Book Review: The Dangerous Days Of Daniel X

I love being a MotherTalk reviewer; I write book reviews anyway, why not have someone give me the books for free to review? I was especially excited to get the e-mail about The Dangerous Days of Daniel X as I'm building the library for my future classroom and I'll never turn down a book for that purpose!

The letter accompanying the book detailed James Patterson's concern that not enough boys read, especially not for leisure. I'd have to say that jibes with my experience in the classroom.

I've always felt that there was so much great literature for young girls to discover and connect with; both new and old titles. From the Laura Ingalls Wilder books to Anne of Green Gables to Little Women to Nancy Drew to The Traveling Pants Series, there's an abundance of literary riches geared toward girls, with quite a few series books available. Series books are wonderful for kids--they can keep going back for more.

Boys? Not so much. There are the Matt Christopher books for boys that really like sports (although my sports-minded boys weren't interested), there's Harry Potter of course and the Cirque du Freak series is incredible. There are just not quite as many "boy books." (I know great literature is great literature and can be appreciated by either sex, but I also live in the real world and honestly in general there is a difference between what girls want to read and what boys want to read).

As a mother and a teacher, I know that the way you turn a nonreader into a reader is to find a book the kid connects with. The technical teaching term is   I + I (Independent reading level plus Interest). In our house that was the Gary Paulsen book Hatchet when MVP was in 2nd grade.  You can bet I've bought every book from the "boy surviving alone in the wilderness genre." Danger Boy always loved to read; although it killed me to spend $5.95 on a Star Wars paperback he would devour in one sitting, I did (the library didn't carry the series he liked). When Social Butterfly (who's not so much a reluctant reader as so damn busy being social she has no time to read) expresses interest in any book, even Beach Blondes, she's got it. I'll even cop to having purchased the 50 cent novel, The Ski Mask Way, for Gangsta Boy. Hey, it's reading, right? Grown-up Girl was devouring the text on cereal boxes and chapstick tubes by the time she was four so I never had time to worry about her.

MotherTalk advises it's reviewers to be honest and just blog with their peeps as is their usual practice, so here are my thoughts on The Dangerous Days of Daniel X. First off, James Patterson is probably a great guy, but I'm a bit of book snob and I've got the feeling there's a factory somewhere where formulaic mysteries are being pecked out by other writers based on a general idea Patterson had. Michael Ledwidge maybe? That said, obviously someone is reading his books--they're all best sellers.

Daniel X has many of the formulaic components of Patterson's adult books. In getting reluctant readers to read though, I can see the advantages of this approach. There's comfort in knowing what's up next. (I'm blogging this from the same vacation spot I've come to for the last 12 years!).

The chapters are short--usually a page or two. From working with my nephew, Gangsta Boy, on his reading, I think that's a plus.

The genre is Sci-Fi and there's lots of action. There are also a ton of cultural references to things like the TV shows Miami Ink and 24. I think those references are great for kids to connect with. The main character is likable and the female characters are not weak--I really appreciate that. Daniel's powers are not run-of-the mill, which is refreshing. The emphasis on his connection with his family is very sweet, but not cloying.

Bottom line? As a 44 year old woman I read it and wasn't bored. I bribed Danger Boy into reading some of it and while he didn't read the whole thing he did read more than I asked him to.  (Addendum: I wrote this right when we got to our vacation condo; on the ride home he said "If you can reach that book, I'll finish it" He did.). He's a bit of a sci-fi snob himself, being a huge Orson Scott Card fan and reluctant reader would never have been a descriptor of him. Some of the attributes of the book that might work in favor of getting the target audience, elementary and middle school kids to read it (particularly short chapters, quick resolutions) fell a bit flat with him.

My recommendation? I would definitely stock it in a classroom library, and I'd give it a shot if I had kids that like sci-fi or action novels. The vocabulary is excellent, which is something I always appreciate in a book for kids. I think we have to offer reluctant readers an enormous menu of books to choose from including graphic novels, comic books, short stories; anything that might be for them what Hatchet was for MVP--the book that got him hooked on reading. Daniel X might just be the book that does it for your kid or student.

Comments

[kate]

here's the thing: i love about jp.

he is seriously into wanting people, kids especially, to read. he gives away loads of his own money (he actually sends personal checks) in the patterson pageturner awards, for organizations and people who get other people, kids, to read.

that said, i'm not at all a book snob, though someday i hope to be, and for a long time i pretended to be, so i just love his books. (i bought his latest "sail" 3 times: once i left it at tech support's house and he took it to india before i read it, 2nd i bought it and lost it somewhere before i'd finished it and couldn't wait for tech support to return to finish it, so, yep, i bought it a 3rd time.

i read dangerous days and the reason i gave was to preview it for the adolescent boy, but really? i just want to read anything that jp writes.

and? i love that he actually lists the names of his co-writers on his books. unlike, let's say, other best selling authors.

also? i totally agree with everything you said here. good review! and now i'm going to add jp to my pretend husband list.

(this is maybe my longest comment ever, that's how much i heart jp) (and you).

[The Girl Next Door]

Finding a book or series that will "hook" a young reader for life can be a challenge. I love it that my kids love to read. Unfortunately, like me, Daughter tends to read the not-so-intellectual stuff!

[Suz]

Sounds good. No boys here to entice with.
I do love your comments on the kids and their reading habits...GUG reading the cereal boxes and chapstick tubes...sounds like my girls. They love to read and I love that they do also.

[Minnesota Matron]

James Patterson! Thanks! The Matron's son is a serious reader who is always looking for the new fix (and he loves sci fi!).

[MamaHenClucks]

Oh Thank you not only for this review, but for listing out other books that your kids (boys) loved to read. My first grade son is an avid reader and will read practically anything. We spent our summer reading aloud and taking turns Little House in the Big Woods, which he liked but I can't see him checking that series out from the school library. Especially at his age versus his reading level, it is really hard to find books that are appropriate and that catch his interest! Yea! I love books so much. Thanks!

[Suzy]

Just the mention of Nancy Drew and I'm rocketed back to my youth. And Misty of Chincoteague! I just mentioned that book to a younger friend of mine and she'd never heard of it. Because her generation was all about the computer. So sad.

And The Black Stallion. Sigh.

[kcinnova]

I clearly need to get a copy of Hatchet into SnakeMaster's hands.
All 4 of my boys are good readers, but I'm afraid that Wii and Guitar Hero have carried a few of them far away from the world of books. EB and H-J still read voraciously and I am always happy to hear of good authors to steer them towards. They are partial to fantasy. Any suggestions? (they've read Eragon & Eldest several times each)

[Kellan]

It has been very hard finding books/series my son is interested in - that's for sure!

I heard you met J (Motherscribe) - isn't she just the greatest!? I was so excited when she told me she got to meet you and Cheri - how fun! I'll bet it was a great time.

Have a good day - Kellan

[Claudia]

I'm one of the few that does not James, I'm afraid. *sighs*

[suburbancorrespondent]

Don't forget the Rosemary Sutcliffe books - especially her historical fiction such as The Eagle of the Ninth, The Lantern Bearers, Outcast, and The Silver Branch. Also, Lloyd Alexander books are a favorite of boys. Advanced 10-year-old and up for all these.

[Denise]

It is my youngest girl that I can't get to read. We have been to the book store numerous times to try to figure out what strikes her fancy. Maybe one day we will figure it out.

[San Diego Momma]

You're really good at this reviewing thing.
I completely trust your reviews and would read anything on your recommendation.

[Stacie]

I, like DB, am a HUGE Orson Scott Card fan, and Sci Fi is not normally my genre. :)

[Shelley]

Having no boys, the availability of reading material hasn't really been a problem with my kids. My oldest girl loves to read, and just devoured Breaking Dawn in 2 days. She's the kid who stayed up late with a flashlight under the covers, reading when she should have been asleep.

My 13 year-old? You'd think touching a book would give her the cooties. She absolutely cannot stand reading, and that makes me sad. I didn't do anything different with the two of them, and I've tried to find different things that would interest her, but so far, no go.

I'm hoping the little one will love reading the way her oldest sister does.