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lisalikesdogs's review against another edition
4.0
This book is pretty adorable. I love kids' adventure books! Definitely on par with the Mysterious Benedict Society...I look forward to the next!
beccabeccalee's review against another edition
5.0
I picked up this book because I liked the cover (guilty as charged). It looked like a spooky read with an old-timey twist. While it wasn't scary, it was just the sort of thing to satisfy my odd-ball taste in reading: quirky long-lost relatives, a crumbling estate, birdwatchers, an old museum, and, of course, miraculous mechanisms. It was just my kind of book and I'm excited to watch the Horten saga unfold.
Horten's Miraculous Mechanisms follows Stuart Horten (or S. Horten, as embarrassing as that is) as he combs his new town for clues. Years ago, Stuart's magician uncle Teeny Tiny Tony Horten went missing, along with his secret workshop, rumored to be full of miraculous (and perhaps magic) mechanisms. Stuart, being the "right sort of boy," is eager to solve the mystery of his uncle's disappearance, though he's not the only one poking his nose into Tony Horten's affairs. There's also a bumbling would-be magician with a knack for attracting birds, a set of reporting triplets (some with glasses, some without), a blind woman and her dog, and a conniving assistant eager to get her hands on the secret Horten workshop. There are also Stuart's parents: a busy working mother and a crossword-writer father with an impressive (and sometimes bewildering) vocabulary.
This book had a delightful combination of quirky mystery and chuckle-worthy humor, with a bit of dark suspense to boot. I'm eager to see what happens to Stuart and his miraculous workshop. On to the next!
Horten's Miraculous Mechanisms follows Stuart Horten (or S. Horten, as embarrassing as that is) as he combs his new town for clues. Years ago, Stuart's magician uncle Teeny Tiny Tony Horten went missing, along with his secret workshop, rumored to be full of miraculous (and perhaps magic) mechanisms. Stuart, being the "right sort of boy," is eager to solve the mystery of his uncle's disappearance, though he's not the only one poking his nose into Tony Horten's affairs. There's also a bumbling would-be magician with a knack for attracting birds, a set of reporting triplets (some with glasses, some without), a blind woman and her dog, and a conniving assistant eager to get her hands on the secret Horten workshop. There are also Stuart's parents: a busy working mother and a crossword-writer father with an impressive (and sometimes bewildering) vocabulary.
This book had a delightful combination of quirky mystery and chuckle-worthy humor, with a bit of dark suspense to boot. I'm eager to see what happens to Stuart and his miraculous workshop. On to the next!
littledeerbythecreek's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
elles_expositions's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
i love this book so much, it'll always be a classic for me<3
readwithdj's review
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
thejoyofbooking's review against another edition
4.0
Horten’s Miraculous Mechanisms is an utterly charming middle grade novel, featuring the mischief and shenanigans of Stuart Horten and his annoying next door neighbors April, May, and June.
It seems to me the type of book that would appeal to a fan of Hugo Cabret, or any fan of magic (and, really, what ten year old is not a fan of magic?). With a few twists and turns and some cleverly imagined characters, this book holds a lush imaginative world for pre-teen readers – and it’s one their parents won’t mind visiting during storytime, either.
It seems to me the type of book that would appeal to a fan of Hugo Cabret, or any fan of magic (and, really, what ten year old is not a fan of magic?). With a few twists and turns and some cleverly imagined characters, this book holds a lush imaginative world for pre-teen readers – and it’s one their parents won’t mind visiting during storytime, either.
opticflow's review against another edition
4.0
I stuck with this book even though I really wanted the miraculous mechanisms to be more scientific and less magical. I loved the scavenger hunt and puzzle elements and really pictured Stuart whizzing around town putting it all together. I didn't get much enjoyment from the girls. Are they friend or foe? Two were left underdeveloped. Guess the sequel(s) will tell but I'll have moved on to another series before I find out. Also possibly I read an American version of the story for there seemed to be a lot of weird inconsistencies in language. Ugh, I hate vernacular edits. Publishers, please stop doing this. If the language was instead the fault of the author, then detract a star from my rating.
gaillypoo's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
lindageorge's review against another edition
4.0
Loved this book and didn't think I would. I also didn't realize it was a series, this being the first book. Anyway it was great fun. Kids should enjoy it very much.
alexsaunders's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5