The Tell-Tale Start by Gordon McAlpine

ARC, 177 pages
Release Date: January 10, 2013
Published by: Viking (Penguin)
Illustrated by: Sam Zuppardi
Series? The Misadventures of Edgar & Allan Poe #1
Source: Publisher
For fans of: Action, Adventure, Mystery, Paranormal, Laughing Out Loud, and Paranormal 

Meet Edgar and Allan Poe -- twelve-year-old identical twins, the great-great-great-great-grandnephews of Edgar Allan Poe. They look and act so much alike that they're almost one mischievous, prank-playing boy in two bodies. When their beloved black cat, Roderick Usher, is kidnapped and transported to the Midwest, Edgar and Allan convince their guardians that it's time for a road trip. Along the way, mayhem and mystery ensue, as well as deeper questions: What is the boys' telepathic connection? Is Edgar Allan Poe himself reaching out to them from the Great Beyond? And why has a mad scientist been spying on the Poe family for years? With a mix of literary humor, mystery, a little quantum physics, and fun extras like fortune cookie messages, letters in code, license plate clues -- and playful illustrations thoughout -- this series opener is a perfect choice for smart, funny tweens who love the Time Warp Trio, Roald Dahl, and Lemony Snicket. (From Shelfari)

*MY THOUGHTS*
     The Tell-tale Start is a typical middle grade novel. It was funny and was quite an adventure. The twins will sweep you off to their world from the beginning and leave you reeling!
     From the first page I was hoked. The adventure they went on started from the very beginning and I was never left bored with them. The plot moved quickly, which made for an awesome story. 
     I also loved the characters. They were all so fun and the twins were so clever. I connected to them all and loved everything they brought to the story.
     What I liked most about this book, was how the author used the poets and showed their "afterlife" as being effective to the events in present time. It was a very interesting concept that hadn't been done before and that freshness alone made it even more enjoyable. 
     This fun series will take you on a quirky trip until the very last page. I will be sure to pass this on to the teacher of the class I am student teaching. 
Overall, I give this

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