Stephen Bramucci

*I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

This is the second installment of the Danger Gang series, and it is still so much fun! This book builds upon the first in that Ronald has one adventure under his belt, so now he’s trying desperately to avoid the second-adventure-slump and have an adventure that’s even better than his last! As the story goes on, it certainly turns out to be a doozy of an adventure; there’s a kidnapping, a remote island, a new character, and so much intrigue!

There are a few changes in this book: first, Jeeves is not providing the commentary on Ronald’s narration; instead, we get to hear from Julianne Sato herself! This is an ingenious way to introduce more of the characters’ voices and get to know all of them on a more personal level. While I missed the foil of Jeeves’s dry wit, I really appreciated getting to read Julianne’s inner dialogue and see what she really thinks of Ronald and his adventuring. (I also really appreciated having a female voice in this book!) Second, Ronald’s actually a bit more grownup. While he still has his moments and pulls off some hilarious antics, there is definite change from the last book to this, which I really enjoyed.

Overall, I stand by what I said of the first book: it’s fun, action-packed, and a joy to read. It has tons of action and adventure broken up by moments that are laugh-out-loud funny. Bramucci has a talent for witty humor and the ridiculous, which brings so much fun to his stories. This book has more intrigue and mystery than the last one, which made it feel a bit more mature and less humorous, but not by much. The characters are absolutely lovely and keep changing and developing, so the story is kept fresh and exciting for the reader.

I really do think there’s something for everyone in this one, and reluctant readers will enjoy how fast-paced and fun this book is. You can’t get better than this!

Also posted on Purple People Readers.… (plus d'informations)

This book was so much fun. Middle grade is probably my all-time favorite age group to read in for books, because it’s able to be silly while also putting in serious, important themes. In The Danger Gang and the Pirates of Borneo, Ronald Zupan goes off on an adventure to save his parents. He knows they must be in some pretty serious danger, because they missed his birthday, and they would never do that. It’s told in a journal-style format, and each chapter ends with notes from Ronald’s butler, who corrects some of Ronald’s exaggerations. Arree Chung does an amazing job with these illustrations, perfectly capturing the humorous nature of the book, while also showing their great adventures. I loved these illustrations.

I laughed out loud quite a bit while reading this. While it has tons of fun adventure, it’s also incredibly funny. (A treat for the whole family to read, if you’re looking for a book that will appeal to everyone.) All the characters are vividly depicted and a joy to learn about. Julianne Sato, Ronald’s fencing rival, is smart, funny, and takes no nonsense from Ronald. I’m excited to see future books with them in it, because they’re such a great team.

What puts this book over the top is that along with humorous situations, an ever-suffering butler, and adventure upon adventure, this book also tackles a bit on what it means to be a friend and a family member. While Ronald keeps a bright outlook, he’s quite worried about his parents, and a little hurt that they don’t take him adventuring with them. It shows a boy’s continuous struggle to prove himself to his parents so he can feel fully accepted into the family business of adventuring.

This is definitely one of my new favorite books. I’m anxiously awaiting the sequel.

Also posted on Purple People Readers.… (plus d'informations)