Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians (Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians, #1)

by Brandon Sanderson

Hayley Lazo (Illustrator)

From the author of the Mistborn series and a master of contemporary fantasy comes a collection of his four-book Alcatraz series, the tale of a small group of freedom fighters operating against the cult of Evil Librarians.

On his 13th birthday, Alcatraz, a foster child, gets a bag of sand in the mail which purports to be his “inheritance” sent from his father and mother. The Librarians, of course, immediately steal the bag of sand from him. This sparks a chain of events which leads Alcatraz to realize that his family is part of a group of freedom fighters who resist the Evil Librarians—the secret cult who actually rule the world. Alcatraz’s grandfather shows up and tows him off to infiltrate the downtown library to steal back the mystical bag of sand. The ensuing story involves talking dinosaurs, sentient romance novels, and a dungeon-like labyrinth hiding beneath the innocent-looking downtown library. With a seductive mix of offbeat humor, high adventure, and endearing characterization, this is a fantasy that will appeal to all lovers of the fantastical.

• ISBN10: 0765378949
• ISBN13: 9780765378941
• Publish Date: 16 February 2016 (first published 1 October 2007)
• Publish Status: Active
• Imprint: Starscape Books
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 320
• Language: English

Reviews

[Quirky Cat]

If you're looking for a fun middle-grade adventure written by the one and only Brandon Sanderson, you've got to check out Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians. This book also has illustrations by Hayley Lazo, which bring it to the next level.

Alcatraz Smedry has spent his whole life hopping from one foster home to the next. No exaggeration – he's been in over a dozen by this point. He's used to the ways the constant moves upset his life.

So when we say his thirteen birthday changes everything, please understand the full depth of its meaning. A bag of sand, a strange letter from his deceased mother, and the start of the weirdest adventure of a lifetime. That is what this day gives him.

"Remember, despite the fact that this book is being sold as a 'fantasy' novel, you must take all of the things it says extremely seriously, as they are quite important, are in no way silly, and always make sense."

Generally, I find myself adoring most of what Brandon Sanderson writes, but while I enjoyed Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians, I didn't love it. And no, I don't think this is simply because it's a middle-grade novel. Younger me would have been okay with this book, but not head over heels.

The whole time I was reading Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians, it felt like something was missing. At the end of the day, I think that something is a strong connection between the characters and the reader. The interactions between the two felt shallow, making it harder to be invested in anything Alcatraz (yes, that really is his name) was doing.

Do I still think the series has potential? Oh, absolutely! Not all series start strong and only get better over time. That could very much be the case for Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians. I hope it is. I'll probably make a point of reading the following few books just to see how it goes.

On the bright side, I enjoyed Sanderson's twist on powers and abilities. It added comedy, of course, but it was also oddly empowering? What I'm trying to say is that it was a nice reminder that we don't always see our talents for what they are. Sometimes it takes another perspective to realize what they're worth. It's a great message to weave into this otherwise action-filled story.

Thanks to Starscape and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Read more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

[adamfortuna]

Ok, this is pretty much Harry Potter. In an alternate history, Librarians secretly rule the world, dishing out misinformation and shaping the world. Upon reaching his 13th birthday, Alcatraz Smedry is met with an interesting gift -- a bag of sand -- which draws him into this world of lies, odd abilities and glasses that have special powers.

A fun, short read meant for kids, but still a lot of fun. I love the idea that the main good guys all have special powers that all seem to be awful at first glance. Alcatraz's ability is that he can accidentally cause things break things. Not good when you're burning down your foster parents house, but rather useful when you break the gun that someone is point at you. His grandfathers ability is to arrive late has similarly useful applications, but listing too many would spoil things. It's fun to see how Sanderson takes these "useless" powers and makes them useful.