Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians

By: Brandon Sanderson

Narrated by: Ramon De Ocampo

Length: 6 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

Experience the action-packed first book in #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson’s laugh-out-loud middle-grade fantasy series like never before—now with all new covers!

AN ANCIENT RIVALRY REAWAKENS.

Everything I’d known about the world was a lie.

On my thirteenth birthday, I, Alcatraz Smedry (yes, I got named after a prison, don’t ask), received my inheritance: a bag of sand. And then I accidentally destroyed my foster parents’ kitchen. It’s not my fault, things just break around me, I swear! I thought the sand was a joke until evil Librarians came to steal it. You’re probably thinking, “Librarians are nice people who recommend good books,” but that’s just what they want you to think! It turns out they’re actually a secret cabal keeping the truth from you—a hidden world filled with magical eyeglasses, talking dinosaurs, and knights with crystal swords! Or so my Grandpa Smedry claimed when he suddenly showed up to rescue me. So now I have to go with him to invade the local library and get that sand back, before it’s used to conquer the world. And Grandpa says how I keep breaking things is actually an amazing talent. There’s no way that can all be true, right? Will I ever make it back home alive?

©2007 Dragonsteel Entertainment, LLC (P)2011 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

“Like Lemony Snicket and superhero comics rolled into one (and then revved up on steroids).” (Publishers Weekly)

“An excellent choice to read aloud to the whole family. Funny, exciting, and briskly paced.”(NPR)

First, let me say that I am a Sanderson fanatic!

Brandon Sanderson is a gifted storyteller, world builder and creator of unique magical systems. That's the first thing that you need to know. I've read/listened to his work since he accepted the responsibility of finishing up "The Wheel of Time" series after Jordan's passing. He immediately became my favorite author! I have kids, and wanted to get them interested in reading. My oldest daughter was not latching on to the "girlie" books that my wife was getting her, then it hit me: Sanderson wrote a kids book! You see, my daughter is more like me. Naturally, I thought that her reading interest might lean toward my own. I bought the audiobook here on audible and gave it a listen. Then, I purchased a hard copy of this book and have started reading it to both of my girls aloud. They were instantly hooked!
As I said, I'm a WOT fan, so I've been spoiled to hearing the amazing talents of Michael Kramer and Kate Reading. Most of the time, when I begin listening to a book with a different narrator I am very disappointed. Not so with Ramon De Ocampo! He does an admirable job of conveying emotion and character into the story.
Overall, this is a fun tale of adventure that kids and parents can enjoy together.

Surprisingly awesome!

My family really enjoyed this book. It's another great one from B. Sanderson. I've either listened to or read nearly all of his books and I haven't been disappointed yet. This book (and the entire series) is kind of different. It's definitely for kids, but much of the humor is something only an adult would understand, so it's pretty cool in that regard. There'd be some exchange of dialogue and I'd be laughing like crazy and my kids would be scratching their heads in confusion. I appreciate that he involves multiple generations of readers/listeners in his stories. An adult can gain just as much enjoyment as their child and its something that can be done as a family. And it's clean! I NEVER worry about profanity or anything beyond mild innuendo in his stories. That's getting harder and harder to come by these days.

The concept is very interesting--that librarians are evil and trying to brainwash us with their own versions of history, geography, and science. Very anti-establishment in a silly way, but not really. Know what I mean? I was totally diggin' it!

If you're getting this now, be glad all the books are out because it's a definite binge-listen.

So fun!

I put off listening to this title thinking it was for kids. And in fact, I now want to go back and listen to this with my kids.

The treatment of how the worst things about ourselves can turn out to be the best things was handled masterfully. This is what I love about Sanderson's books. They have such a neat soul.

I could have done without as much meta-babble, especially when he repeatedly says that he isn't a good person. Sorta defeats the other message. Maybe that gets tied up more neatly in a later book, though considering all the false foreshadowing, maybe not. Not sure why he kept mentioning random things like sharks and penguins, only to later point out the complete lack of relevance. I appreciate the tone in general, it just went a little too far sometimes. But then again, maybe that is why it is a kids book. Perhaps my kids will find that hilarious rather than annoying. TBD

That being said, I really enjoyed the book and am looking forward to continuing the series.

Enjoyable

even for an adult. However, it is really written for preteens and young teens...as advertised. It's funny and silly. I'm such a Sanderson fan that I want to listen to everything he's written. The narrator was great. I'd definitely listen to him again.

Amazing!

really great, fifth time reading it, gripping until the end. can't wait for book 6!!!

Got better as it went on.

This one started out a little slow and seemed too juvenile for me. As I listened though, it got better and seems to have opened some nice possibilities for future books. It is, of course, young adult fiction so I probably should have expected it to be what it was. The way the author used the "talents" some of the characters possessed was brilliant and the book is worth listening to just for that.

Wonderful tween read

I love the humor, moral lesson on repentance, and subtle writing lessons, too. I know my son (middle school reading level) is going to love this!

Hilarious

Great read for kids, and fans of Brandon Sanderson or Harry Potter. Happy I gave it a go.

Fun, light-hearted listen

I added this book to my Audible library months ago, but just couldn't get myself to listen to it. The title alone was a big blocker for me. Perhaps having such low expectations made this much more delightful than I expected, but it turned out to be more entertaining than I had hoped. It reminded me a bit of The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, in just how twisted an author can manage to tweak the imagination. If you like that kind of humor, you'll enjoy this book.

Intrigued

As a librarian, I was a little disturbed at the accuracy of his account. No doubt, our secret is out.