The Tell-Tale Start
Author: Gordon McAlpine
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Publication Date: January 10, 2013
Pages: 224
Series: The Misadventures of Edgar and Allen Poe
Source: Audiobook for review
Read By: Arte Johnson
Audiobook Publisher: Listening Library
Length: 3 hours, 14 minutes
About the Book: Meet Edgar and Allan Poe — twelve-year-old identical twins, the great-great-great-great-grandnephews of Edgar Allan Poe. They look and act so much alike that they’re almost one mischievous, prank-playing boy in two bodies. When their beloved black cat, Roderick Usher, is kidnapped and transported to the Midwest, Edgar and Allan convince their guardians that it’s time for a road trip. Along the way, mayhem and mystery ensue, as well as deeper questions: What is the boys’ telepathic connection? Is Edgar Allan Poe himself reaching out to them from the Great Beyond? And why has a mad scientist been spying on the Poe family for years?
With a mix of literary humor, mystery, a little quantum physics, and fun extras like fortune cookie messages, letters in code, license plate clues — and playful illustrations throughout — this series opener is a perfect choice for smart, funny tweens who love the Time Warp Trio, Roald Dahl, and Lemony Snicket. (from goodreads)
My Thoughts: This book was such a delight. I absolutely adored it! It’s a bit younger than I typically review but it was exactly the quick and enjoyable read I was looking for! I loved all the allusions to different authors and literary things. I don’t think that all students (especially those at the age it is intended for) will catch them but they’ll still enjoy it.
My favorite part was the way that the author worked in many references to Poe’s work. The boys have read everything by their great-great-great-great-granduncle. When they are in a sticky situation they can call on their ancestor’s work and create an ingenious plan from there. Our seventh graders study Poe and I cannot wait for the teachers to read this book aloud to them during that unit. It will add a bit of humor to the dark and twisted works!
I listened to the audiobook and found it to be perfect. It almost had a Princess Bride feel. There is a grandfatherly narrator reading the story with some interruptions for background info and jumps to multiple plot lines that all come together. I would suggest also getting your hands on a copy of the book as there are illustrations that go along with the story. You will get the complete story without them but they certainly add to it!
The Tell-Tale Start introduces us to a very promising series for late elementary to middle school readers. I have a feeling it will hook even the most reluctant of readers!
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