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Sound Bender #2
The Shadow Mask
Leo Lomax, the Sound Bender, returns in this globe-trotting sequel.
Leo is back in New York, and things are worse than ever. His Uncle Crane has isolated him from his friends, pulled him from his school, and is keeping him under near-constant surveillance.
When a strange mask once owned by his father begins to draw Crane's attention, however, Leo is presented with a devil's bargain. If he helps Crane find the mask's other half, he can return to his life and his friends. To sweeten the deal, Crane will even pay for a fact-finding mission to check out Leo's parents' plane crash.
There's just one catch. In order to find the mask, Leo will have to travel across the world -- and take it from its rightful owners.
Leo is back in New York, and things are worse than ever. His Uncle Crane has isolated him from his friends, pulled him from his school, and is keeping him under near-constant surveillance.
When a strange mask once owned by his father begins to draw Crane's attention, however, Leo is presented with a devil's bargain. If he helps Crane find the mask's other half, he can return to his life and his friends. To sweeten the deal, Crane will even pay for a fact-finding mission to check out Leo's parents' plane crash.
There's just one catch. In order to find the mask, Leo will have to travel across the world -- and take it from its rightful owners.
- GenresFantasy
368 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
5 people are currently reading
188 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 12, 2017
I know this is bad of me but there was so much whining going on and Crane pushed Leo into a dark turn.
April 21, 2023
It left an opening for another book
May 10, 2013
Leo Lomax, the “Sound Bender” who can hear sounds from the past, is back in “The Shadow Mask,” the sequel to “Sound Bender” (2011). Leo and his brother Hollis are still in the custody of their uncle Crane, a dealer of rare (and probably illegal) antiquities. The boys’ parents are still missing (presumed dead), but Leo will not accept this scenario. When Crane threatens to separate the brothers forever in order to force Leo to use his ability to locate a priceless mask, Leo strikes a bargain that will reunite the boys and obligate Crane to renew the search for their parents.
Lin Oliver’s experience as a television writer is evident in the book’s cinemaatic plotting. While much of the action is improbable, middle school readers will enjoy the fast-paced globe-trotting action spanning the globe from New York to Borneo in pursuit of a tribal mask that has magical properties attributed to it. Like many television serials, most of the characters are two dimensional or stereotyped; Leo’s childhood friend Diana is the most convincing and likeable of the broad cast. Diana is conveniently enrolled in Leo’s new school. Diana and Leo’s relationship has the potential to evolve into a romance. Diana is also preparing to return to Borneo, where her mother, Dr. Reed, conducts anthropological research. When Leo’s quest propels him to Borneo, Diana and Dr. Reed are conveniently on hand to guide and ground him. The first person narrative relies on heavy use of dialogue to move the story forward, which will appeal to readers looking for a “quick read.” The short chapters will appeal to both high-low and general readers.
Theo Baker, the other half of the writing team authoring this book, has been a sound designer. He may be responsible for some of the fascinating trivia inserted into the text such as the theories surrounding the capture of past sounds in some clay objects or the voices that some people claim to hear when they listen to recordings of white noise. Baker and Oliver offer a book that stands well on its own, with an ending that will have readers looking forward to Leo’s next adventure (most likely to take place in Antarctica!).
Lin Oliver’s experience as a television writer is evident in the book’s cinemaatic plotting. While much of the action is improbable, middle school readers will enjoy the fast-paced globe-trotting action spanning the globe from New York to Borneo in pursuit of a tribal mask that has magical properties attributed to it. Like many television serials, most of the characters are two dimensional or stereotyped; Leo’s childhood friend Diana is the most convincing and likeable of the broad cast. Diana is conveniently enrolled in Leo’s new school. Diana and Leo’s relationship has the potential to evolve into a romance. Diana is also preparing to return to Borneo, where her mother, Dr. Reed, conducts anthropological research. When Leo’s quest propels him to Borneo, Diana and Dr. Reed are conveniently on hand to guide and ground him. The first person narrative relies on heavy use of dialogue to move the story forward, which will appeal to readers looking for a “quick read.” The short chapters will appeal to both high-low and general readers.
Theo Baker, the other half of the writing team authoring this book, has been a sound designer. He may be responsible for some of the fascinating trivia inserted into the text such as the theories surrounding the capture of past sounds in some clay objects or the voices that some people claim to hear when they listen to recordings of white noise. Baker and Oliver offer a book that stands well on its own, with an ending that will have readers looking forward to Leo’s next adventure (most likely to take place in Antarctica!).
July 10, 2013
The sequel to "Sound Bender" is an even better supernatural adventure story with the funny and almost-normal Lomax brothers from New York. Leo has mysteriously lost his sound bending superpowers, but is on the verge of gaining a new, and possibly dangerous, power instead. Just when he thinks his life is going back to normal and he'll be able to keep his friends at his old school, Leo must sign a contract to help Uncle Crane get back half of an ancient shadow mask. Leo and his brother travel with his creepy and hateful uncle to Borneo, where his father did research with the natives. If he can help Crane find -and then steal- the other half of the mask then Leo can go back to his old school, his old life, and maybe find out why his parents died.
"The Shadow Mask" is a whirlwind adventure story perfect for middle grade readers or early high school students. It is a fun and well-written story with well-rounded characters, a fast-moving plot, unique paranormal powers, and plenty of mysteries to keep you turning the pages.
"The Shadow Mask" is a whirlwind adventure story perfect for middle grade readers or early high school students. It is a fun and well-written story with well-rounded characters, a fast-moving plot, unique paranormal powers, and plenty of mysteries to keep you turning the pages.
March 8, 2015
I enjoy this book, its characters, how they change through the story and the adventures found all over the book. There are mysteries to be resolved, so I'm hopping for a first sight.
Leo is back in New York, and things are worse than ever. His Uncle Crane has isolated him from his friends, pulled him from his school, and is keeping him under near-constant surveillance.
When a strange mask once owned by his father begins to draw Crane's attention, however, Leo is presented with a devil's bargain. If he helps Crane find the mask's other half, he can return to his life and his friends. To sweeten the deal, Crane will even pay for a fact-finding mission to check out Leo's parents' plane crash.
There's just one catch. In order to find the mask, Leo will have to travel across the world -- and take it from its rightful owners.
Leo is back in New York, and things are worse than ever. His Uncle Crane has isolated him from his friends, pulled him from his school, and is keeping him under near-constant surveillance.
When a strange mask once owned by his father begins to draw Crane's attention, however, Leo is presented with a devil's bargain. If he helps Crane find the mask's other half, he can return to his life and his friends. To sweeten the deal, Crane will even pay for a fact-finding mission to check out Leo's parents' plane crash.
There's just one catch. In order to find the mask, Leo will have to travel across the world -- and take it from its rightful owners.
March 10, 2014
In the sequek to "Sound Bender", newly orphaned Leo and Hollis move in witha previuously unknown uncle, Crane, who works on the shady side of the antiquities business. Leo has developed a special talent that he can hear what has happened to an object that he handles. Crane forces him to use his ability on a trip to Borneo. Leo agrees to cooperate if Crane finances an expedition to Antarctica to discover what happened to his parents. The journey to Borneo is more difficult than anticipated, but also more exciting. The anticpated sequel will hopefully tie the loose ends. The plot plods along and takes off with a rush while the characters are somwhat flat sterotypes, but this fill the need for adventure books.
August 22, 2013
An excellent sequel to Sound Bender. Leo Lomax uses his gifts to try and discover the truth about his parent's deaths. This story had me on the edge of my seat wondering what might happen next. The ending will leave readers wanting even more.
April 28, 2015
Leo is forced into an adventure in order to keep his brother with him and safe. This book is as humorous as it is interesting. Leo's power is fascinating and it was definitely a bug reason I decided to read this book. It was worth the read and kept me very entertained.
May 13, 2014
This book is great
if your the kind of person who likes adventure this is a book for you. I love how it gets suspenseful in the middle of the book. this book is an awesome book
if your the kind of person who likes adventure this is a book for you. I love how it gets suspenseful in the middle of the book. this book is an awesome book
March 29, 2015
I really like this series! Leo has a lot of challenges with his Uncle Crane, and the trip to Borneo is filled with challenges.
July 3, 2015
The main character's name sounds like it's the combined version of the two author's first names: Lin and Theo, am I the only one who thinks this?
May 3, 2016
great sequel. NEED NEXT BOOK!!!!!
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October 1, 2013Havent read yet -_-
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews