Templetonovic Dvojčata Mají Nápad (2013) - Plot & Excerpts
The Templeton Twins are said to be exceptional and clever, but I came away from this book with very little understanding of them. The narrator- the irritating, unduly combative, and very rude narrator- became the only character I could recall. That same narrator kept me from enjoying this book. I initially thought he/she would be a Lemony Snicket-esque personality, giving little lessons, defining words, etc. It soon became clear that insults, impatience, and put-downs were more this narrator's style. Why would Weiner decide that young readers want to have their intelligence questioned almost constantly by a useless narrator? He clearly hasn't met the young readers I have met. I would give this book 2.5 stars, with most of that being solely attributed to the wonderful illustrations by Holmes. I'm adding this one to my older kids shelf because the Templeton Twins have a dead mother, are eventually kidnapped and their nanny seems to have been shot dead by the kidnappers. This might seem like a spoiler beginning to the story but it's really not the most important part of the story OR the part that anyone would remember, just wanted to say that there is a level of danger and violence that might bother some kids - that's a lot of death in just 220+ pages.Aside from those few things I think this book could be enjoyed by younger readers because it isn't filled with dense vocabulary and many of the pages contain beautiful supporting drawings and diagrams. The brother-sister dynamic is fun and realistic. The setting - a University campus with an engineering professor father provides lots of interesting detail - and there is a nice element of danger and suspense. I have given it just two stars because it is just 'okay'. The bits that make a good book are there but they are weighed down by the interrupting narrator (which has been done by others many times before and with greater success) and each chapter includes questions for chapter review that are occasionally funny but not consistently funny.The idea and the cover might draw kids in and I think that this book is worth a try but I am most hopeful that the second installment improves upon this one. Might not return to the series if a third is published. It was just 'okay'.
What do You think about Templetonovic Dvojčata Mají Nápad (2013)?
LOVED this book! Can't wait for the next one!
—taylor
laughed out loud more than once. Delightful!
—soaringfree
