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14th out of 25 books
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The Secret of Zoom
by
Lynne Jonell
Christina lives in an old stone mansion on the edge of a forest surrounded by barbed wire and signs that read TRESPASSERSWILL BE BOILED. Deep within the forest is the laboratory where her father works—and where her mother was blown to bits years ago. Christina is not supposed to talk to the orphans down the road. But when an orphan boy named Taft tells her of a secret tunn...more
Hardcover, 296 pages
Published
September 1st 2009
by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
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This was a very cute and humorous read. I thought it was a charming book; it reminds of many other books that involve child geniuses dealing with distant parents (Artemis Fowl, A Taste of Red, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, and Theodosia).
Christina lives in a old house on the border of a forest that is home to a secret lab that her father works at. Her father tries to be a good dad but is more concerned with mathematics and seclusion of his daughter (for her safety) than Chr...more
Christina lives in a old house on the border of a forest that is home to a secret lab that her father works at. Her father tries to be a good dad but is more concerned with mathematics and seclusion of his daughter (for her safety) than Chr...more
I ran to the book store to buy this book when I learned that President Obama bought it for his daughter at a local Iowa City book store! I love this book- and know that kids grade 4- up will too.
Christina lives in an old mansion with her over protective, scientist father. Christina's mother was blown to bits while doing an experiment when Christina was only a baby. Since her mother's death, her father has kept her under his watchful eye- although he has no time or ability to comfo...more
Christina lives in an old mansion with her over protective, scientist father. Christina's mother was blown to bits while doing an experiment when Christina was only a baby. Since her mother's death, her father has kept her under his watchful eye- although he has no time or ability to comfo...more
I was ready to really like this book, having enjoyed the quirkiness of Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat and its sequel, Emmy and the Home for Troubled Girls, not to mention their pro-rat stance, a rare quality indeed. But although Zoom was fast-paced, with plenty of adventure and danger, it left me rather cold.
The problem for me was that while there were plenty of standard characters (sheltered yet plucky heroine, dead mom, distant dad, prickly yet vulnerable boy, orphans in dan...more
The problem for me was that while there were plenty of standard characters (sheltered yet plucky heroine, dead mom, distant dad, prickly yet vulnerable boy, orphans in dan...more
Christina is never allowed to leave the grounds on which her home stands, a protective measure of her father's doing after her mother was killed in an explosion. Then a chance meeting with Taft, an orphan who picks up garbage, causes her to once again look for a secret tunnel entrance in the old mansion. The tunnel she locates in the attic leads her to the orphanage and the children she is forbidden to meet. But Christina is intrigued with Taft and she rescues him and takes him home to be her...more
Jackie
rated it
Christina Adnoid lives in a stone, Gothic-like mansion surrounded by forests and mountain ridges. Her father, Dr. Wilfer Adnoid is the chief scientist at Loompski Laboratories, a renowned scientific enterprise. Just outside the mansion is home to the Loompski Orphanage which, from afar, Christina imagines the happy orphans learning, playing, and working day after day. After all, Christina is lonely and sad, being home schooled with no friends to play with each day. She is forbidden to go outside...more
This is my review of THE SECRET OF ZOOM!!!! THE SECRET OF ZOOM is amazing. Here is an over view of what the books about: its about the main character christina and she only has a dad and her mother was "blowen to bits" when christina was just a baby. and her father dosen't let her talk to any of the interesting orphans down the road but when an orphan boy named taft talks to her wispering of a secret tunnel she forgets about safety and helps him escape. and they find out that there is ...more
I was pleasantly surprised when I finished this book. I work at a library so I try to read as many of the award books as I can. In Missouri we have a Mark Twain award and this was one of the nominations for the year. The Mark Twain award books are middle school aged and often times I feel like the book is extremely below me and I consider it an extremely fluffy read. I thought this author did an amazing job of not talking down to her readers and I would guess that many children that read this en...more
Reviewed by Rusty Key Writer: Jordan B. Nielsen
Recommended for: Both boys and girls, aged 8 and Up. The suspense, action and variety of characters have broad appeal. Light suggestions of violence makes it better suited for older readers.
One Word Summary: Zippy
Many of us remember the fun of reading ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ books when we were young. There was something so satisfying about guiding the story to meet your own level of excitement. Do you want to explo...more
Recommended for: Both boys and girls, aged 8 and Up. The suspense, action and variety of characters have broad appeal. Light suggestions of violence makes it better suited for older readers.
One Word Summary: Zippy
Many of us remember the fun of reading ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ books when we were young. There was something so satisfying about guiding the story to meet your own level of excitement. Do you want to explo...more
This book has made it to the 2011-2012 Sunshine State Young Readers Award List. I read it last year and really enjoyed it. This is an excellent tale of children finding their power and their voices. In its all too real depiction of a world in which not every adult has the best interests of children in mind, The Secret of Zoom is a fantasy story about hope, friendship, family, and a secret to be unearthed. This book will be appealing to both boys and girls- kids who like science, mystery, mus...more
Jonell's 3rd book about kids who must rely on their own wits to escape from danger is so far her best, in my opinion. Christina, daughter of Loompski Laboratories' top physicist, is protected and privileged but longs for companionship and adventure. She finds it after meeting Taft, one of the Happy Orphans (who actually appear to be starved, abused, and do all the garbage pickup for the town), who urges her to seek out the near-mythical escape tunnel located somewhere in her house. The ensuing...more
This is a fun adventure mystery story with a bit of fantasy thrown in for fun. It will appeal to elementary age boys and girls alike. Reading it as an adult I had to suspend my disbelief at times but I don't think kids will have that problem. I think they will like the fact that Christina has to solve all the problems on her own and that all the adults are completely absent from her life. After all that is what makes the adventure so much fun. There is a nice push for education in the book...kin...more
Ingrid
rated it
This book is described as a mystery involving strange explosions, hidden tunnels and singing orphans. It was all of that and much more. Christina lives with her father in a mansion and leads a very sheltered and lonely life. She is not allowed to go to school or play with the village children. Christina wonders what her father is protecting her from and after she meets one of the orphans she discovers all sorts of strange things that occur at Loompski Labs where her father works. I really enjoye...more
Spunky and determined Christina meets an orphan and helps him escape. The orphans are used to mine zoom, an explosive yet powerful fuel source found in the mountains. Of course the orphans are treated horribly, so Christina decides to help rescue them. Her father is overprotective (and works for Zoompski Labs- the evil orphanage patron) and her mother was blown up in a lab explosion. There is plenty of adventure to keep kids interested, plus children will be able to relate to Christina and Ta...more
I was lucky to get a chance to read the advanced readers copy of Lynnne Jonell's book which comes out in Sept. Jonell once again weaves a charming and humorous fantasy for children grades 4-6 which does not disappoint. I prefer her earlier book Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat but I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the Secret of Zoom to any child who enjoys her writing. Once again its focus is upon a plucky young heroine (not Emmy) and her adventures as she tries to right the wrongs of yet ...more
My 8-year-old loved this book. We read this as a read aloud. And I heard he enthralled a friend on an hour drive with the details of this plot. It had a well-paced plot with suspense, good people, bad people and orphans. The premise was a touch of sci fi but it worked for a kids book. I'm not sure you couldn't love the main characters "never give up" spirit.
The Secret of Zoom
The Secret of Zoom
Christina is kept locked in her home by her father who worries about her safety ever since her mother mysteriously died in an explosion. Through a chance meeting with an orphan boy she escapes her house and starts her adventures. This book is rather stilted and the characters are all one dimensional. Good for young 5th and 6th graders. Similar to the Lemony Snicket series with perfect heroes and evil villans while good overcomes the bad guys in a neatly wrapped up package.
I loved it! This book, nominated for the 2011-12 Mark Twain Award in Missouri, is a great read! I predict the kids will love it, and it will make a great read aloud in class. Christina's father is the head scientist for Loompski Labs and so was her mother until she was killed in a laboratory blast, or so Christina has been told. Christina, who is overly protected by her father, lives in an old stone mansion surrounded by electrified barbed wire, and is not allowed to attend public school, ta...more
An original and fast-paced story with elements of fantasy, adventure, and humor. The story keeps you guessing with Christina and friends jumping from one cliff-hanging situation to another. The characters are well drawn and I liked how Christina comes to understand her father's protectiveness and how the parental warnings (i.e. put on your seatbelt!) mean "I love you" and how she discovers that despite her overprotected life she CAN do what she needs to do.
Great book for older elementary. Christina is a ten year old girl who lives in a nearly empty mansion. Her father, a famous scientist, is terribly overprotective and keeps her isolated, until one day she meets a boy from the orphanage. Adventures ensue. She learns more about her mother's death and the energy source found in the mountain rocks nearby, called zoom, and also learns what compassion is and to never give up. Delightful book, recommended to me by my 9 year old son. He gave it 5 stars, ...more
I did not LOVE this book but it was OK. It is another orphan story of sorts with a mad evil scientist, some humor, and brave children both boys and girls. Cute, funny, good for younger readers (3rd-5th grade) who want a big book but not mature content. A little bit dark but not too scary with a very happy ending. Boy girl friendship no romance. Plus for being about science as most J adventures are fantasy.
A story involving a secret flying compound, a mysteriously dangerous orphanage, a heroine who is not allowed outside (much!), an absent mother, a nervous father, an easily-fooled Nanny, evil scientists... this is a great summer read for middle-to-upper elementary girls AND boys!
This is another Twain nominee. I gave it four stars because it was fun and didn't have any glaring deficiencies. It's rather well-written, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that there is music theory involved, and, moreover, that the theory's accurate.
Can't help but love this one when the heroine is named Christina ;-) The author does a great job of putting you inside this lonely young 10 year old and the adventures she is about to encounter! I look forward to reading another of her books soon.
This book full of secrets and hard decisions is great for a read-aloud. The plot moves along at a good rate and even seemingly good decisions sometimes go wrong (there's always another obstacle to overcome), keeping the listener involved, but there are a lot of ethical issues to discuss here, too. I feel like this is a book I'll be referring to in conversations with my kids for the next few months at least. The action and some characters may be cartoon-like at times, but it's a cartoon over the ...more
If I could give this a 4+ I would. It was a great example of the "have" and the "Have nots". However both worked together to solve the several combined mysteries. The story was a great example for caring for someone besides yourself.
What a fantastic read for kids and adults alike! This book was on James's summer reading list. It involves science and singing and fantasy and a strong heroine who makes some tough choices.
Jason Penckofer
rated it
Another magic infused adventure from Jonell (Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat). A fun empowering sort of adventure book for some, to me the magical science parts were a little off-putting.
10 year old Christina saves a group of exploited musical orphans using her spunk and perfect pitch. There is a hint of fantasy in this fun, fast paced adventure.
I've read lots of stuff like this before, but this has nice twists and a light, humorous style. This is one I intend to offer to my 10 year old to get a REAL kid's opinion--always the best test of all!
Not my favorite Mark Twain nominee so far... Christina is a likable character who is smart and curious. I felt the story was too far-fetched for my taste.
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Lynne Jonell is the author of three novels and seven picture books for children, published by Henry Holt and Penguin/Putnam. Her first novel, Emmy & the Incredible Shrinking Rat, won the Minnesota Book Award, and her most recent novel, The Secret of Zoom, is a Junior Library Guild Selection. Her books have received starred reviews in Horn Book, Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal, Publishers We...more
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