Today's March MG Madness post features my review of NERDS by Michael Buckley. You have a chance to win book four in this series below.
Nerds: National Espionage, Rescue, and
Defense Society #1
Michael Buckley
9/1/09
Abrams
Format: pb
Source: pub
Michael Buckley is at his comic best in this madcap new series sure to appeal to kids looking for a quick, exciting read. Combining all the excitement of international espionage and all the awkwardness of elementary school, NERDS, featuring a group of unpopular students who run a spy network from inside their school, hits the mark. With the help of cutting-edge science, their nerdy qualities are enhanced and transformed into incredible abilities! They battle the Hyena, a former junior beauty pageant contestant turned assassin, and an array of James Bond–style villains, each with an evil plan more diabolical and more ridiculous than the last.
Michael
Buckley's first book in his N.E.R.D.S (National Espionage, Rescue,
and Defense Society) series was an absolute and complete joy to read!
I went into this book not sure sure what to expect, and what I got
was a wild bucket of awesomeness.
The
NERDS are a secret organization made up of children spies. But these
aren't just any children, these are the nerdy, unpopular kids. The
ones who get teased and bullied the most. So, it would seem strange
that once popular and King Bully, Jackson Jones becomes a NERDS
agent, but he does. And he discovers the secret lab hidden under the
elementary school, where the NERDS are trained and enhanced with
super abilities. The other NERDS agents aren't thrilled with Jackson
joining them, but they must all band together to stop the evil Dr.
Jigsaw from destroying the world. Which is way harder than it sounds,
especially when former beauty pageant queen turned deadly twelve year
old assassin, The Hyena, is working for Jigsaw.
This
book is over the top fun (in the best way possible) and chock full of
adventure, thrills, cool gadgets, and humor. With non-stop action,
awesome characters, and superb storytelling, NERDS is
an un-put-downable middle-grade read.
NERDS
is like an awesome kiddie
version of a mash-up of James Bond films, Kick-Ass, and Veronica Mars
(again, a very age appropriate mash-up)...which, is pretty epic,
right? Michael Buckley has spun a spy story that readers of all ages
will love. The spy gadgets and gizmos are wicked cool, the spy
assignments are thrillingly dangerous, the villains are perfectly
vile and the twists are extra twisty. I found myself completely
addicted to this book and excited to turn each page.
This
book is all about the nerd power! I LOVE that the butt-kicking,
super-powered heroes are the misfit, outcast kids. This sends such an
empowering and awesome message to young readers who feel like they
don't fit in or belong. And the five original NERDS (Gluestick,
Pufferfish, Choppers, Wheezer, and Flinch) are the coolest bunch of
nerd, geeks, dweebs, and spazzes you'll ever meet. And each agent's
super spy abilities and powers come directly from what others see as
their weaknesses, which again, is not only cool, but empowering. The
NERDS are wonderfully multicultural with distinct, unique
personalities, and readers will have no problem connecting with and
identifying with at least one character.
In
the middle of all the fun, humor, mystery, spy thrills and danger, is
also a great, heartfelt message about bullying and respect.
Ethen
Beavers' comic book style illustrations are just as awesome as the
story itself, and add a whole new layer of epicness.
MY
FINAL THOUGHTS: Nerds everywhere unite! NERDS is
such fantastic fun and stellar spy storytelling. I loved every minute
of this book and can't wait to read the rest of the series! A MUST read middle-grade book!
MY RATING
Michael Buckley
New York Times bestselling author Michael Buckley was born in Akron, Ohio. He tried his hand as a stand-up comic and lead singer for a punk rock back before attending Ohio University. After graduating with honors he moved to New York City to be an intern on the Late Show with David Letterman which led to stints developing programming for Discovery Networks, MTV, MTV Animation and Klasky Csupo (producers of Nickelodeon’s Rugrats). Today he lives in Brooklyn, New York with his wife, Alison, and their son Finn.
Win a finished copy of
NERDS #4!
Thanks to the generous people at Abrams Books, I have one copy to give away.
PLEASE READ: Throughout the March MG Madness, I will be giving away 10 books from Abrams. I will be using the same Rafflecopter below to give away each book. There will be ten winners who will each win one of the books.
DETAILS
-US ONLY
-Ten winners will each win one of the ten books
-will run from 3/2 - 3/31
-must be 13+, one main entry per person
-winners will be emailed and must claim prize within 48 hours
-Word Spelunking is not responsible for lost, damaged, stolen prizes
Fill out the Rafflecopter
My son has this book and I have been meaning to read it for a quite a while. it looks really fun. great review.
ReplyDeleteGreat review, looks to be a fun book.
ReplyDeleteLove the cover art!
ReplyDeleteThis definitely sounds like a book my son would enjoy. It's so hard to find books that he likes. :)
ReplyDelete