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Book Review By Lucy
Charlie Bone and The Blue Boa by Jenny Nimmo

When Charlie Bone returns to Bloor's Academy for third term, he expects everything to be back to normal. But normal could never describe Charlie's situation. Uncle Paton has disappeared and Charlie suspects that his Yewbeam aunts and Grandma Bone have something to do with it. Billy Raven is still acting as a spy for the Bloors and reports everything that he says and does. Plus, there is a new endowed girl, Belle, who is strangely staying with his aunts. One day, when Charlie is in the attics with his friend Emma, they find a strange invisible boy named Ollie Sparks. He was turned invisible by the Blue Boa, a snake that's hug turns you invisible. This snake is being kept by Ezekiel Bloor, the grandfather of the school's headmaster. Ollie also tells them that he is the brother of Samuel Sparks, who is currently under the name Mr. Boldova and is teaching art here at Bloor's. Samuel does not know that Ollie is there. Ollie says he must be saved and returned to his home-- Sparkling Castle. Charlie and Emma tell 'Mr. Boldova' about Ollie and he is delighted. Now they must hatch a plan to get him out. Many different ideas arise--Charlie's friend Lysander tries to use the help of his ancestors, Emma trys flying and many more.Then Mr. Boldova disappears and nobody knows where he is. Meanwhile, Uncle Paton has returned and is very injured. With a visit to Skarpo the Sorceror, Charlie is able to cure him.


Plot & Themes
Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy story on current Earth
Coming of age Yes
Youngster becomes - a powerful magician
Is this an adult or child's book? - Kid's book (ages 7-14)
Descript. of chases or violence - 30 %
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 50 %
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 10 %
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 10 %

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status:
If magical mental powers: - can cast many different spells

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - a kid
Profession/status:
Eccentric: Yes
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a substantial amount
Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence

Setting
Terrain
Earth setting: - current (early 21st century)
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Writing Style
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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