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 I loved it! September 2, 2008
I loved this book i'm 11 and it's one of the favorite books i've ever read(i say that but i'm not a bookworm!!). I find some books quite boring but i must say i liked this book very much. I'm just about to read it again, I loved it!!
Courtesy of Teens Read Too March 4, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Good young adult and middle grade mysteries are sometimes hard to come by. THE LONDON EYE MYSTERY by Siobhan Dowd is one you won't want to miss.
It all starts when Ted's cousin, Salim, comes to visit. Salim and his mother are about to move to New York City and have planned a family visit in London before their departure. Of course, what is a visit to London without a ride on the London Eye? That's when the trouble begins.
Ted and his older sister, Kat, haven't seen much of their cousin in the past. The visit starts out on a wrong note because of the unusual sleeping arrangements required by their tiny house. Kat is unhappy about bunking on the couch, and Ted is unhappy with the disruption of his whole routine. As Ted explains, he suffers from a "syndrome," which he defines by stating that his brain runs on "a different operating system" than everyone else. His judgment of other people's emotional responses is a bit off, and his views of the world around him tend to be quite literal. (I'm guessing that he suffers from some form of autism.)
Salim turns out to be quite a pleasant visitor. His only request is to take a ride on the London Eye, a massive ferris wheel attraction in the center of London. When the cousins and their mothers arrive at the Eye, they find the ticket line and actual ride line disappointingly long. Relief comes when a stranger offers one ticket, free of charge, to Salim. Ted and Kat eagerly accept the ticket and pocket the original ticket money from their mother as they rush Salim to the waiting ride.
The mystery begins when Salim doesn't disembark from the London Eye at the conclusion of his ride. Ted and Kat have as many as nine different theories. Was he kidnapped? Did he actually go on the ride at all? How could he have vanished so completely?
Quirky characters, London scenery, and a who-dun-it style combine to make this a sure hit. The late Siobhan Dowd, author of A SWIFT PURE CRY, outdid herself once again.
Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"
An excellent read! August 15, 2007
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
I thought this was an excellent idea for a story. The London Eye is the venue chosen for a very mysterious disappearance. Nevermind what the weather is Ted and Kat brave raining cats and dogs to solve the mystery of Salim's disappearance. They travel around London with a list of Ted's theories whilst the grown ups and police brave the tempestuous Aunt Gloria. This book will make you laugh while at the same time make you bite your nails as the story keeps you in suspense throughout. It is a real page turner and adults will enjoy it as well. I think this will appeal to tourists visiting London who want to improve their English as it is well writtenn and easy to read.
I hope there is a follow up! August 15, 2007
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this unusual book by Siobhan Dowd. It really cheered me up as it was very witty and I am eager to go on the London Eye again. I really think Ted is an unusual character and he made me laugh in this story. His obsession with the weather is interesting and he makes the shipping forecast sound interesting. Kat is obsessed with fashion and teases her younger brother, Ted. The mystery is well written and full of suspense. I tried to work out what happened to Salim but had to keep reading. I liked Aunt Gloria too! I have an aunt just like her and I expect most people have too. I hope that there is a a follow up to this excellent novel.
 Oh Dear! August 15, 2007
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
I eagerly awaited for this book from the author of 'A Swift Pure Cry' which I really loved. I even recommended it to a few of my friends. I started this book and it's got a fantastic storyline to it. The solution is brilliant. The reason I've only given it 3 stars is because I got bored reading the same dialogue. ie 'a bad feeling went up my oesophogus' or Tom 'had a face like a duck forgetting to quack'. If I read it once I read the same phrases about 12 times throughout the book. It hasn't put me off reading anything else by her in the future, as the previous book had fantastic dialogue, and hope this was an oversight.
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