Review: This is fun!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 15, 2014
The book has just the right balance between scary and funny scenes, and I'm sure young readers will be eager to join Pete on his adventurous scavenger hunt.Right from the start, the story creates a nice creepy atmosphere, but it never gets too unsettling, as they are often followed by some funny scene. Fortunately, those are never too childish or stupid, but just right to loosen up the mood a bit before Pete has to face his next task from the list.Of course I sympathized with Pete right from the start, and I bet every kid will easily identify with him, sharing his doubts and fears, but also his moments of bravery. Of course we anticipate who will win the contest, but it is good to see that Pete does not need any superhero powers, but just has to use his wit and common sense to outsmart Benny. While Benny is the supposed bad guy, he appears more ridiculous than threatening, and if you want to find a moral in this story, he shows that arrogance and cheating are no successful qualities.It is not easy to rate a book that is targeted at a younger audience, but as far as I can say (both as an adult and not a native speaker), writing, pace and length are appropriate. Also, the story is never silly or too childish, which makes it worthwhile for readers of all ages.(I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review)