Mister Monday

Wow, this was a wild story. It was hard to wrap my head around it so I quit trying and just kept reading.

Arthur is a boy with bad asthma that is having to deal with the difficulties of being a new kid in school. He finds himself swept up in a whirlwind of fantasy as he is trying to keep up with the other kids in gym class. The gym teacher didn't listen to everything he said when he was trying to explain about his breathing problems. In an attempt to join the group running he triggered an asthma attack when he saw 2 strange men approaching him. He was given a key that the giver was reluctant to give and then a book came flying out of no where. After a couple of other kids found him and helped him get his inhaler he started feeling better but still ended up in the hospital where his mom worked finding cures for the flu. While in the hospital he was visited by the same kids that helped him and they mentioned the strange men. Arthur through he'd imagined them. After he got home he looked at the book and saw lines sketch out The House. It was huge and took up a whole block. The book showed him the way in. When these dog men started chasing him and everyone started to get sick he went to the house to get away. He knew he had to figure out what was going on and find a way to stop the plague before it killed everyone.

Sunni recommended this book to me with good reason it was wonderful, lots of magic and fun. :)

A 1001 Children's book. Audio. Arthur sets out on a quest to unite the two hands of a clock in an attempt to stop a plague from destroying the people of Earth.

I'm in love with this bok! The use of a clock is what makes it different from other books. It definitely makes you want to read the next one.

Blah. I thought the prologue was fascinating and then blah. The main character was so flat and cliché (wimpy kid gets a magical object and turns into a hero). Plus I could not make a connection with him. I wanted to feel sorry or sad or afraid for him and I just didn't. I thought there were a few interesting side characters but they would show up, be interesting and then disappear: example Leaf and Ed. Where did they go? Suzy was interesting and then gone as well. I thought the concept of the Will was interesting but yet again fell flat. I am not sure I will take the time to read the rest of the series. The concept was very interesting but the execution did not work for me. I also did not like the not-so-subtle references to Christianity in the negative. To each his own I guess.

I enjoyed this first book of the Keys to the Kingdom series. Iliked how Arthur learned to believe in himself and how he interacted with Suzy and the Will. I look forward to reading the next book, Grim Tuesday.

Just the kind of book I was in the mood for. It seems like a good start to the series.