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Dec 22, 2011

Jennifer rated it:

Reviewed by Voracious Reader for TeensReadToo.com

Can you solve the mystery?

James Dashner's first story in his new THE 13TH REALITY series, THE JOURNAL OF CURIOUS LETTERS, revolves mainly around a young boy named Atticus (or "Tick" as he likes to be called).

Tick's adventure begins when he arrives home to find a cryptic letter giving him riddles on something that is supposedly going to save the lives of people around him. Intrigued, he begins his inv More...

0 comments like (5 people liked it)

Apr 11, 2008

Kirsten rated it:

My initial reaction to this book -- that some of the ideas were original but that the writing was decidedly sub-par -- was unfortunately accurate. Tick and the other characters never quite ring true as people; Tick is a stereotype of a geeky kid, and the other characters come off as flat. The dialog often struck me as stilted. This is particularly the case with Paul, whose "chill" manner of speaking and awkward slang seems to be Dashner's effort to remind the reader that Paul is fro More...

13 comments like (6 people liked it)

Mar 20, 2008

Jessica rated it:

Something I really liked about this book, beside the fact that it was very fun and adventurous, was that the main character (who was really smart, not perfect, and completely likable) told his dad about things that were going on when he started getting letters from "Master George." His dad was not handsome, overweight, in fact, and nothing remarkable except he really loved and trusted his young son. And his son really loved him too. And I just loved that! In the Harry Potter and other More...

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Aug 12, 2010

Janeen-san rated it:

Atticus Higginbottom, age 13, has lived a relatively calm life in Deer Park, Washington--that is, until he receives a very odd letter all the way from Alaska, asking for his help with a very special task.
And so Tick's bravery, endurance, trust and logic skills are put to the ultimate test, as he tries to solve 12 clues that the writer of the first letter, M.G, has sent to him in a variety of ways, and by a variety of people.
Will Tick solve the 12 clues in time? Can he even survive, a More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Oct 04, 2008

Heather rated it:

Everything is boring to my 11 year old daughter. "Why don't you read a book?" I say to her. "Reading is boring." So when I picked up The 13th Reality, I was hoping she'd like it. Well, I found myself reading it with her, just as anxious to find out what happened next in the book. The characters are vibrant and endearing. Names like Atticus Higgenbottom, Norbert, Mistress Jane, Mr. Chu, still stand out in my mind. Strange letters, complex riddles, and the new reality were all More...

0 comments like (4 people liked it)

Sep 30, 2008

Heather rated it:

My sister bought this on a whim and then asked if I wanted to borrow it because she knows I have nothing better to do than stay up late at night reading books. Well, I'm so glad she did. I loved this book.

Most of all I appreciated that Tick comes from a normal, functioning family. So many books portray families as messed up or as single parents. When Tick has a problem he actually TALKS to his dad. Hallelujah!!! I loved the relationship with his family and his father. It was v More...

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Apr 28, 2008

Kendra rated it:

Upfront, I have to say that fantasy is not my genre of choice. However, overall, I quite enjoyed this book. The storyline kept my interest and I thought the characters were quite memorable. I especially loved Mothball. As I read, I kept thinking this could be made into an exciting movie. Even though, as a parent, I appreciated Tick's relationship with his dad, I'm not sure it is all that true to life for most 12-13 year old boys. I'm thinking that maybe a lot of middle-schoolers might not ide More...

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Mar 27, 2008

Jayda rated it:

I finished it last night (after all of my family beat me to it and I started before all of them...) and it was a great book! I feel like it got the best towards the last few chapters, and I can't wait for the next one to come out!

I love the fact that they're short chapters (usually 5-6 pages long) and it makes it seem like I'm reading a whole lot quicker than I actually am. Along with that, I love all of the twists and turns that the book brings in each chapter. Each character is ori More...

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Feb 19, 2008

Michelle rated it:

This book was fun! I don't really understand how Quantum Physics works, but the author seemed to do a good job of explaining it and integrating a challenging scientific topic into the basis of the story. This book introduces the main character, "Tick" Atticus Higginbottom, and his journey to become a "Realitant" who travels to different realities. I was pleasantly surprised by Tick's close relationship with his father. In many other children's novels, I am frustrated when the More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Jul 06, 2008

Loralee rated it:

This is one of the best books for young people I've read in a very long time. I love how Tick is proactive, and gets done what he needs to get done. He's not a perfect kid, but he does his best, and that's what makes him so endearing. And another thing, I absolutely adore that he gets along with his dad. So many young adult books portray grown ups, and especially parents as incompetent foolish nincompoops who would sooner grate their fingers off with a cheese grater than help their children More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Jan 22, 2009

Carol rated it:

A fun read with clue finding. I liked that Tick involved his Dad when it got too hard to do on his own. It explores friendships as well. Can't wait for the sequel!

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Apr 19, 2011

Scott rated it:

This was a fun read suggested by my niece Desiree' (Tamara's daughter). The author is LDS and the book is squeaky clean. It is uplifting and has a happy ending (I hope that isn't too much of a spoiler). The writting is witty and charmingly fun, and the main character is likeable and a good role model (all except the part of him not telling his mother about some important things, and his father colluding with him in the secrecy--I wished they would have included her in it). I'm looking forward to More...

3 comments like (1 person liked it)

Mar 10, 2008

Cheyenne rated it:

Very disappointing read. It had some good ideas and a lot of potential, but the writing style was distractingly juvenile. I was reminded of my writing style from middle school! I would not have finished this book if a friend hadn't loaned it to me--I felt obligated to finish it, and finally did today, but it felt like a chore! I rarely dislike books this much and maybe it's just because I have recently finished some excellently written books (I just discovered Ursula K. Le Guin!). This book More...

2 comments like (3 people liked it)

Dec 22, 2007

Jim rated it:

I just finished reading an advance reader's copy. I thoroughly enjoyed it and plan to give copies to my grandchildren when the book comes out.

I like the fact that the book's protagonist, Tick, is not at all popular, but doesn't get depressed because he has a healthy sense of his own self-worth. He copes at school with an ugly birthmark and bullies. Most kids should relate to such challenges. I hope the book encourages children who are reading it for sheer enjoyment.

I look More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Apr 02, 2009

Nathaniel rated it:

I picked this up the other day and read it in just a day or two. I thought it was pretty fun, and there were a couple of things I did really like about it. Specifically, I liked it that the kid having this exciting secret adventure decided that he needed to talk to his dad about it. I think too often kids' books portray parents as dull people who squelch fun. So I was happy as the kid's secret adventure turned into the kid's adventure with his dad. That said, the author used too many silly More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Feb 16, 2009

Shelly rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

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Sep 20, 2010

Pam rated it:

Atticus 'Tick' Higginbottom is a 13 year-old boy who is athletic and extremely smart, and unfortunately the focus of the school bullies. He gets by though and his life seems fairly normal until he receives a letter from a mysterious stranger known as Master George.

M.G. tells him that the lives of many people are at risk and that he might be able to save them, but first he will have to come to grip with the danger that this will involve... AND he will have to solve a series of riddles More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Oct 02, 2009

Mitzi rated it:

It's hard not to compare every YA book with Harry Potter esp. since a lot of YA books read a lot like Harry Potter. This, too, is about a boy (Atticus, aka Tick) who is awkward and nerdy who finds he is chosen (along with a smart aleck girl and devil-may-care boy) to help save lives by mysterious means. There are flying motorcycles, and a wise English elder (Master George), a giant, an annoying dwarf, and Tingle Wraiths. I suspect that even his birthmark that he covers up with a striped sca More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Dec 07, 2011

Libby rated it:

This book had potential that I felt it never met. Tick Higgenbottom is an interesting character as is Sofia Pacini. The idea of alternate realities made by our individual choices is also a fun concept. However, I felt like the story took way too long to get going and the clues didn't hold enough mystery to keep my interest.

I may recommend this to 8-10 year old readers, but not the tween crowd I think it was written for. This series may improve with the later books. I think the p More...

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Sep 16, 2010

Trisha rated it:

Atticus Higginbottom, aka Tick, receives a strange letter in the mail, which begins a series of riddle-like clues which help Tick be at a certain spot at a certain time to do a certain thing which will take him to a certain place. No plot spoilers here baby. You have to read the book yourself if you want to know.

The characters are an interesting mix of the stereotypical (the male lead is a nerdy kid with confidence issues; the female support is brainy and arrogant) and the original ( More...

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Mar 24, 2009

Kelli rated it:

THis was really good. I really enjoyed it. It started out kinda like Harry Potter, but ended really, really good. :)

7 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jan 12, 2012

Meghanly rated it:

This was a fun little piece of Middle Grades brain candy. A lot like the Pendragon series, but with less action and more brain teasers. While I was engaged for the first 250 pages or so, there was definitely momentum lost as the waiting of the character for his next clues dragged on... and on... and on. I think the climax was also a bit lacking - <spoiler> Annika's death meant nothing to me because her CHARACTER meant nothing to me, the reader... though it obviously meant something to the More...

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Apr 28, 2010

Rachel rated it:

Atticus Higginbottom is a brainy thirteen-year-old boy who spends his time dodging bullies at school and reading at the local library. One day he receives a mysterious letter in the mail from an “M.G.” asking him if he is ready to take on a challenge that could be both dangerous and earth saving. Atticus continues to get letters all containing riddles, clues and puzzles he must solve by a certain date if he wants to save his reality and the other twelve realities existing in the universe. The bo More...

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Apr 23, 2008

Jessica rated it:

A fun, twisty story about Tick Higgenbottom, who one day receives a mysterious letter that changes his life. He has been chosen to complete a series of clues that may help save the world. Fascinating and fun! I particularly love the portrayal of Tick's relationship with his dad, Edgar, a big fat guy who's also a kid at heart.

4 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jul 23, 2011

Lydia rated it:

I read this because a woman from my new book club said that it was her favorite of the Harry Potter-type books. It started out as a 4-star book, but I lost interest along the way. I did complete it but was unimpressed.

So many terms and characters were thrown in that it became confusing. I find it funny that the author or editor must have agreed because a glossary was added to the end. I wish I had noticed it early so I didn't have to keep flipping back in the book to figure out w More...

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May 27, 2011

Nicole rated it:

I have recently finished reading the maze runner and was anxious to read more books by this author. I checked this book out from the library and found that it was an autographed copy. Who knew the library had autographed copies? Anyway, this book is a much lighter read than the maze runner, at least so far. This story is about a boy named Atticus (tick) Higginbottom. He mysteriously receives a letter in the mail from Alaska, 12 more letters follow. Each letter has a clue and he must decipher th More...

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Oct 23, 2011

和泉美優 rated it:

This book is about a boy named Atticus (aka Tick). Tick receives a letter one day,signed by "George", asking him to make a choice: To either save the world or not, by burning the letter. Tick would then choose to save the world, and receive clues in letters, asking him to solve them. He would also be visited by two very strange people, one so tall, she's as tall as a tree. And one so fat he has to sit and rest for every ten seconds. Soon, he would have to meet the mysterious "Geo More...

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Apr 16, 2011

Carolyn rated it:

I listened to the audiobook on a trip. I enjoyed this story geared to young teens - an intelligent young boy struggling with his place in the world, family love, violence (bullying, weird creatures, mysterious events) and puzzles (mysterious letters with clues etc.). It's a fine fantasy with unusual challenges for Tick and his other puzzle solver friends.

I remember how I felt as a teenager when I did not know my strengths, only my weaknesses. The time when I wondered whether my thou More...

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Nov 08, 2009

Matt rated it:

Dashner's world is ingenious if a little stretched. The concept of multiple realities springing from quantum physics is an interesting—and really kind of cool—intellectual leap though the power of mental determination to affect physical laws felt thin. The connection is drawn, but seems to rest more on the weight of the character explaining it, than the reasonableness behind the concept. Still, I appreciate the way self-will is built into this story—it is an interesting melding of fantasy wit More...

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Dec 30, 2010

Rebecca rated it:

I picked this up on the recommendation of several students, and liked it a lot, though not as much as I loved Fablehaven. This one reminded me very much of Garth Nix's Keys to the Kingdom series, although it is not quite so bizarre as that series. It does represent the trend in children's paranormal literature to blend science fiction and fantasy and to step away from the expected tropes of each genre, although it keeps the tropes of the multiverse, the power of choice, and the downtrodden child More...

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