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Danny Dread
You know how it is when your dad's an evil super villain?
OK, so maybe you don't, but Danny does. As heir to the Dread dynasty, he's expected to carry on the family business of kidnapping world leaders, maiming innocent bystanders, and brainwashing sharks. You know, general evil stuff.
The problem is, achieving world domination isn't Danny's idea of fun. In fact, he'd much rather be saving the planet than enslaving it.
But when Dad Dread hatches his most diabolical scheme yet, Danny realizes that to defeat evil, he's going to have to start thinking evil . . .
OK, so maybe you don't, but Danny does. As heir to the Dread dynasty, he's expected to carry on the family business of kidnapping world leaders, maiming innocent bystanders, and brainwashing sharks. You know, general evil stuff.
The problem is, achieving world domination isn't Danny's idea of fun. In fact, he'd much rather be saving the planet than enslaving it.
But when Dad Dread hatches his most diabolical scheme yet, Danny realizes that to defeat evil, he's going to have to start thinking evil . . .
256 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2015
3 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 23, 2015
This is a fantastic book for confident readers of approx 9+. It has 248 pages, 57 short chapters and black and white illustrations. The short chapters do mean it is also ideal for reluctant readers as the chapters are really ‘bite size.’
The hero of the book is young Danny Dread, the latest in the dastardly Dread clan – a long line of villains and evil geniuses. However, Danny has no wish to follow in his family’s footsteps of crime and mayhem. Despite attending ‘Demento’s Academy for Young Evil Geniuses’, he hates every moment of his classes and fails to fulfil any of the criteria for a future villain. Could he break his father’s heart and possibly find a new career as a …. Superhero? Along with Earl, his trusty sidekick rat, Danny sets out to fight crime; but how easy will that be when it is his own father who is planning to kick start WWIII?!
This is a fast paced and exciting story, with lots of humour. I am also pleased that the story featured a strong female character, Crystallina, member of the crime-fighting family the Lionhearts, who will give the book appeal to both boys and girls. A great story, with good characters, and, hopefully, the first in a new series.
The hero of the book is young Danny Dread, the latest in the dastardly Dread clan – a long line of villains and evil geniuses. However, Danny has no wish to follow in his family’s footsteps of crime and mayhem. Despite attending ‘Demento’s Academy for Young Evil Geniuses’, he hates every moment of his classes and fails to fulfil any of the criteria for a future villain. Could he break his father’s heart and possibly find a new career as a …. Superhero? Along with Earl, his trusty sidekick rat, Danny sets out to fight crime; but how easy will that be when it is his own father who is planning to kick start WWIII?!
This is a fast paced and exciting story, with lots of humour. I am also pleased that the story featured a strong female character, Crystallina, member of the crime-fighting family the Lionhearts, who will give the book appeal to both boys and girls. A great story, with good characters, and, hopefully, the first in a new series.
September 1, 2015
"Despicable Me meets Diary of a Wimpy Kid" says the description of this book "Danny Dread". The Diary of a Wimpy Kid element is because it follows Danny Dread who is a bit of a wimpy kid, "wouldn't even hurt a fly", and the Despicable Me element because of the villainous, comical scheming that goes on through the book reminiscent of Gru attempting to steal the moon.
Danny Dread is a boy, "the latest in line of the dastardly Dread clan of super villains". The only problem is he doesn't want to be a super villain, he dreams instead of being a superhero. And so the book follows him at "Demento's Academy for Young Evil Geniuses" where bullying isn't frowned upon, it's encouraged, and where Danny fails every subject. From there his secret desire to be a superhero is revealed, but what is his superpower? To mimic voices? And so he calls his alter-ego Mynah boy (after the Mynah bird), not to be confused with Minor Boy (which it is on multiple times in the book for comic effect).
What makes the book great is the comedy. First there is the situation, Danny Dread stuck in the Dread lair with his dad trying his bestest to get his son involved in his evil schemes, when all Danny wants to do is stop them. Then there are the characters and the relationships between them. For example there is Dad Dread's Gollum-like assistant Malevolo with his attempts to out Danny whilst being devoted to his master but also having his own hidden agenda. Then there is Danny's own chum Earl, the talking lab-rat who has a human ear on his back and who is forever foiling a hungry pelican who just wants to eat him. And the Lionhearts, the superhero family who are "the only thing keeping the world from destruction" with their daughter Crystallina, Danny's secret crush.
Other comedy is derived in the ridiculous schemes and ridiculous machinery involved such as over-sized jets with massive winches ideal for picking up world leaders far below.
What's more this book isn't just a series of jokes put together into a narrative. It also has a fully-formed plot. All-in-all then this book is perfectly executed and is a blast right from beginning through to climatic ending.
Danny Dread is a boy, "the latest in line of the dastardly Dread clan of super villains". The only problem is he doesn't want to be a super villain, he dreams instead of being a superhero. And so the book follows him at "Demento's Academy for Young Evil Geniuses" where bullying isn't frowned upon, it's encouraged, and where Danny fails every subject. From there his secret desire to be a superhero is revealed, but what is his superpower? To mimic voices? And so he calls his alter-ego Mynah boy (after the Mynah bird), not to be confused with Minor Boy (which it is on multiple times in the book for comic effect).
What makes the book great is the comedy. First there is the situation, Danny Dread stuck in the Dread lair with his dad trying his bestest to get his son involved in his evil schemes, when all Danny wants to do is stop them. Then there are the characters and the relationships between them. For example there is Dad Dread's Gollum-like assistant Malevolo with his attempts to out Danny whilst being devoted to his master but also having his own hidden agenda. Then there is Danny's own chum Earl, the talking lab-rat who has a human ear on his back and who is forever foiling a hungry pelican who just wants to eat him. And the Lionhearts, the superhero family who are "the only thing keeping the world from destruction" with their daughter Crystallina, Danny's secret crush.
Other comedy is derived in the ridiculous schemes and ridiculous machinery involved such as over-sized jets with massive winches ideal for picking up world leaders far below.
What's more this book isn't just a series of jokes put together into a narrative. It also has a fully-formed plot. All-in-all then this book is perfectly executed and is a blast right from beginning through to climatic ending.
August 4, 2017
A very entertaining read.
I picked up the proof copy at work two years ago and have only just gotten around to reading it and boy, am I happy that I did.
An uplifting story about Danny, the boy born to be a superhero within a supervillain family.
Danny Dread is a quick read with some wonderful characters, even Earl the rat is endearing in his own way even though I know if I had a friend like that, they'd drive me mad.
I kind of wish the story was more about Danny and his times at the academy that's mentioned at the beginning and end of the book, but the story we got was still wonderfully entertaining and a great one to read with children.
There are a few bits definitely worth a chuckle and there's a variety of humour for all the family within these pages.
I picked up the proof copy at work two years ago and have only just gotten around to reading it and boy, am I happy that I did.
An uplifting story about Danny, the boy born to be a superhero within a supervillain family.
Danny Dread is a quick read with some wonderful characters, even Earl the rat is endearing in his own way even though I know if I had a friend like that, they'd drive me mad.
I kind of wish the story was more about Danny and his times at the academy that's mentioned at the beginning and end of the book, but the story we got was still wonderfully entertaining and a great one to read with children.
There are a few bits definitely worth a chuckle and there's a variety of humour for all the family within these pages.
June 16, 2017
Danny Dread comes from a long line of evil villains, but the funny thing is, he is the opposite of evil. He meets a rat that has a ear in the back of its back and he is called earl. Earl convinces Danny to become a super hero. On the way of his super hero journey, he meets his idol, Crystallina who is a super hero. But turns out she thinks that being a super hero is boring and she wonders how fun it would be if she was a villain. I think that it is a good book because it's really interesting and i get to see how Danny becomes a hero.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews