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Hector Trogg's Perfect World
The book is about a bored schoolboy who daydreams of aerial dogfights and tank battles. An inheritance leads to his dreams becoming reality, and this impulsive boy causes more damage and destruction than the assassin pursuing him. Yet, it is his annoying sister who is the real hero.
The book is YA, adventure, comedy - no profanity or erotica. It has a fast plot, the complications of a dog and a cat, as well as lots of incident and humour.
Here's the blurb . . .
A brother and sister - An inheritance - An assassin
Through every boring day of school Hector Trogg dreamt of adventure. He wanted to fly a fighter plane, drive a tank, and leap from burning buildings. An unusual inheritance and the world's most feared killer turn Hector's daydreams into reality.
While Hector's family struggle to stay alive with the help of French special forces, Hector and his sister Kate carve a trail of destruction, aided by a dog called Bandit. The French fight for justice. The dog fights for the turkey.
Can Hector save the day?
Can Kate rescue Hector?
Can Dad save lunch?
The book is YA, adventure, comedy - no profanity or erotica. It has a fast plot, the complications of a dog and a cat, as well as lots of incident and humour.
Here's the blurb . . .
A brother and sister - An inheritance - An assassin
Through every boring day of school Hector Trogg dreamt of adventure. He wanted to fly a fighter plane, drive a tank, and leap from burning buildings. An unusual inheritance and the world's most feared killer turn Hector's daydreams into reality.
While Hector's family struggle to stay alive with the help of French special forces, Hector and his sister Kate carve a trail of destruction, aided by a dog called Bandit. The French fight for justice. The dog fights for the turkey.
Can Hector save the day?
Can Kate rescue Hector?
Can Dad save lunch?
456 pages, Paperback
First published June 2, 2013
2 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 13, 2014
Hector Trogg is pretty much an ordinary young boy. He leads a pretty dull life but his daydreams are full of adventure and intrigue, something that is common to young boys I can tell you. But all that changes when Hector and his older sister Kate inherit a large sum of money. It begins with a narrowly escaped car bomb and just gets crazier from there. It is clear that someone wants to kill Hector and Kate to get at their money. Suddenly Hector finds all his extravagant daydreams coming to life, everything from an aerial dogfight to a tank battle to fighting off hordes of trained assassins. And all along the way Hector and Kate prevail, sometimes by accident and sometimes due to their own cleverness.
One of my favorite things about Hector Trogg’s Perfect World was the way Booth portrayed the dog Bandit and the cat Otto, giving them thoughts and personalities of their own. For instance, when Bandit first met Kate and Hector he knew immediately that Kate would be the most vulnerable to his big brown eyes and that the sticky-looking Hector would probably be good to lick. Upon Otto’s first encounter with the kids, he was trying to decide which of them to kill first but decided to wait a bit to see if they would give him something to eat first. Isn’t that just like a cat? Throughout the audiobook Booth seemed to perfectly capture the thoughts of Bandit and Otto and these were some of the funniest moments of the book for me.
Author P. A. Booth handled the narration duties for Hector Trogg’s Perfect World himself and I must say that he did an admirable job. His voice characterizations were pretty good, his pacing was comfortable, and he really sounded like he was enjoying himself, which made me feel the same way. Booth has been a university lecturer, owner of an IT company, and mediocre squash player. He began writing stories for his children and decided he quite enjoyed it. We enjoy it too Mr. Booth.
Hector Trogg’s Perfect World is one action/adventure story that is just chock full of, um, action and adventure. There are some scary moments when it looks like Hector and Kate are finally caught, and some elements of the mysterious as they try to figure out who is trying to kill them and why. There are plenty of moments that will have you chuckling out loud and also some more tender scenes where you can sense brother and sister (actually more sister than brother) maturing and coming to realize how important siblings are. I’m not sure what kind of daydreams girls have but I bet almost every young boy in the world would enjoy this book. The big kid in me enjoyed it very much.
Steven Brandt @ Audiobook-Heaven
One of my favorite things about Hector Trogg’s Perfect World was the way Booth portrayed the dog Bandit and the cat Otto, giving them thoughts and personalities of their own. For instance, when Bandit first met Kate and Hector he knew immediately that Kate would be the most vulnerable to his big brown eyes and that the sticky-looking Hector would probably be good to lick. Upon Otto’s first encounter with the kids, he was trying to decide which of them to kill first but decided to wait a bit to see if they would give him something to eat first. Isn’t that just like a cat? Throughout the audiobook Booth seemed to perfectly capture the thoughts of Bandit and Otto and these were some of the funniest moments of the book for me.
Author P. A. Booth handled the narration duties for Hector Trogg’s Perfect World himself and I must say that he did an admirable job. His voice characterizations were pretty good, his pacing was comfortable, and he really sounded like he was enjoying himself, which made me feel the same way. Booth has been a university lecturer, owner of an IT company, and mediocre squash player. He began writing stories for his children and decided he quite enjoyed it. We enjoy it too Mr. Booth.
Hector Trogg’s Perfect World is one action/adventure story that is just chock full of, um, action and adventure. There are some scary moments when it looks like Hector and Kate are finally caught, and some elements of the mysterious as they try to figure out who is trying to kill them and why. There are plenty of moments that will have you chuckling out loud and also some more tender scenes where you can sense brother and sister (actually more sister than brother) maturing and coming to realize how important siblings are. I’m not sure what kind of daydreams girls have but I bet almost every young boy in the world would enjoy this book. The big kid in me enjoyed it very much.
Steven Brandt @ Audiobook-Heaven
June 17, 2014
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Hector Trogg's Perfect world is unique book aimed at young readers. While many books for this age range seem short, and the series eventually feel repetitive, Hector Trogg is exciting both for the young, and the young at heart.
To be honest, this isn't a book I would typically pick up on my own. It seemed like it would appeal to a younger audience, and while I read YA, the age of the characters made me hesitate. Once I started reading, however, I was glad I gave it a chance. The story isn't just a book for 'kids'. It has elements that would appeal to those much older, and while there is plenty of adventure and humor, some of the challenges the characters deal with bring a maturity to this story I feel is missing in a lot of novels in this age range.
I had the chance to listen to the audio book, and it traveled with me on several car rides. P.A. Booth is a wonderful narrator, and I could really imagine parents sitting down and sharing this with their kids. It made me a little sad I didn't have kids of my own to share this with, because I was sure they would find it entertaining.
While the story itself was very engaging, there were a few areas where, as an adult, I was perhaps not as open to as a kid might have been. Some of the scenes with the airplanes and tanks are good for an adventure story, but I did think it venture out of the realistic setting. I'm big on books like this pushing boundaries, but still feeling believable, and some of Hector's accomplishments seemed to cross the line. I do understand a younger audience would enjoy this larger-than-life figure though, so I gave that some leeway.
Overall, this was a good book and I had fun listening to it on all my car rides. Well-written, engaging and willing to tackle hard subjects, I enjoyed the story and see promise in the book sto come.
Hector Trogg's Perfect world is unique book aimed at young readers. While many books for this age range seem short, and the series eventually feel repetitive, Hector Trogg is exciting both for the young, and the young at heart.
To be honest, this isn't a book I would typically pick up on my own. It seemed like it would appeal to a younger audience, and while I read YA, the age of the characters made me hesitate. Once I started reading, however, I was glad I gave it a chance. The story isn't just a book for 'kids'. It has elements that would appeal to those much older, and while there is plenty of adventure and humor, some of the challenges the characters deal with bring a maturity to this story I feel is missing in a lot of novels in this age range.
I had the chance to listen to the audio book, and it traveled with me on several car rides. P.A. Booth is a wonderful narrator, and I could really imagine parents sitting down and sharing this with their kids. It made me a little sad I didn't have kids of my own to share this with, because I was sure they would find it entertaining.
While the story itself was very engaging, there were a few areas where, as an adult, I was perhaps not as open to as a kid might have been. Some of the scenes with the airplanes and tanks are good for an adventure story, but I did think it venture out of the realistic setting. I'm big on books like this pushing boundaries, but still feeling believable, and some of Hector's accomplishments seemed to cross the line. I do understand a younger audience would enjoy this larger-than-life figure though, so I gave that some leeway.
Overall, this was a good book and I had fun listening to it on all my car rides. Well-written, engaging and willing to tackle hard subjects, I enjoyed the story and see promise in the book sto come.
June 26, 2014
Gripping and very funny
Our school received a free copy of this book - the publisher asked for reviews in return. It landed on my desk and my first thought, on scanning the first chapter, was “be careful what you as for”. I felt it was too quick and superficial. My son aged 8 thought it was fantastic. He swallowed up the first four chapters in no time.
We also had the audiobook on a CD. After a campaign of nagging by my younger son, I played the audiobook during two long car journeys. Fortunately, the narration is excellent.
A few chapters in and I was a convert. This is one of the funniest stories I have listened to, ever! A few bits are a little far-fetched, but then so is Alex Rider and Artemis Fowl. As the chapters and miles went by the story just got better. I had no idea what was going to happen next, but it was often hilarious.
The book is an adventure, with guns, car chases and lots of damage that seems aimed at boys, but my daughter liked it just as much.
I felt the moral issues were dealt with very well. I would have no problem recommending the book, to friends or to children and parents at my school.
Bad points - I would say there are some difficult words and sentences for the target age group, and in this sense it is not quite what it says it is. On the other hand, it did have my son looking up the words on the internet.
Overall, if you want something for adults and children that makes a very long journey seem like a short one, then get the audiobook.
Our school received a free copy of this book - the publisher asked for reviews in return. It landed on my desk and my first thought, on scanning the first chapter, was “be careful what you as for”. I felt it was too quick and superficial. My son aged 8 thought it was fantastic. He swallowed up the first four chapters in no time.
We also had the audiobook on a CD. After a campaign of nagging by my younger son, I played the audiobook during two long car journeys. Fortunately, the narration is excellent.
A few chapters in and I was a convert. This is one of the funniest stories I have listened to, ever! A few bits are a little far-fetched, but then so is Alex Rider and Artemis Fowl. As the chapters and miles went by the story just got better. I had no idea what was going to happen next, but it was often hilarious.
The book is an adventure, with guns, car chases and lots of damage that seems aimed at boys, but my daughter liked it just as much.
I felt the moral issues were dealt with very well. I would have no problem recommending the book, to friends or to children and parents at my school.
Bad points - I would say there are some difficult words and sentences for the target age group, and in this sense it is not quite what it says it is. On the other hand, it did have my son looking up the words on the internet.
Overall, if you want something for adults and children that makes a very long journey seem like a short one, then get the audiobook.
April 24, 2014
This review is for the Kindle edition ebook.
Disclosure: I was given an advanced review copy of this book by the author or publisher to read and review.
Hilarious story of a couple of kids whose lives turn from boring to adventure overnight.
A dream of adventure, a couple of kids, a dog, a cat, and the worlds most feared killer. When the kids inherit a fortune, a killer comes looking for them. The dreams turn into reality for Hector, while his sister and parents attempt to keep the family alive.
This story had me laughing out loud often. I found the adventures of this family outrageous for the most part, with enough fun for kids and adults to enjoy. While the parents learn to deal with a daydreamer, Hector learns a bit of self-control. While there are some spelling and grammar errors, such as "wondering" instead of "wandering", they did not detract from the reading. Some of the spelling is attributable to the translations from British English to American English.
I think P. A. Booth wrote this book to entertain children. It certainly entertained me, and I think my grandchildren would really enjoy this story.
I would recommend this book to preteens and teens that are able to read on their own. There are a couple of pages with violence, but most children will be able to understand the over-riding theme that violence should be avoided as much as possible. This story was so much fun to read, I will be looking for more by this author.
Disclosure: I was given an advanced review copy of this book by the author or publisher to read and review.
Hilarious story of a couple of kids whose lives turn from boring to adventure overnight.
A dream of adventure, a couple of kids, a dog, a cat, and the worlds most feared killer. When the kids inherit a fortune, a killer comes looking for them. The dreams turn into reality for Hector, while his sister and parents attempt to keep the family alive.
This story had me laughing out loud often. I found the adventures of this family outrageous for the most part, with enough fun for kids and adults to enjoy. While the parents learn to deal with a daydreamer, Hector learns a bit of self-control. While there are some spelling and grammar errors, such as "wondering" instead of "wandering", they did not detract from the reading. Some of the spelling is attributable to the translations from British English to American English.
I think P. A. Booth wrote this book to entertain children. It certainly entertained me, and I think my grandchildren would really enjoy this story.
I would recommend this book to preteens and teens that are able to read on their own. There are a couple of pages with violence, but most children will be able to understand the over-riding theme that violence should be avoided as much as possible. This story was so much fun to read, I will be looking for more by this author.
June 18, 2014
My finger lingered over two stars. But that would make it look as if I thought the book was okay. And it wasn't.
Along with the flood of repetitions, odd punctuation and spelling mistakes, the book was quite boring. Hector is probably the most annoying main character I've read. I found I could not relate to one character. 'Mum' isn't named once, either, which really annoyed me.
So in the moments I did find the book a little exciting I wondered why the hell it had taken 400 pages to get to it. Seriously, why is this book so long? It really doesn't need to be and as a result it was hard to finish. I believe it was coined for reluctant readers but there is no chance that somebody who doesn't like reading will pick up a beast like this.
There's a surprising amount of violence, too, which I wasn't expecting. There wasn't much of a story, just opportunities for the author to revel in a world of guns and planes with barely a pause for thought - as if they are reliving childhood dreams of adventure with little attention to the plot.
It's not my cup of tea.
I have no doubt that children will love it - providing that their attention isn't lost.
Along with the flood of repetitions, odd punctuation and spelling mistakes, the book was quite boring. Hector is probably the most annoying main character I've read. I found I could not relate to one character. 'Mum' isn't named once, either, which really annoyed me.
So in the moments I did find the book a little exciting I wondered why the hell it had taken 400 pages to get to it. Seriously, why is this book so long? It really doesn't need to be and as a result it was hard to finish. I believe it was coined for reluctant readers but there is no chance that somebody who doesn't like reading will pick up a beast like this.
There's a surprising amount of violence, too, which I wasn't expecting. There wasn't much of a story, just opportunities for the author to revel in a world of guns and planes with barely a pause for thought - as if they are reliving childhood dreams of adventure with little attention to the plot.
It's not my cup of tea.
I have no doubt that children will love it - providing that their attention isn't lost.
December 27, 2014
This was a fun book to read. It was long (455 pages) but there was a lot going on. I loved Bandit! I also liked that the heroes were two siblings fighting for justice. The idea of an inheritance making Hector's day dreams come true was interesting. I liked that this book is also in audio book format for young adults that do not like to read long books. It was funny how Hector and his sister dealt with their new roles. When the pressure is on can they handle it? Then there is the assassin that they have to defeat. There are also other family members in the book, and it was nice to read about them and how the influenced the story. I am giving this book a 4/5. I was given copy to review through the Kindle Book Review (KBR), however all opinions are my own.
October 20, 2014
Casting aside the terrible spelling and typographical errors this was a jolly good romp through a child's vivid imagination that comes to life. It's the stuff of boy's comics and the hero, Hector has many adventures with his family.
I wasn't absolutely sure what age audience this was aimed at as there's an incident near the end which I found graphically disturbing and it could upset a younger audience as most of the "violence" in the book is delivered in a comic book Kerpow fashion. It's also extremely long and I wonder if a young audience's attention could be kept for that long.
Hopefully this book will be reprinted without the mistakes and I would recommend it.
I wasn't absolutely sure what age audience this was aimed at as there's an incident near the end which I found graphically disturbing and it could upset a younger audience as most of the "violence" in the book is delivered in a comic book Kerpow fashion. It's also extremely long and I wonder if a young audience's attention could be kept for that long.
Hopefully this book will be reprinted without the mistakes and I would recommend it.
June 3, 2016
Free book received for honest review
This is a fast-paced, action-packed, laugh-out-loud adventure story that follows a family on the run from a hired hit man. Caught up in the story you can’t help but love the two main characters Hector and his sister as they inadvertently make it harder for the police to protect them.
This is a fast-paced, action-packed, laugh-out-loud adventure story that follows a family on the run from a hired hit man. Caught up in the story you can’t help but love the two main characters Hector and his sister as they inadvertently make it harder for the police to protect them.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews