March 3rd, 2009
“Alcatraz vs the Evil Librarians” by Brandon Sanderson (see it here: LINK ) is a hilarious adventure for the juvenile and young adult (and adults, too, if I must say so myself!).
A young boy named Alcatrz Smedrey has been in the foster care system for years. On his 13th birthday, after recieving a strange package filled with sand supposedly sent from his dead parents, his talent for breaking things causes him to accidentally burn up his foster care mother’s kitchen. It wouldn’t be as bad if it weren’t for the fact that his foster mom is a chef. His knack for breaking things that seem to be most important to people has gotten him jumped from home to home throughout his life.
On the morning after his 13th birthday, as he waits for one of the people from the foster care system to come get him to move him to another home, he is suprised by an old man at his door, claiming to be his grandfather. The old man seems worried about being late, claiming that it was his talent. Alcatraz is about to close the door on the old man, when one of the people from the foster care system show up for him, but instead of leading him to a car, the man instead pulls out a gun and tries to shoot Alcatraz. Alcatraz gets in the car with the old man, and thus begins his wondrous adventure.
Filled with adventure, Alcatraz learns that he is the latest in a great line of Smedreys. They are oculators with fantastic gifts, such as breaking things, always arriving late, tripping, and speaking nonsense. They are out to get back the sands which were stolen from Alcatraz’s room unbeknownst to him while his caseworker was there. Turns out, the world as we know it is run by the evil librarian cult, who fight to keep the world of magic and technology from us.
Laugh out loud hilarious in some parts, Sanderson’s energetic and humorous storytelling will wrap you in it’s arms and carry you through the downtown library and the strange antics that ensue!
I promise you- you will never look at your librarian the same way again!