Review
From the book jacket: Alfred Kropp was just
trying to survive high school when his guardian uncle
gets him roped into a suspicious get-rich-quick scheme
that changes his life forever: stealing Excalibur—the
legendary sword of King Arthur. After Alfred unwittingly
delivers the sword into the hands of a man with
enormously evil intentions, he sets off on an unlikely
quest to try to right his wrong and save the world from
imminent destruction. This gripping, fast-paced,
hilarious novel is both a thrilling adventure story and
an engaging account of one boy's coming of age.
Comments: Unusually tall 15-year-old Alfred is
going through life somewhat apathetically but
nonetheless safely, until his dodgy uncle embroils him
in a scheme to steal...
Beyond the Book
Rick Yancey
is the author of two books for
adults: a memoir,
Confessions
of a Tax Collector, and a
novel (
A Burning in
Homeland - 2003
). He
is also a playwright and former
theater critic.
Since then he has
launched two series:
The
Extraordinary Adventures of
Alfred Kropp, for young
readers, and
The Highly
Effective Detective, for
adults. Both books are set in
Knoxville, Tennessee, where Rick
lived for ten years before
returning to...
