Book Review: The Gollywhopper Games
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that there is nothing to be concerned
about here. Some characters cheat, but are caught, and the main
character is honest, even when offered bribes.
Families who read this book could discuss the games and puzzles. Do you like word games? Were you able to solve any of them yourself? How did you do it?
Common Sense Media Review
Start with
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
by Roald Dahl. Make Charlie a little more dynamic, and add
a backstory wherein he is trying to exonerate his father. Lose
the silly humor, keep the magical factory, but change the tour
to a series of puzzles and games, and you're getting close to
the idea of THE GOLLYWHOPPER GAMES, which the author says was
inspired by a boy who loved Dahl's classic book and wanted
something else like it.
OK, it's not really much like it, but the result is exciting and suspenseful, with puzzles that are just challenging enough, and characters to root for who are appealing, if not very fleshed out. Bright middle-graders will enjoy it, including pausing to figure out the riddles before the characters do, and may get interested in solving more word puzzles and playing word games afterwards. Good fun.
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