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The Golden Hamster Saga #2
Freddy In Peril
Who would have thought that a writer's life could be so dangerous! Only the inimitable Freddy could turn a series of harrowing adventures into fodder for a spectacular sequel.
Even a brilliant hamster can be prone to lapses of judgment. Which is how Freddy came to post his autobiography on the Internet (after all, a writer needs an audience). Lo, it was a bad move. For when an evil scientist discovers Freddy's genius he hamster-naps him to experiment on his brain! Can a wise tomcat, a pair of guinea pig poets, & a colony of rats save Freddy from becoming a casualty of science? This heart-stopping episode in Freddy's life story is ever bit as captivating as Freddy himself.
Even a brilliant hamster can be prone to lapses of judgment. Which is how Freddy came to post his autobiography on the Internet (after all, a writer needs an audience). Lo, it was a bad move. For when an evil scientist discovers Freddy's genius he hamster-naps him to experiment on his brain! Can a wise tomcat, a pair of guinea pig poets, & a colony of rats save Freddy from becoming a casualty of science? This heart-stopping episode in Freddy's life story is ever bit as captivating as Freddy himself.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1999
6 people are currently reading
172 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
December 4, 2011
This is the second book in The Golden Hamster Saga series by Dietlof Reiche. It features a very smart little hamster named Freddy and his friends. It's a dramatic story and brings up the topic of scientific experiments on small animals.
It took us a long time to read this book together, since we'd usually only read a chapter or two at a time. Still, we really like the animal characters in the story and the plot has lots of drama, excitement, and even some humor. It's an much edgier story compared to the Humprhey series by Betty G. Birney that my oldest and I have been reading.
Overall, we enjoyed reading the first two books in this series and we are looking forward to the next book, Freddy To The Rescue.
It took us a long time to read this book together, since we'd usually only read a chapter or two at a time. Still, we really like the animal characters in the story and the plot has lots of drama, excitement, and even some humor. It's an much edgier story compared to the Humprhey series by Betty G. Birney that my oldest and I have been reading.
Overall, we enjoyed reading the first two books in this series and we are looking forward to the next book, Freddy To The Rescue.
August 31, 2011
Freddy is a golden hamster who can read and write. Professor Fleischkopf (literally "meathead") wants to hamster-nap him and dissect his brain in order to forward his eeevil scientific research. Aided by a team of interspecies roommates, Freddy flees his happy home in order to stay one step ahead of Fleischkopf. By the end of the book, I think you'll agree this episode is quite a close shave.
Originally I purchased this book at Goodwill because the two guinea pig characters, Enrico and Caruso, piqued my interest. In the estimation of the main character, they are unintelligent and vain, stemming from their love of theatrics and music. Not a kind filter for these two characters, but there were some delightful drawings of them in the book.
One funny moment comes when Freddy is looking to send his master an email. Freddy's owner has a Macintosh, so they believe they need another Macintosh:
Those Graywhiskers! Not only did they promptly agree to keep us supplied with food in our abandoned house, but they actually managed, by exploiting their far-flunt connections, to locate a house with a computer in it. Graywhisker the Great brought us the news in person.
"But is it a Macintosh?" I asked.
He nodded. "Our informant swears it is."
As an old-school Mac user, I still marvel at how in the last ten years Macs have gone from "oh yeah, those guys" to being considered one of the "big three" tech companies.
Another interesting moment comes at the end, when Professor Fleischkopf appears on a television show that is supposedly "debating" experimentation of animals. As a newspaper later summarizes, the scientist "goes insane on live TV." Except as an adult, the television sequence seems exceedingly unbelievable. (But then again, I'm reading a book about a hamster that reads and writes...) Clearly, the moral is that animal experimentation is bad—and I agree with that message, but this book presents that moral in a really flimsy way.
Overall, this is a pretty creative story, better for the younger readers than me. But once in a while I appreciate reading a fluffy book or two. And if animals are the main characters, all the better!
Originally I purchased this book at Goodwill because the two guinea pig characters, Enrico and Caruso, piqued my interest. In the estimation of the main character, they are unintelligent and vain, stemming from their love of theatrics and music. Not a kind filter for these two characters, but there were some delightful drawings of them in the book.
One funny moment comes when Freddy is looking to send his master an email. Freddy's owner has a Macintosh, so they believe they need another Macintosh:
Those Graywhiskers! Not only did they promptly agree to keep us supplied with food in our abandoned house, but they actually managed, by exploiting their far-flunt connections, to locate a house with a computer in it. Graywhisker the Great brought us the news in person.
"But is it a Macintosh?" I asked.
He nodded. "Our informant swears it is."
As an old-school Mac user, I still marvel at how in the last ten years Macs have gone from "oh yeah, those guys" to being considered one of the "big three" tech companies.
Another interesting moment comes at the end, when Professor Fleischkopf appears on a television show that is supposedly "debating" experimentation of animals. As a newspaper later summarizes, the scientist "goes insane on live TV." Except as an adult, the television sequence seems exceedingly unbelievable. (But then again, I'm reading a book about a hamster that reads and writes...) Clearly, the moral is that animal experimentation is bad—and I agree with that message, but this book presents that moral in a really flimsy way.
Overall, this is a pretty creative story, better for the younger readers than me. But once in a while I appreciate reading a fluffy book or two. And if animals are the main characters, all the better!
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December 24, 2024DNF at 25%
This hamster is annoying and arrogant
This hamster is annoying and arrogant
July 28, 2017
3.75
Did ya ever think a young middle grade series would low key cover PTSD
Did ya ever think a young middle grade series would low key cover PTSD
October 7, 2017
I like the suspense and awesome save!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2018
What a cute story. This book was translated from the original German. It's a fun story dealing with a serious subject. Even Freddy gets to learn a thing or two in the process.
August 15, 2018
5 Star ranking from my 6 year old son. He’s obsessed with these books. I’ll admit they aren’t my favorite to read aloud but I do enjoy introducing this level of vocabulary to him.
November 13, 2023
Not as good as the first one! Took a while to get through! Would still read more Freddy in the future!
March 20, 2016
Amazon Book Description:
Who would have thought that a writer's life could be so dangerous! Only the inimitable Freddy could turn a series of harrowing adventures into fodder for a spectacular sequel.
Even a brilliant hamster can be prone to lapses of judgment. Which is how Freddy came to post his autobiography on the Internet (after all, a writer needs an audience). Lo, it was a bad move. For when an evil scientist discovers Freddy's genius he hamster-naps him to experiment on his brain! Can a wise tomcat, a pair of guinea pig poets, & a colony of rats save Freddy from becoming a casualty of science? This heart-stopping episode in Freddy's life story is every bit as captivating as Freddy himself. "This second book in the saga stands on its own."
Who would have thought that a writer's life could be so dangerous! Only the inimitable Freddy could turn a series of harrowing adventures into fodder for a spectacular sequel.
Even a brilliant hamster can be prone to lapses of judgment. Which is how Freddy came to post his autobiography on the Internet (after all, a writer needs an audience). Lo, it was a bad move. For when an evil scientist discovers Freddy's genius he hamster-naps him to experiment on his brain! Can a wise tomcat, a pair of guinea pig poets, & a colony of rats save Freddy from becoming a casualty of science? This heart-stopping episode in Freddy's life story is every bit as captivating as Freddy himself. "This second book in the saga stands on its own."
April 6, 2013
Freddy returns in the second installment of the Golden Hamster saga. This time a mean scientist who wants to dissect Freddie's brain is after our hamster hero. You see, he read Freddy's biography on the Internet and knows he is out there. Even genius hamsters make mistakes! Freddy must work with Sir William and Enrico and Caruso to evade the evil scientist, leading to an adventure outside the apartment.
The second book of this series is marginally better than the first, but still very pedestrian. What should have been exciting, was ho-hum.
The second book of this series is marginally better than the first, but still very pedestrian. What should have been exciting, was ho-hum.
December 11, 2015
I picked this up for my niece for Christmas, but decided to read it first (who can resist a hamster that can read and write?). It was ok. Maybe I would have liked it better if I were younger. It might have helped to read the earlier adventures of Freddy (which I didn't realize I was missing out on for a bit). I think I would have actually liked to read more about the cat, Sir William, because I am a cat person, and because Freddy was (as even he admitted) a little pompous -- but nowhere near as annoying as the guinea pigs.
September 24, 2009
This book was very good. It had very unexpecting turns. I think people who are bored at home should read this to get them into read again. Their parents will thank them for donig somthing eles than just sitting around wacthing t.v. And it had some funny acts in it by the guinea pigs. But still I think most people should read it! Try to look for the other Freddy books I'm on book four ,still looking for book number three. Other than that enjoy the book!
April 5, 2008
ellery picked this out at the library. it looked very promising...cute animal gets in big adventure involving a mad scientist. but it was originally written in german and lost something in translation i guess. very dry, long descriptions about conversations and not much action. don't see how it could hold the attention of even olders kids.
September 25, 2009
This book was very good. It has alot of twists and turns. This book is best for people who just sitting around the house. Their parents will be impressed by the reading and taking intrest in books once again if they have stop reading. They might even like donig their homework. Ok just a little bit.
January 18, 2008
BOOK REVIEW
This is book two of the the two book series. These stories follow the stories of the Hamster Freddy.Is not your ordinary hamster he talks and gets in to wild sitituations. This book you need to read the first book I, Freddy because it picks up from where is stoped in book one.
This is book two of the the two book series. These stories follow the stories of the Hamster Freddy.Is not your ordinary hamster he talks and gets in to wild sitituations. This book you need to read the first book I, Freddy because it picks up from where is stoped in book one.
November 21, 2007
this is a book continuing I Freddy. it is about Freddy and he worte on web site that he was a hamster that could read and write. and while Mr.John was gone on bussiness leave a scientist came to take freddy to cut him open and see how his brain works.
December 16, 2007
this book is exiting from the first 15 pages and on
December 19, 2007
Freddy is a cool hamster.
June 11, 2008
My 8 year old likes this series, we read it together.
July 7, 2008
haha... freddy is so cute! and funny
October 16, 2008
I SIMPLY LOVED IT IT WAS SOOOO ORIGINAL AND FUNNY!!!!!!!!!!!
October 24, 2008
yo, watch out for the mad scientist! cranky!
January 7, 2009
great and exciting.
September 9, 2011
Kids read, Very suspenseful, funny, if you like gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, cats, and mad scientists, this book saga is for you.
October 6, 2010
I loved this. Just loved it.
January 1, 2011
Still an awesome series!
October 17, 2011
Cute and funny. I enjoyed this one more than the first. Freddy was more likeable. Still seemed a little more advanced than the age group it is geared toward.
October 28, 2012
Entertaining from start to finish. Freddy is a bit of a whiner and the plot was fairly soft but it was a fine simple read.
December 3, 2012
I like it because I read other freddy books.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews