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)

Incredibly good!

OK - I did not want to read this book - I typically hate young adult/children books. The story in this was actually quite good. This is truly a story for all audiences. It is funny, interesting, engaging, light-hearted, and all-around fun. I recommend it!

not up to the level of Brandon's other works

What did you like best about Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians? What did you like least?

On the positive side, it was certainly original. On the negative side, I didn't feel that I could identify with any of the characters, therefore, I did not get "into" the story

What was most disappointing about Brandon Sanderson’s story?

I suppose that the most disappointing part was that the story was not like the outstanding other fantasy books that I have read by Brandon Sanderson. Rather than the self consistent and emotionally appealing fantasy worlds that Sanderson has created, this book was more "comic fantasy". This is fine if that is what one wants to read.

Which character – as performed by Ramon De Ocampo – was your favorite?

None of the characters was "real" enough for me to have a favorite.

Did Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians inspire you to do anything?

nope

Any additional comments?

Brandon Sanderson is truly a gifted author of some really fine fantasy. I am probably not the best person to evaluate a book of his that is not of the type that I prefer.

Just Enough

A lot of books like this are based on one funny idea that can’t be sustained for a whole book, but Alcatraz pulls it off and knows when to quit. There are funny situations and funny dialogue, and several unlikely but funny events. It was a pleasure to listen to.

Full of fantasy and magic!

I love this book! I'm am 12 and I read it over and over again. The story never gets old and it will always suprise me. I highly suggest it!

Amazing Audio Read Aloud

It kept all six of us (ranging from 8 to 40) entertained for the 20-hour drive!

A touch on the silly side

This is written for young adults, but I loved it. This is my first novel with a unreliable narrator... and Brandon does a great job giving us reasons to trust him enough to listen and enough surprises when we trust him too far. He constantly leaves me wondering if it will all end as a tragedy or a comedy... or if Alcatraz is sitting in an asylum somewhere talking to himself and none of this is real.

Equal parts clever and tedious

This is a lighthearted romp through a hilariously wrought dip fantasy world. The thing I dreaded after awhile was the narrative device wherein the main character interrupts the story. It's similar to the grandfather reading the Princess Bride to his grandson..... Well, the movie version anyway. I haven't read the book. The difference here though is that it's not used with precision when appropriate, but it's slammed into every chapter with all the finesse of sledgehammer blows. If not for that I would have read more in the series.

Decent listen

this book was decent enough to listen to while driving. It is definitely ment for a teen audience so keep that in mind.

A great young adult story

I have rarely taken the time to write a full review, mostly to explain why I gave five stars to something I probably won't follow up on. Yes, I found it a really fun listen, which I think deserves 5 stars for its intended audience, but adults are not that audience.

I picked up this book in an audible 2 for 1 credit sale because I have loved all Brandon Sanderson's adult novels, as well as his Reckoners series (because it appealed to the comic book geek inside of me), but I wasn't sure if I'd enjoy this series. I'm glad I got a chance to give it a try. Time and time again, as I listened to the superbly narrated story, I smiled and thought to myself how much I'd have loved this book as a I'd have loved the magical world it created, as well as the fourth-wall shattering narration by the 'author', but as an adult, I didn't feel it was as rewarding as the dozens of adult fiction and nonfiction books I have built up in my wish list, but I still want edge to urge people to share this book, especially in its printed form with budding, young sci-fi and fantasy readers...

... I have dozens of other books to read... But I still want to know what happens with a certain pile of out of date encyclopedias... So I might just have to slip the next entry into the series into my schedule when I need a light hearted adventure to pick me up.. We'll have to wait and see!

GREAT FUN!!!

This book has been on my wish list for years. My goal for the new year is to either delete books on the list or buy them. I found this story entertaining. It does not have anything offensive, and it has that wacky sense of prose that kids would enjoy. Like Harry Potter, this is a series that parents and kids could enjoy together. Also, it plays along the same Potter story line. A young male child is separated from his parents and raised in an environment without love. At his thirteenth birthday, Alcatraz receives his inheritance and discovers his biology family. From there the fun starts and does not stop.