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How Not to Stop a Kidnap Plot
Michael is on a mission. After a run-in with his sworn enemy, Angus, Michael’s brilliant payback plan BACKFIRES. Now he’s in the school production–as a tree–his WORST NIGHTMARE! When Michael discovers a twisted KIDNAP PLOT, his troubles soon multiply. It’s obvious that rich-kid Angus is the target. Can Michael and his motley bunch of mates solve the kidnap mystery and destruct a planet-threatening plan BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE? A high-tech adventure by the award-winning author of How I Alienated My Grandma.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2017
15 people want to read
About the author
Suzanne Main
5 books15 followersSuzanne Main is the author of How I Alienated my Grandma, the 2014 winner of the Storylines Tom Fitzgibbon award. Her most recent book, The Hatchling, is being released on 1 September 2025.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 27, 2018
In 'How Not to Stop a Kidnap Plot', best mates Michael and Elvis (from 'How I Alienated my Grandma') once again have the very best of intentions but end up creating chaos as they dash all over town on their bikes trying to foil a kidnap plot. There are plot twists and puns and laugh-out-loud moments. It bowls along at a great pace, and Fraser Williamson’s quirky cartoon-style illustrations work perfectly with Suzanne’s writing.
Children's humour is a difficult genre to write in – with the very toughest critics. Suzanne Main has nailed it, with tight prose and fiendishly clever plotting. Her first book won the Storylines Tom Fitzgibbon award, and since then she's been quietly racking up thousands of sales both in New Zealand and overseas. This latest book has just received a Storylines Notable Book Award for 2018. Suzanne is certainly a Kiwi author to watch!
Children's humour is a difficult genre to write in – with the very toughest critics. Suzanne Main has nailed it, with tight prose and fiendishly clever plotting. Her first book won the Storylines Tom Fitzgibbon award, and since then she's been quietly racking up thousands of sales both in New Zealand and overseas. This latest book has just received a Storylines Notable Book Award for 2018. Suzanne is certainly a Kiwi author to watch!
February 27, 2018
My love affair with mystery stories began three decades ago with the Hardy Boys books, before flowing through Agatha Christie and Nils Olof Franzen as a keen adolescent reader. But I don't tend to read much if any juvenile or young adult fiction anymore. Maybe I should, as I loved the David Wallaims and Matt Haig books I read as 'palate cleansers' last year among crime judging and reviewing, and I was also delighted by this recent read from Kiwi kids author Suzanne Main.
There's a misperception in some circles that writing for kids is 'easier' than writing for adults, perhaps because the language may not be as complex or the plotlines not quite so multi-layered or the themes not so subtle or nuanced. Frankly, that's bullshit. Many young readers are very smart and can cope with all sorts of content and plot twists, and the crime authors who try to cater to them need to deliver not only compelling plotlines packed with mystery and intrigue, but engaging characters that resonated with the younger readership, while also offering humour and not patronising the readers.
Across the board, Suzanne Main delivers with HOW NOT TO STOP A KIDNAP PLOT.
This tale sees the return of young high schoolers Michael and Elvis from Main's award-winning debut (HOW I ALIENATED MY GRANDMA). They're an engaging pair of friends, struggling to negotiate all the trials and tribulations of growing up as suburban kids. Needing revenge on his stuck-up schoolmate Angus, Michael plots a suitable prank, only to end up imprisoned as a tree in the high school production. When he overhears a kidnap plot, he assumes that Angus - his mortal enemy, sort of - is in danger. So what does a young man do? Should he try to save his foe, or let whatever happens happen. Would anyone believe the outrageous story anyway, after the prank Michael pulled?
It's a tricky spot for Michael and Elvis, made even trickier as they try to protect Angus without letting him, or any parents or teachers, know of the kidnap plot. As their best efforts just make the situation even worse, they're forced to confront some real-life criminals who are up to no good.
But who is behind it all? Can the kids be safe if they don't find out?
This was a great read that made me smile throughout. I loved the characters of Michael and Elvis, along with Angus and the other school kids. There was a great sense of the confusion, good intentions and embarrassing outcomes that often occur during adolescence. There are laugh out loud moments in among plenty of mystery and intrigue. Main salts in plenty of modern touches (eg spibots, drones, computer technology) that will fascinate younger readers, alongside timeless themes of being a youngster, having good friends and adventures, and being worried about how you're seen by others.
Just a great read, whether you're a keen kid or an adult who wants to mix up your menu.
There's a misperception in some circles that writing for kids is 'easier' than writing for adults, perhaps because the language may not be as complex or the plotlines not quite so multi-layered or the themes not so subtle or nuanced. Frankly, that's bullshit. Many young readers are very smart and can cope with all sorts of content and plot twists, and the crime authors who try to cater to them need to deliver not only compelling plotlines packed with mystery and intrigue, but engaging characters that resonated with the younger readership, while also offering humour and not patronising the readers.
Across the board, Suzanne Main delivers with HOW NOT TO STOP A KIDNAP PLOT.
This tale sees the return of young high schoolers Michael and Elvis from Main's award-winning debut (HOW I ALIENATED MY GRANDMA). They're an engaging pair of friends, struggling to negotiate all the trials and tribulations of growing up as suburban kids. Needing revenge on his stuck-up schoolmate Angus, Michael plots a suitable prank, only to end up imprisoned as a tree in the high school production. When he overhears a kidnap plot, he assumes that Angus - his mortal enemy, sort of - is in danger. So what does a young man do? Should he try to save his foe, or let whatever happens happen. Would anyone believe the outrageous story anyway, after the prank Michael pulled?
It's a tricky spot for Michael and Elvis, made even trickier as they try to protect Angus without letting him, or any parents or teachers, know of the kidnap plot. As their best efforts just make the situation even worse, they're forced to confront some real-life criminals who are up to no good.
But who is behind it all? Can the kids be safe if they don't find out?
This was a great read that made me smile throughout. I loved the characters of Michael and Elvis, along with Angus and the other school kids. There was a great sense of the confusion, good intentions and embarrassing outcomes that often occur during adolescence. There are laugh out loud moments in among plenty of mystery and intrigue. Main salts in plenty of modern touches (eg spibots, drones, computer technology) that will fascinate younger readers, alongside timeless themes of being a youngster, having good friends and adventures, and being worried about how you're seen by others.
Just a great read, whether you're a keen kid or an adult who wants to mix up your menu.
October 17, 2017
Michael and Elvis, friends first introduced in How I Alienated My Grandma, (2014 Storylines Tom Fitzgibbon Award) are back in action, this time attempting to prevent an overheard planned kidnapping. Natalie, new-ish at school, no real friends as yet, self-appointed school journalist, joins in. They assume the target is Angus, the rich kid at school.
Yes, a kidnapping happens, but no, Angus was never the intended target. What more can go wrong?
There is fast-paced action aplenty and misunderstandings that lead to trouble with parents …
Author Suzanne Main writes convincing teenage dialogue, describing the reasoning behind this group's decisions and actions. There are questions to be resolved (should we ring the police?) and all manner of problems to be solved.
There are laugh-out loud moments. Michael and Elvis becoming bodies to be tossed by Angus on his martial arts grading day is very funny. Likewise the description of the two friends being trees in the upcoming school drama production. Spibots, or Artificial Intelligence that goes haywire, make this a very twenty-first century tale of adventure. Fortunately Elvis has a better than average knowledge of the workings of his (and his father's) computer.
For the young reader, 9-12, this a fun page turner that they will read with a smile on their face - before heading off to find another book by this author.
Reviewed by Chris Wright (Bookrapt)
Yes, a kidnapping happens, but no, Angus was never the intended target. What more can go wrong?
There is fast-paced action aplenty and misunderstandings that lead to trouble with parents …
Author Suzanne Main writes convincing teenage dialogue, describing the reasoning behind this group's decisions and actions. There are questions to be resolved (should we ring the police?) and all manner of problems to be solved.
There are laugh-out loud moments. Michael and Elvis becoming bodies to be tossed by Angus on his martial arts grading day is very funny. Likewise the description of the two friends being trees in the upcoming school drama production. Spibots, or Artificial Intelligence that goes haywire, make this a very twenty-first century tale of adventure. Fortunately Elvis has a better than average knowledge of the workings of his (and his father's) computer.
For the young reader, 9-12, this a fun page turner that they will read with a smile on their face - before heading off to find another book by this author.
Reviewed by Chris Wright (Bookrapt)
November 20, 2017
Michael is on a mission. It is one he is unprepared for and actually doesn’t want, especially as the mission is to save his sworn enemy, Angus, from being kidnapped. In his attempt to avert the kidnapping, Michael and his best friend Elvis follow whatever leads they can find. Some of the leads get them in to trouble and involve breaking a few laws. While not exactly wanting to end up as criminals, they do have to decide how far they will go in order to keep Angus safe from the kidnappers. They do of course have to work out who the kidnappers are and that could be almost anyone.
This is a great read with lots of action, a little bit of revenge that doesn’t quite happen the way Michael wants it to happen, humour and most importantly, likable and believable characters. Michael is not perfect, but he is genuine and a good friend to have. Despite some initial bullying and a definite dislike of Angus, Michael realizes that sometimes the best thing to do is the right thing. A good read for ages 8 plus. Thoroughly enjoyed the journey and meeting Michael and his friends.
Michael and Elvis have had other adventures in Suzanne’s previous novel How I alienated my Grandma. I confess it is a book I haven’t read yet but after enjoying this novel, I will definitely be looking to read their other adventures.
This is a great read with lots of action, a little bit of revenge that doesn’t quite happen the way Michael wants it to happen, humour and most importantly, likable and believable characters. Michael is not perfect, but he is genuine and a good friend to have. Despite some initial bullying and a definite dislike of Angus, Michael realizes that sometimes the best thing to do is the right thing. A good read for ages 8 plus. Thoroughly enjoyed the journey and meeting Michael and his friends.
Michael and Elvis have had other adventures in Suzanne’s previous novel How I alienated my Grandma. I confess it is a book I haven’t read yet but after enjoying this novel, I will definitely be looking to read their other adventures.
April 21, 2024
This was book #3 of our 2024 family book club. I picked it up while we were in New Zealand because I thought it would be fun to read a book set in NZ by a NZ author. This book was fun, the kids breezed through it. This story is fast-paced and the AI component of the story is timely but not too heavy. I vacillate on whether I think it is appropriate to represent kids in fiction doing things that are obviously not appropriate in real life. I think of fantasy books a little differently, but in this children's mystery, (spoiler alert) the main characters (age 12-13) break into the house of suspected kidnappers and find a chair that looks it could be used for strapping someone down and torturing them. The book is written in a lighthearted way, but one of the characters does end up getting kidnapped and threatened with torture, but once released is completely fine and not traumatized at all. This bothered me, though I think the way it is written the reader is supposed to laugh it off. Repeatedly throughout the story, the kids say that they can't ask their parents (or any other adults?) for help because no one would believe them. This also seemed like a weak plot device and I think sends the wrong message to kids, even if it is "just fiction".
April 3, 2018
Superb! I enjoyed it even more than the first one. No aliens this time, artificial intelligence instead. Great story for kids, funny, exciting, adventure, friendship, problem solving. Highly recommended for middle to upper primary aged students
August 29, 2018
How NOT to write a review:
Loved.
This.
Book.
Loved.
This.
Book.
October 7, 2018
Michael is starring as a tree in the school play! For a more exciting review of this fun book visit http://www.stephenbarker.co.nz/what-i... Thanks!
December 20, 2020
Boring kidnapping story.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews