Cloneward Bound: The Clone Chronicles #2

The Clone Chronicles #2

by M.E. Castle

Fisher Bas and Two were able to thwart the evil Dr. X, but after somehow surviving the explosion at TechX Enterprises, Two is in Hollywood looking for his "mother." Fisher must bring him back to Palo Alto before his cloning secret is discovered. When a class field trip to see the Dr. Devilish science show arises, it becomes the perfect opportunity for Fisher to find his clone. But all kinds of complications will get in the way--including Amanda Cantrell, who knows more than Fisher would like about Two's identity. As Fisher, FP, and Amanda team up to find Two, they find trouble, high jinx, and the return of an evil mastermind--all set in the glitz of Hollywood.

Genres: Middle Grade, Science Fiction

272 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

M.E. Castle is a writer and actor working in the glorious center of the universe, New York City. He graduated from Oberlin College in 2008 with a degree in Theatre and has written a number of short stories, only a handful of which have ever been seen by an audience wider than his closest friends.

Throughout his college years, he was one of the leading writers of the noir detective radio drama The Dead Hear Footsteps, to which he also lent his vocal talents.

Popular Clone is his first novel.

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mediocre and forgettable and I still don’t remember what the plot was. I, however, remember that there were some tearjerker moments and I also remember the ending. At the end of this book, Three is introduced, the psycho clone of Fisher Bas.

And now I have Simon and Garfunkel’s “Homeward Bound” stuck in my head.

[Ethan Z · Rating 5 out of 5]

like it

[Efe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Türkçe Basımı

[Nurge · Rating 5 out of 5]

It all ties together amazingly. The epic and fun adventure of Fisher continues in a whole new place with much different stakes. The writing is as awesome as it was in the first book, with vivid descriptions and interesting metaphors. Wacky events happen at the studios in Fisher’s chase for Two and Veronica. Clever plans and decisions sprout in the moment with his sly and aggressively motivated teammate Amanda. It was a fun adding-up of factors when things go the wrong way. Despite the wackiness and diversity of what could happen, you could definitely feel the stress Fisher was going through while he was being chased. I loved the cooperation of the characters to get out of the obstacle maze; it highlights the comical features of each person in a cartoony way that is silly but entertaining. This book is a fun twisty mess of events in Hollywood with plenty of action, plans, and revelations mixed in.

[K.L. Bernard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fisher Bas, a mathematical genius in his own right, doesn't have the fondest memories of his existence at Wompalog school. As he walked down the hallway, old lockers and janitors closets brought back haunting memories of harassment from the Vikings, a group of bullies that prided themselves on making his life miserable. But, since the TechX incident, Fisher has earned a degree of respect from the school and is now viewed as somewhat of a hero. And there's more, Fisher has a double, and fondly refers to him as Two. You see, Fisher made a clone of himself by using a dangerous growth hormone he'd stolen from his mothers lab. Fisher hadn't seen Two since the TechX incident. And so the adventure begins.

Two has left Fisher a note indicating that he was going to Hollywood to find their mother. Amanda Cantrell, a sort of nemesis, forced Fisher to tell her about his double. Fisher had also calculated that it will take him 1214 years and 3 days until he will kiss his crush Veronica Greenwich. Things are spiraling out of control. According to his mother the government is looking for AGH, the hormone, and mean to destroy anything connected with it. Two will be in danger and Fisher needs to find him fast. With the upcoming school field trip, and the help of a few uncanny allies, Fisher will be able to use the trip as cover to find Two, the now actor, and save the day or will he? You see, villains will be among the many watchers of Two.

Castle has done an excellent job of bringing middle grade woes to a hilarious light. It may still be bullies, love interests and adventure, but the twists and turns will keep the targeted audience engaged and chuckling as they root for their favorite hero. Easy to read and follow, young readers who like to read up will love this story and its characters. If the first book, Popular Clone wasn't read, Cloneward Bound does stand alone just fine.

[Xander · Rating 5 out of 5]

thank you to Egmont USA for sending me this free copy of the book for winning a giveaway on DogoBooks. Fisher Bas is recovering from his battle; and Two went missing. One day a few weeks later, Fisher receives a note from Two that says he is searching for his mother (Spot-Rite ad woman) in Hollywood. With Two missing, what will happen? With a two day class field trip coming up in Hollywood, Fisher goes to whatever limits he can to find Two; only to find out he’s become a YouTube sensation and goes by a new stage name, Basley Bas. In a funny, quirky sequel, Cloneward Bound is the story of a desperate 6th grader in Hollywood doing whatever it takes to get his clone back and not get noticed.

What I thought about it:

Cloneward Bound was a truly fabulous book. I actually think I liked it more than the first book. This book ups the action and the suspense, and is a pefect companion to the first book. I thought the setting was very awesome: Hollywood, with fake music and television celebrities. Also the cover is great, and I think it is so funny that Fisher is getting hellos from famous people and everyone thinks he is an internet sensation even though he isn’t. Fisher is frantically trying to figure out a solution to his clone being popular so he, himself, isn’t the center of attention. So, very interesting themes in this story, and a lovely plot. Can’t wait for the final book in the series!

XanderStars:

Action: 9 out of 10 XanderStars

Suspense: 9 out of 10 XanderStars

Well-Written: 9 out of 10 XanderStars

Page-Turning: 8 out of 10 XanderStars

Overall: 9 out of 10 XanderStars
Read more reviews at: www.mybookwormblog.wordpress.com

[Kaleena Melotti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loving the first book was simply a precursor to loving the sequel (and anxiously awaiting the third installment)!

Cloneward Bound picks up shortly after we left our hero, Fisher Bas, reeling from his (and Two's) superior efforts to straighten up all that had gone awry. This time, we add into the mix L.A. and all the starlit excitement and drama that comes packaged with it.

Castle leaves some of the science at home in Wompalog this time and transitions to a wonderful spy story that will leave middle graders furiously turning pages. Don't get me wrong, there is still some science, interesting disguises, gadgets, and traps, but it's much more fast-paced action than formulas and diagrams. (There's no time for sitting still and slow thinking in L.A., of course!)

As with book 1, our characters are completely well-rounded, like kids you could be friends with (or your kids could be friends with) and the world is wonderfully developed and described. Instead of a small sleepy town, however, we're treated to a loud, flashy, fast-moving world of the big city, where stars are born, or created in the case of Two, or even made (introducing Kevin Keels!).

I can't say much without giving away the story. And, trust me, you want to read this book and discover each spine-tingling detail for yourself! As an adult, I really enjoyed this quick read and even found myself anticipating what would come next, so I definitely think kids will absolutely love this sequel!

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hmm. What's a word to describe this book. Wacky? Perhaps. Creative? Definitely. Funny. Deliciously so. Full of wacky metaphors, amusingly flawed characters, and some of the craziest adventures I've ever had the pleasure of reading, Cloneward Bound makes for a very entertaining read.

Fisher Bas is desperate to get his clone back and as he heads to LA to find Two he enlists the help of Amanda, the head of the wrestling and debate teams. But can he outwit and outmaneuver secret agents as well as chaperones while trying to keep his clone's identity a secret. Full of robots, crazy inventions, and FP (flying pig), Fisher's pet, this book provides quite a ride. Great for kids who enjoy lots of science (especially the destructive kind--I mean lots of strange robots) and the power of using one's mind to solve problems. Recommended.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Readers will encounter more fun and more adventures from the characters they first met in Popular Clone. Science geek Fisher Bas must find out exactly where in Hollywood his clone, Two, has gone after escaping from the clutches of Dr. X. Government officials have shut down his mother's lab while investigating the missing materials that Fisher used to create Two. By luck, Fisher's science class takes a field trip to Hollywood to watch the filming of a science show. The trip bursts many illusions about pop icons as well as forcing Fisher to accept help from some unlikely allies and own up to the lies he has feed to Two. There are many hilarious scenes and passages that will make readers guffaw a bit. I hope the author has more Fisher Bas stories to share.

[Pam Torres · Rating 4 out of 5]

This hilarious series reminded me of Jimmy Neutron, except it's set in a middle school which makes it even funnier. I love Fisher Bas! His smart wit and cluelessness about girls endeared him to me. The rest of the characters all have their own quirks and foibles. I'm afraid I imagined this as an animated film, rather than real people, Castle's antics and imagination are over the top, but in a good way. I recommend this to 7-13 year olds, especially boys! If you haven't read this yet, enter to win Cloneward Bound. Even though it's the second in the series, it stands alone. I'm sure after reading it you'll decide you want to read the first, anyway. Still time to enter the giveaway at soimfifty.blogspot.com

[Magnus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fisher Bas a 12 year old boy wanted to bring his clone made from AGH (A cloning chemical) back home, but his clone is in L.A. Soon a trip to L.A opens up and Fisher and Amanda (A girl he met) go to L.A together. So as soon as they arrive, they start to look for Two (Fishers clone). Then as they were looking for Two, they notice people dressed in black watching them from a distance. One night as Fisher was about to go to bed he found a note on his pillow saying *Come to lot 44 if you ever want to see Two again.* Will Fisher ever save Two? "Cloneward Bound: The Clone" is about Trustworthiness, Bravery and Helpfulness.

[Akoss · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give nothing but thumbs up for the characters in this book even the cliche ones because there was a comical aspect to their personas. The plot was interesting although at times seriously entangled.
Actually the author did such a good job at raising the stakes that the ending wasn't satisfying to me. It was a bit too easy. :(

But it's still a fun read with a well rounded middle grader genius who will appeal to boys and an awesome female sidekick who will appeal to girls. I'm very curious about the next book and now I need to read the first one too.

[Colette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I loved the concept of this story. The middle-grade story has characters that 5-7th graders will be able to relate well with. The main character had a unique family that added an interesting twist to the novel. Overall a 4/5 stars. Popular Clone, the first book in this series would be a good place to start before reading Cloneward Bound.

[Amy Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is good for early middle school readers. There is a lot of action to keep the reader entertained, and who doesn't like a flying pig.

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this in a Goodreads Giveaway.

The premise is interesting and will definitely keep a younger reader entertained.

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of the best books i have read i would read it again and i probably will

[Monkeytoothpaste · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was a good book but it needs a little more spice . but better than the first. its a really " sticky" book.

[Rider]

I thought it was a great book and it's a really good series!

[Tom Bunyon · Rating 4 out of 5]

also good book

[Erich Fischer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fisher Bas has cloned himself and must find a way to find his clone before anyone else does. He runs into every imaginable obstacle possible and eventually someone finds out about his secret.