The Templeton Twins Have an Idea (Templeton Twins, #1) by Ellis Weiner

Jan 31, 2013 Alexander W rated it 5 of 5 stars

I am currently reading Ellis Weiner's The Templeton Twins Have an Idea (view spoiler)...more

Apr 24, 2013 Barb Middleton rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: humor, good-read-aloud

The recent crop of metafictional books has left me not lovin' this technique as much as when I first encountered it in children's literature. Or perhaps, reading authors who are really good at it, reveals the lesser talents. Either way, this one goes on my hoo-rah list. I loved it like I love fresh corn on the cob (I'm making a connection with my crop statement. I'm also hungry. I'm also giving you a taste of how this book is written). Imagine a Lemony Snicket-type snarky narrator wired on 10 cu...more The recent crop of metafictional books has left me not lovin' this technique as much as when I first encountered it in children's literature. Or perhaps, reading authors who are really good at it, reveals the lesser talents. Either way, this one goes on my hoo-rah list. I loved it like I love fresh corn on the cob (I'm making a connection with my crop statement. I'm also hungry. I'm also giving you a taste of how this book is written). Imagine a Lemony Snicket-type snarky narrator wired on 10 cups of coffee and inserting his thoughts so much I would argue he is the main character. That's the book, "The Templeton Twins." The over-the-top, babbling narrator never shuts up, pointing out how the book is organized, why he chose to write it this way, why he is using certain words, and basically poking fun at everything under the literary sun. (By the way, I reeeeeaaaallly like the word, "snarky". It has a snappy ring to it, don't you know. What's that? You want to know what it means? Look it up yourself. I have a review to write.)

Figures of speech, acronyms and character names are in every chapter such as the metonymic expression, "Abigail's eyes fell on that drawing of a balloon mounted on the refrigerator. By that, I do not mean that her eyeballs literally dropped out of her head onto the drawing. I mean the picture caught her attention." (I think that's called, metonymy. Isn't it? Ahhhh, please correct me if I'm wrong. This is the reason I NEVER became an English teacher. As Weiner would say, "LET'S MOVE ON.") Acronyms scatter the pages like leaves with my personal favorite, the STB or Self-Tensioning Book Ends ("beloved by librarians throughout the universe") and names that bounce like a superball such as Dan D. Dean - sounds like dandy, Dean D. Dean - sounds like dee-dee-dee, or Nanny Nan Noonan- sounds like na-na-na-na-nah. You'd think this nattering narrator would get annoying, but I never reached that point; the author reigns in at the right point keeping the pace going along with my laughter. The "Questions for Review" at the end of each chapter have hilarious questions that parody reviews or tests students take in school:

What were the names of Abigail and John, the Templeton twins?
Bonus Question: There is no bonus Question. Proceed to Question 3.
Isn't it a splendid thing that we have begun? (Hint: No. It means I must write some more. LET'S MOVE ON.)

The author is experimenting with how stories are presented with graphics, photos, and voice in surprising ways. While the action and cartoonish characters take a back seat to the humor, I admired how Ellis Weiner ties the plot points together and creates his own unique, goofy story while exposing craft at the same time.

Meet the 12-year-old Templeton Twins: Abigail, the genius, and John, the inventor. Abigail and John's mom has just died and they are finagling their father into buying them a dog; a common theme in children's books. You'd think this overused method of moving the plot along would be boring, but the narrator explains he knows this and points it out by writing, "asking for a dog is as old as the human (and dog) race," then he imagines out loud Cain and Abel arguing about getting a dog with Adam and Eve. Bad boy, Cain, sasses his parents while Abel begs "PLEEEEEEASE?" Abigail doesn't want to ask for a dog in a normal way because that is "tedious and grim." The narrator says, "Now, if I were you, I would immediately think, 'Just a moment, Narrator. Do you seriously expect me to believe that a twelve-year-old child would use the words 'tedious' and 'grim' in private conversation with her brother? wouldn't she be much more likely to say something along the lines of 'But, like, John? If we ask Dad the same old way, won't it be, like, boring and sad and stuff?'" This constant poking fun at the writing craft had me howling in the gym as I worked out. My neighbors on the elliptical machines quirked their brows at my sporadic outbursts. Between my plugged ears and piston pumping legs, I bet my laugh was much too boisterous. What do you expect from a Midwestern gal? I was having fun in my make-believe world. What's that? Oh, all right. I'll MOVE ON. I was just having a bit of a chit chat with you. I thought we could get to know each other.

When the Templeton's absent-minded professor-of-a-father moves the family to a different university, the twins get kidnapped by the idiotic villain, Dean D. Dean, AKA Tweedle Dee; aided by his equally idiotic twin brother, Dan D. Dean, AKA Tweedle Dum (my aliases). I love that Dean turns to crime because the professor gave him an F in class. He's even the moustache-twirling "Mwuh-ha-ha" stereotypical character, but because the narrator points it out, I found it funny. Dean's biggest problem is he accuses the Professor of stealing his idea to build a Personal-One-Man Helicopter. The notion that an idea can be stolen is so ludicrous that its humorous and on a metafictional level points to the fact that many ideas are reused in children's literature. Weiner's presentation is what works. At least for me. I do have an odd sense of humor. While structure and plot are the building blocks of craft, it is the author's language and voice that makes this story rise on its own.

The parody of the slapstick villains and doofy adults is a familiar trope in children's literature where the adults are idiots and the young protagonists solve the story's problem because they are smarter and wiser. (Do you know the meaning of trope? "How very disappointing. And yet I know exactly what it means. Isn't that fascinating?" It means an overused theme or device.) Here Abigail and John not only unkidnap themselves, they save Dad in the process. They are helped by their ridiculous dog , Cassie a hyper fox terrier, that "runs and spins and wags its little tail like a metronome that has lost its mind. When you bring out the leash to take it for a walk and you tell it to "Sit!," it proceeds to leap straight up into the air, like a dolphin in a SeaWorld show, over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over until you finally give up and say, 'Oh for goodness' sake,' and you just hold it down and clip on its leash. You may do this four thousand times over the course of five years and it will never, ever sit." Are you laughing? No? Then I suggest you read the SERIOUS book, "Bomb: The Race to Build --and Steal-- the World's Most Dangerous Weapon." Do you get the idea of what this book is like with an in-your-face narrator? Good. "LET'S MOVE ON."(less)

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Mar 29, 2013 Erik This Kid Reviews Books rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Templeton house is a sad place. The Templeton twins, John and Abigail are dealing with the death of their mother. Their father, Professor Elton Templeton was depressed and didn’t want to work on his inventions anymore. Things got a little brighter when the twins convinced their dad to get a “ridiculous” dog named Cassie. One day, Professor Templeton goes to work and when he comes home, he announces that they are moving to Tick-Tock Tech so he can work and invent there. The one problem is tha...more

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Feb 24, 2013 Rebecca rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure, children, family-story, humor

The Templeton twins--John and Abigail--have an inventor for a father, and his latest invention is a personal helicopter. He's working on the prototype at Tick Tock Tech, the university where he just accepted a job. Problem is, a former student of Professor Templeton claims that part of the helicopter is his invention, and he'll stop at nothing--including kidnapping the twins and their ridiculous dog, Cassie--to get the rights to the invention. Good thing the twins are as inventive as their fathe...more

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Jan 05, 2013 Charlyn Trussell rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Grades 3 and up

Shelves: adventure, family_story, fiction, humor, series, strong-female-character, strong-male-character, twins

John and Abigail Templeton are twins whose father is an inventor and whose mother's death has greatly affected the family, especially the father Elton. Professor Templeton goes into a slump until the acquisition of a dog gets him out of the house and to the realization that he needs to get back to work in a different setting, a new college campus.

When the family arrives at Tick-Tock Tech, it takes very little time before Templeton is confronted by Dean D. Dean, the only student who had ever rec...more

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Jan 04, 2013 Sandra Stiles rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: middle-grades, realistic-fiction

I loved this book and I think my students will love it as much as I did. In an age where we test our students to death, any book that throws jabs at testing is going to be loved. The narrator in this story reminded me of the narrator in "A Series of Unfortunate Events", one of my favorite series. John and Abigail are the children of an inventor. Their mother is dead. They are kidnapped by another set of twins. The "evil twins", Dean and Dan want an invention their father have created. They got t...more

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Dec 22, 2012 Vicki rated it 4 of 5 stars

This delightful adventure, reminiscent of A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket, should captivate younger readers, and is witty enough for the grown ups to enjoy as well.

The narrator establishes himself early as a major factor in the way this story gets told, and at first seems rather annoyed to have to tell it. He seems hesitant to get into it, starts a side conversation or two with the reader, then seems to give up and proclaims, LET'S MOVE ON, and gets down to telling it. He adds r...more

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Nov 25, 2012 Cecelia rated it 4 of 5 stars

It happens every year: the holidays approach and I think to myself, “Oh, I’ll be able to keep blogging at a normal pace – I’m organized!” Then weeks of digital silence go by, reality sets in and my inner voice says, “You’ve been at it again, haven’t you? This overly positive mindset needs to stop.” Well, my inner voices aside, it HAS been difficult to keep up the blogging pace over Thanksgiving, and it’ll only get more difficult as Christmas approaches. However, I’ve read a couple of marvelous b...more It happens every year: the holidays approach and I think to myself, “Oh, I’ll be able to keep blogging at a normal pace – I’m organized!” Then weeks of digital silence go by, reality sets in and my inner voice says, “You’ve been at it again, haven’t you? This overly positive mindset needs to stop.” Well, my inner voices aside, it HAS been difficult to keep up the blogging pace over Thanksgiving, and it’ll only get more difficult as Christmas approaches. However, I’ve read a couple of marvelous books in the meantime, and The Templeton Twins Have an Idea is one I have no trouble recommending for a reading slump (or any old time you need a laugh).

As I’ve mentioned many times before, I adore clever middle grade books. The precocious, smart, trick-all-the-adults-and-half-the-kids-too approach is one that consistently works for me. I’ve been known to crow with delight at sly rejoinders and particularly cunning bits of plot. It is my thing. In The Templeton Twins Have an Idea, the narrator is the one who has an overweening attitude and is smugly certain of his/her own superiority. There’s enough sarcasm to sink the Titanic, and bonus: it’s hilarious!

John and Abigail are twins. They’re twelve years old. They each have different strengths and hobbies, and a father who is an inventor (a vital ingredient for interesting adventures!). Through ingenuity and expert planning, they acquire a ridiculous dog. Then the real fun begins, as strange happenings start cropping up, and the action is interlarded with commentary from an arrogant narrator. What begins as a somewhat normal life turns quickly to crime fighting, kidnapping, and twin plotting. But don’t let me spoil the book for you…

The story’s adventure aspect is rather simple, and while the twins’ quick thinking is interesting, it won’t amaze a seasoned reader. What’s special about this book then? It’s the tone. The narrator is hilarious, ironic, talks back, and (I am convinced) will never let a reader become bored. There are tactics and then there are tactics, but the structure and smart-aleck sensibility of this book works. To begin with, there are the chapter headings, which run from literal descriptions to hilarious asides about what the narrator would like you to believe. There are the ‘questions for review’ at the end of each chapter that mimic school reading assignments but instead are full of funny clues and the narrator’s self-aggrandizing. There are lovely illustrations by Jeremy Holmes that add charm and actually illustrate what is going on and when (important when there are things of a mechanical nature happening right and left).

Though the sarcasm and silliness may not be for everyone, it made me laugh aloud. If you enjoy the following snippet (from pages 8 & 9), you will love The Templeton Twins Have an Idea:

“Would I like you if I met you? I’m not so sure I would.

Of course, you can say, “Well, maybe I wouldn’t like you if I met you, Narrator.” While that isn’t likely, it is indeed a possibility. And yet when I contemplate such an occasion, I cannot help but ask myself, Do I want the Reader to like me? Do I care?

I think we can all agree that I don’t care.”

Recommended for: boys and girls ages 8-12 of all reading levels, fans of creative middle grade books, those who like Lemony Snicket and The Incorrigibles series, and anyone who appreciates snark, sarcasm, and narrators who have a mind of their own.
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Nov 15, 2012 Sweet on Books rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: melissa-g, reader-sr

The Templeton Twins is a clever new series that is sure to be a hit. It features John and Abigail Templeton, 12-year-old twins, who happen to be exceptionally smart, considerate and quite nice to each other. Their father is a somewhat absent-minded professor and their mother has recently passed away. Their story is told by a hilarious "Narrator" who refuses to reveal his or her identity and who happens to be exceptionally pompous, saying things like:

"Fill in the blank: The Narrator is doing an e...more The Templeton Twins is a clever new series that is sure to be a hit. It features John and Abigail Templeton, 12-year-old twins, who happen to be exceptionally smart, considerate and quite nice to each other. Their father is a somewhat absent-minded professor and their mother has recently passed away. Their story is told by a hilarious "Narrator" who refuses to reveal his or her identity and who happens to be exceptionally pompous, saying things like:

"Fill in the blank: The Narrator is doing an excellent job, and I am very grateful to him. (Hint: This is a trick question. In fact, it's so tricky, it's not a question at all. This statement needs no filling in, and there is no blank to fill in. But it expresses a lovely sentiment with which I'm sure you'll agree.)"

Yes, John and Abigail are appealing and interesting characters, but the Narrator definitely steals the show. He is witty, sarcastic and thoroughly entertaining. He addresses the reader directly and at the end of each chapter offers "Questions for Review" that are just as funny as his narration. For example, one question is "How would the Templeton twins' lives have been different had they never been born?" He also shares amusing definitions of words and phrases such as voila, en route, quad, prologue, and prototype. He even explains how to hot-wire a car!

Getting back to John and Abigail, the story focuses on them and their family, with no mention of any friends or acquaintances. They spend much of their time on their individual hobbies, for John that is playing the drums, and for Abigail that means doing cryptic crosswords. Here's what the Narrator has to say about hobbies:

"A hobby, which is an old-fashioned word people don't use much anymore, refers to something you do simply because you like it and find it interesting and fulfilling. You don't get paid to do it. You don't get extra credit in school for doing it...You don't do it to save the whales."

The twins' immediate goal is to convince their dad to get them a dog, and even the way they do that is thoughtful and unique. Despite the contemplative nature of the kids, this story is filled with plenty of action and humor. The Professor changes jobs from Elysian University to Tick-Tock Tech, and the family moves nearby. They adjust to a new babysitter, Nanny Nan Noonan, and they cope with the threats of a disgruntled ex-student, Dean D. Dean. When the twins are later kidnapped at gunpoint by Dean (who claims that the Professor stole his idea for a "Personal One-Man Helicopter") and his twin brother, Dan, they manage to stay calm and use their smarts to out-wit the goofy adults. Beyond the humor and all the clever silliness, there is a subtle message found in the professor's comment, "What matters is not what ideas you have, but what you do with your ideas."

Readers won't want to miss the illustrations which are just as much fun as the story itself. They offer amusing details and great insight into the action. The use of diagrams, the font size changes, and variations in the backgrounds will also keep readers interested. Although the plot includes some serious issues like the passing of their mother and being kidnapped at gunpoint, they are mixed so perfectly with the humor of the story that they shouldn't leave readers feeling at all sad or scared.(less)

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Nov 09, 2012 Emily rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: juv-fic

This book is just so darn cooool looking. Seriously. Find a copy on the shelf, pick it up, and flip through it. See? If you really don't want to leave your computer screen (I can't blame ya), check out some sample pages here. See? So cute! And it is all in blue ink, including the story text, which has driven me crazy in the past (Shiver, for example), but it works here. The cutesy look of it all offers a nice counterbalance to the snarky, frightening, borderline dark tone of the book. The narrat...more

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Oct 02, 2012 Cindy Hudson rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Templeton Twins Have an Idea is the first in a new series aimed at readers age 9 to 12 that combines mystery, wordplay, humor and adventure. Written by Ellis Weiner and illustrated by Jeremy Holmes, The Templeton Twins is told from the point of view of a narrator, a somewhat sarcastic figure who poses funny review questions at the end of each chapter.

The story follows Abigail and John Templeton, fraternal twins whose mother has recently died after a long illness. They live on a university ca...more

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Sep 09, 2012 Big Book Little Book rated it 4 of 5 stars

Daisy (11) for Big Book Little Book
Copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This book really appealed to my sense of humour. After a (if I may say so) rubbish blurb and a slightly more informative front flap, I started reading. The illustrations and layout of the book are quirky and clever and the story was funny. The story starts off with the twins, Abigail and John being born. Twelve years on, their mother dies leaving them with their Dad who is a professor at a university....more

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Sep 03, 2012 Broche rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: age-6-10, children-s-books-all, middle-grade-age-8-12, illustrated

Quirky illustrations, clever twins, engaging plot, and don’t forget the slightly too-full-of-himself narrator combine to make a catchy first novel in this new Middle Grade series.

John and Abigail Templeton are 12-year-old twins who live with their brilliant inventor father. Their mother has recently passed away and the house is sad and quiet. The twins decide they need a change, and in order to gain their father’s attention and their father’s permission, they put their heads together to form a s...more Quirky illustrations, clever twins, engaging plot, and don’t forget the slightly too-full-of-himself narrator combine to make a catchy first novel in this new Middle Grade series.

John and Abigail Templeton are 12-year-old twins who live with their brilliant inventor father. Their mother has recently passed away and the house is sad and quiet. The twins decide they need a change, and in order to gain their father’s attention and their father’s permission, they put their heads together to form a small invention that will prove how clever they are and how worthy they are of getting…a dog. And not just any dog, as the narrator will tell you, but Cassie, “the Ridiculous Dog,” a fox terrier of the “smooth-haired” variety (the narrator is not a big fan of this dog). Once Cassie joins their lives, the house is no longer as sad and as quiet (how can it be with a barking dog?), but most importantly, other exciting things start to happen.

Over the course of the rest of the novel, the twins use some quick thinking and some ingenious inventions of their own to escape from being kidnapped (!), save their father from his crazy former student who wants to steal their father’s latest brilliant invention, and ultimately become a happier family again.

The narrator is constantly talking to the reader, and even asks the reader questions at the end of each chapter (kind of like a science text book does in school). Elements like these carry the science theme throughout the novel, including in the illustrations. The book is worth picking up for the illustrations alone – shades of teal and orange make up the bulk of the color palate, with spot illustrations that evoke science and invention. Gears are wrapped around the page numbers, graph paper adds a back splash to each chapter title page, and full-page illustrations are often diagrammed like a blueprint. Even the text is often pulled out into speech bubbles to add an extra unique element. In short, this book is just really fun to read.(less)

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Sep 01, 2012 David rated it 4 of 5 stars

There is some fun word play, fun review questions at the end of each chapter, a narrator who is constantly addressing the reader directly instead of just narrating, and a pretty good adventure with an inventive professor and his twin children: Abigail and John. There are lots of whacky inventions, a pretty good meatloaf recipe, and one ridiculous Fox Terrier named Carrie. There are puzzles to solve of a cryptic crossword variety. It is a very inventive story, told in a very inventive style. I do...more

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Aug 30, 2012 Carrie Ardoin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, edelweiss, funny, middle-grade

So there are these 13 year old twins, one girl and one boy. Their names are John and Abigail. Their mom has recently dies, and their dad takes a new job at a university far away, which means the twins, and their dog Cassie, have to move.

But as soon as the Professor starts his new job, curious things begin to happen. First, the twins get a bossy Nanny, called Nanny Nan. Then, a man accuses the Professor of stealing his idea for an invention. If they aren't careful, the Templeton twins themselves...more

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Aug 23, 2012 Patty rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Templeton Twins Have An Idea
by
Jeremy Holmes

My "in a nutshell" summary...

This is the story of a very unique and very clever family and their adventures!

My thoughts after reading this cleverly written book...

I loved this book. Abigail and John and their father are delightful characters and in addition to being delightful they are adventurous and quirky and fun! The short very funny chapters and the questions from the narrator and the narrator's fascinating comments that are mostly about himsel...more

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Aug 15, 2012 Liviania rated it 4 of 5 stars

I sometimes chat with people while reading books. It's a rare sometimes, because most of the time I prefer to focus on my book rather than talk to people. I tend to talk when I need to think something through.

In the case of THE TEMPLETON TWINS HAVE AN IDEA, I was having issues with the narrator. Now, the narrator is very funny. Hir voice is idiosyncratic, with a strong opinion on the story, and often digressing to things like meatloaf recipes rather than the main plot. Yes, it is very much like...more I sometimes chat with people while reading books. It's a rare sometimes, because most of the time I prefer to focus on my book rather than talk to people. I tend to talk when I need to think something through.

In the case of THE TEMPLETON TWINS HAVE AN IDEA, I was having issues with the narrator. Now, the narrator is very funny. Hir voice is idiosyncratic, with a strong opinion on the story, and often digressing to things like meatloaf recipes rather than the main plot. Yes, it is very much like Lemony Snicket. A Series of Unfortunate Events ended a little more than five years ago. There's room for a new story in the same vein. But there were times I found the style uncomfortably similar.

Abigail and John Templeton are fraternal twins living with their inventor father. After their mother's death, their father decides to go to work at a different university. There a man accuses their father of stealing his idea and demands credit. Dean D. Dean and his identical twin Dan D. Dean are willing to kidnap the Templeton twins in order to get what they want. But fortunately Abigail and John are experts at cryptic puzzles and the drums, respectively.

THE TEMPLETON TWINS HAVE AN IDEA is very funny and smart in a way that's accessible to younger readers. I particularly liked the quiz questions at the end of each chapter. They're silly - either easy, not a real question, or a facetious request for an essay - but I felt like they did increase my engagement with the text.

I liked Jeremy Holmes's artwork. I read an ARC so most of the illustrations were only sketches, but I liked the way they looked. Each image is stylish and dynamic. And the design of THE TEMPLETON TWINS HAVE AN IDEA extends from the illustrations to include playful borders and some special speech bubbles. It's both attractive and tempts rereading in order to find more details.

Young puzzle lovers and Lemony Snicket fans will enjoy THE TEMPLETON TWINS HAVE AN IDEA. I think there's always an audience for hilarious books about smart kids getting in and out of trouble. At least, I hope there is. And that audience will find THE TEMPLETON TWINS HAVE AN IDEA. (less)

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Jul 31, 2012 Kathy Martin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Middle graders who are fans of Vordak the Incomprehensible and books of that ilk will really enjoy this story. The broad humor will appeal to them. The very conceited narrator who is constantly "educating" the reader with snarky asides provides much of the humor in this story.

John and Abigail Templeton are 12-year-old twins. There mother has just died and their father who is a university professor and inventor has become very sad and reclusive. It isn't until the kids convince their dad that the...more

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Jul 10, 2012 Nick rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: juvenile-fiction

This was one of the many books handed to me at the American Library Association conference. I'm reviewing a galley, so only the rough drafts of the artwork were included. If the finished artwork is as funny as the sketches, they will contribute to the story, but the writing was flawed in a couple of ways.
Until the very strange ending, I was enjoying this snarky book more. The ending damaged that for me, because it reduced the importance of the death of the professor's wife. To put it in context,...more

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Jun 09, 2012 Barbara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: animals, bullies, families, ncbla2013

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. The narrator's voice in this title is simply hilarious and prompted several guffaws from me as well as moments when tears of laughter filled my eyes. As the narrator addresses the reader, he makes several stabs at getting the book started and keeps saying things like "Let's Move On" (p. 9), reminding me of something a long-suffering teacher intent on completing all her instructional plans might say to a student interested in staying on one topic for a longer time. At the end of the chapters, the...more

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Jun 05, 2012 Paul Hankins rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: can-t-miss-read-aloud, funny, generate-and-foster-creativity, illustrated-text, june-2012-reads, middle-grade-coping-with-loss, middle-grade-fiction, middle-grade-fiction-with-strong-no, middle-grade-humor, middle-grade-memorable-writing, mr-hankins-says-don-t-miss

A longer review to come as the publishing date approaches (we're still some three months out for this one).

What I do like about THE TEMPLETON TWINS HAVE AN IDEA is that the narrator challenges the reader to double back and consider, "Do I remember that the narrator said this earlier?" or "Do I remember this aspect of the story?" Elements of foreshadowing and revelation would make THE TEMPLETON TWINS HAVE AN IDEA an excellent text to demonstrate these literary elements.

Further, when the narrator...more

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Oct 13, 2012 Miri rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: junior-fiction, jf-display

I don't know what I like best about this book—the cover, the antagonistic narrator, or the word puzzles. Or maybe it's the meatloaf recipe. Or the end-of-chapter quizzes, with questions like:

1. Mary has five oranges. She gives two to Tom. Tom buys twice as many as Mary has left and gives half of them to her. Who cares?

2. Why are some dogs ridiculous, whereas other dogs are utterly ridiculous?

3. Have you ever walked around the block? Would you like to do so now? The rest of us will wait here unti...more

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Jun 09, 2012 Karen Yingling rated it 2 of 5 stars

Before Abigail and John Templeton are even born, their professor father was pestered by a student who is unhappy with his grade, but when news comes that the birth is imminent, the professor rushes out without giving the student any satisfaction. Years later, the family is reeling from the death of the mother. Professor Templeton is working on his Personal One-Man Helicopter, and Tickeridge-Baltock (Tick-Tock Tech) will give him more funding than his current employer. The twins are not happy to...more

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Apr 12, 2013 Amanda Richards rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: children, bullied-kids, cooking, educational, humor, illustrated, mystery, re-read, strong-female-lead, suspense, youngadult

You know that feeling you get when you read a book and love it so much you want to tell everyone about it so you do and they keep telling you to shut up? No? Then read this book and you will know exactly what I am talking about.

Some of the things I loved are as follows:
Vocabulary- Abby uses words that most would agree are above her grade level. But the author makes it work by explaining to the reader what it means or instructing them to use a dictionary. (I think I love this so much because I wa...more

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Oct 25, 2012 Brenda rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

This is the story of 12-year-old twins, John and Abigail Templeton and their inventor father. This is also the story of a set of adult twins named Dean D. Dean and Dan D. Dean who feel that Mr. Templeton has stolen the idea for a Personal One-Man Helicopter from Dean (well Dean D. Dean, in this case). Confused yet? It's not as nearly as complicated as it seems but the twins (Templeton twins) are kidnapped in an attempt to force their father to hand over all of the materials for the invention of...more

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Aug 12, 2012 Ronna rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

THE TEMPLETON TWINS HAVE AND IDEA by Ellis Weiner and illustrated by Jeremy Holmes starts a creatively new way for middle school kids to love reading an adventure with humor, while learning all kinds of things without feeling 'schooled'!As an educator, I was told that ALL children's books should be interesting to adults or kids won't like them either.Well, I started reading this book last night, and laughed my way completely through it in no time!Know just the kids who'll love this book, and pla...more

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Dec 14, 2012 Melissa rated it 2 of 5 stars

This is strictly a personal taste issue, I am just not a fan when third person narrative crosses over and chats it up with the reader on a continual basis. I know plenty of fans will love the silliness and humor of the absurd. But when a narrator reaches over the characters and keeps tapping at the reader's attention I find it tiresome. However this style of writing WILL appeal to those that love how the narrator jokes and plays with them,and draws you into the quirkiness of Abigail and John and...more

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Jul 27, 2012 Beth rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog-review, e-galley, kindle

Originally published at Beth's Book Reviews.

Received for review.

I really liked the idea of this and was excited to receive it for review but the execution left much to be desired. Granted, I did receive it in e-galley form which I read on my iPad, but various unfinished artwork and such does not affect the story itself and the story was sadly lacking.

I wasn't particularly impressed with the characters, who were rather bland, or the "narrator" who was actually more than a bit annoying rather than...more

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Aug 08, 2012 Katie Mercer rated it 4 of 5 stars

I recieved this book (for free!) through the Goodreads First Reads giveaway. I wasn't quite sure what to make of it when I first got it. The overly self aware narrator kind of sounds like my internal voice when I let my internal voice get away from me. The first book of a new series that is about the Templeton Twins and is sort of a graphic novel but not really, a mystery with buzzles and admittedly pretty fabulous questions for review at the end of every chapter that poke fun at the directed re...more

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Oct 03, 2012 Beth rated it 2 of 5 stars

The Templeton Twins are your normal, average kids - with a professor for a father, a mother who died, a new dog...and a kidnapper. Actually, not one kidnapper, but two. And to get away, they will need their hobbies, their dog - and "an idea".

I enjoyed the book, for the most part. The story is told by a Narrator who breaks into the story on a regular basis for commentary of his/her own. It's fun, in a smart-alecky sort of way, though it can also be somewhat distracting as well. Breaking the flow...more The Templeton Twins are your normal, average kids - with a professor for a father, a mother who died, a new dog...and a kidnapper. Actually, not one kidnapper, but two. And to get away, they will need their hobbies, their dog - and "an idea".

I enjoyed the book, for the most part. The story is told by a Narrator who breaks into the story on a regular basis for commentary of his/her own. It's fun, in a smart-alecky sort of way, though it can also be somewhat distracting as well. Breaking the flow of the reader, particularly younger readers, can be a risky move. Whether kids will appreciate it or not will depend on the individual reader. The Narrator did have quite the personality, and so that helped.

The chapters are fairly short - this is not War & Peace, that's for sure. Lots of diagrams and drawings, and even a recipe for meatloaf (it does tie in with the story). The story moves at a fairly fast pace, and while there is a definite resolution, it also leaves an opening for further books. I don't know that the book captured my interest enough to be anxious about any sequels, but again - depending on the individual reader, kids can be very loyal to a series that they enjoy. As a parent and a teacher, I did appreciate the language-based definitions and descriptions that were woven into the story. Any time you can help a child learn while they are enjoying a story is a bonus.

The age range for a stand-alone reader is probably from higher second grade to lower sixth grade. It's definitely not in the YA category - this is for the readers that fall between children's books and the YA section. This would also be a good read for those who have a hard time finishing longer books.

The Templeton Twins are certainly worth checking out. Being as this is the first book in what seems like a potential series, there was some ground to cover for back story, which the next book(s) wouldn't necessarily have - allowing for more of the adventure to shine through. And the Narrator tries very hard (and almost succeeds) in highjacking the story from the Twins - and since there is no information on who exactly he/she might be, curiosity might compel some kids to continue with the series. As John says in the book, "Let's do it and view it!". (less)

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title link	preview: The Templeton Twins Have an Idea
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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12630577-the-templeton-twins-have-an-idea?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1336432044l/12630577.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12630577-the-templeton-twins-have-an-idea?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Templeton Twins Have an Idea by Ellis Weiner[/url]

The Templeton Twins Have an Idea (Templeton Twins #1)

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