Golden Boy (Sirius Mystery Series) Book

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So, a real review, you ask? Why are you asking me? You should read Sanderson yourself, because I'm quite sure I'm going to mislead you by reading it wrong. I enjoy many younger-adult targeted books, so don't think me an old curmudgeon when I say he doesn't quite nail the premise. It is vaguely amusing when he mocks many of the genre pretenses (particularly a bold call-out to the Harry Potter set-up at the end), but there's too much of it throughout the narrative and I'm not sure it'll sit well with younger readers. Really much, much too much of the overt commentary. When I started writing my meta-review (thanks, Mitticus!), I actually had to leave out some more author in-text comments on character and pacing. John Connolly's Samuel Johnson series plays with this concept in a more sophisticated, enjoyable way way.

In this book, Alcatraz is about to be kicked out of his umpteenth foster home for burning down the kitchen on his 13th birthday. Someone calling himself his grandfather shows up the next day (much like Hagrid in Harry Potter) and suddenly someone is trying to kill him. Classic special-but-in-an-unrecognized-way set-up. They head to the library to infiltrate the headquarters and recover Alcatraz' special birthday present--a bag of sand. Fun things include the premise of Librarians being Evil, and running jokes about the gentility of dinosaurs. However, Alcatraz also has a anti-hero narrative in the mode of Artemis Fowl that is off-putting. It's too much tongue-in-cheek; what, exactly, are we supposed to take seriously here? The finale was disappointing, particularly with another big reveal for Alcatraz (really, when is enough enough)?

Overall, I'd say it was middle-of the road. I'll throw out the idea that Sanderson just is... odd about female characters. Like he's trying too hard and just ends up doing reverse stereotypes.The Evil Librarians are the best concept behind it, and the humorous tone is cute. Aside from that, it lacks the inventiveness of Potter and the Girl Who... series, the language playfulness of Valente and Snicket, the commitment to devilishness of Artemis and the cleverness of Connolly. Most importantly, I just don't feel the emotional truth it needs. Would I pick up the next book? Sure. Would I give it to a future niece? Nah. (hide spoiler)]