S.W.I.T.C.H: Grasshopper Glitch by Ali Sparkes
| S.W.I.T.C.H: Grasshopper Glitch by Ali Sparkes | |
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| Category: Confident Readers | |
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Reviewer: John Lloyd
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| Summary: The twins still cannot stop trying out the different animals the SWITCH serum can change them into, however dangerous and inappropriate it gets... | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 128 | Date: February 2011 |
| Publisher: OUP | |
| ISBN: 9780-192729347 | |
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One minute Mrs Potts is an innocent old biddy living next door to Josh and Danny, the next she's horrifying them by turning them into spiders, then bluebottle flies. But now they're working for her, trying to complete her bizarre body-swapping research. She's paying them back by driving them to school. Luckily there's not a chance that they might SWITCH while at school, or have to suffer a bully while in the shape and form of a grasshopper. Oops...
The lads are once again forced to endure being small creatures in a big, violent world, and once again survive being prey for larger animals, in this case a normally friendly one. It's hard to call it terror, for this series is definitely suitable for under-10s, but the senses of drama are sustained through a long action scene before some bravery from Danny. And the anguish from Josh at having to rescue his grasshopper of a brother makes up for a great first set piece.
There's also a third beat to the story, allowing Ali Sparkes another chance to show why I enjoy her craft. Artist Ross Collins joins in too for once - there are still some quite peculiar designs for illustration, but he made me laugh with Mrs Potts' wooer - and the sudden conclusion to that episode.
The series shows no sign of slowing down, or failing. There is even no problem in the rats Scratch and Sniff not being involved. The animal this time has fewer bodily functions to embarrass the twins, but there is still a massive scope for future adventures, in what is surely a most unlikely form of wish-fulfilment fantasy. I will certainly be keen to see those future adventures.
I must thank the author and her publishers for my review copies.
The series began with Spider Stampede. And yes, now you ask - we are aware of another children's book featuring grasshoppers - even if for a slightly younger audience. Dragon Danger and Grasshopper Glue (Wizzbang Wizard) by Scoular Anderson is worth a look.
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You can read more book reviews or buy S.W.I.T.C.H: Grasshopper Glitch by Ali Sparkes at Amazon.com.
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