Hardcover, 320 pages
English language
Published Oct. 1, 2007 by Scholastic Press.
Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians is the first adventure in a fantasy series for young readers by the #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson. The fast-paced and funny series is now available in deluxe hardcover editions illustrated by Hayley Lazo. On his thirteenth birthday, foster child Alcatraz Smedry gets a bag of sand in the mail-his only inheritance from his father and mother. He soon learns that this is no ordinary bag of sand. It is quickly stolen by the cult of evil Librarians who are taking over the world by spreading misinformation and suppressing truth. Alcatraz must stop them, using the only weapon he has: an incredible talent for breaking things. "In this original, hysterical homage to fantasy literature, Sanderson's first novel for youth recalls the best in Artemis Fowl and A Series of Unfortunate Events." -VOYA
A good book, but a bit slapstick for my taste. it's definitely not nearly as deep as Brandon sanderson's other works, but it does make you laugh. Also, very meta.
Okay, I only sort of liked this. Maybe its intended audience of young adults appreciate such things more, but I found the extended use of annoying literary devices quite ... annoying. So let that be a warning to you, if you find it annoying from the start, you'll find it annoying throughout. Other than that the idea was fascinating and I got slightly invested by the end, but all in all I'm not picking up any sequel until I've forgotten that this one was so annoying.
Lots of fun. A few really great little inside jokes for geeky adults.
