Book Review: Charlie Bone and the Invisible Boy

Title: Charlie Bone and the Invisible Boy
Author: Jenny Nimmo
Publishers: Orchard Books (Scholastic)
Genre: Fantasy, Fiction
Pages: 408
Rating: 6/10


Charlie Bone’s life takes a turn for the worse. Why? That is because Charlie’s uncle leaves on a secret mission and disappears. Before Charlie’s uncle leaves, he leaves a note why he left. When Charlie goes to Bloor’s Academy, he discovers an invisible boy in the attics. The invisible boy is named Ollie Spark’s and only has a toe that is visible. After Charlie finds out that Ollie has a relative, Charlie has to get Ollie out of the attic and to Ollie’s relative. Will Ollie Sparks be reunited with his only relative? Will Charlie find out where his uncle went?

The Brown’s bathroom over looked Filbert Street, and while Benjamin was brushing his teeth he saw a tall man in a long black coat walk down the steps of number nine. Benjamin stopped brushing and stared. What on earth was going on in Charlie’s house?
The tall man was Paton Yewbeam, Charlie’s great uncle. He was wearing dark glasses and he carried a white stick. Benjamin assumed the dark glasses had something to do with Paton’s unfortunate talent for exploding lights. Paton never appeared in daylight, if he could help it, but this was an extraordinary time to go out, even for him. He walked up to a midnight blue car, opened the trunk, and carefully placed the wand (for that’s what it is) right at the back. Before Benjamin had even rinsed his toothbrush, Charlie’s uncle had driven off. He went in the opposite direction from his sisters, Benjamin noted. This wasn’t surprising, since Paton and his sisters were sworn enemies.

Paton Yewbeam is a man who is unique, he has a strange talent of exploding lights when he looks at a light bulb. He is often going places without telling any one. In the excerpt above Paton is probably going to some mysterious place that nobody knows about.

This book is in a series of eight. The author has written other books in the series: Midnight for Charlie Bone, Charlie Bone and the Time Twister, Charlie Bone and the Castle of Mirrors, Charlie Bone and the Hidden King, Charlie Bone and the Beast, Charlie Bone and the Shadow, and Charlie Bone and the Red knight. Jenny Nimmo is thinking about a series called the Red King Trilogy.

I thought this book was superb compared to the books before. The rating I would give is 8/10, because I liked the characters and how they had different things about them that stood out from characters in other books - like Ollie Sparks, he is completely invisible except for his toe. I also liked the story, a boy named Charlie sees an invisible boy, and tries to make him escape! Who could think of that!? Jenny Nimmo did not add a lot of humor. In my opinion the humor pulls the story together, and this book could’ve used some more . I also thought that Jenny Nimmo should have added more details. On some parts I got very confused. But, all in all this book was good.

I would recommend this book to people who love to explore new places, because in this book Charlie and his friends go searching for a lot of things.

Book Review: Charlie Bone and the Time Twister

Title: Charlie Bone and the Time Twister
Author: Jenny Nimmo
Publishers: Orchard books (Scholastic)
Genre: Fantasy, Fiction
Pages: 402
Rating: 8/10


This book is a series of eight books. Jenny Nimmo has written other books like Midnight for Charlie Bone, Charlie bone and the Invisible boy, Charlie Bone and the Castle of mirrors, Charlie Bone and the Hidden King, Charlie Bone and the Beast, Charlie Bone and the Shadow, and Charlie Bone and the Red Knight. Jenny Nimmo is thinking of writing a trilogy, called the Red King Trilogy.

In this book Charlie Bone is having a crazy day. Charlie’s cousin from the past, Henry, has accidentally gone into the future or Charlie’s present time, by using the time twister. The time twister is a big marble that can make you go in the future only. Since you cannot go into the past using the time twister, Henry is stuck in the future. Now Charlie Bone is going to have to have to think of a way to get Henry back to his time. Henry’s life is very unlucky, because now Henry’s cousin Zeke has found him and will not hold back to kill him. He has sent guards to kill Henry. How can Charlie and his friends hide Henry? At the same time how can Charlie figure out a way to get Henry to the past? The big question is, will Charlie send Henry back into his time?

Here is an interesting excerpt from the book, describing the time when Henry and Charlie meet :

"Are you…?" he began. "I mean have you…well, the thing is, I've seen you in a photo. Are you Henry Yewbeam?"

"That's me," said Henry, beaming. "I think I've seen you, too. Somewhere. Who are you?"
"I'm your…erm…sort of cousin, Charlie Bone."

"No! This is very good news. A cousin, well, well." Henry marched over and shook Charlie's hand. "Very good to meet you, Charlie Bone."

"The news isn't that good," said Charlie. "What was the date when you…just now?"

"January 12, 1916," said Henry. "I always know the date."

"I'm afraid it isn't that now."…

"You're almost ninety years ahead of where you were," said Charlie…

Charlie saw a large glass marble rolling across the hall. "Wow!" he exclaimed, but before he could pick it up, Henry shouted, Careful, Charlie. Don't look at it."

"Why?"

"It's what brought me here."

In the excerpt above, Henry touched and looked at the time twister, so he went in the future. The time twister is a marble which can bring you only to the future. So Henry is stuck in the future, with Charlie Bone and his friends.

I thought Jenny Nimmo put a lot of thinking into this book. I also liked that she put a lot of detail and explained everything nicely. I loved the fact that Jenny Nimmo included two great new characters, Henry and Jamie. I thought the characters were great because Henry was brave and Jamie was a nice brother, who cared a lot about Henry. I liked the story because it had scary moments, funny moments, exciting moments. etc. Compared to other books I would say it was better then the first book because now Charlie is using his powers more often so it is a lot more exciting.

I would recommend this to kids who like fantasy, thick books, adventure, a little action, and super powers.

Books, books and more books

I love to read books. I like to read different Genres. Also different book series. Here's a list of some good book series that I will be reading/have already read. I will be posting reviews as I read these series.

1. Gregor series

2. Leven Thumps series

3. Artemis Fowl series

4. Charlie Bone series

5. Rangers Apprentice series

   6. The Lost Hero series 

   7. Hunger games series

   8. 13 Reality series

   9.Septimus Heap series

  10. Narnia series

11.39 Clues series

12. Eragon series

13.Children of the Lamp series

14. Alex Rider series

15. Peter and the Star Catchers series

16. The Inkheart series

17. The Benedict Society series

18. The Savvy series

19.The Atherton series

20.The Pillage series

21.Wrinkle in Time series

22. How to Train your Dragon series

23.The Far World series

 24. The Free Fall series

25. The Invention of Hugo Cabaret book

26.The Maze Runner series

27. The Roar series

28. The Tapestry series

29. The Red Pyramid series

30. The Magicians Elephant book

31. The Fire Within series

32.  The Island series