These posts explain the ranking system I used and what my ranks mean.
Out of this batch all but one scored quite well in the Enjoyments section - but even the one that I felt was less enjoyable is a book that is fun to read with kids. All of these books have a final score that would make them a 4 out of 5 star book, but three rank very high in the enjoyment section for me.
One of the older ones that I had never really read because I had no real need or desire to. I actually got a fair amount of enjoyment out of this book. This is probably the first book with blatantly obvious fantasy/ mythology influence regarding a giant sea serpent at the end.
Characters - 9 - I really like the monks (probably stemming from a fondness for The Secret of Kells) and I like that we are trying to shoehorn in a specific historical character.
Atmosphere - 5 - This book is exceedingly light on atmosphere - I probably rated too high - but I maintain that it was executed better than it really had any right to be.
Writing Style - 8
Plot - 5
Intrigue - 5
Logic - 9
Enjoyment - 8
Education - 8
Final Score: 7.125
I was not super enthusiastic about the magic hats in the previous entry in the series, so I was really happy with the disappearance of that plot point. Each entry in this quartet includes some kind of new element and this is easily the one that most easily fits it in with the rest of the series.
Characters - 9
Atmosphere - 6
Writing Style - 8
Plot - 4
Intrigue - 7 - I don't think disaster books ever fully go out of style. The impending doom also makes it easy to continue reading this book.
Logic - 8 - A lot of what happens makes sense and gels with flood experiences from survivors of another flood, that I interviewed back in high school.
Enjoyment - 7
Education - 8
Final Score: 7.125
The last of the quartet that introduced the Merlin Missions. Merlin asks Jack and Annie to retrieve a special sword that was stolen by the Ice Wizard. This is one of a handful of books that take place entirely in a fictional realm and as such scores pretty low on the non-fiction aspect.
Characters - 9 - This book introduces us to the recurring character of Kathleen, a selkie friend of Teddy. From here on out, if Teddy is in a book - so is Kathleen.
Atmosphere - 6
Writing Style - 8
Plot - 8 - These fantasy-heavy books are much better at utilizing plot. This book is slightly more episodic than the other three in its quartet hence only an eight.
Intrigue - 7
Logic - 8
Enjoyment - 9
Education - 2
Final Score: 7.125
This in another that is more fun to read-aloud than just to myself. I like the idea of learning lessons from nature in this one that is down without any cheesy 'talking to animals' plots that would crop up in future books.
Characters - 8
Atmosphere - 7
Writing Style - 8
Plot - 6 - This is such a thin plot, but it introduces a new mystery and does a fair job establishing how much of the series will progress from here on out.
Intrigue - 7 - Little kids happen to really like ninjas. I think that the appeal fades a bit as the book goes on, but the strong start carries it to the end.
Logic - 8
Enjoyment - 5
Education - 9
Final Score: 7.25
This is such an odd selection; it is kind of the first book that seems to exist simply because Mary Pope Osbourne likes the subject... unless you know lots of 2nd graders into Shakespeare?
Characters - 9 - Annie pulling a crazy stunt for once doesn't super bother me and every other character is pleasant. I'm not sure I totally buy how genial William Shakespeare himself was - but this fictional Will is a delight.
Atmosphere - 6
Writing Style - 8
Plot - 8
Intrigue - 4
Logic - 7
Enjoyment - 8
Education - 8
Final Score: 7.25
I love snow leopards, so I was really eager to read this book. Only a couple of other animal-centered books rank higher than this one, in spite of some glaring issues. I did have to shake my head and think 'Jack, you dork' a few times. He is once again really concerned with the ghost mentioned in Morgan's riddle, despite the fact that usually the ghost is no such thing, and he has met and befriend actual ghosts in other entries in the series.
Characters - 8 - Tenzin is a pleasant side character with a deep backstory and even some character growth. He does have a too-close-to-believe relationship with the snow leopard that sort of made me roll my eyes.
Atmosphere - 8 - The Nepalese village is described so well that it becomes one of my favorite settings in the series. The mountains were pretty cut and dry.
Writing Style - 8
Plot - 4
Intrigue - 7
Logic - 7 - I had to dock some points because of the unrealistic behavior the snow leopard exhibits towards Tenzin.
Enjoyment - 8
Education - 8
Final Score: 7.25
24. The Knight at Dawn - Graphic Novel
This is the rewrite the book deserved. It hits a lot of similar beats but throws in a good reason for us to miss out on the party and end up in prison. I would easily recommend this book to anyone disappointed by the original entry.
Characters - 7 - There weren't really any side characters to speak of in the original, but now we have a bit of insight into the Middle Ages via interactions with other prisoners.
Atmosphere - 7 - Much better execution of the premise in this version. Instead of just ending up in prison and breaking out, Jack and Annie help some other prisoners escape the evil duke's prison.
Writing Style - 6
Plot - 6
Intrigue - 7
Logic - 9
Enjoyment - 7
Education - 9
Final Score: 7.25
Jack and Annie travel to the time before Alexander was 'the Great' and find that he is a bit insufferable. They then decide to act as horse trainers and prepare Bucephalus, to be Alexander's horse.
Characters - 6 - While Alexander is insufferable, it is Jack and Annie that really shocked me. They are generally nice characters, but they kind of have a mean streak in the middle of this book.
Atmosphere - 7
Writing Style - 8
Plot - 8 - One of the more solid plots in a historical setting. Events lead from one point to the next in a way that doesn't come off as aimless.
Intrigue - 5 - I suppose the horse aspect will draw some kids in, but I don't see our historical figure being a big draw.
Logic - 8
Enjoyment - 9 - HOW? The horse books always win me over, despite me knowing nothing about horses.
Education - 8
Final Score: 7.375
This one is so weird because our historical figure is still alive. Imagine reading a book where time travelers are sent by Merlin to learn a secret of greatness from you. Jack and Annie never actually interact with Pele, so that helps a bit.
Characters - 8 - I really like Roberto, the boy that helps Jack and Annie find the big game. It happens to be his birthday and they help him see Pele play, later they meet his cousin and friends and play their own game of soccer.
Atmosphere - 4 - So much riding in a subway and getting around in a busy stadium.
Writing Style - 7
Plot - 6
Intrigue - 7 - Sport books obviously come with their own preferred audience. This book falters a bit through a long description of getting around Mexico City.
Logic - 10 - Everything in the story makes sense, right down to the fact that Jack and Annie never meet Pele but learn his secret of greatness from someone else.
Enjoyment - 8 - I found myself really liking this book despite pretty low expectations.
Education - 9
Final Score: 7.375
Easily the best book in its quartet. Also, the first book on this ranking with a pretty score in enjoyment. Which is good because in chronological order it came after a pretty dry spell. In this book Jack and Annie find themselves in New Orleans on Halloween, they are looking for a young Louis Armstrong to inspire his music.
Characters - 9 - Louis Armstrong is probably the best historical character in the whole series. He is a well-fleshed out character but still manages to retain his air of history.
Atmosphere - 6 - New Orleans on Halloween? Fairly spooky atmosphere, but don't forget - if there's a party Jack and Annie will avoid it.
Writing Style - 8
Plot - 3 - This is so slice of life, mostly Jack and Annie just follow Louis from one job to another.
Intrigue - 7
Logic - 8
Enjoyment - 10
Education - 8
Final Score: 7.375
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