Tourist Trap

Edgar & Ellen #2

by Charles Ogden

Where tourists are the toast of the town. The Nod's Limbs Junkyardalso known as the Gadget Graveyard is where Edgar and Ellen scavenge essential parts for their nefarious plots. So when Mayor Knightleigh announces plans to build a luxury hotel on the site, the twins spring into action. The mayor has invited a group of celebrities to Nod's Limbs for the first annual French Toast Festival, but the twins are concocting a scheme to send potential tourists screaming in the opposite direction. Can Edgar and Ellen get sweet revenge and save the Gadget Graveyard?

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Childrens, Fiction, Horror, Adventure, Young Adult

153 pages, Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Charles Ogden is the pen name used by a collection of authors at Star Farm Productions for the Edgar & Ellen book series for children and young adults. The pen name is credited with nine books (with a tenth upcoming), published by both Tricycle Press, and more recently, Simon & Schuster.

Reviews

[Ayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shoutout to my future ambition in life giving me an excuse to reread my favourite childhood books

[Marie the Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was better than the first one. Funnier, creepier and crazier. Oh and also stickier.

[Yoyomaus Die Büchereule · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zum Inhalt:
Max und Moritz lassen grüßen!
Diesmal wird eine Gruppe von Ehrengästen der Stadt zum Opfer des schlimmen Pärchens. Edgar und Ellen nehmen die illustren Besucher mit auf einen Stadtrundgang, der sich als wahrer Horror-Trip herausstellt ...

Cover:
Das Cover zum zweiten Teil der Reihe ist sehr passend zum ersten, jedoch ist dieses buch in einem Blauton hinterlegt. Während die fiesen Zwillinge einem wirklich gruselig entgegen schauen - ich dachte erst, sie wären Zombies, als ich sie das erste Mal gesehen habe - sieht man oben im Bild deren Haustier Strupps, welches mit seinem einen Auge auf die beiden herunter schaut. Dabei ist das eine Auge als Wackelbild gestaltet, sodass Strupps überall hin sieht. Irgendwie stimmig gemacht. Aber irgendwie auch ein bisschen verstörend.

Eigener Eindruck:
Edgar und Ellen lieben es auf dem benachbarten Schrottplatz nach neuen Schätzen für ihre gemeinen Streiche zu suchen. Außerdem hat Ellen dort Bernice entdeckt - eine riesige fleischfressende Pflanze. Als die beiden Zwillinge wieder einmal auf räuberischer Tour sind, bemerken sie, dass sie nicht allein sind. Der Bürgermeister der Stadt hat sich hinaus begeben, um sich den Platz anzusehen. Dabei erfahren die Zwillinge, dass er plant ihren "Spielplatz" zu beseitigen und dort ein riesengroßes Hotel zu bauen. Außerdem plant der Bürgermeister viele weitere gravierende Veränderungen in der Stadt. Aber um dies umsetzen zu können, soll seine Tochter Stefanie eine Gruppe von Architekten, Schauspielern und Zeitungsreportern durch die Stadt führen und ihnen die schönen Seiten zeigen. Für Edgar und Ellen ist klar, dass sie hier etwas unternehmen müssen. Kurzerhand übernehmen sie die Führung und zeigen den Touristen die schrecklichen Seiten der Stadt. Von menschenfressenden Treibsand über Außerirdische und höchst ansteckende Krankheiten, den Zwillingen ist alles recht, um ihren Schrottplatz zu retten!

Was soll ich sagen. auch die zweite Geschichte rund um Ellen und Edgar ist jetzt nicht unbedingt das, was ich unter einen guten Geschichte für Jugendliche verstehe. Es ist eben doch ein bisschen grenzwertig den Humor des Autors zu verstehen, besonders dann, wenn man eventuell bestimmte Anspielungen in Richtung eines berühmten Schauspielers namens Sylvester Stallone nicht unbedingt versteht. Auch sind viele Szenen etwas verkompliziert geschrieben, sodass sogar ich als Erwachsener so meine Probleme mit dem Hergang der Geschichte hatte. Des Weiteren wird die Geschichte dann doch immer absurder und die Dialoge beziehungsweise Erklärungen doch recht langatmig. An sich bin ich ja ein absoluter Fan von Details, aber hier ist es einfach zäh wie Kaugummi und nimmt einen absolut die Freude am Lesen. Wer einen guten, schwarzen Humor hat und vielleicht auch englischen Humor mag, der könnte mit diesem Buch durchaus glücklich werden. Aber alle anderen werden das Buch wohl eher nicht so mögen. Ich hatte den ersten Teil einer befreundeten Tochter gegeben und sie mochte das Buch nicht. Bei diesem Teil, denke ich, brauche ich sie wohl auch nicht fragen. Auch die Gestaltung der Charaktere ist hier mehr als lausig. Die Zwillinge sind absolute Antihelden, man mag sie einfach nicht und die Touristen sind einfach so übertrieben überkandidelt, dass man am liebsten fortrennen mag.

Fazit:
Grenzwertige Jugendliteratur, die man nicht unbedingt gelesen haben muss. Schöne Jugendbücher gehen anders. Sicher ist das auch Geschmackssache, aber ich denke all zu viele Fans wird die Reihe nicht finden.

Idee: 5/5
Logik: 3/5
Charaktere: 2/5
Spannung: 2/5

Gesamt: 3/5

Daten:
Gebundene Ausgabe: 144 Seiten
Verlag: Arena; Auflage: 1. Aufl. (1. Juli 2004)
Sprache: Deutsch
ISBN-10: 3401057162
ISBN-13: 978-3401057163
Vom Hersteller empfohlenes Alter: 10 - 12 Jahre
Verpackungsabmessungen: 19,4 x 12,6 x 1,8 cm

[Aimee Volk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Edgar and Ellen live in an abandoned junkyard in the town of Nod's Limbs. The spooky twins set out to overthrow Mayor Knightleigh's plan to build a luxury hotel and turn the town into a tourist trap.

A quick-read with some humor. The twin's mischief may capture youth attention, however I am left a little disappointed due to high expectations after reading reviews.

[Josie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought that this book was good because the author told us the readers that there was a trap in the store. I thought that in a few parts of the book that there were times that they repeated a few things once and awhile. I would read this book again because it was very interesting. I would suggest this book because there were funny parts in the book to me.

[Drucilla · Rating 3 out of 5]

This follow up is much better than the first book. It’s still a little silly, but much more grounded than the first one, and at 150 pages, it can take its time to set things up. And despite the twins being the main characters, I did feel a little sorry for the townsfolk so kudos to the writer.

[Víctor Heranz · Rating 4 out of 5]

El primero es muy "piloto de serie a ver si nos lo compra la NBC, sin tramas y sin ná de ná". Este ya se mete en materia, misterio, subtramas, continuidad con los siguientes. Muy goals.

[Alan D.D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny, creative and entertaining. It was about time to have another dark children's book!

[Alba GtB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simplemente maravillosos. Muy divertido tanto para adultos como para niños.

[Karen Suhorsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this but don't have any desire to follow the series. But it was only 3 cds so what the heck.

[London Holly · Rating 2 out of 5]

i hadnt read the first one, so i was a bit lost, but overall it wasnt that great.

[Petra · Rating 3 out of 5]

cool a bit childish

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely living for the little shop of horrors style plant they are keeping in the junkyard. I hope she's a bigger character in the next book <3

[Egi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again! The twinies in action, they brilliant idea to 'entertain' tourist who come to they city its very clever.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this as a kid.

[Louise Cowell · Rating 2 out of 5]

As someone who normally live children’s books, I just couldn’t get into this one. I think it was for a younger age group than I’m used to reading so felt very slapstick and cheap jokes.

[Jennifer Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one made me laugh so hard. Love his writing.

[Colby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently read the book Edgar and Ellen Tourist Trap. It was the best book that I have read in awhile. My favoritest Part was when The syrup fell all over the people and then the pigeons started attacking the people in the crowd. I would recommend this book to someone who is in a mood for a weird but fantastic book. At first I didn’t understand the book even though I could have pieced it together. Now I am currently trying to find the other books. My favorite character in the book is edgar because he is like the main brain of all of the planning for all of the events. Like when Edgar unscrewed the bolts from the huge syrup bottle and it went everywhere. And all of the stuff that distracted Stephanie Knightleigh from catching up with the group.

[Vivian · Rating 1 out of 5]

Edgar and Ellen (names inspired by Edgar Allen Poe, of course!)are abandoned brats who live in a dump and have a pet carnivorous plant. So far so fair. Ellen shows her inside ilk in the first chapter by drumming up a huge sneeze that plasters frosting all over the party guests of her arch rival, the doted-upon snobbish daughter of the self-agrandized mayor. The plot thickens with the mayor's plan to level the dump and turn the town into a tourist trap. Edgar and Ellen swing into action to save their place and their precious plant.

Fans of Roald Dahl are going to eat this up, burp, and beg for more. Just because I'm not a fancier of stories filled with idiotic adults and insufferable children doesn't mean others have to share my personal prejudice. I can recommend this to readers who go for this and am happy they can enjoy what I don't.

I listened to the 3-disc audio edition. The reader, Ariadne Meyers, is terrific. And what a great name!

[Evan Rebman-Blasier · Rating 2 out of 5]

The two main characters in the book "Tourist Trap" are Edgar and Ellen they are twin brother and sister. Their favorite place to be is an a old junk yard that is called the Gadget Graveyard. This is where they get all of the parts they need for their new evil gadgets. The kids are trying to prevent the town from becoming a tourist attraction. Edgar and Ellen don't want the town to become a tourist attraction because then their junk yard will need to be removed.
I think the book is creepy because the two children like to hang out in a junk yard. The town is dark and gloomy in a swamp. What I liked about the book was that it's kind of a mystery but it was more like trying to keep the town the way it was and not making it a tourist attraction. What I also liked was they stuck together and they don't argue about the conflict on hand. They both are on the same page. I would suggest this book to people that like a good mystery book and foiling masterminds plans to get rich.

[Ashley Diller]

I read the book called Edgar and Ellen Tourist Trap by Charles Ogden. The book was about these twin brother and sister named Edgar and Ellen had their favorite junkyard to hang out and play in. It is also known as the Gadget Graveyard. Where they scavenge for parts for their nefarious plans.


I loved this book so much because I understood most of the parts and re read most of the book to understand most of it. My favorite part was when the mayor invented a group of celebrities to Nod's Limbs for the first annual french toast festival, but the twins are concocting a scheme to send potential tourists screaming in the opposite direction.

I would recommend this book to people who love to read books. Also to people who loves books that help get revenge on people from taking over the gadget graveyard. I would recommend this book a 5 out of 5 stars.

[Poetry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gila...si edgar ama si Ellen...ada aja ide n tingkah gilanya yg ga kan mungkin aku berani ngelakuinnya.
Mungkin gini ya...tingkah anak yg kehilangan sosok orang tua..
Jago skali ngerjain orang..bikin orang repot..Mreka senang x klo udah ada kehebohan...
Yg paling mantap tu waktu si Ellen jadi pemandu wisata di kota Nod's Limb, di dampingi adiknya, Edgar sebagai asisten...Dengan bodohnya turis2 penting tu semua ketipu n kemakan cerita2 khayalan tingkat tinggi karangan mereka berdua.Niat x nipu turis mpe rela2 ngerubah isi selebaran n mengendap2 ke hotel tempat turis2 nginap buat nyelipin selebaran tu di bawah pintu kamar tamu.
MAsih banyak kegilaan2 yg lain....
Huahahahahaahahaaa...GOKIL ni bukunya!Jadi pengen koleksi!

[Kimberly Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where tourists are the toast of the town . The Nod's Limbs Junkyard -- also known as the Gadget Graveyard -- is where Edgar and Ellen scavenge essential parts for their nefarious plots. So when Mayor Knightleigh announces plans to build a luxury hotel on the site, the twins spring into action. The mayor has invited a group of celebrities to Nod's Limbs for the first annual French Toast Festival, but the twins are concocting a scheme to send potential tourists screaming in the opposite direction. Can Edgar and Ellen get sweet revenge and save the Gadget Graveyard?

[Christopher Obert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edgar & Ellen are at it again. When they find out that the junk yard is going to be dismantled to make way for a new fancy hotel, the twins realize that they have to stop this atrocity. After all with the removal of the junk yard, where will the twins get all of the materials to create all of their devious plots? The twisted twins create new schemes to foil the plans of the mayor and derail his festivities and keep the junk yard safe forever!

[Keera · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was so much more amusing and entertaining than the first book, Rare Beasts. Their scheme was much broader and more understandable this time around and their victims were much more deserving of the twin's tormenting. Honestly, I was kind of sad that their plans were spoiled in the end.

[Victoria Whipple · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you like your stories a little bizarre, with quirky characters you'll like Edgar & Ellen. They are a couple of parentless kids who live in a creepy old house in a strange little town. In this book, they try to derail the plans of the mayor to turn their town into a premier tourist destination. This is one of a series of books, and it is being turned into a television show by Nickelodeon.

[E. Adrian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, quick read. Similar to book one, very little character growth. Tricksters getting away with terrorizing a town and it's guests and blaming it on an innocent girl. As an adult, it's a fun read. I wouldn't recommend this to a youth, they might think the behavior demonstrated in the book is clever and try out similar schemes.

[Rosa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I bought this at a library book sale two years ago because I loved the spooky ooky twins on the cover and thought it would be a smart, funny, maybe a little bit creepy read. I was disappointed to find myself feeling like Edgar and Ellen were just mean. I didn't find the things they did very funny and I just felt kind of disappointed throughout the whole book.

[Owlboyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story. The mayor thinks he should be the most important person in town and wants to make it in his image. So he makes plans to rid the town of Edgar & Ellen's home, and the garbage dump. So the twins make plans to thwart that endeavor. In this instance they succeed. Can't wait to read the next installment.

[Jerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS BOOK IS BERRY FUNNY AND COOL AND THERE ALOT OF ACTION AND MESS THAT EDGAR & ELLEN MACK I THINK THAT YOU WILL LIKE THIS BOOK BECAUSE THERE ALOT OF STUFF THAT THEY DO TO OTHER PEOPLE YOU WILL LIKE IT