Derek Brundle loves Christmas. All of a sudden Munkle, a member of S.E.S (Special Elf Service) appears at his bedroom window knocking to be let in. Derek lets her in, and she tells him she needs his help. Derek is baffled. How can he help her? He's only seven years old. Turns out he is needed for a special mission as Santa is missing. Why was Derek chosen for the mission? Will they be able to find Santa?

I enjoyed this story. I laughed as Derek and the elves go searching for Santa. Seems like there are things Derek does not know about his life and finds out from the elves. Also, he learns things about Santa that debunks what we have grown up knowing. Naturally, there is a villain--a truly hiss-worthy villain but I know Derek has the tools (and the brains) to defeat the villain and his minions.

This is a great story for the Christmas season. It is fresh and imaginative. Your elementary school kids will enjoy it and so will you. It will probably become a family tradition to read each year.

what the book said:

"A mighty crack echoed all around. And then silence. Slowly, Becky lowered her hand and gasped. A milk float had materialised on the lawn."

what I envisioned:

Which made no sense, of course.

had to look it up, and got this:

A milk delivery truck!  much more plausible.

Ok, now I've probably over-sensitized myself, but Becky has just gained them access to their goal by solving two riddles and a puzzle; has saved the lives of three of them with her telekinetic power; and helped to capture the bad guy.

this is the accolade she gets:

"Then Edgar opened his massive arms and pulled Becky and Joe into a giant hug. ‘I will miss you both. And I shall always be your servant, your friend and your ally.’

His eyes found Joe’s. ‘Joe your bravery, your integrity, your courage is worthy of the most noble King.’

He looked at Becky. ‘And Miss Becky your kindness, your compassion, and your beauty would rival that of Artemis herself.’"

Still a very good book, but it's trying my patience.

As much as I love books and reading, and as much as I love all the positives that occur when you enjoy them, I regret that we still incorporate some things that are not so good.  Here we have one generation teaching the next that it's okay, not to mention entertaining, to ridicule, objectify, disrespect, and stereotype a particular subset of humanity.  In this case, it's women; but of course it happens across the entire spectrum.

‘‘Ah, Cleopatra, truly a fascinating woman,’ Butterby said, looking starry- eyed and distant. ‘And nothing like her traditional portrayal in popular culture, of course.’

‘What do you mean?’ Becky asked.

‘Well, if nothing else, she must’ve weighed a metric tonne.’

‘Really?’

‘Oh yes, her derrière was as big as this bus.’ Becky and Joe laughed.

‘Now, Charles,’ Uncle Percy said firmly. ‘Let’s keep it civil. These are impressionable minds, after all.’

‘I’m all about the truth, Percy, you should know that.’ Butterby winked mischievously at Becky. ‘Yes, there have been many distortions when it comes to Cleopatra, and none more so than the nature of her death. Do you recall how she supposedly died?’

‘Wasn’t she bitten by a snake?’ Becky offered. ‘An asp?’ ‘That’s partly correct,’ Butterby said. She was bitten all right. But not by an asp. No, she he was actually bitten by an ass … a donkey, the bite became infected and that’s how she popped her clogs.’

‘Really?’ Becky giggled. ‘And was she the most beautiful woman alive?’

‘Far from it,’ Butterby said. He lowered his voice so Uncle Percy couldn’t hear. ‘Between you and me she was a bit of a moose. Queen Nefertiti, on the other hand, now that was a different matter.’

I like this book, overall; but it makes me sad that we can't, somehow, do better.  (Steps down from soapbox.)

"The antechamber was overflowing with artefacts – gilded chests, ornamental plates, silver vases, a golden throne, disassembled chariots – all of them piled shambolically from floor to ceiling."

coined in the 1970s.  (Shambles + symbolic).

it's amazing to me, in spite of how much one thinks one reads, or knows, that there are still hidden gems out there waiting to surprise me.