Well, that was a fun read! I don’t read many middle grade books, but when I saw it was written by Brandon Sanderson, I figured I needed to give it a try. I’m glad I did. Evil Librarians, dinosaurs with British accents, magical glasses, monsters made of paper… what’s not to love?!

“𝔸𝕦𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕣𝕤 𝕨𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕖 𝕓𝕠𝕠𝕜𝕤 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕠𝕟𝕖, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕠𝕟𝕝𝕪 𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕠𝕟: 𝕓𝕖𝕔𝕒𝕦𝕤𝕖 𝕨𝕖 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕥𝕠 𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕖 𝕡𝕖𝕠𝕡𝕝𝕖.”

—
On Alcatraz Smedrys 13th birthday, a mysterious box of sand arrives at the home that he lives at with his foster parents. Along with the sand, a piece of paper containing a bunch of illegible scribbles is attached. Soon after receiving the package, a man shows up claiming to be his uncle, and tells him the sand is extremely important and they must get it back. From there, Alcatraz is swept up in a whirlwind adventure of dangerous magic inside a library full of secrets.

“ℙ𝕒𝕡𝕖𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕥𝕤,” 𝕤𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕕. “𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕤𝕥 𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕞 𝕠𝕗 𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕖.”

I have to say tho, the humor in this book was the star factor for me. Mr Sanderson, you are hilarious 😂. I laughed. A lot. From Uncle Smedrys funny sayings, to made up words to the ending… I had a blast with this book!

Alcatraz Smedry has lived his first 13 years of life bouncing from foster home to foster home. No one wants to keep him around because he has an uncanny ability—a talent, you might say—of breaking things. Suddenly, his grandfather he never knew he had shows up, and Alcatraz’s world turns upside down (or, perhaps as Alcatraz might put it, right side up).
This was a fun read! There were time I literally laughed out loud while reading it. At times it felt so silly and like utter nonsense written just for laughs, but then suddenly all came together in a way that made me go “OH. Okay, I see!” The narration style was funny and snarky and so enjoyable. And, beneath it all was a powerful theme about seeing the world more clearly and the true power of knowledge. Definitely a fun read that any age reader could enjoy!

This is a fun middle grade novel that can be enjoyed by all. Premise is hilarious and overall a good MG read

This is a fun, adventure, middle grade, spy, fantasy. What if you were an orphaned superhero and your superpower was breaking everything you touch? Alcatraz has been sent from foster home to foster home until he turns 13 and discovers he has a wacky grandfather whose superpower is being late for everything. He also learns that Librarians secretly rule the world and are the definition of evil!

as someone who has been attempting to break into brandon sanderson's works, this was a great place to start. alcatraz vs. the evil librarians follow alcatraz, our lovable, messy protagonist who can't help but break whatever he comes across. yes, both literally, and figuratively. as we learn about alcatraz's background, he gets pulled into a war between two conflicting sides, and readers will be on the edge of their seat as they revel in what unravels.

this was a lot of fun; i really don't read a lot of middle grade books, but i really enjoyed this. the characters were enjoyable to read about, and i never felt bored at any point of the book. the sense of adventure never ends, and i liked how the illustrations added a lot to this book; they were one of my favorite parts. i think there's an aspect that every type of reader can relate to while reading this! 4/5 stars.

thank you to both netgalley and macmillan-tor/forge for a digital e-arc in exchange for an honest review. all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC of Alcatraz vs the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson. Alcatraz Smedry, is a foster child who is always breaking things. On his 13th birthday, he receives a bag of sand from his absent parents, setting off a very unusual string of events. The following day, an older man, purporting to be his grandfather arrives and asks Alcatraz about the sand, claiming that it is very important. However, the sand has been stolen by the secret rulers of the world, the Evil Librarians. So the grandfather and Alcatraz, along with a few other family members, set off on a journey to recover the sand and save the world from the Evil Librarians.

This book was a fun, quick humorous read that I think lots of young middle grade students will enjoy.

Brandon Sanderson is a fantastic writer and, of course, I loved this book. I'm going to read the whole series. Between the puns and the evil librarian syndicate, there's so much to love here. Great middle grade read, to be certain,. 4.5 stars

Alcatraz versus the evil Librarians is the first book in a middle grade series by Brandon Sanderson and when I got the chance to read it, I was fairly excited. I've said in a separate review that I'm a fan of his writing and the idea of a middle grade by him was interesting.

This is a fast paced fun read with a hero that might not be everyone's favorite at the outset. See, Alcatraz is a bit of a rough kid. He breaks things. And he's done it his entire life. In foster care he's been through a lot of families. Not all of them have been able to handle the breaking which, we have to remember, isn't done on purpose.

Or at least not all of it. Now, at 13, Alcatraz doesn't like to get close. He's abrasive. And so when he breaks things, not all of it is accidental. Don't picture him throwing things to the ground, that isn't how it works. He just has to touch things and they break.

He broke a chicken. It's brought up early on and I kept reading because I needed to know how it was broken. I didn't expect anything graphic, and it wasn't. It was fairly funny though so no spoilers.

Alcatraz is a Smedry, a family with a long history of these talents. In this we meet his Grandfather, Leavenworth and his cousin, Sing. They are from the Free Kingdoms where a lot of people are named after prisons. Bastille is a knight and she's a thirteen year old with an attitude due to dealing with Leavenworth and her own personal issues.

While she isn't the worst character I've ever read, she was a little annoying. To be honest, so was Alcatraz. But he'd been through so many foster homes it was easy to see how he could end up that way.

Now, back to the Free Kingdoms. The world is quite literally bigger than Alcatraz knows and the reason for this lack of knowledge is the fact that he lives in the Hushlands. Or, the world you and I know. It's ruled by Librarians and they control the information being given.

There's a war between the two "worlds" that Alcatraz gets pulled into because he's not a Hushlander. Not really.

It's a fun book with an interesting writing style. The narrator, Alcatraz after at least some time has passed since the events in the story, interjects throughout the novel with various bits of information.

While it was entertaining, it did sort of mess with the pace of the story. A chapter would end on something dramatic and unresolved and the next started with the narrator acknowledging that fact before saying a few things and then getting on with the story.

All in all, it's a fun book. I'd recommend it to younger readers. It's a good dip into fantasy when the genre is so big and daunting. There's different ethnicities, though not many. Hopefully the rest of the series has better representation. There wasn't really anything offensive, although if I missed it, I will revise this.

I'm giving this a four (4) out a five (5).

I received this eArc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to them and the publisher.

3.5 stars rounded up

As an adult reader, I found this book highly tongue-in-cheek. It is a romp of a fantasy that will entertain middle grade readers by keeping them on the edge of their seats in suspense while laughing.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc of a republished series in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to like this book more. I loved the narrator throughout, the nods and pokes at my library profession, and the amount of wacky events in this, however I feel that so much was packed into each page that it made it hard to read. With so many new words (as we are learning as Alcatraz is) and hinting at future and past events, parents and librarians and family ties and locations and technology differences and sands and glasses and things we have named but aren't told what they mean and just told to keep up...the pacing made it excruciatingly hard to want to follow. There was so much word-vomit that it felt like a lot of ideas were thrown in and nothing was edited or taken out for clarity, pacing, or overall story. I DNF (which is rare for me) because part of the way through I realized I dreaded sinking back into such a chunky story (and life is too short to force yourself to read books you don't want to.) I want to know what happens, because the plot itself is interesting, but the way the story is told really drags its feet.
I intend to finish this, and upon completion I will edit my review further, but I can only hope reading it becomes less muddy.
Thank you Macmillan-Tor/Forge, Starscape, and NetGalley for the ARC.

I admire Brandon Sanderson. He is a remarkable writer and teacher, and his recent Kickstarter is something unimaginable. Absolutely amazing.

However, I DNFed this novel. Mostly because the hero annoyed me. He wasn't sympathetic at all and his voice irritated me.

#alcatrazvstheevillibrarians by Brandon Sanderson is an action filled fantasy novel for middle schoolers. My sons and I couldn't put this novel down; from evil librarians to dinosaurs to secret lenses this book had action and adventure at every turn📚🤓❤️

Thank you to #NetGallery and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for a review

Fun story that should gel with kids who love the idea of evil librarians (even if I bristled at the thought), crazy grandpas and secret missions to rescue items from the wrong hands. Every middle schooler wants to believe that all the clumsy things and missteps they make are really their superpower! Alcatraz is no different and is tired of hurting those he loves and messing up every good relationship he has ever had. Positive message, fun story, crazy adventure that is sure to be a winner with lovers of Chris Grabenstein and Louis Sacher's Wayside School series.

Such a wonderful and hilarious book. Brandon Sanderson never disappoints! I loved everything about this book!! I was worried it would fall into the Harry Potter troupe, but I was glad that Sanderson went a different way with Alcatraz. Highly recommend for reluctant readers of Middle Grades. 5 stars!

I read this a few years back and really enjoyed it. It's the perfect mix of funny and adventurous with a nice side of quirky. The abilities people have in this book can be humorous but also be used in quite interesting ways.

This book is good for both kids and adults as it doesn't talk down to kids so any adults shouldn't feel bored.

As for this edition, the pictures are a nice addition but if you've already read this then feel free to pass. If you've never read this then now is the perfect time.

This is a great middle grade fantasy book full of action, adventure and wit. The narrative style is engaging and fans of Lemony Snicket will enjoy the "piece-to-camera" segments from the main character. There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments and I'm glad this book is being republished to thrill a new generation of fantasy readers.

This is the first book in a middle grade series by author Brandon Sanderson and it is quite the read. The author/narrator is Alcatraz and his life gets flipped upside down on his thirteenth birthday. He breaks things and has broken things his whole life and because of this he is moved from one foster family to the next. When he gets a random bag of sand as a birthday present as an inheritance he thought it was a joke but then when his Grandpa shows up out of no where and tells you the sand is very important and that librarians are evil everything goes crazy. This was a very fun read that I think middle grade readers are going to really enjoy. I know I will be looking forward to reading the next installments.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked this! It's not like the typical Sanderson book, but it was a fun ride.

The writing was funny and interesting and fast paced. This was a blast and a quick read! The illustrations really added to my enjoyment and immersion. This was quirky and unique and interesting, and I can see this appealing to people in all age groups.

The main character was an interesting narrator and I appreciated the color his voice brought to the story!

Alcatraz Vs. the Evil Librarians

By: Brandon Sanderson

Macmillan-Tor/Forge, Starscape

Publish Date 3 May 2022

Children’s Fiction/Middle-grade/Sci Fi & Fantasy

#AlcatrazvstheEvilLibrarian#NetGalley

100 Book ReviewsProfessional Reader

Good Reads synopsis:

Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians is the first adventure in a fantasy series for young readers by the #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson. The fast-paced and funny series is now available in deluxe hardcover editions illustrated by Hayley Lazo.

On his thirteenth birthday, foster child Alcatraz Smedry gets a bag of sand in the mail-his only inheritance from his father and mother. He soon learns that this is no ordinary bag of sand. It is quickly stolen by the cult of evil Librarians who are taking over the world by spreading misinformation and suppressing truth. Alcatraz must stop them, using the only weapon he has: an incredible talent for breaking things.

Book review:

This was a fun story and different than I am used to from Sanderson. I gave the book 4 stars and can’t wait for the next book to come out.

This is about a boy who is in foster care because he has no family to go too. He is moved all the time because the families can’t handle his breaking of things. He can’t help it and doesn’t know how to fix it.

On his thirteenth birthday he receives a package in the mail. It is a birthday present from his parents. He is confused and wonders what is going on. A few things happens which leads him to being transferred to another family the next day.

The next day a strange old man comes to visit him and wants him to go with him. This old man tells him he is his Grandfather. Poor Alcatraz doesn’t know what is happening and who this man is. He does ed up going with him because something happened and it scarred him.

They go on few adventures and he learns more about his family and what is going on.

I recommend this book for the young readers and even adults. You will feel his ain and laugh at the same time.

What worked:
I always appreciate a good hook, and this book immediately grabbed my interest. An “author’s” note describes the book as a true autobiography even though readers will find it on the shelves of the fantasy section in their libraries. The author’s name is an alias since Librarians rule the Hushlands, our world, and would ban the book if they knew his true identity. Chapter one opens with a foster child named Al, short for Alcatraz, strapped to an altar “made from outdated encyclopedias” awaiting sacrifice by a cult of evil Librarians. Most of the story takes place within the walls of a library, although it’s not like any library you’ve ever visited. It’s a base for the evil Librarians, is led by a Dark Oculator, and is the setting for an action-packed adventure.
The story is very funny, and readers can expect many strange descriptions and visual images. Al receives a bag of sand on his thirteenth birthday that may be the key to survival for the Free Kingdoms. Al and other Smedrys have special talents that are quite unusual. Al’s talent is breaking things, his grandfather is always late, one cousin says things that make no sense, and another can fall down. How can these abilities be useful in a war against the Librarians? Al’s ability is unpredictable, so it’s hard to foresee when breaking something will save him. Rest assured the talents do in fact help, and they’re just as humorous as you’d expect.
The story is written in a second-person point of view, so the narrator speaks directly to readers. Most chapters begin with the narrator explaining how authors normally write books and how this book is very different. He talks about foreshadowing and cliffhangers and explains the merits and problems with each. These explanations aren’t done to inform readers but to continue the humorous writing style. The narrator often pokes fun at librarians, authors, culture, and misinformation we’ve learned. It’s amusing to read about authors’ annoying literary techniques and how reading books like this one are worthless. The narrator even teases himself by sharing misconceptions about his own knowledge and clarifying why he’s not actually heroic.
What didn’t work as well:
The early part of the book is tricky when trying to figure out what’s going on since the narrator informs readers of their ignorance. This sets the table for humor, as Al learns why swords are better than guns, torches are better than electric lights, and our unawareness of several additional continents on earth. The main conflicts are, in fact, trying to retrieve the sand and learning about Al’s parents.
The Final Verdict:
Information holds real power. Readers must have a tolerance for bizarre humor, which I possess, but that open-mindedness will be rewarded in this creative, entertaining “autobiography”. The charming narrative will be sure to leave readers smiling, as Al battles the evil Librarians. I recommend you give this book a shot!