Rating  - A good yarn for your grandson
Ted Bell has gifted his young hero, Nick, with a family and lifestyle that any red blooded boy would envy. The story holds together well, and youngster holds his own against malice and evil adults scattered about in time. I found the dialog a little much for my 8 year old, but will try him again when he is closer to 10. I think 10 to 14 years of age would be the prime targets for a good read such as this. By the way, Nick's little sister is a gem.
Rating  - Nazis in the strawberries and pirates in the parlor - 4.5 stars
Twelve-year old Nick McIver lives with his parents and 6 year-old sister, Kate, in the lighthouse on Greybeard Island in the English Channel. He spends as much time as possible in his little boat, Stormy Petrel, sailing around the island. But his adventures take a turn when Nick and Kate discover a small wooden chest washed up on the beach, and then run into a fearsome character called Billy Blood who is looking for it. If Nick didn't know better, he'd think Billy and his companion Snake Eye looked just like real pirates from the books he reads. But it's 1939, the eve of World War II, and pirates are a thing of the past, aren't they? At any rate, Nick has enough to worry about when he discovers that his father's "bird watching" hobby is actually spying on the activities of German U-boats in the Channel. When his dog, Jip, disappears right out from under his bed, and a nasty threatening note is left behind by Billy Blood, Nick has little choice but to seek out the help of the mysterious Lord Hawke, who hasn't been seen or heard from since his own children disappeared mysteriously 5 years earlier.
My family and I listened to the audio version of this book while on vacation and loved it. Every time the kids began to tire of the long drive and argue I'd start the story up again and they'd instantly fall quiet, listening intently. And a great story it is! With Nazis and pirates and time travel and danger and heroism it has all the elements of the great adventure stories I read many years ago. I can see why some are comparing it to Treasure Island and other such classics, although I think it's too premature to put Nick of Time in the same class. But the whole family enjoyed it, from my wife and I, our teenage son and the others even down to the youngest at 6 (my 9 year-old Kate especially liked Nick's brave and witty little sister Kate). None of us know much about sailing or other nautical terminology, but enjoyed the adventure nonetheless. I also appreciated the history mixed in to the story, although the brutality and reality of sea battles may not be for the faint of heart.
The narration on the audio was by John Shea, who does an admirable job of giving the many characters their own individual voices, although sometimes it was difficult to understand. But his style helps to give the story the great sense of adventure. Also, since I waited too long to order the CDs before leaving on vacation I had to download it from Audible.com, which was a bit more work and trouble than I'd have liked. In the end, though, it worked and we were able to listen to it on CDs in the car. And it's a great story that we'll keep and maybe listen to on another trip, although it would be nice to have the book, too.
Rating - Great Book for all ages
I was stuck in bed for 2 days following surgery and had enjoyed reading the rest of Ted Bell's books, so I though I would give Nick of Time a try even though I am well into my 20's. I was supposed to get a lot of sleep, but unfortunately I could not put Nick of Time down!!! It is so refreshing to read a book that supports strong morals and reminds readers of how important heros are. I think this book is just the best!!!
Rating - Delightful adventure!
I wasn't sure what to expect when I ordered this audio book. But we loved it! My children [and my husband and I] were enthralled with the story. It made the time go by quickly on our journey. We are very particular about what we listen to, and we gave this one a hearty thumbs-up. Captivating, kept our attention, and our 5-year-old wants to be a "hero" now!
Rating - Good Book
Excellent Book for young boys (bought this for my nephew) but also for adults who enjoyed books like Treasure Island or Count of Monte Cristo. Very enjoyable to read.
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Customer Reviews for St. Martin's Griffin,0312380682,9780312380687,0312380682, |
