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|  | Author: Jennifer Allison
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
List Price: $16.99
Buy New: $9.79
as of 11/22/2009 12:13 CST details
You Save: $7.20 (42%)
New (28) Used (7) from $8.99
Seller: allnewbooks
Rating:  8 reviews
Sales Rank: 69830
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Hardcover
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Pages: 288
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 8.4 x 5.6 x 1.2
ISBN: 0525479805
EAN: 9780525479802
ASIN: 0525479805
Publication Date: May 14, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: BRAND NEW
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 6-8 of 8
 Gilda has lost her wacky personality but the book was still likable June 24, 2009
AmazonIsEasy (Unknown, USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I LOVED Gilda in the first 3 books and this book was enjoyable, but Gilda has lost her wacky personality. I hope Jennifer Allison puts that personality back in the 5th Gilda book. I LOVED Gilda in the first 3 books, but her personality was just sort of bland in this book.
Gilda Joyce Becomes a Spy June 3, 2009
Pat Shand (Freeport, NY USA)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
**NOTE**
The star-rating should be 4/5, not 5/5
**
I said it in my reviews for the previous Gilda Joyce books, and I'll say it again. This series is easily the most well-written, captivating, and all around entertaining series of "children's books" since Harry Potter. I turned the last page of the latest Gilda book, "The Dead Drop," less than five minutes ago, and I am already eagerly awaiting the next installment. Hopefully, we don't have to wait another two years for it, but when it does roll around, you better believe I'll be reading it.
So I love the series as a whole. This book on its own was also very good, but it lacked a few of the key things that elevated the first three books to a higher level. Gilda's snarky charm is still there, though I was a bit let down to see that she is a bit less disarming here than she was previously. The real change, though, is in the overall telling of the story. There is a lot more emphasis on the mystery and less on Gilda's emotional journey. In all the prior books, the Gilda's feelings (and those of the major supporting characters) were woven into the mystery, taking the reader on an emotional ride even as the mystery unfolds and things get scary. That was oddly absent in this book. While there were a few "aww" moments and one particular moment where I suspect eyes will get momentarily misty, the focus of the book is way less on Gilda's relationships and even Gilda than it was in any of the other books, including "The Ghost Sonata," in which Gilda shared the spotlight with another protagonist. Another thing that left me wanting was the role Gilda played in the mystery. She had a lot of help in cracking the case here, and while she did play an essential role in cracking it, it somehow felt like a less triumphant victory than the mysteries she has solved before. There are some cool themes at work, such as Gilda's discovery that adult's secretive nature might not be a bad thing, but it seemed like those themes were wrapped up very quickly in order for the mystery to come to a neat climax.
Readers who loved Gilda before will certainly love her in "The Dead Drop," and most will be entertained by the story. Allison's prose is the strongest its been, and there are a lot of cool moments here that make this a solid read. For any other series, this would be an out-of-the-park homerun, so I have no doubts that all readers will cherish this book and want more. The mystery is exciting, and the history and setting that surrounds it is really cool. What was cool about this book, in a strange way, was that the series has sort of been building toward this. In each book, there seems to be paranormal activity... but it can also be written off or explained. Each book seemed to make the case for paranormal involvement more obvious, building up to this book where the appearance of ghosts is outright and undeniable.
Also, the cover art, as always, is fantastic. These books have such a good look. It really takes the whole reading experience to the next level.
Overall, I wasn't let down by the book, because it was a good read. I do expect more from a Gilda Joyce mystery, and I expect Gilda's character and emotional journey to take the forefront again in the next book. I can't wait until it comes out.
8/10
it is cool May 25, 2009
Katharine Hanson
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
it should be for old people or young people should get smarter (just kidding). it is a good book, i really like it, it is very funny, i read all the books they are all really good. it has big words in it,
Showing reviews 6-8 of 8
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