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C. Lee McKenzie

Auteur de The Princess of Las Pulgas

10+ oeuvres 100 utilisateurs 23 critiques

Œuvres de C. Lee McKenzie

The Princess of Las Pulgas (2010) 27 exemplaires
Sliding on the Edge (2009) 24 exemplaires
Alligators Overhead (2012) 17 exemplaires
Sudden Secrets (2014) 10 exemplaires
Double Negative (2014) 7 exemplaires
Some Very Messy Medieval Magic (2018) 4 exemplaires
Sign of the Green Dragon (2016) 2 exemplaires
The Princess of Las Pulgas (2013) 1 exemplaire

Oeuvres associées

Two and Twenty Dark Tales: Dark Retellings of Mother Goose Rhymes (2012) — Contributeur — 89 exemplaires
The First Time (2011) — Contributeur — 31 exemplaires

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Reviewed by Carla Trueheart for Readers' Favorite

The Great Time Lock Disaster by C. Lee McKenzie is a charming, fast-paced middle grade novel with lots of magic and mayhem. Pete Riley is not a very good wizard. He has trouble with spells, and during a magic lesson with a witch named Harriet, he has so much trouble that he accidentally unlocks a Time Lock. Pete and his friend Weasel end up in England around the time of Queen Victoria’s coronation, and from there, they have to find out how to fix the spell and get back to their own modern time period. They also meet many fun characters in Victorian England, such as the determined and brave Margaret, and Dr. Dread Wraith, who bounds off the page with his electric personality. There’s also a talking alligator named Fanon, a witch named Mattie, and some interesting boys at The Spike, a home for children that Pete describes as stinky with bad food.


The Great Time Lock Disaster is the sequel to Alligators Overhead, which I did not read. In lieu of weaving backstory into the first chapter, C. Lee McKenzie took a creative approach by having Weasel, Pete’s best friend, provide some helpful information about the characters. After that, the book moves along at a fast pace, never straying from the plot and Pete’s quest to fix the Time Lock spell and get back home with Weasel. The writing is smooth and fun, and stays true to the intended age group. Pete was believable as a clunky wizard, and his friends all had unique personalities to the point where I could hear each character’s distinct voice. The initial landing in Victorian England via the graveyard gave a spooky edge to the story, especially right in the beginning. I knew from there I was in for a treat! I recommend the book to fans of children’s literature who enjoy fun, magic, and quirky characters.
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Signalé
witchescastle | 2 autres critiques | Nov 17, 2022 |
Disappointment and finding new courage weave with touches of romance and a bit of mystery to create an exciting read with tons of heart.

Libby is on her way to the finals, and then, to the Olympics. It's her dream coming true, but during a last run to quiet her nerves before flying to Europe, a snowboard broad sides her, and she wakes up in a hospital room. She has no feeling in her legs, and it the hopes of recovery slip away day by day. Others, even some like her, offer their support in various ways, but it all boils down to she, herself, finding the will to go on, first, and that isn't easy, especially when the one responsible for the destruction of her dreams and future still hides in the shadows.

When I picked this one up, I did expect more of a thriller but was pleasantly surprised at how it digs into a more emotional direction of overcoming a huge setback and rediscovering meaning in life. The writing is gripping, comes across naturally, and rides along smoothly as Libby first suffers the accident, recovers, and then, goes on a journey to rediscover herself. It's easy to understand her feelings and reactions. She isn't all sunshine, but rather, holds remorse, disappointment and frustration close. The attitude is realistic and draws in.

There is a wonderful pool of support around Libby from family to new friends. I was a bit surprised that she didn't have any close friends before the accident, but the new ones are amazing and vivid. There also family problems woven in, which snuggle in nicely with Libby's plot and offer great messages on that end as well. As to the romance, it is there but is as unsettled as Libby's main plot theme and slides along more disconnected and never draws away from the main plot.

Thrilling moments also exist as the chapters flip from Libby's point of view to those of the ones behind her accident. This adds a nice level of tension and side-plot, but still allows the main theme to remain on Libby's healing.

This was an easy read, which I read in one sitting and enjoyed every page. I do recommend it to those who like a bit of mystery and thrills with dabs at romance, but are more into emotional struggles and tales of finding inspiration to continue on.
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Signalé
tdrecker | Mar 7, 2022 |
Some Very Messy Medieval Magic is the third book in the Adventures of Pete and Weasel series by C. Lee McKenzie. This one picks up right where The Great Timelock Disaster left off. Pete and Weasel are called to a meeting and told they must go back in time to fix something that changed when Pete accidentally opened the time lock in their last adventure. Unfortunately they don’t have much time to prepare before they’re sent back, and they can’t even pack proper clothes to help them blend in. When they end up in medieval times, daily life gets a little tricky. Pete’s never ridden a horse and Weasel’s not allowed to wear his glasses because they haven’t been invented yet. Neither Pete nor Weasel can figure out what's going on, and they don’t have the slightest clue what important event they're supposed to make sure happens. How will someone get in touch with them? Who can they trust? Pete’s even more confused now that Weasel can hear everything he’s thinking. Why can Weasel do that all of a sudden? And what about the horse, Mellie, who Pete can communicate with in his mind? Will Pete and Weasel be able to set things right and get back to their time? Is there any way to stop more changes from happening and impacting the future? You’ll have to read this fast pace story to find out!

I have read many books by C. Lee McKenzie and enjoyed all of them. I was excited to read the latest adventure of the characters that have come to hold a place in my heart. Some Very Messy Medieval Magic showed how much Pete and Weasel have grown throughout the series. Not only is their friendship stronger, but they have each learned important things about themselves in the process. It was interesting when they were in medieval times because it made me realize how hard it would be to blend in with another time period; mistakes could give everything away. I recommend this book to kids in third grade and up who like magic or getting into a little mischief. I've found the series to flow smoothly from book to book, but also believe that each story can be read as a standalone.
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Signalé
Robinsonstef | 2 autres critiques | Jul 10, 2019 |

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Statistiques

Œuvres
10
Aussi par
2
Membres
100
Popularité
#190,120
Évaluation
4.1
Critiques
23
ISBN
14

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