When I started this book I didn't have a clue what it would be about or where it would go to. Somehow I expected a Harry Potter kind of story, in hindsight this was caused by the summary. However it never reached that level of magic it certainly created a likeable world with interesting characters which kept me reading on a daily basis.

The main character is the youngster Atticus Higginbottom, a smart and slightly nerdy boy who is dragged into a mysterious and dangerous queste. Most of this first book in the series is about the workup towards the queste itself and keeps the reader wondering whatever might be going on. A smart and interesting move of the writer in my opinion. The fun and interesting story is the strong characteristic of this book, the lack of depth of the characters and the way they sometimes become a caricature of themselves  impress me slightly less.

All in all I believe this a beautifull and exciting book for teenagers who enjoy a bit of magic, for the average adult it might be a little shallow. For me it was definitely an enjoyable experience.

Honestly, the first thing that caught my attention about this book is the author, James Dashner, who has created a very famous series. That being said, it is easier to trust that this book would also equate to awesomeness. This book is for a younger audience although can be enjoyed by anyone! 

Tick, short for Atticus, receives a strange letter presenting the possibility of danger but with the hope of saving lives. What followed were a series of letters with clues that led Tick to new friendships, strange occurrences, and a renewed faith in himself that he too can be a hero.

The book was very engaging and I couldn't put it down. They were curious letters indeed and I can't wait to find out where they would lead. I love the characters - Tick who was constantly bullied finally found friends who were at par with his mental capabilities. I also loved the fact that his family was involved, especially his dad. That would be more realistic in a sense because kids still need their parents, right?  

What I wasn't ready for was that this was a series and I would need the next book to find out more about how they would be defeat Mistress Jane and Mr. Chu's possible involvement in this whole mess.

Definitely would recommend!

This is an engaging and fast-paced young mid-grade series with a fun cast of over-the-top characters traveling between alternate realities/worlds. It is a fun and empowering adventure for readers who like puzzles and progressive unfolding of clues.

For most of his school year, bullies have been the biggest concern for13-year-old Atticus Higginbottom better known as Tick. But when a letter arrives for him from Alaska asking for his help ‘in a most dreadful time of need’, to take part in an extremely dangerous mission in which ‘many, many lives are at stake’, his life becomes a great deal more exciting and dangerous and those bullies become the least of his worries. 

The Journal of Curious Letters is the first volume in author James Dashner’s middle-grade series, The 13th Reality. There is much to like here even for an adult reader but there is also some problems including those often found in first books in a series. Much of the book (and it is fairly long) is spent introducing us to the characters and setting up the plot - while necessary, it does tend to slow down the story. As well, this is, I believe, an early Dashner series and it clearly displays a great many influences including Star Wars that many adults might find a bit obvious but I suspect that these will appeal to its intended audience. And, in fairness, Dashner is a good enough writer that these influences seem more homage than appropriation. 

But, on the pro side, it is well-plotted, smart, with plenty of action and adventure to keep the reader’s attention. As well, there’s a nice touch of humour and interesting characters to either root for or against.  I also liked the fact that Tick realized he couldn’t do this alone without consulting a parent, something that occurs too often in YA and middle grade adventure and fantasy novels. Instead, he asks his dad for advice and help. I loved how supportive his dad was while being portrayed as a normal guy, dadbod and all. Overall, I enjoyed The Journal of Curious Letters quite a bit and would recommend it highly, especially to middle graders.

Thanks to Netgalley and Sweet Cherry Publishing for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review

Everyone in my family is a fan of James Dashner's books, and my boys have read and enjoyed the 13th Reality series and recommended it to me. I have read The Maze Runner and enjoyed it, so I was very interested in reading The Journal of Curious Letters. This book did not disappoint! Geared to a younger audience than The Maze Runner series, this book was entertaining, humorous, and well written.

The story starts out in an Alaskan post office.  I think that is a first.   At this post office, we are told of Norbert Johnson's two very odd postal customers.  The story of these two is a bit confusing, but all is resolved in due time.   Next, we meet Atticus Higginbottom aka Tick.   Tick receives one of the letters which were mailed on that day from Alaska.  He was not the only one to receive these strange letters and we soon meet Sophia, Paul, and Tick's family. This letter is the first of 12 clues Tick will receive if he chooses to continue on with this life altering adventure.  Which of course he does, or the story would end at this time.  His adventure is dangerous, exciting and definitely fun to follow.   As the title of the book already eludes to, there is more than just one reality.  The reality we know is "Prime Reality," but other realities exist and people from those other realities are not all nice.  Believe it or not, Tick actually shares details with his father.  As a parent, it was nice to see a child have faith in their parents and make them aware of what they are doing.  Especially when they are traveling to alternate realities.   The Journal of Curious Letters is the first book in the 13th Reality series and should be a fun fantasy read for middle school kids and their parents. I give this book a 3.5 start rounding to 4 stars.

i have more expectation for this book. its less adventure and slow burning and honestly to much prologue its take a while to main plot. 

story about Atticus Higginbottom, a.k.a. Tick who have received mysterious  letter and leading him to adventure new knowledge, friendship and a power that he did not know.

The potential for Journal of Curious Letters was great.

It did not follow through.

I LOVE adventure stories.  I love finding clues and running about and ALL THAT hullaballoo.  National Treasure?  Scooby-Doo?  I AM DOWN.  That’s why I figured that Journal of Curious Letters would be a good fit for me.  Unfortunately, it disappointed.  There were a lot of things that I felt went wrong with this book, to the point where it was unenjoyable.

For starters - there were Stereotypes Galore.

I think that the best way to explain the stereotypes is to look at a handful of the characters and you can see for yourself.

First of all, we have Atticus.  He’s a Caucasian American 14 y/o nerd who covers up a birthmark with a scarf because he’s embarassed.  He and the librarians are friends and he regularly gets shoved into lockers.  He loves science class and hangs out afterward to chill with his teacher.  Who is of unspecified Asian descent.

Next we have Sofia.  She’s rich, snobby, spoiled, and Italian.  She has lucious long black hair and a butler who does whatever she wants.  She thinks all Americans are stupid and her family owns a spaghetti and spaghetti sauce brand.

Finally, Paul.  Paul is an African-American from Florida who is six feet tall at 14 y/o and has a defiant attitude.  He comes in the story late and doesn’t get much representation.

Oh, almost forgot.  Sato is in the end of the story.  He’s Japanese, smart, untrusting, and his parents don’t really notice him.  We really don’t see much of him, so there isn’t a lot to talk about.

The leader of this band, Master George, is an eccentric Englishman with a cat, Persion rugs, preposterous accent, self-importance, and a love of peppermint tea.  You can practically picture him as tall, lanky, with a handlebar mustache and a top hat.

Atticus’ father is overweight, something that is repeatedly described.  He’s so overweight that he gets stuck Winnie-the-Pooh style during a high action scene.  This is used to humor up a scene when the characters look like they are about to die.

The author goes to GREAT trouble to show us that the tall characters are tall and weird-looking, and that the fat characters are short, fat, and weird-looking.  Everybody is actually pretty mean to each other all the time about their appearances and intelligence, but they’re all such good friends that Atticus feels like crying every time he has to leave them.

Other weirdness in characters?  Atticus’ 4 y/o sister is a pyromaniac, his father doesn’t like watching movies without him, and the bully looks like a Billy Goat apparently which later on in the story turns HIM into the victim.  And the villain is bald and obsessed with the color yellow.  At best these characters are really weird, and at worst?  Well, they’re horrible.

As far as the story and writing goes, I'm not a fan.

Dashner really, REALLY likes to explain things.  Everything.  Too much information.  So much of it is uninteresting and irrelevant to the story.  Things like descriptions of Atticus’ mother’s cleaning habits and exactly how long TO THE HOUR Norbert had been working at the post office.  All these descriptions felt like filler and since this book is on the longer end, I like to think a good editor would have weeded it down and gotten to the point.

There are twelve clues sent – in various, mostly pointless ways – to Atticus and the others.  Mostly the clues say I CAN’T TELL YOU ANYTHING!  The fact that there is twelve of them is SUPPOSED to be important, but really feels like they were there just to draw out the book.  All the clues would have done better to be combined into a single, simple poem.  About 75% of the book focusing on figuring out these poems and introducing Sofia, Paul, and throwing Atticus’ father Edgar in the mix.  The more interesting part of the book is squished into the end and rushed.

And the dialogue?  Mostly spent saying how they can’t say anything and being insulting and roundabout.

I really feel like this whole book could have been accomplished in about 125 pages and have been better for it.

This is a one star book for me.

This is an adventure that any age reader will enjoy. Easily addictive and quick paced with moments of smarts that leave you buzzing. Warning: There's some math involved!!!!

I have read several YA-novels by James Dashner, so this novel peaked my interest on NetGalley.com. I would recommend this fantasy/science-fiction adventure to readers in middle-school.

Atticus "Tick" Higgingbottom is a likeable, far from perfect protagonist, who sets out to solve the riddles he receives in the "Curious Letters", and I enjoyed solving them alongside him. As the story moves on he meets companions from all over the world and grows more confident; "having the courage to choose the difficult path" - standing up for himself and risking his life for others at the same time. I really enjoyed his relationship with his father, who is very supportive (while a little too trusting for my liking). 

While it was overall a pleasant reading experience, many of the supporting characters lacked in depth and the writing felt deliberately simplified. Little is known about the motivation of the antagonist, the conflict felt drawn in black-and-white. The sides are determined early on without giving much of an explanation.  

Although this world feels magical Dashner introduces the reader to a scientific background in an exciting way, which will probably lead many to question quantum physics further without overwhelming them.

I tried to get into this book, but it seemed every time i tried to sit down and get lost in it I dreaded reading. I loved the Maze Runner series but this one just didn't sit with me comfortably so I quit about 1/3 of the way into it.