aotora's review against another edition
2.0
I finally finished this series. I don't know if it was because I read the last two books back to back, but this one was a lackluster ending to the series. The characters we saw throughout the books are barely there. Patrick, Boone and Ruby show up but only briefly. We never get any proper conclusion or goodbye between Patrick, Boone, Omri and Little Bear and especially between Little Bear and Boone that have been through a lot together and are blood brothers. There is no real reason for Omri's father to travel back with him instead of Patrick. I wish that Patrick went instead because it would have felt more tense and dangerous and his mom knowing all along was just .... out of place. It didn't fit into the story at all.
The story was boring, the important characters are barely there- there are some intense and darker scenes but they barely redeem the book for me. Overall- a lackluster conclusion to a decent book series.
The story was boring, the important characters are barely there- there are some intense and darker scenes but they barely redeem the book for me. Overall- a lackluster conclusion to a decent book series.
herbalmoon's review against another edition
3.0
Just started, so I'm not quite sure what to think yet. A few mistakes I've noticed:
Omri says: Ruby Lou was a saloon-bar hostess.
I say: Not only is "saloon-bar" redundant, there was no such thing as a "hostess". She sounded like a woman-about-town and possibly even a minx. (Or "maneater", to use a little bit more of a modern term.)
Omri says: It was a hurricane that attacked London.
I say: How did a storm that was a tornado in book three suddenly become a hurricane in book five? And even if they hit the desert parts of Texas, they'd probably be a tropical storm or depression by then.
I hope this one ends up being as good as the last one or the ghostwriter that Lynne clearly hired will have been a complete failure.
==Two Days Later==
Mainly a failure. This book didn't have nearly the excitement of any of the others.
One last "hmm": Lionel refers to the shamen/holy people of the Iroquois as sachem.
But other nations (their Algonquin enemies, especially) call their chiefs by that title. In fact, Little Bear's comment that he's a "pine tree chief" makes me think that he was a sagamore and whoever Old Mother picked would be sachem.
But I don't know enough about the Iroquois to be certain about whether Lionel's appellation is correct.
Omri says: Ruby Lou was a saloon-bar hostess.
I say: Not only is "saloon-bar" redundant, there was no such thing as a "hostess". She sounded like a woman-about-town and possibly even a minx. (Or "maneater", to use a little bit more of a modern term.)
Omri says: It was a hurricane that attacked London.
I say: How did a storm that was a tornado in book three suddenly become a hurricane in book five? And even if they hit the desert parts of Texas, they'd probably be a tropical storm or depression by then.
I hope this one ends up being as good as the last one or the ghostwriter that Lynne clearly hired will have been a complete failure.
==Two Days Later==
Mainly a failure. This book didn't have nearly the excitement of any of the others.
One last "hmm": Lionel refers to the shamen/holy people of the Iroquois as sachem.
But other nations (their Algonquin enemies, especially) call their chiefs by that title. In fact, Little Bear's comment that he's a "pine tree chief" makes me think that he was a sagamore and whoever Old Mother picked would be sachem.
But I don't know enough about the Iroquois to be certain about whether Lionel's appellation is correct.
jossarian4's review against another edition
4.0
Yet another series that aided me in discovering my love of reading.
al3xf3ath3r's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
cherrysoda9_9's review against another edition
3.0
I actually really enjoyed how this one wrapped things up! It probably has the most far-fetched story line, but I love that it included more of the original characters than the last one did.
manwithanagenda's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Banks ends the 'Indian in the Cupboard' books on a high note with this story. In 'Mystery', Omri's father stumbles into the secret and together they must find a way to help Little Bear one last time.
'The Key to the Indian' digs deeper into history than the previous installments, underlining the impact that colonization had on native civilizations in America and Omri faces some uncomfortable truths about British involvements with the Iroquois. He also has a nightmarish experience into his own family's past in India. Omri and his father, once he's been brought up to speed, have to think a lot about what they can do to help Little Bear and his tribe and their conversations will illuminate a young reader about the difficulties of the era. Our good friend Patrick arrives to help and is as helpful as expected.
The series has its ups and downs, but its well worth getting through the first and second sequels to read the end of the series, because Banks makes the reader ask the right questions and she provides some answers. She doesn't sacrifice the adventure either. For a middle grade series, that's a great accomplishment. A great series about history and about family.
Omri and Little Bear
Previous: 'The Mystery of the Cupboard'
'The Key to the Indian' digs deeper into history than the previous installments, underlining the impact that colonization had on native civilizations in America and Omri faces some uncomfortable truths about British involvements with the Iroquois. He also has a nightmarish experience into his own family's past in India. Omri and his father, once he's been brought up to speed, have to think a lot about what they can do to help Little Bear and his tribe and their conversations will illuminate a young reader about the difficulties of the era. Our good friend Patrick arrives to help and is as helpful as expected.
The series has its ups and downs, but its well worth getting through the first and second sequels to read the end of the series, because Banks makes the reader ask the right questions and she provides some answers. She doesn't sacrifice the adventure either. For a middle grade series, that's a great accomplishment. A great series about history and about family.
Omri and Little Bear
Previous: 'The Mystery of the Cupboard'
kirstieellen's review against another edition
5.0
Part of one of my favourite series, this really got me into reading when I was younger
liarose95's review against another edition
I remember loving these books as a dorky nine year old (I also collected plastic figurines and hoped they would come to life one day...) I wonder how they would fare on a reread?
treereader's review against another edition
4.0
So just read 4 of these in a day - they can't be that bad!