Enchanting Review: The Gecko And Sticky: The Greatest Power

THE GECKO & STICKY: THE GREATEST POWER
WENDELIN VAN DRAANEN
Middle Grade
Knopf
ISBN# 978-0-375-84377-8
194 Pages
$12.99 US/ $14.99 CAN
Hardcover--Available May 26, 2009

Rating: 5 Enchantments

THE GECKO & STICKY: THE GREATEST POWER is a highly entertaining read. Thirteen year old Dave and his talking gecko, Sticky, end up caught in the midst of a bank robbery by the dastardly villain Damien Black. But this isn't the first time Dave has met Damien. In fact, Sticky knows him too. The ancient wrist-let that Dave wears around his arm, gives him both the power of the gecko and invisibility. It was taken from Damien and Damien would really like it back. Dave however, wants to get back the money and the tiger eye ring that Damien stole from Ms. Kulee, the first customer of Dave's courier service.

An engaging read, THE GECKO & STICKY: THE GREATEST POWER is definitely one of my favorite books of the year. I loved the humor and the voice of the narrator, who talks directly to the reader, sharing secrets that even the characters don't know. It was filled with fun characters, from Dave and the unusual talking gecko and kleptomaniac Sticky, to even Damien and his love for his 1959 Eldorado Biarritz and the hilarious Bandito Brothers, a bad guy mariachi band. One of my favorite scenes is when Dave and Sticky break into Damien's and are searching for a way out of the tunnels below and into the house and come across the monkey in a cage, who's main job is brewing coffee for Damien. Absolutely hilarious what happens when the invisible Dave breaks the monkey out of the cage and the monkey starts following them.

Readers looking for a fun read that will make you laugh, should definitely pick up THE GECKO & STICKY: THE GREATEST POWER. The next book in the series is due out October 2009.

Wendelin Van Draanen is the winner of the 1999 Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Children’s Mystery Book for Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief. Sammy Keyes and the Search for Snake Eyes is a 2003 Edgar Award nominee. Visit Wendelin Van Draanen's Web site at www.wendelinvandraanen.com for the latest on The Gecko and Sticky, Sammy Keyes, Shredderman, and more.

Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
May 2009