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Spirit Flyer #2
The Toy Campaign
What would happen if someone decided to trick a whole town--by giving them toys? But not just any toys, you understand. Toys that had a powerful and sinister effect on their owners. And what if only two children knew the evil plot was in the works? The magic continues as John and Susan Kramar speed through this book of mystery and adventure. As the Fourth of July approaches, they know some scheme is brewing. Armed only with bicycles that possess wonderful powers, their job is to find out what the plan is and stop it.
225 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1987
16 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 14, 2021
I think it was a good idea to hop point of view characters every book as it allows us to see a different character arc each time. In addition, it turns out people are not instantly changed and so we see the former main character struggle as well.
One thing I would quibble about as an adult reader is that I wish the author was a little tighter on his point of view. It's not necessarily wrong because it's a style thing, but in all the books, there are these distracting moments where the narrator suddenly breaks into the story to tell us something that the point of view character did not notice.
This story is similarly entertaining, though I do wish it did not undercut the villain of the previous book. I remember being disappointed as a student that the new villain thinks the old one was such a doofus, but I couldn't properly think through why I didn't like this when I was younger.
But thinking through it now, I can see what the issue is. Because the series tends towards happy endings (soft spoiler?), this means the villains tend to lose. It's difficult to maintain the credibility of a singular villain that keeps on losing (think Wiley Coyote), so each book they go higher up the chain of command to raise the stakes. But to raise the stakes, instead of only building up the new villain to be fearsome, they also need to cut down the last villain. (They failed, but this new one will not because they see all the mistakes that the last villain made.) The problem is, this retro-actively downgrades the previous story. It sucks if the original story was really great. I thought Horace whatever he was called was a really scary villain in The Magic Bicycle, and he gets progressively more scary when he becomes maniac with glowing red eyes, trying to run John off the road with a big truck. That's great stuff! But it sucks if Darth Vader from the first story is treated as a dunder-head in the second story. Which is kind of what happens in this book.
Anyways, that sound really negative, but I'm not negative towards the book at all. This is just me thinking through a disappointment from years ago now that I have a better understanding of story. Even with that, I still enjoyed this book.
One thing I would quibble about as an adult reader is that I wish the author was a little tighter on his point of view. It's not necessarily wrong because it's a style thing, but in all the books, there are these distracting moments where the narrator suddenly breaks into the story to tell us something that the point of view character did not notice.
This story is similarly entertaining, though I do wish it did not undercut the villain of the previous book. I remember being disappointed as a student that the new villain thinks the old one was such a doofus, but I couldn't properly think through why I didn't like this when I was younger.
But thinking through it now, I can see what the issue is. Because the series tends towards happy endings (soft spoiler?), this means the villains tend to lose. It's difficult to maintain the credibility of a singular villain that keeps on losing (think Wiley Coyote), so each book they go higher up the chain of command to raise the stakes. But to raise the stakes, instead of only building up the new villain to be fearsome, they also need to cut down the last villain. (They failed, but this new one will not because they see all the mistakes that the last villain made.) The problem is, this retro-actively downgrades the previous story. It sucks if the original story was really great. I thought Horace whatever he was called was a really scary villain in The Magic Bicycle, and he gets progressively more scary when he becomes maniac with glowing red eyes, trying to run John off the road with a big truck. That's great stuff! But it sucks if Darth Vader from the first story is treated as a dunder-head in the second story. Which is kind of what happens in this book.
Anyways, that sound really negative, but I'm not negative towards the book at all. This is just me thinking through a disappointment from years ago now that I have a better understanding of story. Even with that, I still enjoyed this book.
January 8, 2025
This book gave me childhood trauma I actually despise this book
September 17, 2016
A unique children's Christian allegory series ( this is book #2) well worth reading for adults also.
March 12, 2021
Rereading this series for the first time since I was a child, I think I’m realizing where my love for the wonder of soft magic systems came from.
The Toy Campaign takes place a few weeks after the ending of The Magic Bicycle. At the end of book one, John puts an old Spirit Flyer instrument on his bike incorrectly and disappears. His grandfather chocks this up to him having to learn things the hard way since he didn’t have the patience to wait for assistance. Book two, The Toy Campaign, opens with us not knowing what happened during that time John was in the Deeper World, and he is being really secretive about it. This story leans more on Susan Kramer’s perspective as John becomes more and more moody and irratic.
The town toy store changes hands, and a stranger named Mrs. Happy reopens it with the help of Goliath Toys (the company behind the villain of book one). John is fixated on what is going on with that store and talks Susan into coming with him to try to peer through the back windows. He climbs up on the dumpster and ends up falling in. Not just into the dumpster but into the strange black window lying at the bottom of it. Susan climbs up after him and gets sucked in as well. It’s a window into the Deeper World.
Throughout the book, John is obsessed with getting toys and becomes a brat and undependenable. Susan has to save him from magic and Barry Smedlowe’s bully gang several times, but still John is obsessed and bratty. Mrs. Happy recruits Barry as a henchman to go after Susan who is the only kid in Centerville that suspects Mrs. Happy is up to no good. Mrs. Happy is planning a grand opening of her toy store on Independence Day and says she will be giving out free toys.
But there is a catch . . . a magical one . . . because of course they are. The toys are the bait to take control of the children like puppets on a string. John ends up trapped in the Deeper World and having to make a choice. Will he choose all the toys he could ever want or the Spirit Flyer? After that it is up to John and Susan to save the town.
This story is fully of fantastical magic. It leans again into the idea of there being more to the world than meets the eye that was set up in The Magic Bicycle, and this gives it a strong air of wonder and mystery. It’s still definitely allegorical for Christian theology about spiritual warfare, but I still feel like those outside of this religious tradition would still enjoy it. Those within this religious tradition will just recognize some phrasing and concepts—especially toward the end. It becomes a little info-dumpy toward the end, which is not my favorite. Again, this is a middle grade book, and occasionally it really shows. Overall, I still really enjoy it and look forward to starting book three—The Only Game In Town.
The Toy Campaign takes place a few weeks after the ending of The Magic Bicycle. At the end of book one, John puts an old Spirit Flyer instrument on his bike incorrectly and disappears. His grandfather chocks this up to him having to learn things the hard way since he didn’t have the patience to wait for assistance. Book two, The Toy Campaign, opens with us not knowing what happened during that time John was in the Deeper World, and he is being really secretive about it. This story leans more on Susan Kramer’s perspective as John becomes more and more moody and irratic.
The town toy store changes hands, and a stranger named Mrs. Happy reopens it with the help of Goliath Toys (the company behind the villain of book one). John is fixated on what is going on with that store and talks Susan into coming with him to try to peer through the back windows. He climbs up on the dumpster and ends up falling in. Not just into the dumpster but into the strange black window lying at the bottom of it. Susan climbs up after him and gets sucked in as well. It’s a window into the Deeper World.
Throughout the book, John is obsessed with getting toys and becomes a brat and undependenable. Susan has to save him from magic and Barry Smedlowe’s bully gang several times, but still John is obsessed and bratty. Mrs. Happy recruits Barry as a henchman to go after Susan who is the only kid in Centerville that suspects Mrs. Happy is up to no good. Mrs. Happy is planning a grand opening of her toy store on Independence Day and says she will be giving out free toys.
But there is a catch . . . a magical one . . . because of course they are. The toys are the bait to take control of the children like puppets on a string. John ends up trapped in the Deeper World and having to make a choice. Will he choose all the toys he could ever want or the Spirit Flyer? After that it is up to John and Susan to save the town.
This story is fully of fantastical magic. It leans again into the idea of there being more to the world than meets the eye that was set up in The Magic Bicycle, and this gives it a strong air of wonder and mystery. It’s still definitely allegorical for Christian theology about spiritual warfare, but I still feel like those outside of this religious tradition would still enjoy it. Those within this religious tradition will just recognize some phrasing and concepts—especially toward the end. It becomes a little info-dumpy toward the end, which is not my favorite. Again, this is a middle grade book, and occasionally it really shows. Overall, I still really enjoy it and look forward to starting book three—The Only Game In Town.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 7, 2025
I read this series religiously as a kid! So much so that many of the words and catch phrases ring in my memory all these years ago.
I am grateful that there were children’s books that captured the struggle of good and evil, but also deep aspects of Christianity that are difficult for kids to really understand. These stories ring true even decades later because of the truth they tell in a very creative fashion. I doubt I will ever stop enjoying them, no matter how old I become.
I am grateful that there were children’s books that captured the struggle of good and evil, but also deep aspects of Christianity that are difficult for kids to really understand. These stories ring true even decades later because of the truth they tell in a very creative fashion. I doubt I will ever stop enjoying them, no matter how old I become.
September 4, 2024
Might be better than the first book. Now the protagonist is John's sister, with John back sliding. This book has a terrifying perspective on the forces of evil trying to deflect us from Christ. This is a book for kids, but the theology implied is sophisticated and worth reflecting upon as an adult.
July 29, 2011
Second book in an unique children's Christian allegory series. Mrs. Happy is taking over the toy shop in Centerville, but she secretly is an agent of the Daimones, trying to seduce people over to the dark side. John and his sister Susan run afoul of her, and soon it's apparent John has falling prey to the Daimones. Can Susan with her magic Spirit Flyer bicycle and book of the Kings find a way to save the town?
It's not as impressive as the first book in the series, but the allegory is so unique it demands attention. It may be a little too intense and subtle for younger kids. Sin as a chain around your neck, being pulled helplessly by long hooks, and a giant serpent are signs of evil. Our only defense are old, red bicycles that have magical powers. The main villain is Goliath toy industries, and in a sadly prescient part, when Mrs. Happy lists the name of many of the dark toys she gives, they could easily be modern ones.
Still, The Magic Bicycle: The Story of a Bicycle That Found a Boy is heads above this, and explains a lot of the mythology, so don't read this unless you like it. It's a unique and almost weird take on a Christian battle between good and evil.
It's not as impressive as the first book in the series, but the allegory is so unique it demands attention. It may be a little too intense and subtle for younger kids. Sin as a chain around your neck, being pulled helplessly by long hooks, and a giant serpent are signs of evil. Our only defense are old, red bicycles that have magical powers. The main villain is Goliath toy industries, and in a sadly prescient part, when Mrs. Happy lists the name of many of the dark toys she gives, they could easily be modern ones.
Still, The Magic Bicycle: The Story of a Bicycle That Found a Boy is heads above this, and explains a lot of the mythology, so don't read this unless you like it. It's a unique and almost weird take on a Christian battle between good and evil.
May 3, 2009
I read this as a kid - made a huge impression on me. So big, that I finally tried looking it up again. The library didn't carry it. And wow. Still an awesome series. The first book is the hardest for me - glowing red eyes, black snake funnel clouds - scary stuff. But if ever there were a series that did a good job explaining good and bad - the insidious tendrils of evil and the overwhelming unconditional love of God, this is it. Each book in the series is fabulous. My eight year old is not ready for this yet, but I will read it to her when she is ready. I've seen bad reviews - yes, if you are a person who dislikes fantasy, magic and scary stuff, this is not a series for you. But John Bibee did a fabulous job with the Spirit Flyer Series - my kids will definitely go through the whole group with me some day.
July 13, 2015
John Bibee must have an affinity for the word "stupid". Something is "stupid" on nearly every page. For a Christian based book I was a little disappointed in this. I read these as a kid and remember loving them, but I was reading them again with my sons and they are way more scary and dark then I remember. And the constant use of stupid really got on my nerves. It's just so negative. I have started the third book now and can see that it will be the same way.
September 14, 2021
Convicting
This book is convicting as usual. We have to choose the King Prince daily and live with Him to learn more. I will never be able to read enough to have a all figured out but I can still learn a lot and seek Is wisdom instead of my own.
This book is convicting as usual. We have to choose the King Prince daily and live with Him to learn more. I will never be able to read enough to have a all figured out but I can still learn a lot and seek Is wisdom instead of my own.
July 16, 2008
This allegorical book was really unique and a bit strange at parts, but had some really neat aspects.
June 8, 2009
Again, I enjoyed it while I was reading it, but afterwards was disinterested.
July 29, 2011
I loved this series. The writer just makes more and more intense and I love how new "bad guys" are introduced.
Read
October 11, 2015The Sequel to the Magic Bicycle. Liked it a lot. As good as the first, a bit scarier. Great for Tweens.
August 3, 2023
Solid second book in the series. Looking forward to the rest.
April 25, 2017
Read aloud to Emma and Will. The plot drags a little in this one, but still a great series.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews