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kristenbooks's review against another edition
4.0
First read: 7th grade (late 2006)
Re-read: July, 9, 2014
I love the setting of this book. Cloral is definitely my favorite territory from the series. This is also one of the major turning points in the series, causing Bobby to have to be more independent and actually figure things out. This book is a really quick read and even though the plot isn't very intricate, there are so many fun adventures.
8.5/10 (4/5)
Re-read: July, 9, 2014
I love the setting of this book. Cloral is definitely my favorite territory from the series. This is also one of the major turning points in the series, causing Bobby to have to be more independent and actually figure things out. This book is a really quick read and even though the plot isn't very intricate, there are so many fun adventures.
8.5/10 (4/5)
cora_steffani's review against another edition
5.0
In my opinion,this book was much better than the first one.The main reason,I suppose is that I like Cloral more than Denduron.Cloral is awesome and unbelievable.I wish Atlantis could be true,too!
The journal format really works for me and I'm as excited as Mark and Courtney to read them!
Still,there are lots of unanswered questions which I suppose I have to read till the end of series to get the answers!!! But I can't wait that long.Why this series is so long!!
I really enjoyed this book.I've already started the next book.Very excited to follow the adventures of Bobby Pendragon and his friends.
The journal format really works for me and I'm as excited as Mark and Courtney to read them!
Still,there are lots of unanswered questions which I suppose I have to read till the end of series to get the answers!!! But I can't wait that long.Why this series is so long!!
I really enjoyed this book.I've already started the next book.Very excited to follow the adventures of Bobby Pendragon and his friends.
emilyreads245's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
hotplantainoil's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-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
3.5
The series is a childhood favorite but I do want to be honest as I review. This book in the series has its fun moments like the 1st book, but there is quite a bit of action scenes. If you're listening to the audiobooks like I am, you can feel a bit tired of being underwater in the fight scenes.
Not too many drastic turns of events. A medium to slow paced story if you take out the action scenes. Many important things do happen here which introduce new characters into the fray, a short visit to a previously mentioned but unseen territory, and some setups for character development.
Maybe it's because I took a couple weeks break in between listening to the book and sometimes with my ADHD that makes me lose interest since I didn't finish it when I "thought" I would, but there was a lot of underwater chase/run/fight action that I wasn't too excited about. In my tweens to teens I remember it being not my most favorite so it makes sense it wasn't as enjoyable for me. Cherished but not fully enjoyed, haha.
Not too many drastic turns of events. A medium to slow paced story if you take out the action scenes. Many important things do happen here which introduce new characters into the fray, a short visit to a previously mentioned but unseen territory, and some setups for character development.
Maybe it's because I took a couple weeks break in between listening to the book and sometimes with my ADHD that makes me lose interest since I didn't finish it when I "thought" I would, but there was a lot of underwater chase/run/fight action that I wasn't too excited about. In my tweens to teens I remember it being not my most favorite so it makes sense it wasn't as enjoyable for me. Cherished but not fully enjoyed, haha.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Death of parent
marisacox123's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
atos520's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
brennieree33's review against another edition
3.0
I did really like this book. Cloral had a really fun atmosphere and this was a world that I liked exploring more than Denduron. Spader is a really fun character, and the things that happened in this book just tugged at your heartstrings. I would have given this book 4 stars if not for a few things in the spoiler section. So let's get to that.
TW: Death, guns, sharks.
-Okay, Press dying really hurt. And I love the dynamic of Spader and Bobby having to reconcile with each other. I just wish we'd gotten a little bit more of that, maybe with a little more time of Bobby being mad before he forgives Spader.
-Okay, so the whole bank idea was really smart, but how did Bobby know that they would get his journals from First Earth before his next journal? With the whole time thing, I don't know whether to call that plan genius or pure stupidity. But it did work for him, so whatever.
-I really hated the intro into the book. Yes, I know that it's a sequel so you have to reintroduce the readers into the world of the Travelers. But it makes no sense in the context of the journals. For all Bobby knows, his friends are getting his journals right after another, so why would he have to remind them of Saint Dane, the star symbol, things that happened on Denduron, etc? It would have made more sense for the book to start with Mark and Courtney getting the journals or talking about what happened in the last book amongst themselves, because their story is written in a more traditional narrated format.
-I've noticed that many authors have specific words they use all the time. Brandon Sanderson's is "maladroit," Natasha Ngan's is "sluiced," and DJ MacHale's is "lavatory." Like, just call it a bathroom haha. It didn't even bother me so much as stick out because I thought it was funny that he wouldn't just call it a bathroom.
-Okay, the whole Mitchell plotline makes no sense. Sure, you want to create tension with the Second Earth plot, because nothing is really happening there. But what the author did to create tension was stupid AF. This whole could have been resolved in two seconds in two entirely different ways. First, just get Courtney involved from the start, as Mitchell is afraid of her. Or, just have Mark tell Mitchell how stupid he would look if he told anyone about it. And then the author tried to trick us at the end with the whole reveal that they'd typed up the journals and given them to the police already, but, as the Second Earth plotline is written in 3rd person omniscient, this doesn't work. Mark specifically thinks that he won't tell Courtney about Mitchell until they get to the police station, but by this point she's already supposed to know. That doesn't in this point of view and it really freaking bothers me when authors do this. I took a whole off of this book for the mental gymnastics of this alone. It's dumb and it doesn't work. This was literally stuck in only to make this part of the plot remotely interesting and he screwed it up. AHHHHHHHHH. I'm just very angry about this for some reason and I don't know why haha.
TW: Death, guns, sharks.
Spoiler
-Okay, Press dying really hurt. And I love the dynamic of Spader and Bobby having to reconcile with each other. I just wish we'd gotten a little bit more of that, maybe with a little more time of Bobby being mad before he forgives Spader.
-Okay, so the whole bank idea was really smart, but how did Bobby know that they would get his journals from First Earth before his next journal? With the whole time thing, I don't know whether to call that plan genius or pure stupidity. But it did work for him, so whatever.
-I really hated the intro into the book. Yes, I know that it's a sequel so you have to reintroduce the readers into the world of the Travelers. But it makes no sense in the context of the journals. For all Bobby knows, his friends are getting his journals right after another, so why would he have to remind them of Saint Dane, the star symbol, things that happened on Denduron, etc? It would have made more sense for the book to start with Mark and Courtney getting the journals or talking about what happened in the last book amongst themselves, because their story is written in a more traditional narrated format.
-I've noticed that many authors have specific words they use all the time. Brandon Sanderson's is "maladroit," Natasha Ngan's is "sluiced," and DJ MacHale's is "lavatory." Like, just call it a bathroom haha. It didn't even bother me so much as stick out because I thought it was funny that he wouldn't just call it a bathroom.
-Okay, the whole Mitchell plotline makes no sense. Sure, you want to create tension with the Second Earth plot, because nothing is really happening there. But what the author did to create tension was stupid AF. This whole could have been resolved in two seconds in two entirely different ways. First, just get Courtney involved from the start, as Mitchell is afraid of her. Or, just have Mark tell Mitchell how stupid he would look if he told anyone about it. And then the author tried to trick us at the end with the whole reveal that they'd typed up the journals and given them to the police already, but, as the Second Earth plotline is written in 3rd person omniscient, this doesn't work. Mark specifically thinks that he won't tell Courtney about Mitchell until they get to the police station, but by this point she's already supposed to know. That doesn't in this point of view and it really freaking bothers me when authors do this. I took a whole off of this book for the mental gymnastics of this alone. It's dumb and it doesn't work. This was literally stuck in only to make this part of the plot remotely interesting and he screwed it up. AHHHHHHHHH. I'm just very angry about this for some reason and I don't know why haha.
tylerclarkmclendon's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
z_mages's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
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? No
2.0
fosterwalrus's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25