Alcatraz versus the Shattered Lens

Alcatraz versus the Shattered Lens
By Brandon Sanderson
Scholastic Press, 2010. 292 pages. Young Adult

The kingdom of Mokia is under siege by Librarian forces, and it might take a Smedry to save it.  Alcatraz has a hare-brained scheme to rescue the capital of Tuki-Tuki, but things might not go according to plan. He’ll need the Knights of Crystallia, some Nalhallan flying machines, and his grandfather to join the fight as soon as possible. Knowing that Levenworth Smedry is involved, however, they’ll probably be late.

This book is the crowning gem of the Alcatraz series. I don’t know yet what book 5 has to offer, since it just recently came out, but Alcatraz versus the Shattered Lens kicks the trash of all the previous volumes. The plot is more intense, the characters are more developed, and everything is WAY funnier. Sanderson experiments with form, making fun of writing conventions and twisting them on their heads. He references classical literature with a sardonic edge, messes with dialogue, and gives his chapters totally ludicrous titles. In my reread of the series there have been very few things that made me laugh out loud (a joke is never as good the second time you hear it), but during this one I was giggling my head off late into the night. Highly recommend. Even if you were starting to get tired of the series, push through. It’s worth it.

LLK