTW, the newest 39 Clues book comes out on April 5. It's called Vespers Rising and the library has ordered lots of copies so the whole world can see how the brave Tomas agents will keep the world safe!! OK, I guess the other branches will do a little bit too. After all, we'll have to work together against the greatest danger the world will ever know. I will notify agents everywhere when we get copies. I hope a lot of agents go to their libraries, especially the Myers Park "library", and check it out! (Oops, did I just give away the secret location of this Tomas stronghold?)

Into the Gauntlet by Margaret Peterson Haddix...

...is a book that ROCKS and ROLLS!! This one, like all the 39 Clues books, really grabbed hold of me. I remember staying up late one night because I couldn't go to bed until I got all the way to the end.
This is the final book in this fantastic series. Dan and Amy Cahill are closing in on the secret to becoming the most powerful people on earth. And so are their evil cousins, who will will stop at nothing to gain that secret. But not only do Dan and Amy have to keep it away form their unbelievable cousins, they also have to get the other four branches of the Cahill family to work together. Not an easy task, since they've basically been at war for 500 years! They must succeed, however, for the sake of the whole human race.
Man, oh, man, will you enjoy this one!! There are ninjas, exploding underground tunnels, a confrontation on mountain top, and an all-Cahill family fight on the Globe Theatre stage! (And, I tell you, I have never been so scared for Dan as when he was dangling off the side of that enormous cliff!!) You can see that there's enough action and heart-pounding excitement to satisfy any reader guy. Plus there are MAJOR surprises--including one that will leave you wondering, "Is this really the end of the Clue hunt? Or only the beginning of an even MORE major adventure?" You'll ask yourselves the same question after you read Into the Gauntlet. Don't miss it!!! And if you don't believe me that this a terrific book, read what your fellow reader guy Michael said in the post under this one.

All Right! MICHAEL Writes Again!

Yes, indeed, our old friend Michael has sent us another set of first-rate reviews. Man, we LOVE it when you readers guys write and tell us about your favorite books. And you're also helping other guys find the good stuff. Let's hear what Michael has to say:

The 39 Clues, book 10

Into the Gauntlet

by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Amy and Dan have recently met their great uncle, Fiske, and he has told them that they need to not only win the clue-hunt for the Madrigals, but to also accomplish the 500-year task of uniting all of the Cahill branches. WHAT!!! Alistair Oh and Jonah Wizard? Sinead Starling and Ian Kabra? Eisenhower Holt and Dan Cahill? Impossible! Or is it? And not to mention the most evil woman in the world: Isabel Kabra. Who will be the first through the gauntlet? Who will drink Gideon Cahill's master serum? Who is going to rule the world? No one could write the 39 Clues better than Margaret Peterson Haddix, and you're guaranteed to be on the edge of your seat the entire time! Also, look for the newest 39 Clues book coming October 26: The Black Book of Buried Secrets.

N. E. R. D. S., book 2

M is for Mama's Boy

by Michael Buckley

Simon is back, and he's not taking any chances. After retreiving his goon, he hunts down a computer whiz perfect to do his bidding: Albert Nesbitt. Albert is a 32-year-old, 300-pound comic book reader who is just smart enough to make what Simon wants: a ray gun that hypnotizes electronic devices. Perfect! Now, not only can Simon drain the NERDS of their power, but he can use their power against them! And then Albert's Mama gets in on the scheme, and she's more evil then the other three combined. That's when Duncan Dewey (a.k.a. Gluestick) 's dad takes him off the team of NERDS. And if that's not bad enough, Albert's Mama knows that Duncan is a part of the NERDS, and she's his next door neighbor! And she's got the ray gun!!! What will happen now? Well, you'll have to find out by reading it yourself. I'm certainly not going to tell you. That would be spoiling it! This book is much better than the first and marks the end of Simon forever!

The Adventures of Ook and Gluk

by Dav Pilkey

After their huge success with Super Diaper Baby, George Beard and Harold Hutchins have decided to write another graphic novel. Ook and Gluk are caveboys in the year 500,001 B.C. The world is run by the evil Goppernopper. But then Goppernopper sees strange creatures hauling away all the trees. And that's when it happens. Goppernopper meets his descendant, who runs Goppernopper industries. He has used a time portal to come from the year 2222 A.D. to 500,001 B.C. to get all the trees for Goppernopper industries, because there are no trees left in 2222 A.D. Caveman Goppernopper agrees to help. Ook and Gluk, seeing the whole thing, know that the two Goppernoppers will take over the future world and the caveman world as well. The two boys run through the time portal into a world filled with pollution and manmade buildings. They take refuge in a martial arts school and in seven years advance to black belt. But is it enough to save all of space and time from the evil Goppernoppers? Or will the enemies prevail once again? Is this the end for Ook and Gluk? This is a great comic book, outrageously funny, and, regardless to the fact that a couple of 4th graders wrote it, is very accurate to time travel. A great read for everyone!

Thanks, Michael! You beat me to the punch on a couple of these. I have Into the Gauntlet and am about one-third of the way through. It's really good so far. I just checked out a copy of N.E.R.D.S. 2 last week and it looks good too. The library has copies of Ook and Gluk in the system, so I've just put one on hold. You've given me something new to look at, Michael! Thanks again and keep writing!