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TREASURE FEVER: Latest reviews
I loved Treasure Fever! so much I finished it in a day.
–Andrew, Age 10
Treasure Fever!, the first book in a series called Schooling Around, makes no attempt to be moralistic or educational. It’s simply fun; a rambling series of events that entertain from the first to last word. The action is fast-paced, with quick dialogue, short chapters and some zany characters.
The tale is told from the point of view of Henry McThrottle, a fifth-grade student whose class has a new teacher. The outrageous and nonsensical Mr Brainfright uses teaching methods as unlikely as his name. “Mr Brainfright’s important lesson No.1: When you’re breathing, it’s very important not to fall out the window.”
It’s no accident that the truly batty characters in Treasure Fever! are adults; it’s empowering for kids to encounter seniors they can make fun of and feel superior to without fear of reprisal. It’s joyously subversive. There’s Mrs Cross, the angry disciplinarian; Principal Greenbeard, the wannabe pirate who speaks in pirate catchphrases; Mr Shush, the edgy librarian; and Mr Brainfright, whose introduction sparks a series of events that has Henry and his classmates searching the school for buried treasure.
That Henry and his friends are victorious in the end is also satisfying for young readers. The kids team up to overcome and outsmart the school bully, Fred Durkin, and the interfering teachers (who display varying degrees of insanity). It’s an adventure set in familiar territory (school), with a great sense of urgency and anticipation.
For a change, Griffiths steers clear of the scatological (poo/bum/fart stuff) but there’s plenty of nonsense, which he does well. Treasure Fever! actually shares some features of Roald Dahl’s work. For example, Mr Brainfright jumps off the page with a similar absurdity that made Dahl’s chocolate-maker, Willy Wonka, an eternal favourite (perhaps incidentally, Brainfright also wears a purple jacket.)
Griffiths is popular because his readers don’t see an ulterior motive at play in his work. His stories, including Treasure Fever, are easy to read, entertaining and silly. Unlike some more critically acclaimed, award-winning books, reading them is not a chore for kids – it’s a LOL, LMAO pleasure. And the fun is set to continue in September with the release of the second book in this new series: Pencil of Doom.
–The Sydney Morning Herald
Posted on 1 May 2008
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Comments (11)
Copyright © 2012 | Andy Griffiths
Comments
Herb32
I loved it so much!
It was random, funny and amusing.
I gave it to my dog and he loved it too!
Posted on 26 May 2008
Mr. B's Class, Birchville School, Wgtn, NZ
We have just finished reading the first in the series and we LOVED it and can’t wait until the next book comes out in NZ. We are all Andy Griffiths fans.
Posted on 6 June 2008
Andy
Thanks Mr B and Mr B’s class! Great to hear that you enjoyed it so much … Pencil of Doom will be out in September.
Posted on 6 June 2008
YOUR VERY BIG FAN AND WHEN I SAY VERY BIG I DONT JUST MEAN VERY BIG I MEAN VERY VERY BIG!!!!
I love the book i am like your biggest fan Andy and i cant wait till the next book the pencil of doom!!!! I have read the whole just series and i thought that was awesome!!!! But i just wish that the book can com out soon!!1 can’t wait.
Posted on 16 July 2008
Harley & Emily
Andy,
Treasure Fever was sooo funny that we had the hiccups all night!!!!!! We have just started reading The Pencil of Doom!! Can’t wait to see what happens.
Posted on 7 September 2008
YOUR BIGGER BIGGEST EVER FAN ALIVE
Dear Andy,
I absoloutly love your book: treasure fever. You must have some serious natural born talent inside you. Your book is up the top of my top 3 books it rocks! I cant wait until pencil of doom comes out its got me on the edge of my seat thankyou so much!
Posted on 14 September 2008
Cathy
One of my Year 3 kids suggested a solution to the goat, wolf and cabbage problem … jam the cabbage on the goat’s horns! I thought that was brilliant but I said what I thought Mr Brainfright would say “it’s a nanny goat … no horns”. Are you bringing Just Macbeth to Kalgoorlie?
Posted on 13 October 2008
Andy
That is truly brilliant … and truly evil! The Melbourne and Sydney seasons of Just Macbeth have been very successful so far, and I’m hoping the production will travel further afield next year. Fingers crossed!
Posted on 13 October 2008
Chrissy
I finished reading Treasure Fever, Pencil of Doom and Mascot Madness all in around 3 hours. I’m 13 and I love Andy Griffiths! Write more schooling around books and have more lessons from Mr. Brainfright! Rock on!
Posted on 19 March 2009
dion
I love treasure Fever I wish that Mr Brainfright was
my teacher.thancs Andy.g yore books are the best
Posted on 16 December 2009
Ella
hey andy ur books rock i love reading them im 14 and i still enjoy them i have read all your book now reading them again i just love them so much are anymore comming out soon??? thanx and for making up those awsome stories keep them comming
Posted on 8 April 2010
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