Review & Happy Release Day: The Magnificent Twelve

The Magnificent Twelve: The Call (ARC) by Michael Grant
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Release Date: August 24th, 2010
Pages: 256
Series: The Magnificent Twelve #1
Age Level: 10+

Synopsis from GoodReads
Twelve-year-old Mack MacAvoy suffers from a serious case of mediumness. Medium looks. Medium grades. Medium parents who barely notice him. With a list of phobias that could make anyone crazy, Mack never would have guessed that he is destined for a more-than-medium life.

And then, one day, something incredibly strange happens to Mack. A three-thousand-year-old man named Grimluk appears in the boys' bathroom to deliver some startling news: Mack is one of the Magnificent Twelve, called the Magnifica in ancient times, whatever that means. An evil force is on its way, and it's up to Mack to track down eleven other twelve-year-olds in order to stop it. He must travel across the world to battle the wicked Pale Queen's dangerous daughter, Ereskigal—also known as Risky. But Risky sounds a little scary, and Mack doesn't want to be a hero. Will he answer the call?

A laugh-out-loud story filled with excitement and magic, The Magnificent Twelve: The Call is the first book in bestselling author Michael Grant's hilarious new fantasy adventure series.

Review
In a time where originality is almost a lost art, The Magnificent Twelve: The Call really managed to hold it's own. It was a unique and humorous story in every aspect; a truly refreshing read unlike anything I've ever read before.

Mack was a very witty and lovable character in all his dorky glory. I found his various phobias to be very interesting, and even ironic, considering his crazy willingness to take on bullies. This was just one of the things that made Mack a complex character. Throughout the book, Mack is constantly forced to face some of his fears and I feel he came out on the other side a stronger character because of it and with humor still intact. Stefan never really said much and turned out to be a surprising character that I also liked. Then there was Jarrah whom I didn't get to know quite as well but from what I can tell, she's pretty sassy and potentially kick-ass. Oh, and how could I forget the Golem; he is absolutely hilarious.

I think The Magnificent Twelve: The Call is possibly the first book I've read where the bad guys were actual monsters, or at least since I was kid. The monsters were really part of what made this book so original; they were at once both comical and frightening, a great accomplishment by Grant. Nothing about this book gave me that frequent feeling of, 'Been there, done that.' like a lot of books seem to do these days. The story and characters had me laughing frequently, almost constantly, plus it was fast-paced, magical, and slammed full of action!

I really enjoyed the simple, light-hearted writing style. Even though it's told in third-person, The Magnificent Twelve: The Call turned out to be one of the few books where I really didn't mind. This book alternates between present and past perspectives. I definitely preferred the present chapters since the ones set during, 'A really, really long time ago...' could sometimes stray from funny to absurd and I often found myself wanting to speed through those but they are very necessary to the story.

The ending was just as it should be. It left everything set up perfectly and has me looking forward to the next installment in this exciting series.

The Magnificent Twelve: The Call was a quick, adventurous, and fun breath of fresh air. I can easily see myself recommending this book to kids, teens, and even adults. Plus I love that it appeals to both genders. I will definitely be re-reading this book in the future and I'm looking forward to the second book.

Grade
Characters: B
Writing: B-
Plot: B
Ending: B
#1 in Series: B
Enjoyment/Likability: B-
Recommendable: B

Overall: B

Cover: B+

HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY TO 'THE MAGNIFICENT TWELVE: THE CALL' BY MICHAEL GRANT!!!!