4) Pacing of the books
The pacing it off completely. The first 2 books focus solely on specific parks. The Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom. The third book focuses on Epcot but the last half of it on Hollywood Studios. I guess this was because the author had a 3 book deal and didn't know he was going to write anymore, so I forgave it.
But when the fourth book comes out with art from Hollywood Studios on it you'd think Pearson would explore Hollywood Studios next right? Nope! It's in two chapters and done! Pearson had PLENTY of rides to talk about because in book 3 he only mentions the Fantasmic show. But rides like the Tower of Terror, Rock N Rollercoaster, Star Tours, Back Lot Tour (which would have done wonders for the story plotine as the children are exploring the "secrets" within Disney) and Lights, Camera, Action! shows are all ignored.
To make matters worse, the final book is the only one in the series that's written in present tense the whole time! Seriously throwing the tempo of the book out of line with the series.
5) BAD Writing
I've never written a novel before but I'm certain I could've done better. Here's a few examples of what you read in the book:
- A 13 year old telling his mother he's "Famished" Like any kid talks like that.
- "Don't get your BVD's in a bundle" is a line said to one of the kids. (these books were written within the past 8 years)
- Real (and unpopular) video games are mentioned in the books, I can only guess it came from the author asking his own kids what they were playing at the time because there are some serious "Where did he get that title name?" moments in the series.
- Constantly breaking the "4th" wall by letting the reader now that books were made of the Kingdom Keepers adventures that are for sale at the parks today. (That's right kids, what you're reading could be true!!)
- In one scene a snake comes back through a kid's dream from Disney World and appears in his room ready to strike! The boy's father enters to ask what the commotion is all about and the kid (instead of showing him the snake) tries to make another excuse for his outburst because....(get this) he doesn't want his dad to get suspicious of his secret magical trip to the Magic Kingdom while he sleeps. But wait, there's a f#@*#^$ snake in your room. Can't you just tell him that and explain the whole thing?!
- There's a smart kid in the books "Philby" who the book goes back and forth calling him "Professor Philby" on and off because the kids think he's a smarty pants. The kids rarely call him this. The writing goes like this:
Philby turned to the group "I don't think that's how it works"
"What do you mean?" Charlene responds.
Professor Philby points at the chart "According to this, it would be higher."
"How can you tell?" Finn said.
Philby laughs "It's what I do!"
Why was he mentioned as "professor" in the next sentence then back to "Philby" in the next? Was the author enjoying his cocaine break at the moment this chapter was written?!?
- Focus shifts in the middle of the action. The Keepers will be in deep dialogue with the main villain and all of the sudden have a talk about what they plan to do next. It's like someone hit pause and the villain is standing there letting the characters insult and chide each other while coming up for a solution to their predicament. I had to wonder at times why the villain just sat there for 4 pages while the heroes took the time to converse with one another.
Geez, I gotta continue this one over the weekend. See you then!
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