Review: X Marks the Spot (Treasure Island) by Tony Abbott

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

When Devin and Frankie get stuck in a swashbuckling novel, can they defeat the evil pirates and find the treasure before they’re stuck on an island forever?
Once again, best friends Devin and Frankie have neglected to do their English assignment. This week, the class is reading Treasure Island, and the two friends promise their teacher that they’ll be ready to give their book reports the next day. Of course, this can only mean one thing: it’s time for a trip to the library, where the magic security gates have the power to catapult Devin and Frankie into the pages of a book! When they land inside Treasure Island, the two friends are in for a surprise. It turns out a pirate has died and left them with his map to hidden treasure!
Alongside memorable characters like Long John Silver and the brave young Jim Hawkins, Devin and Frankie are on a mission to locate the mysterious lost treasure of the dreaded pirate, Captain Flint. But Frankie and Devin’s friends aren’t the only people on the hunt. A nasty band of pirates is after the treasure too, and they will stop at nothing to get their hands on the gold!

MY TAKE:
Like a lot of bookworms, I've often imagined myself interacting with the characters of the books I read.

In X Marks the Spot (Treasure Island), Frankie and Devin find themselves in the universe of Treasure Island. Since they haven't read the book yet, they have no idea what's going to happen next. Will they make it back to their own world?

I grew up watching Wishbone, a television show about a dog's (and his owner's) real-life adventures and the books that it reminds him of. The current generation of youngsters don't really have anything like that, but this book and the other books in a series are a good substitute.

Much like Wishbone, kids get to learn the classics without actually having to read the book, which may be too advanced or boring for some of them. The difference, though, is Wishbone usually imagines himself as the main character, while Frankie and Devin are actually sucked into and participate in the story as themselves.

Now, I remember reading adaptations of Treasure Island, as well as watching Treasure Planet, before, but when I started reading this book, I couldn't remember what the ending of the book was. Thanks to this book, though, I don't think I'll forget it again.

Thanks to NetGalley and Open Road Media Teen & Tween for the e-copy.

THE GOOD:

1. It's an interesting premise.
2. It can help kids learn the gist of Treasure Island.
3. The characters are likable.

THE BAD:

1. There are some parts that may feel a little bit slow-moving. 

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

It was like an eighteenth-century Starbucks. 

READ IT IF:

1. You haven't read or can't remember the plot of Treasure Island.
2. You like imagining yourself in the worlds of the books you read.
3. Your kid is looking for an adventure book. 

RATING:


SOUNDS INTERESTING?