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Despicable Me: The Junior Novel

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A smart, funny junior novelization of Despicable Me, an animated movie about "world's greatest villain" Gru, coming from Universal Studios in Summer 2010!

Read by the incomparable Tim Curry

Audiobook

First published May 19, 2009

19 people are currently reading
242 people want to read

About the author

Annie Auerbach

272 books19 followers

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5 stars
120 (48%)
4 stars
71 (28%)
3 stars
46 (18%)
2 stars
5 (2%)
1 star
6 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
1 review
July 9, 2022
This book not only has gru, the best antihero in all of fiction, but also minions. Stuart is the best written character of all time, having amazing development throughout the minions movie. As an example, when Stuart changes his acoustic guitar into the electric guitar, he too changes as a person from an unsure minion who doesn’t know if the villain he is working with is worthy of his loyalty, to finding a gru, a villain that he is sure to follow and to be loyal to for the rest of his life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Lissa.
575 reviews7 followers
January 8, 2019
My kids and I listened to this audiobook together after watching some Minions mini-movies at a relative’s house. None of us had seen the movies that introduced the minions so I tracked this down for context. Listening to a well-done movie novelization on audiobook works better for my household than watching the movie, because the audiobook is less scary/intense, and requires more imagination.

We enjoyed this story and while we may not watch the minion movies, we might try more novelizations to get us the basic story and characters of popular licensed products.
Profile Image for Joanna Loves Reading.
633 reviews262 followers
September 26, 2017
Tim Curry was a very good choice in narrator for this cute story. As is often the case with male narrators, the kids and women voices are not as good, but they were distinct. Great sense of drama to this production.
Profile Image for Mrtfalls.
86 reviews3 followers
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January 7, 2022
Not as good as the film. But still a really fun and simple read. On print some the antics and things strike me funnier than in the movie. I was disappointed that there was no dialogue from the minions.
Profile Image for Alicia.
86 reviews1 follower
December 19, 2017
Did this one as an audiobook with the kids. Tim Curry did a great job as the narrator. For a novelization of a movie, a kid's movie at that, it was pretty well done.
Profile Image for Alyson.
622 reviews33 followers
August 8, 2018
Despicable Me: The Junior Novel is a delightful read and fun audiobook to listen to. Tim Curry's narration was fantastic!
Profile Image for Hilarie.
528 reviews
January 16, 2023
This is just a novelization of the movie "Despicable Me". However...the AUDIO version is by Tim Curry. It's worth a listen just to hear Tim Curry do the voices and sound effects.
Profile Image for Sarai.
1,009 reviews17 followers
October 12, 2010
I listened to this on CD because Tim Curry was the reader. He did a good job with voices and such, but I was disappointed in that he did not leave dramatic pauses or breath pauses between words and sentences, so it felt a little rushed.

As far as the story goes, I'd rather see the movie. :)

Product Description
A smart, funny junior novelization of Despicable Me, an animated movie about "world's greatest villain" Gru, coming from Universal Studios in Summer 2010! Includes a color insert of stills from the film!
Profile Image for Monica.
154 reviews
January 19, 2012
Ah, another audiobook performed by Tim Curry. How could I resist?

And of course it's three hours of joy. Curry has his usual fun fun fun with these silly characters. It's just for kids, except that everyone will enjoy listening to this. A career arch villain tries to shrink and steal the moon with the help of a loan from the bank that caters to evildoers, but three orphans tame him.

Sparkling silliness.
Profile Image for Katie.
35 reviews
June 3, 2011
Despicable me was a great movie so if you put it in a book it's going to be just as good. Gru "the worlds greatest villian" is trying to do something bigger than stealing the great pyramid....stealing the moon. But on his mission to steal the moon he gets a hold of three orphan girls which are trouble in his plan. Good book bit a better movie.
Profile Image for Katharine.
200 reviews44 followers
January 5, 2016
Okay. I do LOVE the Minions and the backstory of Despicable Me. Did I really need to listen to this junior novelization? No, but for the fact it is read by the one, the only, the incomparable Tim Curry. I could listen to him read the most archaic text or the most complex dissertation in physics, and I would still melt and be drawn to his voice like a moth to a flame.
Profile Image for Janelle.
6 reviews
Read
November 4, 2011
it was a classic tale and a worth while read . worthy of your eyes .
Profile Image for Rachel.
67 reviews
March 28, 2012
I know this book is for children and is an adaptation from the movie but I loved it :) Tim Curry narrates the audiobook and does fun character voices. There is also a lot of music in it too! :)
1,002 reviews2 followers
July 20, 2015
For being a book about a movie, this was the best I've read. It still wasn't one hundred percent faithful. But it was a pretty good translation. Inspired me to watch the movie again.
Profile Image for Teddy.
1,466 reviews1 follower
October 19, 2013
Basically like listening to the movie without the visual, but I liked the movie, too so that is ok. Cute story.
87 reviews1 follower
September 18, 2016
I really love that Gru became a really loving dad. I think that he should also be a villain too. It's cool how he commit crimes ;)
Profile Image for Stacie.
798 reviews21 followers
November 5, 2016
Just like the movie. Gru is a villain but with the help of Agnes, Margo, and Edith, he finds the real meaning of life.
Profile Image for Jason.
250 reviews6 followers
November 9, 2016
Tim Curry's performance was bloody awful.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews

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