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| Customer Reviews: | | Average Customer Review: ( 5 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
Great Story For All Ages Jun 29, 2009
By Lulu
The Legend of Vinny Whiskers is an animal adventure story for young adults, but as an adult I found I really enjoyed reading the book. The story kept my attention throughout and I found that I could not put it down. This creative story is about a prairie dog named Boomer, who from the start struggles to be like the other prairie dogs. As Boomer tries to fit in with the others he can't help but wonder what is out side of his prairie dog colony. By accident and curiosity, he learns what is on the other side of the "Great Fence" and so begins his adventures. It is through his adventures that the book teaches kids life lessons. That it is OK to be different, we all have a uniqueness or special quality that is not always prevalent and sometimes needs to be searched for. As for adults reading this book it is a reminder that we all in some way have something to give to society and that life is all about taking risks and chances. I thought this was a great book for any age, not only for teenagers and adults, but could also be read to young kids.
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
An adventure for all ages Jun 09, 2009
By Jennifer Davis
Such a fun book! It's the story of Boomer Lookout, a black-tailed prairie dog, who leaves his safe home to search for his friend, Punky. On his journey, he discovers his place in the world, and comes to terms with his heritage. A parallel story line describes the Rat Nation's attempts to protect and keep "The Tubes," a system of tunnels that they live in. Boomer's quest/coming-of-age story lines are nicely overlaid with subtle political themes (in a manner reminiscent of "Watership Down" or "Animal Farm") that arise from the Rat Nation's claim to The Tubes. Young adult readers will enjoy the animal characters, and the adventure story line; adults will also appreciate the political themes. In addition, the characters are well developed, and the plot makes it a total page turner.
What I like best about this book is the author's creativity, and his quirky and appealing sense of humor. If you're looking for something different and unpredictable, "The Legend of Vinny Whiskers," is an adventure story for all ages.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Fun for all ages Jul 06, 2009
By M. Bowman
I really enjoyed Vinny Whiskers and recommend it for readers of all ages. The storytelling is tight, the action is fun and fierce but appropriate for younger readers and the characters are well-developed. Overall a highly entertaining read that finally gives prarie dogs and other under-represented small mammals their due.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Loved it and I didn't even buy it for myself! Aug 24, 2009
By JH
I had bought this book on the recommendation of a friend for a young adult reader in my family. Before handing it over as a gift, I was flipping through and read a few pages. Before I knew it I had sat down and finished the book! It's a quick read with an action-packed story. I'll admit, if I had come across this on the shelf I wouldn't necessarily have grabbed it (adventure-seeking prairie dogs?), but I'm so glad it was recommended to me and I encourage others to pick it up and give it a read even if it's not something you'd ordinarily select. Even though this is supposed to be a "tween" book, I'm an adult and I found it engrossing. Mr. Kemp writes with an easy, entertaining style that keeps the book fast-paced and very funny at times. I will definitely look for more of his titles in the future, to buy for myself!
Fun for all ages!!! Sep 04, 2009
By David
In the vein of Richard Adam's classic "Watership Down", Brian Jacques epic "Redwall" series, and Robert C. O'Brien's beloved "Mrs. Frisby & the Rats of Nimh", Gregory Kemp masterfully weaves an delightful tale that deftly deals with issues that will resonate with young adults (and adults not afraid to slip the bonds of confining realism and enter into the more whimsical world of their imagination). Kemp successfully presents an engrossing and imaginative world that quickly whisks the reader away to a realm in which diverse animals, each with their own unique characteristics and peculiarities, are pitted against one another in a struggle for not simply mere survival, but the pursuit of freedom and a better life, all set against a clever backdrop which I will not give away in this review. Young readers will benefit from Kemp's writing style which may at times challenge them to expand their vocabulary and base of knowledge of the world around them (learning about things such as the scientific method... but always presented in such a fun way that they won't even realize they are learning). The trials and tribulations of Boomer and his friends force the characters, and thereby also the reader, to confront many issues that we must all run across at some time while growing up - betrayal and suspicion, the need to trust and have faith in something other than ourselves, strength that comes through diversity and inclusion, the pitfalls of discrimination based upon baseless assumptions, love and loss, the struggle between timidity and courage and the fine line between foolhardiness and bravery, fear of expectations placed upon us, and the exultant joy of personal growth, discovery and learning. The story will be thought provoking and expanding for young readers, and will provide an entertaining escape for adults who may wish to read along... or for those who would just like to get thoroughly and joyfully lost between the pages of a tantalizing anthropomorphic tale of adventure, angst, and self-discovery presented in a playful yet highly intelligent manner. We can only hope that this is just the beginning of Boomer and his friends.
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