This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line called Branches, which is aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and stamina. Branches books help readers grow! Alexander's class is going on a field trip to an amusement park. Everyone is excited -- until they find out they're going to SAFETY Land! Before the students take a ride on the Slow and Steady Teacups, a weird magician tells them there's a haunted roller coaster at the park. And Alexander starts seeing odd scratch marks all over the place. Is there REALLY a ghost at Safety Land? The S.S.M.P. is about to find out!
If you have an early chapter book reader that longs for adventure and a little tension as they read about kids saving the day in every story, this series may be what you need. The Scholastic Branches series books all have similar features: short chapters, lots of illustrations to support reading, and 2nd graders up to the task of handling any odd situation (or in this case monster) that they may come across.
This is book nine of the series and the students are going on a field trip. Alexander, Nikki, and Rip are frustrated by this particular amusement park as it is quite different than they expected, but then things get a bit weird, someone from their group goes missing, and the kids focus on their club notebook to solve the mystery and be rid of the the coaster ghost!
My students love these Branches series books and this series The Notebook of Doom is a favorite, for sure.
{My thoughts} – Alexander, Rip and Nikki get to go on a field trip. They are going to an amusement park. They are incredibly happy and excited and can’t wait to get there. I mean, if I were them at their age, I’d have been pretty excited too!
Once they get there though they learn they are at a place called Safety Land and that there is really nothing fun about it at all. It is literally boosted to be the safest place ever. Alexander starts noticing small things going on though that makes him think a monster is involved.
He starts to voice his concern to all his friends and they think he is making things up, but they aren’t completely sure though. Eventually, they all end up on the same page and realize that something is going on and that things really don’t make sense without the explanation of a monster being involved.
I enjoyed reading this book and getting to know about Alexander and his friends. I also like that the author has added a new character into the class that will now have the opportunity to be a part of the crew. I am fairly certain that she is going to be a part of the monster hunting group!
I look forward to reading the next book in the series very soon!
The plot thickens. Who is the boss monster. Kiddo thinks it's Ms. Vanderpants and while this does seem like an obvious choice, there's something suspicious about Dr. Tallow. Why does Dr. Tallow dislike Nikki? Is it because Dr. Tallow is a monster herself and was actually trying to keep Nikki away from the Crab-Ra Cadabra plot? Or is it because she's an ex SSMP or some other sort of person who can spot monsters and therefore doesn't like monsters of any type. Only time will tell but we are both very excited to read more and find out! Great book!
Not remotely scary. And sometimes that’s exactly what kids need. Many of the characters (Alexander’s father comes right to mind) and pictures are goofy, but pleasantly so. Actually, the monsters are kind of cute. These books would be fun even as read-alouds.
I love this series so much! I'm reading the series to my kids for the second time through, and they never get old! This is a great chapter book series for kids just transitioning to chapter books. They're cute, fun, and hilarious. Rip never fails to make us all laugh.
This one was good. It feels like the buildup is starting to pay off a little bit. I enjoyed theorizing with my child who The Big Boss might be. He thinks it is Joan the Safety Cone, but he is six years old.
This one in the series was especially good for the suspense and tension! I mainly read it with my 6 year old but occasionally my 4 year old would sit with us and gasp or say "Oh no!" right along with us!
A is checking these books out at his school library (CCE - 2nd grade - age 7) Mom and Dad are having fun reading these books aloud to A. We all enjoy them. They are silly and fun.
3.5 stars. Engrossing with its mystery and twists. Nice addition of finally having an overarching story with the introduction of a monster big boss. Amusing setting in a safety themed park.
I read the notebook of doom rumble of coaster gust by Troy Cummings.
Alexander and Rip got to the amusement park. They forget out were is the coaster ghost is at.and they were banging thread said NO! they made a plan. i love this book because it tote me how to snare people it help me understand i think 3 grad will like and some wont like it make it skater spoke and t people will love this book
Alexander and his class are going on a class trip to Safety Land! Not exciting for kids as the rides have such fun names as "slow and steady teacups". the haunted house is called the well-lit not scary haunted house. The map is even labeled that it has four corners that are sharp. What kid would be excited about such a trip? The narrative takes a turn when strange things start to happen at the amusement park. At the end the author asks some great opened questions for students to think about and relate to the tale. This is a book in a series of book that many students will enjoy reading.
This is not your typical amusement park. In fact, it is a bit boring, except for the coaster ghost who turns out not to be a ghost at all but another strange monster.