I hadn’t read any spy genre novels before, but this one came highly recommended and seems to be a classic of the genre. We’ll call it 4 stars for “this seems like a good book, but it isn’t my genre so don’t take my star rating too seriously.”

George Smiley is an unsexy but astute official in Britain’s intelligence service who has recently been forced into retirement due to a change of directors that happened under somewhat mysterious circumstances. Not too happy with retirement (his wife has recently left him), he’s called in to investigate word of a double agent passing intelligence to the Russians. The book is a thriller in a way, with its high tension, secrets, close focus on individual scenes, and slow drip of clues as George approaches the culprit. But it’s not a modern thriller in the sense that there’s little action or physical danger to George, who slowly uncovers the truth through talking to other spies.

The book is well-written, and I didn’t find the plot as dense as some other readers did; despite my not reading it all at once, it was understandable. That said, the heavy use of 70’s Britishisms in addition to the invented spy slang (which, life imitating art, has apparently since come into actual use) makes the language opaque at times. And a lot of characters are introduced early on whose role in the plot is minimal, which makes them a bit difficult to keep track of.

But I was able to figure things out (or ignore them) without too much trouble, and this was an enjoyable read. It fits within the mold of a genre novel, but is more intelligent than you typically find in “thrillers.” And it’s a spy novel, but it doesn’t glorify spies; having read it, the author’s comment in the introduction that both the SIS and CIA “would have done much less damage to their countries, moral and financial, if they had simply been disbanded” makes perfect sense. Worth reading even if this is not your typical fare.

For eight agonizing months Chase Tinker's guilt over the despicable act he committed on Halloween night has been eating away at his heart and mind. His life gets even more complicated when secrets about the ancient Relic in the attic are revealed, right before an unwelcome caller arrives on Chase's birthday.

Despite these problems, his biggest concern is that his family's Dark Enemy, the Marlowe Family, is becoming more powerful with each passing day, fueled by the magic they continue to pillage from the many magical beings in the world. If Chase and his family are ever going to win, they'll need a whole lot of magical help. They must destroy the most evil threat the world has ever known.

Review 5*

This is the third book in The Chase Tinker series. I absolutely loved it!

Chase Tinker is a wonderful character and I really liked him from the first time I met him in the first book. I have enjoyed watching his development from a frustrated teen into someone who I would be proud to know.

In this third book, which is told mostly from Chase's point of view though other characters also have their say, Chase is still having to deal with new magical powers that he struggles to control. Not only that, the Marlowe's are still intent on finding the Relic hidden in the attic of the Tinker house. But now one of their own has turned on them too, leading the Tinkers to find assistance from other magical beings. However, there's a problem. The Marlowe's are stealing all the magic and if Chase and his family don't stop them, all will be lost. Can they stop them before it's too late?

This is a wonderful story full of adventure, danger and mystery, and I found myself sitting on the edge of my seat as Chase, Andy, Nori and Persephone face danger once more. There are several twists and turns that keep a reader guessing. I found myself on a roller coaster of emotion from beginning to end. The story is full of imaginative prose that guides the reader in such a way that it runs like a movie in the mind's eye and is easy to picture. I love the way the secrets of the house were revealed and what it means to be a Tinker. I also love the way the characters' grow and develop throughout this series. This book doesn't end with a cliffhanger, but it still left me looking forward to reading the last book in the series, Chase Tinker and the House of Mist, as soon as possible. Though I am dreading it too, as I don't want the series to end.

Malia Ann Haberman has written a entertaining and exciting story for middle grade children. I love her writing style, which is fast paced and imaginative. The flow is wonderful too. I would definitely read more of her books in the future.

I highly recommend this book to middle grade readers aged 9 to 14. However, I also recommend this book (and series) to adults who love reading middle grade fantasy, or to those who are fans of books like Harry Potter. - Lynn Worton

Beschreibung

Die Kinder der Familie Darling wachsen in einem behüteten Elternhaus auf und werden von dem tierischen Kindermädchen Nana auf das Herzlichste umsorgt. Alles geht seinen gewohnten Gang bis die Kinder eines Tages Bekanntschaft mit Peter Pan, dem Jungen der nie erwachsen werden möchte, schließen. Gemeinsam mit Peter und seiner Fee Tinker Bell reist Wendy mit ihren jüngeren Brüdern John und Michael ins Nimmerland um Abenteuer zu erleben, den verlorenen Jungen Geschichten zu erzählen und ihnen eine Mutter zu sein.

Meine Meinung

Das Kinder- und Jugendbuch „Peter Pan“ von James M. Barrie gehört wahrlich zu den Klassikern des frühen 20. Jahrhunderts. Es gibt wohl kaum ein Kind das nicht die Geschichte des jungen Peter Pan kennt, der von Zuhause fortgelaufen ist um niemals erwachsen zu werden. Seine Heimat ist das märchenhafte Nimmerland in dem er Anführer der „Verlorenen Jungs“ ist und es vor Abenteuern nur so wimmelt.

Gemeinsam mit Wendy, John und Michael treten wir eine farbenfrohe Reise an, sehen ungewöhnliche Orte und machen Bekanntschaft mit Nixen, Indianern, Piraten und natürlich den verlorenen Jungen. Besonders faszinierend ist das unterirdische Heim der verlorenen Jungen, die Bucht der Nixen und die Jolly Rogers, das Schiff des berüchtigten Captain Hook.

Die Figur des Peter Pan trat zum ersten Mal in einem Theaterstück ins Rampenlicht dieser Welt und verzaubert seither die Menschen. Egal ob auf der Bühne oder als weit verbreiteter Disney Filmklassiker – Peter Pan erobert die Herzen von jungen Menschen die niemals erwachsen werden wollen ebenso wie Erwachsene die sich durch die Gesichte wieder jung fühlen. Auch ich kann mich diesem Sog nicht entziehen – schon der Disney Film hat mich in meiner Kindheit verzaubert, und das Broadway Musical „Finding Neverland“ (welches die Entstehungsgeschichte Peter Pan’s erzählt) hat mich sogar zu Tränen gerührt. Doch das Originalbuch zur Peter Pan Geschichte kannte ich bisher noch nicht!

Diese wunderschöne bibliophile Ausgabe des Kinderbuchklassikers aus dem Hause Coppenrath ist ein Genuss für Auge und Herz und bietet die wunderbare Möglichkeit endlich die Originalgeschichte von Peter und Pan in der deutschen Übersetzung zu erobern. Durch diverse Extras wie Landkarten, Zeitungsausschnitte und Drehscheiben wird die märchenhafte Welt des Nimmerlands greifbar und zu einem ganz Besonderen, interaktiven Leseerlebnis für Groß und Klein. In jeder Seite steckt so viel Liebe fürs Detail, dass auf jeder Seite erneut eine spannende Entdeckungstour lockt.

Nach den vielen phantastischen Abenteuern, die die Kinder mit Peter Pan erleben, schleicht sich eine tief gehende Nachdenklichkeit in den Vordergrund. Wendy möchte mit ihren Brüdern zurück zu ihren Eltern, da begreifen auch die verlorenen Jungen, was sie schon die ganze Zeit sehnlichst vermissen – Ihre richtigen Eltern, sowie das größte Abenteuer des Lebens, erwachsen zu werden. Zurück bleibt ein immerwährend junger Peter Pan…

Diese Lektüre weckt das Kind in mir, so dass ich einfach nur klatschen und laut ausrufen möchte: Ja, ich glaube an Feen!

Über den Autor

James M. Barrie wurde am 9. Mai 1860 in Schottland geboren und schloss 1882 sein Studium als Master of Arts an der Universtität Edinburgh ab. Er arbeitete als Journalist und schrieb Theaterstücke. Berühmt wurde er 1904 mit dem Stück/Buch „Peter Pan“.

Fazit

Diese wunderschöne Peter Pan Ausgabe verbindet einen literarischen Klassiker mit modernen und interaktiven Details, die mein Leseherz deutlich schneller schlagen lassen!

Thirteen-year-old Chase Tinker can't understand why he has the power to move things with his mind. Besides that, his dad, Benjamin, has been missing for over a year, causing his mom to be too upset to pay much attention to her sons, so now he's been busted for shoplifting. As if this isn't enough to worry about, his younger brother Andy suddenly has a weird ability, too. Chase wonders, Can things get any crazier?

Then, a grandfather they thought to be long dead arrives at their door. He wants Chase and Andy to come visit him so they can learn about their supernatural heritage, and why they have these strange magical powers.

The boys soon find out that Grandfather, along with their cousin Janie, lives on a remote island in the middle of Puget Sound in a five hundred and sixty year old house where fantastic magic can be found in practically every room, stairway, and hall. Chase can't believe their dad has been keeping so much from them.

It's an even bigger shock when Chase learns all their magic is controlled by a powerful four thousand year old Relic in the attic, and if anything happens to this Relic, every bit of Tinker magic will be lost forever. He's even more disturbed when he learns his family has a dark and powerful enemy determined to steal all their magic, their house, and their Relic.

Now Chase must find a way to stop these wicked beings, while at the same time figuring out what has happened to his dad, unraveling even more Tinker lies and secrets, and not letting on he has a crush on the housekeeper's daughter.

Review 5*

This is the first book in The Chase Tinker series. I loved it!

Chase Tinker is a wonderful character, though he doesn't exactly endear himself to the reader with his shoplifting antics in the beginning. However, as the story unfolded, I enjoyed watching his development from a frustrated teen into someone who I would be proud to know. He knows he has a magical talent, but it's not until his younger brother Andy has his ten and a half birthday or Dimidiatus Anniversarium that things begin to get stranger. As they discover the mystery surrounding their magical talents, danger lurks in the shadows.

I received a complimentary copy from the author in return for an honest review in 2012. Unfortunately, due to my rather large reading list, I haven't been able to read it until now. Since then it has been re-edited. I am kicking myself for not reading this book sooner. I started to read it and was hooked immediately. The story is told mostly through the eyes of Chase and Andy, though other characters have a say too. I enjoyed meeting the other characters in the story. Chase and Andy's grandfather is slightly eccentric, but I liked him a lot. Janie is Chase and Andy's cousin and also has magic. Then there is Persephone Periwinkle, the housekeeper/chef's daughter. The Tinker house on Blackberry Island is almost a character on it's own. I found myself wishing I lived in that house, it seems like a great place to grow up in, with rooms full of magic. Though I was not enamored with the cuddlepus. I don't think I would like to be cuddled by a plant, the thought makes me shudder!

This is a wonderful story full of adventure and mystery, and I found myself sitting on the edge of my seat as Chase, Andy, Janie and Persephone faced danger from a foe wanting the Relic hiding in the attic. There are also several twists and turns that keep a reader guessing. Secrets are revealed and I must admit I never saw some of them coming. I found myself on a roller coaster of emotion from beginning to end. If I had one complaint it would be that it ended on a rather emotional note, rather than a cliffhanger. I understand why the author ended it this way, but with all due respect, it left me feeling rather angry and upset (just like one of the characters). Other readers may not have the same response, so I will leave it up to you to decide for yourselves if you decide to read the story. Having said that, I am now looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Chase Tinker and the House of Secrets, as soon as I can to find out what happens next.

Malia Ann Haberman has written a entertaining and exciting story for middle grade children. This is her debut book. I love her writing style, which is fast paced and imaginative. The flow is wonderful too, though there are some scenes that slow it down a little (mainly the time travel section). However, I would definitely read more of her books in the future.

I highly recommend this book to middle grade readers aged 9 to 14. However, I also recommend this book (and series) to adults who love reading middle grade fantasy, or to those who are fans of books like Harry Potter. - Lynn Worton