epiphanylost86's review against another edition
5.0
I enjoyed this book so much! I love that it teaches the reader signs that go along with the story. It rekindled my love and desire to learn sign, so that's what i'm doing now. Great story!
runningkar's review against another edition
adventurous
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
library_kb's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I listened to an ALC via @Libro.fm's program for Educators. I did enjoy this one. It definitely has the characterization/voice of a Roald Dahl novel (something about the cadence of the writing and the parents/grandparents). It features American Sign Language prominently as part of the story takes place at a School for the Deaf and Frog is deaf, so Charlie needs to learn sign language as the story progresses. This would be a good mystery for 4th-6th grades--even though it is more focused on the characters and friendships than the actual mystery.
eavery's review
4.0
A fun upper elementary or middle grade mystery. No real scary stuff, but lots of intrigue and clues good enough that the reader can figure a few things out on their own.
lagobond's review
1.0
Trite. I was interested in the ASL aspect of this book, but the thing is so uninspired and hackneyed that I literally couldn't bring myself to read more than a paragraph here and there, before putting it aside with a disgusted sneer on my face.
ljrinaldi's review
3.0
How do deaf people communicate? In North America, they use ASL. (American Sign Language). To learn it, it is best to see it, either in pictures of a book, or by having someone demonstrate them to you. It is a very visual thing.
And that is the problem I have with this book, and why I feel that it is, at best 3.5 stars. The story is good. The mystery is good, and cleaver, and the characters are fun. But, to have to descrbe the sign language every time someone is speaking drove me crazy. I have friends and relatives who signed, and if I had to learn it by reading about it, rather than watching it, I would got crazy.
I admire the author for attempting to do it, but just throwing in illustrations would have been a huge help. Because kids love to learn new languages, secret languages, and to have the alphabet in the back of the book, or have some of the signs sprinkled throughout, would have made the book a solid four or five star.
Well written, but lacking in images.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
And that is the problem I have with this book, and why I feel that it is, at best 3.5 stars. The story is good. The mystery is good, and cleaver, and the characters are fun. But, to have to descrbe the sign language every time someone is speaking drove me crazy. I have friends and relatives who signed, and if I had to learn it by reading about it, rather than watching it, I would got crazy.
I admire the author for attempting to do it, but just throwing in illustrations would have been a huge help. Because kids love to learn new languages, secret languages, and to have the alphabet in the back of the book, or have some of the signs sprinkled throughout, would have made the book a solid four or five star.
Well written, but lacking in images.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
cgbart's review against another edition
5.0
it’s been a long time since I read a book all in one setting (thank you, Presidents’ Day)—and to have a mystery to read about two kids solving a mystery in a small town among the Deaf community? Literally my dream. A fun read, a good mystery, and a great setting.