The Mechanical Mind of John Coggin

Reviewed by: Jan Hamilton - Long Creek Detention Center, South Portland, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: August 9, 2016

Review

Teele's middle grade humorous adventure is written in the style of Lemony Snicket. Certainly meeting the youthful characters in a coffin shop is unusual but things normalize as John and Page join a circus and later blow up a bakery. Throughout the book Great-Aunt Beauregard is a constant, both as she shows up looking for the children and in their fear of her arrival.

The author has provided readers with an amusing yet sensitive story about fictional children who are fleeing their fate while searching for a better life. Her young characters are resourceful and cunning. Readers will appreciate the few illustrations. Add to intermediate and middle schools (for reluctant readers) and to public libraries where humor is loved by all readers.

Overall Book Score: very good