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Toonopolis: Gemini (Toonopolis Files, #1) (2011)

by Jeremy Rodden(Favorite Author)

4.04 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

0983425396 (ISBN13: 9780983425397)

languge

English

genre

Fantasy

publisher

Portmanteau Press LLC

review 1: I really enjoyed Toonopolis. I think it's a great book for mid-grade on up. The characters are interesting. I liked how Gemini developed along the way in the story. I also really liked the reasoning behind why he did what he did. (I won't explain more it will spoil the story) The interactions between the characters were also fun. Quite a few of their dialogues had me laughing out loud. I also liked the story. It was full of adventure and laughs. Yes there were some serious parts but overall the book never seemed to take itself too seriously. But is does take place in a land created for cartoons. Some of the puns were groan worthy in their corniness, but they still drew a smile. The way the author worked the cartoon aspect was fun to see too. All the different cart... moreoon areas and how they exist etc. The book ends with a few strings left untied. But nothing annoying, more in a "ooo maybe that will be answered in the next book sort of way". Overall the book was solid and funny. Definitely recommend it for mid-grade and up. Even for adults and young adults who don't take themselves too seriously.
review 2: I still testify that growing up in the eighties was a privilege due to the array of awesome films and cartoons there were for children. While fantasy classics like Willow and Labyrinth remain among my favourite fantasy films to this day, I also adored cartoons such as Dogtanian and The Mysterious Cities of Gold. Kids today are seriously missing out, which brings me to Jeremy Rodden’s Toonopolis: Gemini, which promised all the laughs of a Terry Pratchett novel as well as a host of cartoons to even out the delightful balance. The novel begins with a boy, Gemini, who wakes up in the world of Toonopolis, made up of the imaginations of all of us, akin to Fantasia in The Neverending Story, but initially far less grim. As Gemini wanders Toonopolis with little memory of who he is, he finds this amusing and intricate world is under threat from the ruthless Shadowy Figure. It is down to Gemini and a group of weird but wonderful friends to defeat Shadowy Figure and save Toonopolis. Reading Toonopolis: Gemini it’s amazing that Jeremy Rodden managed to keep up with the relentless wave of ideas he puts forward. Rather than one world, Toonpolis is divided into different parts such as Anime Town, Gothicville, Stick Tent-City, Underwater City and Candy Island. Gemini gathers a fascinating group of friends along the way including Jimbob the Talking Eggplant, the intimidating Miss Fire and the chivalrous Hawk. Of course, there is a reason for Gemini’s arrival in Toonopolis and as the story progresses we learn his body is part of a scientific experiment conducted by his own father but for what reason and will Gemini ever be able to get back?Rodden is clearly still a kid at heart and this makes Toonopolis: Gemini even better. There were so many stand-out moments for me including a meeting with an Internet troll, the Sea of Vampires and a warrior that fights in the turn-based fashion that divides fans of RPGs such as Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. One of the best aspects of Toonopolis for me was Gravity Effectiveness Displacement or in simple terms the ability to walk off of a cliff edge and not fall until you acknowledge that gravity really should have taken hold by now. Sir Isaac Newton would have loved Toonopolis. Toonopolis: Gemini reminded me of some of the great cartoons I watched growing up and there was seldom a page I read where I wasn’t smiling. This book should appeal to both adults and children alike and given the diversity of Toonopolis I am confident that we can look forward to many more entries in the series. Toonopolis: Gemini is a colourful, hilarious, exciting and thoroughly imaginative fantasy adventure. This is confidently written with a great balance of engaging characters and funny jokes. Rodden has his finger on the pulse of both current medium and many of the highlights of our childhoods, all weaved together into a fine tapestry. less

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