- Paperback: 282 pages
- Publisher: Authentic Media (Oct 9 2009)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1860247741
- ISBN-13: 978-1860247743
- Product Dimensions: 22.8 x 15.2 x 2 cm
- Shipping Weight: 558 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #810,132 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
Review
"'Impressive stuff!... A gripping story and the graphic look is very engaging.' Blue Peter"
Product Description
At Isambard Dunstan's School for Wayward Children, life is trouble for 14-year-old identical twins Sadie and Saskia Dopple and their friend, former thief Erik Morrisey Ganger. But what starts out as a perfectly normal day of food fights, rioting classmates, fires and (yawn) threats of expulsion goes suddenly and horribly wrong when a mysterious, wealthy woman appears at the school and adopts Saskia...without her sister. On her own in a mansion full of dark secrets, Saskia stumbles upon a conspiracy that threatens her very life. Meanwhile, desperate to find her, Sadie and Erik escape from the orphanage with a gang of enemies in hot pursuit. Faced with perils beyond their imagination, the trio must decide who to trust and what to believe if they are to survive.
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
Action and Adventure for Reluctant Readers
April 11 2011
Format:Hardcover
I was curious to read The First Escape because the book was for reluctant readers. I wanted to experience the new "illustra novel" approach to reading a book. The book is part plain text, part picture book, and part graphic novel. It was interesting to experience as an adult, and I can plainly see how this type of publication would help a child who doesn't enjoy reading to finish a long story. This book is full of action and adventure, death and doom. I'm sure that it would easily keep the attention of a reluctant reader from start to finish. While this book is published by a Christian publishing company, there isn't too much of a spiritual nature to the book, just a slight hinting of a higher purpose from a mysterious person... perhaps an angel? It makes me wonder if the following books in the series have more of a spiritual bent to them.
I recommend this action packed book for young people who don't really like to read, but enjoy a good adventure.
(I received a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of review.)
I recommend this action packed book for young people who don't really like to read, but enjoy a good adventure.
(I received a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of review.)
Fast-paced Adventure
April 10 2011
Format:Hardcover
As the parent of a reluctant reader, and having taught many of them in the classroom, learning about a new genre called 'illustra novel' gave me hope that a book that, once started, will actually get finished. Part novel, part comic book, part graphic novel, The Dopple Ganger Chronicles: The First Escape by G.P. Taylor promises to encourage reluctant readers into tackling bigger books without feeling overwhelmed before they even start (a common challenge at our house). The 'illustra novel' is also a treat for children who already love to read and is a feast for the eyes as well as the mind.
This fast-paced, high-energy, intense story will keep readers turning pages faster than they ever have before. Twin sisters Sadie and Saskia team up with fellow orphan Erik to escape the drudgery of the orphanage. Along the way they discover dark secrets and a conspiracy that could separate the twins forever. The target audience is grades 4 ' 7 and I would not encourage it for younger readers without a parent reading it first. There is subject matter that is more manageable for older readers but may be a bit scary for younger ones. The intensity in the plot is relieved by humour that appeals directly to this age range (there is a stuffed donkey bottom involved ' need I say more?) While at times I found the jump from novel to comic a bit hard to follow, my reluctant reader made the leap seamlessly and caught the visual story details that I often missed. The First Escape introduces spiritual themes and the author has left room to expand these themes in the coming books.
Taylor is a master wordsmith who has honed his craft to challenge this age group. He gives the reader word pictures that appeal to them and directs them to visualize things in new ways. One of my favourite lines is found on page 9: 'Together, they were like two wild cats that had taken human form, sent by an avenging angel to wreak havoc on humanity.'
This series promises to be an excellent resource in the classroom as well as at home to encourage reluctant readers to actually finish a book, thereby gaining a great sense of accomplishment. This is how the reading war is won!
I give this book 5 stars out of 5.
I received this book free from Tyndale House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
This fast-paced, high-energy, intense story will keep readers turning pages faster than they ever have before. Twin sisters Sadie and Saskia team up with fellow orphan Erik to escape the drudgery of the orphanage. Along the way they discover dark secrets and a conspiracy that could separate the twins forever. The target audience is grades 4 ' 7 and I would not encourage it for younger readers without a parent reading it first. There is subject matter that is more manageable for older readers but may be a bit scary for younger ones. The intensity in the plot is relieved by humour that appeals directly to this age range (there is a stuffed donkey bottom involved ' need I say more?) While at times I found the jump from novel to comic a bit hard to follow, my reluctant reader made the leap seamlessly and caught the visual story details that I often missed. The First Escape introduces spiritual themes and the author has left room to expand these themes in the coming books.
Taylor is a master wordsmith who has honed his craft to challenge this age group. He gives the reader word pictures that appeal to them and directs them to visualize things in new ways. One of my favourite lines is found on page 9: 'Together, they were like two wild cats that had taken human form, sent by an avenging angel to wreak havoc on humanity.'
This series promises to be an excellent resource in the classroom as well as at home to encourage reluctant readers to actually finish a book, thereby gaining a great sense of accomplishment. This is how the reading war is won!
I give this book 5 stars out of 5.
I received this book free from Tyndale House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
An interesting concept for a book
April 25 2009
Format:Hardcover
This is definitively full of action and adventure. Written for young people (it is a juvenile fiction after all...), I must say that even an adult could enjoy this book. Especially if this adult is into comic books! And I know what I am talking about because we collect comic books and as soon as my husband saw the book he thought this was an interesting concept and was looking forward to read it.
I must say that I am impressed with how the story is presented. At times, you read a text and then suddenly you are propelled into the comic world for a page or two. You experience lots of action and adventure during your reading of the book. I must advise that there is a séance going on at one point but Saskia quickly realize that it is fake and not real. Also, at one point a character shows up - Potemkin who is an illusionist - and honeslty I am wondering what this character is doing in the story. I don't see the point of putting such a character in there. It honestly feels like he got created to fill a space and add more mystery in the story. I am still trying to figure out this character and I might have to read the book a second time to understand it...
Apart from that, the book was great and interesting to read. I like the idea of incorporating art and text together to help the younger generation to develop a love of reading. It is a skill that needs to explore various ways to reach out to the new generation since more and more young ones don't enjoy it.
[...]I look forward for the second book of The Dopple Ganger Chronicles to know what will happen to Sadie, Saskia and Erik. I grew to love the characters in the book I have just read and look forward to learn more about them.
I must say that I am impressed with how the story is presented. At times, you read a text and then suddenly you are propelled into the comic world for a page or two. You experience lots of action and adventure during your reading of the book. I must advise that there is a séance going on at one point but Saskia quickly realize that it is fake and not real. Also, at one point a character shows up - Potemkin who is an illusionist - and honeslty I am wondering what this character is doing in the story. I don't see the point of putting such a character in there. It honestly feels like he got created to fill a space and add more mystery in the story. I am still trying to figure out this character and I might have to read the book a second time to understand it...
Apart from that, the book was great and interesting to read. I like the idea of incorporating art and text together to help the younger generation to develop a love of reading. It is a skill that needs to explore various ways to reach out to the new generation since more and more young ones don't enjoy it.
[...]I look forward for the second book of The Dopple Ganger Chronicles to know what will happen to Sadie, Saskia and Erik. I grew to love the characters in the book I have just read and look forward to learn more about them.
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