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The Whizbang Machine
After years of running from his tragic past, Jack Yale
books a flight home. With him is a typewriter that is intended to be a gift for his granddaughter, Elizabeth. The minute Elizabeth’s fingers cradle the large black and cream keys the machine responses: popping, sizzling, and roaring to life with a Whiz-Whiz-BANG! Elizabeth quickly discovers the typewriter has powers beyond anything she has ever seen. The more she types, the more the machine spells out guarded secrets that need to be revealed in order to set history straight and remove a curse that has been on their family for centuries. To solve the mystery, Elizabeth Yale, alongside Jack, will have to crack the code of the Whizbang Machine. What they find challenges their most basic assumptions of their family, the history of the typewriter, and even Elizabeth’s father’s death. The ultimate goal is to remove the curse. The question is: will Jack and Elizabeth be able to carry out their mission?
books a flight home. With him is a typewriter that is intended to be a gift for his granddaughter, Elizabeth. The minute Elizabeth’s fingers cradle the large black and cream keys the machine responses: popping, sizzling, and roaring to life with a Whiz-Whiz-BANG! Elizabeth quickly discovers the typewriter has powers beyond anything she has ever seen. The more she types, the more the machine spells out guarded secrets that need to be revealed in order to set history straight and remove a curse that has been on their family for centuries. To solve the mystery, Elizabeth Yale, alongside Jack, will have to crack the code of the Whizbang Machine. What they find challenges their most basic assumptions of their family, the history of the typewriter, and even Elizabeth’s father’s death. The ultimate goal is to remove the curse. The question is: will Jack and Elizabeth be able to carry out their mission?
384 pages, Paperback
Published November 15, 2016
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November 19, 2016
Full review, first posted on Fantasy Literature:
Fifteen year old Elizabeth Yale has been living alone with her mother for eight years, since her father suffered an untimely death and her beloved grandfather Jack, unable to cope with the tragedy, left town to travel around the world. Elizabeth has missed Jack terribly, so she’s delighted when she gets a letter from Jack announcing that he’s coming home, and even more excited when her mother agrees to let her take a trip to Morocco with Jack in a few days. But unexpected troubles postpone their Casablanca adventure.
Jack has brought an unusual gift home for Elizabeth, an antique typewriter. Elizabeth has an uneasy feeling about the typewriter, especially when Jack insists that she touch the keys. At first nothing happens, but then the typewriter bursts into life with a Pop-Whiz-BANG!, shooting streams of brightly colored sparks and lit-up letters into the air and causing the room to shake violently. When Elizabeth types a message on the keys, the typewriter types a response: “It’s a lie. All of it, a lie.” The machine soon informs Elizabeth that history is not right and she needs to correct it. Its cryptic messages gradually lead Elizabeth and her grandfather down a path to explore their family’s past ― including a family curse that has killed before, and is waiting to kill again. It’s a race to solve the mystery before anyone else dies!
Danielle A. Vann has created an original middle grade mystery in The Whizbang Machine (2016), with a unique concept, the ancient, magical typewriter, at the center of it, and an engaging mystery. Unfortunately the execution of the idea is lacking in many ways. Elizabeth is frustratingly juvenile for her age. She whines constantly, talks back to adults, and makes some impulsive, questionable decisions. Her dialogue and character would be a better fit for a twelve or thirteen year old girl than one who’s turning sixteen in a few weeks.
Her grandfather Jack is just as bad: he takes several actions that clearly don’t have Elizabeth’s best interests at heart, apparently out of impatience or selfish curiosity, like urging Elizabeth to touch the machine again after it’s burnt her fingers badly, sneaking with her into locked buildings, or taking her into danger. His character shifts, from a concerned and loving grandparent to a reckless adventurer and back again, are disconcerting.
Additionally, The Whizbang Machine needed much stronger editing and proofreading. There are repeated punctuation errors, particularly in the dialogue. This book has a desperate case of “saidism” (aka “said bookism”), where the author seems to be allergic to the simple word “said.” Everything that comes out of a character’s mouth is laughed, chomped, uttered, whined, smiled, etc. It got highly distracting after a while, especially when there was a particularly odd choice of verb, such as: “ ‘Yes,’ Jack rushed” or “ ‘The choir must be practicing,’ the man delighted.” Sometimes the word used is also inappropriate for the context, like when “ ‘Unbelievable,’ I laughed” appears in the midst of a serious discussion.
This passage is illustrative of most of the problems I’ve mentioned:
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a review. Thank you!
Fifteen year old Elizabeth Yale has been living alone with her mother for eight years, since her father suffered an untimely death and her beloved grandfather Jack, unable to cope with the tragedy, left town to travel around the world. Elizabeth has missed Jack terribly, so she’s delighted when she gets a letter from Jack announcing that he’s coming home, and even more excited when her mother agrees to let her take a trip to Morocco with Jack in a few days. But unexpected troubles postpone their Casablanca adventure.
Jack has brought an unusual gift home for Elizabeth, an antique typewriter. Elizabeth has an uneasy feeling about the typewriter, especially when Jack insists that she touch the keys. At first nothing happens, but then the typewriter bursts into life with a Pop-Whiz-BANG!, shooting streams of brightly colored sparks and lit-up letters into the air and causing the room to shake violently. When Elizabeth types a message on the keys, the typewriter types a response: “It’s a lie. All of it, a lie.” The machine soon informs Elizabeth that history is not right and she needs to correct it. Its cryptic messages gradually lead Elizabeth and her grandfather down a path to explore their family’s past ― including a family curse that has killed before, and is waiting to kill again. It’s a race to solve the mystery before anyone else dies!
Danielle A. Vann has created an original middle grade mystery in The Whizbang Machine (2016), with a unique concept, the ancient, magical typewriter, at the center of it, and an engaging mystery. Unfortunately the execution of the idea is lacking in many ways. Elizabeth is frustratingly juvenile for her age. She whines constantly, talks back to adults, and makes some impulsive, questionable decisions. Her dialogue and character would be a better fit for a twelve or thirteen year old girl than one who’s turning sixteen in a few weeks.
Her grandfather Jack is just as bad: he takes several actions that clearly don’t have Elizabeth’s best interests at heart, apparently out of impatience or selfish curiosity, like urging Elizabeth to touch the machine again after it’s burnt her fingers badly, sneaking with her into locked buildings, or taking her into danger. His character shifts, from a concerned and loving grandparent to a reckless adventurer and back again, are disconcerting.
Additionally, The Whizbang Machine needed much stronger editing and proofreading. There are repeated punctuation errors, particularly in the dialogue. This book has a desperate case of “saidism” (aka “said bookism”), where the author seems to be allergic to the simple word “said.” Everything that comes out of a character’s mouth is laughed, chomped, uttered, whined, smiled, etc. It got highly distracting after a while, especially when there was a particularly odd choice of verb, such as: “ ‘Yes,’ Jack rushed” or “ ‘The choir must be practicing,’ the man delighted.” Sometimes the word used is also inappropriate for the context, like when “ ‘Unbelievable,’ I laughed” appears in the midst of a serious discussion.
This passage is illustrative of most of the problems I’ve mentioned:
Throttling his hand forward, he opened it and closed it repeatedly, “Hand me the blue map pencil now, young lady,” he demanded.Younger teenage readers may not mind these literary shortcomings. On the positive side, the plot is generally fast-paced. There’s some exciting action as Jack and Elizabeth travel to far-off places in search of the answers to the mystery and the key to unlocking the curse. However, be aware that The Whizbang Machine ends on a major cliffhanger, with the mystery unresolved. Readers will have to wait for the publication of the sequel, Tunney’s Curse, to get more answers.
“Why should I?” I hissed.
“Now!” he demanded.
Jack stewed in his building annoyance, “Sir,” Grandpa Jack began. “That is no way to speak to a young lady.”
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a review. Thank you!
November 19, 2016
About: The Whizbang Machine is a fiction novel written by Danielle A. Vann. This book was published on 11/15/16 by Waldorf Publishing, 384 pages. The genre is science fiction fantasy. This is book 1 to The Whizbang Machine Series. This book will be released by tomorrow, 11/20/16!
The Author: Danielle A. Vann grew up in Oklahoma City, OK. Her love of writing sparked a career in journalism. She holds an Associated Press Award. Danielle is the author of Gracie Lou and the Bad Dream Eater and the Gracie Lou Series, The Very Tall Tale of Ranger, the Great Pyrenees, and his Adorable Friend, Miss Keys, The Whizbang Machine, and co-authored Building Faith Through A Carpenter’s Hands. She lives in Mansfield, TX with her husband and three children.
My Experience: I started reading The Whizbang Machine on 11/13/16 and finished it on 11/19/16. I am delighted to have the opportunity to read and review this book. One thing stuck out from this book is the characters’ trip to the Netherlands! I was only recently read my first Dutch children’s book and I’m now being introduced to another book with activities taking place in the Netherlands. Imagine my surprise and happiness.
In this book, readers will follow the point of view of a 15-year-old Elizabeth Yale. She lives with her mom and they have a good mother-daughter relationship. She’s a typical good girl who has never been out on her own and therefore, more child-like than other badass YA characters in other novels who grew up as an orphan and left to fend for themselves. Her grandfather, Jack Yale, is her dad’s father. She has a tight bond with her grandpa Jack as well. Jack came back from his trips overseas and brought Elizabeth a typewriter as a gift because she loves typing using a typewriter instead of a laptop. This machine turns out to be a hundred year old mystery to be solved. Elizabeth and Jack ended up taking an adventure to solve the mystery all over New York and the Netherlands.
“Mr. Yale, we are done here. Best of luck. Don’t get yourself hurt or worse while you are in my country. I would hate to be the one to call your loved ones in the states and tell them your stubbornness lead to your death.” p.296
The chase to uncover the mystery is an interesting to read. I like Jack’s cleverness and despite being a 70-year-old, still tough and healthy for a wild goose chase. Elizabeth, despite being referred to as a baby by a bus driver, proved to be braver than her environment presents her to be. She’s up to the challenge with her grandpa when her curiosity gets the best of her. One part that I didn’t think add up was the key that goes with the doll. Why would it fit the tomb’s padlock easily? And typing on the typewriter, the spaces is irritating to read. Another genre should be added to this book is magic, because it will explains the mystery behind the typewriter or the woman with the necklace or the doll vendor’s gestures with his hands. I like that the mystery heats up toward the end.
“I’m not going to sit around and wait for an officer to instruct me about how I should go about getting answers, Elizabeth. He also said we should trust no one, but him. That’s convenient, don’t you think?” p.305
Pro: solving a puzzle: one clues lead to another, family tree, travel to the Netherlands, grandfather-granddaughter duo, humor
Con: some parts don’t add up, “my space name space is space” is super annoying
I rate it 4.5 stars!
***Disclaimer: I received this book directly from Waldorf Publishing and my opinions are honest. Many thanks to the author & publisher for the opportunity to read and review.
xoxo,
Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com
The Author: Danielle A. Vann grew up in Oklahoma City, OK. Her love of writing sparked a career in journalism. She holds an Associated Press Award. Danielle is the author of Gracie Lou and the Bad Dream Eater and the Gracie Lou Series, The Very Tall Tale of Ranger, the Great Pyrenees, and his Adorable Friend, Miss Keys, The Whizbang Machine, and co-authored Building Faith Through A Carpenter’s Hands. She lives in Mansfield, TX with her husband and three children.
My Experience: I started reading The Whizbang Machine on 11/13/16 and finished it on 11/19/16. I am delighted to have the opportunity to read and review this book. One thing stuck out from this book is the characters’ trip to the Netherlands! I was only recently read my first Dutch children’s book and I’m now being introduced to another book with activities taking place in the Netherlands. Imagine my surprise and happiness.
In this book, readers will follow the point of view of a 15-year-old Elizabeth Yale. She lives with her mom and they have a good mother-daughter relationship. She’s a typical good girl who has never been out on her own and therefore, more child-like than other badass YA characters in other novels who grew up as an orphan and left to fend for themselves. Her grandfather, Jack Yale, is her dad’s father. She has a tight bond with her grandpa Jack as well. Jack came back from his trips overseas and brought Elizabeth a typewriter as a gift because she loves typing using a typewriter instead of a laptop. This machine turns out to be a hundred year old mystery to be solved. Elizabeth and Jack ended up taking an adventure to solve the mystery all over New York and the Netherlands.
“Mr. Yale, we are done here. Best of luck. Don’t get yourself hurt or worse while you are in my country. I would hate to be the one to call your loved ones in the states and tell them your stubbornness lead to your death.” p.296
The chase to uncover the mystery is an interesting to read. I like Jack’s cleverness and despite being a 70-year-old, still tough and healthy for a wild goose chase. Elizabeth, despite being referred to as a baby by a bus driver, proved to be braver than her environment presents her to be. She’s up to the challenge with her grandpa when her curiosity gets the best of her. One part that I didn’t think add up was the key that goes with the doll. Why would it fit the tomb’s padlock easily? And typing on the typewriter, the spaces is irritating to read. Another genre should be added to this book is magic, because it will explains the mystery behind the typewriter or the woman with the necklace or the doll vendor’s gestures with his hands. I like that the mystery heats up toward the end.
“I’m not going to sit around and wait for an officer to instruct me about how I should go about getting answers, Elizabeth. He also said we should trust no one, but him. That’s convenient, don’t you think?” p.305
Pro: solving a puzzle: one clues lead to another, family tree, travel to the Netherlands, grandfather-granddaughter duo, humor
Con: some parts don’t add up, “my space name space is space” is super annoying
I rate it 4.5 stars!
***Disclaimer: I received this book directly from Waldorf Publishing and my opinions are honest. Many thanks to the author & publisher for the opportunity to read and review.
xoxo,
Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com
December 13, 2016
This was a very interesting book to finish the year with.
The cover was the first thing to attract me to this book. and then the summary: a magical typewriter, spelling secrets and demanding to correct history! Can it get any better!
The story starts with Jack bringing back the typewriter to his granddaughter after years of running away from his past. The machine seemed connected to them in a peculiar way, and with it starts a series of crazy events, that dragged them all the way from New York city to a small town in Europe in an attempt to solve this 100 years old mystery.
I enjoyed this book so much, the escalation of events, the mysterious strange characters that kept showing up all along the way, the different pieces of the puzzle they kept discovering only to add more confusion to all the story.
I was so caught up in all these events that when the end came i was completely taken by surprise and i felt so frustrated that it was a cliff hanger. I did not realize that it was only the first part of the story and i wanted so bad to start reading straight away the rest of it. But i guess that will have to wait.
I got this copy through NetGalley.
The cover was the first thing to attract me to this book. and then the summary: a magical typewriter, spelling secrets and demanding to correct history! Can it get any better!
The story starts with Jack bringing back the typewriter to his granddaughter after years of running away from his past. The machine seemed connected to them in a peculiar way, and with it starts a series of crazy events, that dragged them all the way from New York city to a small town in Europe in an attempt to solve this 100 years old mystery.
I enjoyed this book so much, the escalation of events, the mysterious strange characters that kept showing up all along the way, the different pieces of the puzzle they kept discovering only to add more confusion to all the story.
I was so caught up in all these events that when the end came i was completely taken by surprise and i felt so frustrated that it was a cliff hanger. I did not realize that it was only the first part of the story and i wanted so bad to start reading straight away the rest of it. But i guess that will have to wait.
I got this copy through NetGalley.
Read
October 13, 2016
Ah yes, that awkward moment when my very first NetGalley approval is for a book I ended up setting aside and not finishing.
It's not even as if it's the first time I've read a book I realized I didn't like less than halfway through. I've made it through Twilight, for crying out loud, and that book was still much worse than The Whizbang Machine.
But I guess I decided to end my suffering with this particular book because there are other books I need to read and review now that I have this blog, and like I said in a post on my blog about writing negative reviews, time is being taken out of my schedule to read a book. I simply decided to drop this one so I could focus on another book I would personally find more enjoyable.
But I think it's unfair just to go on and drop the novel without noting the positives in it first. So let me say: I actually do find the mystery quite intriguing.
See, the Whizbang Machine is about Elizabeth and Jack Yale, a granddaughter-grandfather tandem who sets out to unravel the mystery about a typewriter that Jack brought home. Not any ordinary typewriter, mind you; it's quite possessed, what with sparking occasionally and typing out mysterious phrases that float into the air like smoke. Literally. The more Elizabeth types, the more the machine reveals secrets that they must unravel so they can remove the family curse.
I think the part I liked the most was the scenes with the typewriter. I find machines working when they shouldn't be creepy, and imagining a typewriter automatically spelling out "It's a lie. All of it, a lie" again and again sends a chill up my spine. I think Danielle Vann did an excellent job keeping up the mystery and scary factor in that aspect. Plus, what's the deal with the creepy woman in Elizabeth's dreams? She's definitely someone I'd want to stay away from.
Alas, even the mystery wasn't enough for me to keep reading. And that's because the characters made me give up on the book.
First off, I'd like to mention that Elizabeth is 15, but she sounds and acts like she's 10 or something. I keep imagining her as a little kid before suddenly remembering that oh, wait, this is a YA novel and she's older than how she acts or thinks. Seriously, she whines "I hate hospitals," while stomping her foot, thus confusing me. My mind is a simple mind, okay? Don't confuse me.
It's not just that, though; Elizabeth is incredibly selfish. When her grandfather Jack is sent to the hospital, for example, she tells the paramedic attending to him that "please, he's all he's got." Um, excuse you? Jack disappeared from your life for I don't know how long and suddenly he's all you've got? What about your mom who didn't disappear from your life and took care of you after your dad (and the LOVE OF YOUR MOM'S LIFE, mind) died?
Now, see, I don't usually mind selfish characters, but only if they're acknowledged as selfish in the books. I don't think the author intended for Elizabeth to sound bratty; the scene was supposed to be dramatic and touching and I believe I was supposed to feel for her. I did feel something: I felt like slapping her across the face.
Jack is also incredibly selfish for a man of sixty-something in age. He whines about how the hospital staff keep coming in and checking his vitals. Uh, yeah, because they are helping you get better. I keep rolling my eyes at his antics, using his granddaughter for self-centered means and then having the gall to act sad and heartbroken when she rightfully grows mad at him.
There are other things about the book that I didn't like, such as weird formatting, the lack of tighter editing, and simple, so-so storytelling. But these are minor concerns compared to the irritation I felt with the characters.
The Whizbang Machine is not without its positives, especially the actual typewriter, which is the coolest thing about the book. Unfortunately, the two main selfish characters and the editing issues and so-so writing took away my enjoyment of this book.
Rating: DNF
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This review is cross-posted on my blog, yalitreads.com.
December 2, 2016
A thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to check this book out!
Let me start out by saying that after reading the description, I was completely ready to jump right in. A magical typewriter that writes back to you with secrets that have to do with a family curse. Sign me up!
Except that I couldn't get past the first four chapters to find out more. This book deserved another draft. It's a brilliant concept that just isn't hitting the mark. Elizabeth is going on sixteen years old and she acts like she's a child. The characterization is off there, she just doesn't pull me in and make me fantasize about being that age again with the adventures I could have had.
This really needed a tighter edit and a better proofread before being published. Some of the word choices don't seem appropriate for the action or dialogue they're being used with. For example, when Jack, the grandpa, finally comes home to visit after not seeing the family for eight years, he wants to talk about what her and her mom have been up to first.
"'Same old, same old. School, soccer practice, school, repeat,' I replied, brushing my hand against my forehead and swooning over the table."
Why is she swooning? And why would she think he would know what the "same old, same old" is when he's been absent for eight years? I think that line in particular is what pulled me out of the story. He may have been sending postcards for all those years, but that's not the same as actually being there or holding conversations over the phone-something they apparently hadn't done over the years.
The third chapter about the boxes Jack brought home as gifts really needed to be edited. In one spot, the mom was clenching her teeth, but the word used was "clinching." Aside from an error like that and with missing commas, the real issue lies with the content. Elizabeth was supposed to open a certain box, but then she wanted Jack to open it, but then he told her to open it. Then she felt weird about opening it. It just kept going with her not opening the box. I understand that this was to create suspense surrounding what was in the box, but all it did was make me want to slap Elizabeth for taking her sweet time. It's like being at a birthday party where you want to see the birthday girl open a particular gift, and then she decides to unwrap it in slow motion. You're not being suspenseful, you're being annoying.
There's also the issue of the dialogue feeling forced along with telling readers what's happening as opposed to showing. I think this is really where Danielle could have improved. In the beginning, Elizabeth is talking with her mom about Jack coming to visit. Her mom asks her to grab the crackers, and then Elizabeth responds with "Here's the crackers." There was never any action involved. It would have been better to show us grabbing the crackers and just handing them to her mom instead of telling us about it. Also, there is nothing wrong with using "said" for the dialogue tag, but other words are used in its place which aren't realistic. In regard to the surprise her mom and Jack had for Elizabeth and telling her about it, this was the mom's response: "'If you must,' Mom whined." Why would she be whining? She's just as excited about the trip that she worked so hard to conceal.
In closing, I was totally hooked on the idea of the story, but the execution needed help. I really think another draft and a better editor would have made this story wonderful.
Let me start out by saying that after reading the description, I was completely ready to jump right in. A magical typewriter that writes back to you with secrets that have to do with a family curse. Sign me up!
Except that I couldn't get past the first four chapters to find out more. This book deserved another draft. It's a brilliant concept that just isn't hitting the mark. Elizabeth is going on sixteen years old and she acts like she's a child. The characterization is off there, she just doesn't pull me in and make me fantasize about being that age again with the adventures I could have had.
This really needed a tighter edit and a better proofread before being published. Some of the word choices don't seem appropriate for the action or dialogue they're being used with. For example, when Jack, the grandpa, finally comes home to visit after not seeing the family for eight years, he wants to talk about what her and her mom have been up to first.
"'Same old, same old. School, soccer practice, school, repeat,' I replied, brushing my hand against my forehead and swooning over the table."
Why is she swooning? And why would she think he would know what the "same old, same old" is when he's been absent for eight years? I think that line in particular is what pulled me out of the story. He may have been sending postcards for all those years, but that's not the same as actually being there or holding conversations over the phone-something they apparently hadn't done over the years.
The third chapter about the boxes Jack brought home as gifts really needed to be edited. In one spot, the mom was clenching her teeth, but the word used was "clinching." Aside from an error like that and with missing commas, the real issue lies with the content. Elizabeth was supposed to open a certain box, but then she wanted Jack to open it, but then he told her to open it. Then she felt weird about opening it. It just kept going with her not opening the box. I understand that this was to create suspense surrounding what was in the box, but all it did was make me want to slap Elizabeth for taking her sweet time. It's like being at a birthday party where you want to see the birthday girl open a particular gift, and then she decides to unwrap it in slow motion. You're not being suspenseful, you're being annoying.
There's also the issue of the dialogue feeling forced along with telling readers what's happening as opposed to showing. I think this is really where Danielle could have improved. In the beginning, Elizabeth is talking with her mom about Jack coming to visit. Her mom asks her to grab the crackers, and then Elizabeth responds with "Here's the crackers." There was never any action involved. It would have been better to show us grabbing the crackers and just handing them to her mom instead of telling us about it. Also, there is nothing wrong with using "said" for the dialogue tag, but other words are used in its place which aren't realistic. In regard to the surprise her mom and Jack had for Elizabeth and telling her about it, this was the mom's response: "'If you must,' Mom whined." Why would she be whining? She's just as excited about the trip that she worked so hard to conceal.
In closing, I was totally hooked on the idea of the story, but the execution needed help. I really think another draft and a better editor would have made this story wonderful.
August 3, 2017
Supernatural machinery is nothing new to fantasy (many a young adult and preteen read have included magical equipment), but a talented typewriter is something different, which Elizabeth discovers when a gift from her grandfather spells out new powers in the form of secrets revealed.
One delightful aspect of this story line is the old-fashioned type sprinkled throughout the pages, which capture the typewriter's special font and clarify that the messages are coming from a machine.
Another is the fact that a family curse brings granddaughter and grandfather together on a problem-solving mission spiked with supernatural overtones. As Elizabeth narrates her family's heritage and her increasing involvement with the magic typewriter that will change lives and destinies, she thoroughly involves readers in the quest: "The machine sighed to sleep with the flip of the red off button. I drew in a deep breath, stuffed Jack’s last postcard in my front jean pocket and stood eerily still. Jack, I thought. After all this time, he would finally be standing inside my house. The place he used to treasure before the bomb went off in both of our lives. It didn’t seem like today would ever come."
Mystery and supernatural elements are paired with strong characterization, believable scenarios and motives, and a host of challenges that keep Elizabeth and Jack on their toes. Readers follow the clues along with the investigator duo and will enjoy an ever-quickening pace as the two race against time to solve a series of impossible problems, with the Royal typewriter pushing them to hone their sleuthing skills before it's too late.
The result is a beautifully written page-turner recommended for young adult readers: one that does an excellent job of building its plot and characters and surrounds them with a mystery spiced with the dilemma of a Royal curse that may prove undefeatable, if the two family members can't solve it once and for all: "I repeated the sinister words the vendor chanted, “One thousand and forty years the curse will remain until the rightful owner shall turn back the hands of time and correct a Royal mistake. The secret will eat away at those who come to play like a disease.”
One delightful aspect of this story line is the old-fashioned type sprinkled throughout the pages, which capture the typewriter's special font and clarify that the messages are coming from a machine.
Another is the fact that a family curse brings granddaughter and grandfather together on a problem-solving mission spiked with supernatural overtones. As Elizabeth narrates her family's heritage and her increasing involvement with the magic typewriter that will change lives and destinies, she thoroughly involves readers in the quest: "The machine sighed to sleep with the flip of the red off button. I drew in a deep breath, stuffed Jack’s last postcard in my front jean pocket and stood eerily still. Jack, I thought. After all this time, he would finally be standing inside my house. The place he used to treasure before the bomb went off in both of our lives. It didn’t seem like today would ever come."
Mystery and supernatural elements are paired with strong characterization, believable scenarios and motives, and a host of challenges that keep Elizabeth and Jack on their toes. Readers follow the clues along with the investigator duo and will enjoy an ever-quickening pace as the two race against time to solve a series of impossible problems, with the Royal typewriter pushing them to hone their sleuthing skills before it's too late.
The result is a beautifully written page-turner recommended for young adult readers: one that does an excellent job of building its plot and characters and surrounds them with a mystery spiced with the dilemma of a Royal curse that may prove undefeatable, if the two family members can't solve it once and for all: "I repeated the sinister words the vendor chanted, “One thousand and forty years the curse will remain until the rightful owner shall turn back the hands of time and correct a Royal mistake. The secret will eat away at those who come to play like a disease.”
December 2, 2016
Eight days to read this book? Man this dragged on and on. It was like one of those 'choose your own adventure' stories where you picked the absolutely stupidest choices you could make. Find a book full of notes and a key that might, MIGHT, open a safe deposit box do you read the notebook? NO! You race off hours before the banks could possibly be open because. . . that's the dumbest thing you could do. These are two people sneaking about trying to get into guarded, hidden and dangerous areas who are yelling, screaming, shrieking and freaking out left and right. As I wrote in my update something felt really wrong about how the main protagonist, Elizabeth, is written, it feels like she started out much younger, she's supposed to be fifteen years old but she's treated and acts more like a twelve year old. But there's one scene where she flirts with an older boy and the author thought it would be creepy for him to flirt with a twelve year old so he went back through the book and changed her age to keep that scene (which meant nothing) but he didn't change a word of how she acts or is treated. There's nothing teenage about her. The story meanders and wanders making so little sense I kept putting the book down to watch old reruns of sitcoms. and the ending? I won't spoil it but a first person narrative CAN'T end that way and it just stops right there. We don't actually find out if anything's fixed or resolved or if the bad guys are caught and punished. The book stops and the author goes on about Dutch words he liked, who the characters are named after and what places are real and not. It made me incredibly angry the way the book cut off. The complete lack of any resolution to the story. I disliked the book intensely.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my review.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my review.
October 27, 2016
This story is the first of a series. It is an adventure. Elizabeth's grandfather comes back home from his world travels with an antique typewriter that he purchased in Morocco. The typewriter seems to be cursed. It forces Elizabeth to type on it and delivers cryptic messages. When her grandfather touches it, he suffers an electric shock that mimics a massive heart attack.
The two of them have all sorts of adventures and face all sorts of dangers when they try to track down the history of the typewriter which seems to be entwined with the history of their family. Their research leads them to family secrets and a family curse.
With better writing, this could have been an excellent story. Unfortunately the main character's voice sounded more like a middle-aged woman who had a pretentious vocabulary and a love for florid prose than the fifteen-year-old kid it was supposed to be. Problems with consistency in the characterization also plagued this book. Characters who were angry with each other to the point of shouting and slamming doors were all sweetness and light a page later. I also had problems with the grandfather who professed his love for his granddaughter then led her into all sorts of dangerous situations.
The biggest issue I had was a plot hole. All of their research indicates that members of the family die at the age of forty because of this curse but those who marry into the family are fine. Elizabeth's grandfather, a direct descendant, is 69 and doing fine. Elizabeth feels that she needs to find the solution to this mystery before her mother, who married into the family, turns 40. Huh? Didn't they read the same information I did?
Give this one a try if the plot sounds good to you. I don't feel any need to know what happens next.
The two of them have all sorts of adventures and face all sorts of dangers when they try to track down the history of the typewriter which seems to be entwined with the history of their family. Their research leads them to family secrets and a family curse.
With better writing, this could have been an excellent story. Unfortunately the main character's voice sounded more like a middle-aged woman who had a pretentious vocabulary and a love for florid prose than the fifteen-year-old kid it was supposed to be. Problems with consistency in the characterization also plagued this book. Characters who were angry with each other to the point of shouting and slamming doors were all sweetness and light a page later. I also had problems with the grandfather who professed his love for his granddaughter then led her into all sorts of dangerous situations.
The biggest issue I had was a plot hole. All of their research indicates that members of the family die at the age of forty because of this curse but those who marry into the family are fine. Elizabeth's grandfather, a direct descendant, is 69 and doing fine. Elizabeth feels that she needs to find the solution to this mystery before her mother, who married into the family, turns 40. Huh? Didn't they read the same information I did?
Give this one a try if the plot sounds good to you. I don't feel any need to know what happens next.
August 26, 2016
Elizabeth is an extraordinarily mature fifteen year old girl. Of course, her life circumstances have caused her to grow up faster than most kids her age. An only child, her father passed away a few short weeks after her grandmother's death. So when her grandfather, bereaving and heartbroken, escaped reality to travel the world, she and her mother were left to pick up the pieces of their lives on their own. Now, eight years later, Elizabeth's grandfather has returned home with a mysterious typewriter which he believes is somehow connected to his family, and in particular, to Elizabeth.
The Whizbang Machine is an incredibly suspenseful book which will have readers of all ages eagerly turning pages with enthusiasm as they wait to see what will become of Elizabeth and her eccentric grandfather, Jack. Author Danielle A. Vann displays rare talent as a story-teller in this thrilling book which will leave readers anxiously awaiting the sequel to this delightfully engaging read.
The Whizbang Machine is highly recommended for home and school libraries and has earned the Literary Classics Seal of Approval.
The Whizbang Machine is an incredibly suspenseful book which will have readers of all ages eagerly turning pages with enthusiasm as they wait to see what will become of Elizabeth and her eccentric grandfather, Jack. Author Danielle A. Vann displays rare talent as a story-teller in this thrilling book which will leave readers anxiously awaiting the sequel to this delightfully engaging read.
The Whizbang Machine is highly recommended for home and school libraries and has earned the Literary Classics Seal of Approval.
November 30, 2016
Book Review originally pubished here: http://www.iheartreading.net/book-tou...
The Whizbang Machine is an intriguing, mysterious YA novel about Jack Yale, a grandfather in the possession of a very special typewriter, and his granddaughter, Elizabeth. After years of running from the past, Jack heads home, bringing with him a typewriter intended to be a gift for his granddaughter, Elizabeth. But the typewriter is so much more than that – when she types, the machine spells out secrets from the past, and each secret must be revealed if Elizabeth wants to set history straight, and remove a curse that has been tormenting her family for centuries.
What I really liked about this book, was the focus on the relationship between Jack and Elizabeth – grandfather and granddaughter. This was one of the first YA books I read that focuses on this, and it’s an unique focus that made me like the book all that more. The mystery worked very well too, and kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time.
Blending mystery, fantasy, and history, this is one of those timeless stories a reader won’t forget any time soon.
The Whizbang Machine is an intriguing, mysterious YA novel about Jack Yale, a grandfather in the possession of a very special typewriter, and his granddaughter, Elizabeth. After years of running from the past, Jack heads home, bringing with him a typewriter intended to be a gift for his granddaughter, Elizabeth. But the typewriter is so much more than that – when she types, the machine spells out secrets from the past, and each secret must be revealed if Elizabeth wants to set history straight, and remove a curse that has been tormenting her family for centuries.
What I really liked about this book, was the focus on the relationship between Jack and Elizabeth – grandfather and granddaughter. This was one of the first YA books I read that focuses on this, and it’s an unique focus that made me like the book all that more. The mystery worked very well too, and kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time.
Blending mystery, fantasy, and history, this is one of those timeless stories a reader won’t forget any time soon.
October 15, 2016
A mysterious typewriter brings a grandfather home to see his granddaughter and they set off on an adventure to seek the origins of the messages this machine spits out. Their adventure begins at the New York Public Library to seek guidance on their ancestral roots and then leads Jack and Elizabeth across the pond to the Netherlands where they find out the truth about their heritage that brought a great great great grandfather to America almost 200 years ago. Dealing with the death of Jesse (Jack's son and Elizabeth's father), this story is well written creating a very clean mystery, adventure, historical fictional drama on 2 continents without violence, bloodshed, or romantic interludes for all ages to enjoy reading. I couldn't put it down and I look forward to the sequel.
September 15, 2017
This book was amazing!! Best book ever!! I can't wait for the second one to come out!! As Elizabeth and Jack go on crazy adventure's they come across some weird challenge's. Danielle a vann is the best writer of all time.
I received an this book from Waldorf publishing in exchange for my honest review
I received an this book from Waldorf publishing in exchange for my honest review
March 5, 2017
I received this book last fall from Netgalley. I love old typewriters and thought this would be fun to read. Sorry, but I've tried 3 times to read it and just couldn't get past Chapter 5. The characters weren't very likable and the story was kind of blah. DNF
January 4, 2018
When Elizabeth was fifteen, she was waiting for her grandfather while typing her English paper. She is a writer, a writer who loves the sound of the keys and the "hum" of her light blue electric typewriter (I can relate to her satisfaction!). It had been eight years since her father had died, since her grandfather had sold Yale's Shelves (a book store her family had owned for fifty years), and since she had seen him (only his travel postcards kept her informed). She had no idea that in two days she would be traveling with her grandfather on a quest to Casablanca, Morocco.
What begins as a small "tingly" sensation as she reached for a box in her grandfather's storage soon becomes an "explosion of thunder" (it helped that there was a storm outside). Lying inside of a tan case was a vintage typewriter. Of course this wasn't just any typewriter, nope, it had been securely locked... and it was seated in "red plush velvet," which to any writer means a typewriter of distinction.
As an educator, I couldn't ask for a better "on the edge" story line. Sharing certain portions of the story caused hands to fly up for ownership. As a reader, I experienced trepidation every time Elizabeth had to touch the keys. I was exhausted and angry with her grandfather for placing leading her into danger. I was pulling for her to get beyond this quest and just go home. I didn't want to read another word, and yet... I was compelled to enter into the chaos once more.
Enjoy this treasure of a story,
MrsK https://mrskbookstogo.blogspot.com/
What begins as a small "tingly" sensation as she reached for a box in her grandfather's storage soon becomes an "explosion of thunder" (it helped that there was a storm outside). Lying inside of a tan case was a vintage typewriter. Of course this wasn't just any typewriter, nope, it had been securely locked... and it was seated in "red plush velvet," which to any writer means a typewriter of distinction.
As an educator, I couldn't ask for a better "on the edge" story line. Sharing certain portions of the story caused hands to fly up for ownership. As a reader, I experienced trepidation every time Elizabeth had to touch the keys. I was exhausted and angry with her grandfather for placing leading her into danger. I was pulling for her to get beyond this quest and just go home. I didn't want to read another word, and yet... I was compelled to enter into the chaos once more.
Enjoy this treasure of a story,
MrsK https://mrskbookstogo.blogspot.com/
March 7, 2019
WOW! just wow! I really enjoyed this book. I'm sorry I took so long to get around to reading it. A fantasy/sci-fi/mystery about a magical typewriter that spans 3 continents and several generations that also deals with family secrets and grief. A great combination. Thanks, NetGalley!
Grandfather Jack is back in 15 year old Elizabeth's life after travelling the world for 8 years. He brings with him a typewriter that makes strange 'whiz-bang' sounds and emits an electric shock to those who touch it. What is it trying to tell them? Elizabeth and Jack set off on an adventure to solve the mystery before it's too late. Great fun, lots of action and a story that's actually based in fact -- the history of the invention of the typewriter. I'm happy to see there is a sequel!
Grandfather Jack is back in 15 year old Elizabeth's life after travelling the world for 8 years. He brings with him a typewriter that makes strange 'whiz-bang' sounds and emits an electric shock to those who touch it. What is it trying to tell them? Elizabeth and Jack set off on an adventure to solve the mystery before it's too late. Great fun, lots of action and a story that's actually based in fact -- the history of the invention of the typewriter. I'm happy to see there is a sequel!
July 24, 2017
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this fine book. I wanted to read it before I requested the next book in the series. It is up and available now. Let me start of by saving, I loved this book. It is full of mystery and suspense. I personally love the family background search that leads them on the adventure. It's smart and well-written. As a librarian and former teacher, I will be suggesting this book to my students and to my teachers as a classroom tool. The fact that the author took time to use real history and research and then gave us a guide in the back is brilliant. This needs to be done on more books.
I give this 5 stars. Excellent.
I give this 5 stars. Excellent.
July 24, 2017
I'm not certain why people who call themselves reviewers took the time to trash this book. This is brilliantly done. You hate the character. Have you met today's teens? I feel that the author did this on purpose. It is a series. I think Elizabeth grows as she goes. Who wouldn't be upset if their lives were completely trashed as a child. Great writing. Fantastic mystery. It had me on the edge of my seat. I've already pre-ordered the next book which comes out on August 1st. Well done, author. Don't listen to the idiots here.
January 7, 2018
3.5 stars
This was a fun book. It followed a girl who, with the help of her grandpa and mom, tries to break her family's curse. I enjoyed this book even more because a large chuck of it took place in the Netherlands, where I used to live! It was slightly frustrating when the characters didn't know what a Dutch word meant and I did, but the story was good overall. However, there were a lot of grammar mistakes that drove me crazy, and I did not like the ending at all. Overall, a good book, but the ending was horrible, and that brought down the rating almost a whole star.
This was a fun book. It followed a girl who, with the help of her grandpa and mom, tries to break her family's curse. I enjoyed this book even more because a large chuck of it took place in the Netherlands, where I used to live! It was slightly frustrating when the characters didn't know what a Dutch word meant and I did, but the story was good overall. However, there were a lot of grammar mistakes that drove me crazy, and I did not like the ending at all. Overall, a good book, but the ending was horrible, and that brought down the rating almost a whole star.
June 24, 2017
Interesting premise, poor execution. The main character comes across as far too immature for her age. The writing style leaves much to be desired--this book needs a good editor for both proofreading (which hopefully will be fixed since this is an ARC) and structure. Younger readers may overlook these flaws and enjoy a good adventure. I look forward to future work by this author to see how her writing style develops. Received an advanced copy from NetGalley.
October 3, 2016
If you are looking for a book full of suspense and intrigue, in my opinion, this is the one. Written by what I can only assume will be an emerging author, this page-turner is filled with secrets that kept me up at night reading. While it is a lengthy work, I couldn't put it down. I finished this book in three days. Yes, that is the kind of master storytelling hidden in the pages.
It starts out in New York with a 15-year-old girl named Elizabeth. Her namesake is questioned later. Her father passes and thus starts the wild adventure. Her grandfather, who took after his son's death, comes back and it's game on. With an enchanted typewriter in tow, the pair reunite in a way that only kindred spirits can.
I want to tell you more about what happens next but I refuse to spoil it for you. I will say once the Whizzing and Banging starts, you won't be able to put the book down.
Jack has a theory. A good one at that. Once he realizes he is right, Elizabeth and he take off to unravel a haunted past that has been hidden within their bloodline.
The details in this book will have your mind going wild. The author took the time to put real places and real history within the book, as she later explains in the fact or fiction section in the back. That was a stunning part of the imaginary for me. The words will transform into a movie playing in your head.
The second this book hits the shelves, GET A COPY! It's a bestseller in the making.
I was given an advanced copy for my review. I'm happy to add this to my blog.
It starts out in New York with a 15-year-old girl named Elizabeth. Her namesake is questioned later. Her father passes and thus starts the wild adventure. Her grandfather, who took after his son's death, comes back and it's game on. With an enchanted typewriter in tow, the pair reunite in a way that only kindred spirits can.
I want to tell you more about what happens next but I refuse to spoil it for you. I will say once the Whizzing and Banging starts, you won't be able to put the book down.
Jack has a theory. A good one at that. Once he realizes he is right, Elizabeth and he take off to unravel a haunted past that has been hidden within their bloodline.
The details in this book will have your mind going wild. The author took the time to put real places and real history within the book, as she later explains in the fact or fiction section in the back. That was a stunning part of the imaginary for me. The words will transform into a movie playing in your head.
The second this book hits the shelves, GET A COPY! It's a bestseller in the making.
I was given an advanced copy for my review. I'm happy to add this to my blog.
November 16, 2016
I really loved this book!
This story has suspense and intrigue and in my humble opinion is written by a master storyteller. The secret in this page turning story, is the words that are snippets of power, irresistible courage, patience, and fortitude.
It starts out in New York City with Elizabeth Wright Yale aka Lizzy and Laurel her mom.
Her grandfather Jack is coming for a visit. He had left them eight years ago when his son, Laurel’s husband and Elizabeth’s dad, Jesse died. Jack couldn’t handle being alone with all the memories, as his wife was deceased too. He sold their bookstore that they had owned for over fifty years. He dropped off a few family heirlooms and their old grandfather clock at their house and left without saying goodbye. While Jack was gone he sent postcards from all over the world, “416 to be exact” from all the places he had been.
Now he was coming back home.
When Jack knocked on their door they were so happy to see each other. Grandpa Jack and Elizabeth have always been kindred spirits.
The real reason Jack has come back, is unbeknownst to Elizabeth, and that is her mother has given permission for her to travel the summer with her grandpa. Exciting is the least of how Elizabeth would describe her feelings!
Grandpa Jack also brought a few gifts for her and her mama. Relics he called them and her mother called them junk.
Jack has Lizzy get this one certain box out of the stack of boxes they had carried into the house and this particular box has light radiating from it and when Lizzy is touching the box it gives her sensations that she isn’t sure she wants to open it. Jack had to beg her to open this one particular gift. She takes a unique case out of the box but to open the case Lizzy needs the last postcard grandpa Jack had sent her. When the case is opened things begin to happen. Magical, unbelievable, frightening, and staggering things began to happen to and around Elizabeth. As she started to run from Jack’s room, she saw the most elaborate vintage typewriters she had ever seen. Now you must know Elizabeth is passionate about old typewriters and would rather use one of those to the now modern laptops. This particular typewriter talks to them with whoosh, pop, whiz, sizzle, whoosh, whiz-bang noises! Can you say wowzers! It is a talking out-of-this-world supernatural relic typewriter! What is going on here?
Why does Jack think this particular typewriter has ties to Elizabeth? Is it because it has her initials on the front, EWY? Or does grandpa Jack know something he isn’t telling? Before Jack and Elizabeth can get gone on their trip something significant happens to Jack.
Jack tells Elizabeth to go into the attic and find an old photo album and as she is going into the attic the typewriter machine starts it’s whiz-banging noises again and giving out messages that are like a scrambled up word puzzle.
I can only imagine what is going through Elizabeth’s mind as all this is going on and her imagination is running wild.
Elizabeth’s mom has no idea what has been happening with the old typewriter machine and themselves. They do not believe she would understand but they eventually have to tell her. When they do explain the puzzle begins to unravel. Even Laurel has some pieces that fit in this secret puzzle.
Jack checks himself out of the hospital and returns to their home and he and Lizzy set on a journey that begins with research at The New York City Public Library.
Do they ever get to go on that summer journey together?
Does the whizbang machine ever finish it’s story?
Run with leaping strides to the nearest bookstore and get this book!
I would even say this story could be described as historical fiction. The facts about the history in the story make it even more imaginable.
I, was given this book, by Netgalley.com for review purposes.
.
This story has suspense and intrigue and in my humble opinion is written by a master storyteller. The secret in this page turning story, is the words that are snippets of power, irresistible courage, patience, and fortitude.
It starts out in New York City with Elizabeth Wright Yale aka Lizzy and Laurel her mom.
Her grandfather Jack is coming for a visit. He had left them eight years ago when his son, Laurel’s husband and Elizabeth’s dad, Jesse died. Jack couldn’t handle being alone with all the memories, as his wife was deceased too. He sold their bookstore that they had owned for over fifty years. He dropped off a few family heirlooms and their old grandfather clock at their house and left without saying goodbye. While Jack was gone he sent postcards from all over the world, “416 to be exact” from all the places he had been.
Now he was coming back home.
When Jack knocked on their door they were so happy to see each other. Grandpa Jack and Elizabeth have always been kindred spirits.
The real reason Jack has come back, is unbeknownst to Elizabeth, and that is her mother has given permission for her to travel the summer with her grandpa. Exciting is the least of how Elizabeth would describe her feelings!
Grandpa Jack also brought a few gifts for her and her mama. Relics he called them and her mother called them junk.
Jack has Lizzy get this one certain box out of the stack of boxes they had carried into the house and this particular box has light radiating from it and when Lizzy is touching the box it gives her sensations that she isn’t sure she wants to open it. Jack had to beg her to open this one particular gift. She takes a unique case out of the box but to open the case Lizzy needs the last postcard grandpa Jack had sent her. When the case is opened things begin to happen. Magical, unbelievable, frightening, and staggering things began to happen to and around Elizabeth. As she started to run from Jack’s room, she saw the most elaborate vintage typewriters she had ever seen. Now you must know Elizabeth is passionate about old typewriters and would rather use one of those to the now modern laptops. This particular typewriter talks to them with whoosh, pop, whiz, sizzle, whoosh, whiz-bang noises! Can you say wowzers! It is a talking out-of-this-world supernatural relic typewriter! What is going on here?
Why does Jack think this particular typewriter has ties to Elizabeth? Is it because it has her initials on the front, EWY? Or does grandpa Jack know something he isn’t telling? Before Jack and Elizabeth can get gone on their trip something significant happens to Jack.
Jack tells Elizabeth to go into the attic and find an old photo album and as she is going into the attic the typewriter machine starts it’s whiz-banging noises again and giving out messages that are like a scrambled up word puzzle.
I can only imagine what is going through Elizabeth’s mind as all this is going on and her imagination is running wild.
Elizabeth’s mom has no idea what has been happening with the old typewriter machine and themselves. They do not believe she would understand but they eventually have to tell her. When they do explain the puzzle begins to unravel. Even Laurel has some pieces that fit in this secret puzzle.
Jack checks himself out of the hospital and returns to their home and he and Lizzy set on a journey that begins with research at The New York City Public Library.
Do they ever get to go on that summer journey together?
Does the whizbang machine ever finish it’s story?
Run with leaping strides to the nearest bookstore and get this book!
I would even say this story could be described as historical fiction. The facts about the history in the story make it even more imaginable.
I, was given this book, by Netgalley.com for review purposes.
.
March 10, 2017
Great storyline, with a great cliffhanging ending. The second book is definitely something to look forward to.
November 5, 2016
Kat Mandu says...
When Elizabeth Yale’s grandfather returns home with a mysterious gift for her, the typewriter present turns out to be something far more sinister. The more she learns about the typewriter and all its secrets, the more secrets about her family are revealed – plus the curse that’s been put on her family for years has come to claim them.
What I liked: Well, you don’t see a typewriter every day in books involving relics that spell out a certain doom for the characters. That’s unique to me because I often see an amulet or a stone or a key. It helps that the typewriter can technically talk back, even if it’s often unhelpful.
The author has a very good idea of suspense going for her, for even though there were many things I wasn’t impressed with, I found myself still wanting to read it to figure out the truth behind all the events going on in the book.
What I didn’t like: First off, the characters. Though they are quite believable due to the things they do and say, they’re not likeable people. Elizabeth is the very epitome of annoying, whiny, and temperamental teenagers. In one scene she can seem very grown up and wise, and in another, throw a tantrum for no reason. It’s frustrating that her traits often change. Plus, I wasn’t fond of the mother or Jack. What kind of grandfather purposely brings something he knows is dangerous to his family, while being aware that it could destroy them? That makes no sense to me. I had a tough time relating to any of them and that was rough for me. All the side characters were unfortunately predictable and you could tell who the bad guy was and who wasn’t.
Also, the plot of the book is drowned out by unnecessary details. The characters often find themselves in situations where they have to talk things out but when the dialogue or inner thoughts display on the page, it’s just a recap of everything that’s already happened and I found myself thinking, “I know this already, why are we wasting time?” This book would be so much better if the author got rid of all that re-summarized information and just got on with the plot.
There are action scenes mingled in but they seem so fake that it’s painful. The characters just “happen” to escape from the police in both New York and Amsterdam. They’re not very well written because it’s trying to happen from only one character’s perspective when there are things happening beyond her scope she’s just automatically tuned in to. I could see this better written as third-person omniscient instead of first-person. Elizabeth just seems to know too much.
I sadly, can only give this a two – but with hopes that when the sequel is written, the action picks up and makes it less worrisome for readers.
When Elizabeth Yale’s grandfather returns home with a mysterious gift for her, the typewriter present turns out to be something far more sinister. The more she learns about the typewriter and all its secrets, the more secrets about her family are revealed – plus the curse that’s been put on her family for years has come to claim them.
What I liked: Well, you don’t see a typewriter every day in books involving relics that spell out a certain doom for the characters. That’s unique to me because I often see an amulet or a stone or a key. It helps that the typewriter can technically talk back, even if it’s often unhelpful.
The author has a very good idea of suspense going for her, for even though there were many things I wasn’t impressed with, I found myself still wanting to read it to figure out the truth behind all the events going on in the book.
What I didn’t like: First off, the characters. Though they are quite believable due to the things they do and say, they’re not likeable people. Elizabeth is the very epitome of annoying, whiny, and temperamental teenagers. In one scene she can seem very grown up and wise, and in another, throw a tantrum for no reason. It’s frustrating that her traits often change. Plus, I wasn’t fond of the mother or Jack. What kind of grandfather purposely brings something he knows is dangerous to his family, while being aware that it could destroy them? That makes no sense to me. I had a tough time relating to any of them and that was rough for me. All the side characters were unfortunately predictable and you could tell who the bad guy was and who wasn’t.
Also, the plot of the book is drowned out by unnecessary details. The characters often find themselves in situations where they have to talk things out but when the dialogue or inner thoughts display on the page, it’s just a recap of everything that’s already happened and I found myself thinking, “I know this already, why are we wasting time?” This book would be so much better if the author got rid of all that re-summarized information and just got on with the plot.
There are action scenes mingled in but they seem so fake that it’s painful. The characters just “happen” to escape from the police in both New York and Amsterdam. They’re not very well written because it’s trying to happen from only one character’s perspective when there are things happening beyond her scope she’s just automatically tuned in to. I could see this better written as third-person omniscient instead of first-person. Elizabeth just seems to know too much.
I sadly, can only give this a two – but with hopes that when the sequel is written, the action picks up and makes it less worrisome for readers.
October 6, 2016
Let me first start by stating I'm a librarian and an active member of NetGalley. That is where I received this title in exchange- for my honest review. I scanned the praise on the NetGalley page and then here on Goodreads and decided to give the book a go. What I found was a treasure awaiting behind that lovely cover. Born in America, I now live and work in Haarlem. That is roughly 17 miles away from the center of this story, Leiden. When the girl, Elizabeth, lands in Amsterdam with her grandfather the story really began to unfold for me. The descriptions, the places, all were spot on. Admittedly, the author says in the back of the book she has never visited these places and wrote that she hoped she had served the locations and history well, though having to twist some of it to fit her needs. I must say she did indeed serve it well. Seeing how I visit Leiden several times a week, I felt I was walking down the streets and did not need imagination to know where the author had placed the reader in the city. With that off the table, I will begin my review.
15-year-old Elizabeth Yale is tossed a rotten hand. Losing her father at an early age then subsequently her grandfather taking off really could cause her issue. But it seems her mother has done a fine job keeping her grounded. Once Jack returns, he does so with an enchanted typewriter. A mystery unfolds focusing them to try to understand their family's history. Elizabeth is part Nancy Drew, part super sleuth. I particularly liked she was an old soul. Not stuck in the modern teenage speak and annoyances. I suppose that has to do with my age. I do wonder if younger kids will connect and relate to her in the same way. She is written flawlessly with frailties. Jack is a bit of a scoundrel. I liked that about him. The bond between them is endless, though at times their history does haunt them, but again, I find this element to be written in masterfully. If you think about the cause of their journey their relationship is also a mirror to their mission. Experienced writing at its finest.
Without giving away any further elements, let's move to the ending. Breathless, upsetting, questionable, down right mischievous. If ever there was a skillful way to set up another book, this was executed on the very last page.
I see this flying off the shelves just like the typewriter flies through paper. "One thousand years the curse shall remain. History is not correct."
A brilliant piece of work by a masterful writer. I rate this work five stars.
15-year-old Elizabeth Yale is tossed a rotten hand. Losing her father at an early age then subsequently her grandfather taking off really could cause her issue. But it seems her mother has done a fine job keeping her grounded. Once Jack returns, he does so with an enchanted typewriter. A mystery unfolds focusing them to try to understand their family's history. Elizabeth is part Nancy Drew, part super sleuth. I particularly liked she was an old soul. Not stuck in the modern teenage speak and annoyances. I suppose that has to do with my age. I do wonder if younger kids will connect and relate to her in the same way. She is written flawlessly with frailties. Jack is a bit of a scoundrel. I liked that about him. The bond between them is endless, though at times their history does haunt them, but again, I find this element to be written in masterfully. If you think about the cause of their journey their relationship is also a mirror to their mission. Experienced writing at its finest.
Without giving away any further elements, let's move to the ending. Breathless, upsetting, questionable, down right mischievous. If ever there was a skillful way to set up another book, this was executed on the very last page.
I see this flying off the shelves just like the typewriter flies through paper. "One thousand years the curse shall remain. History is not correct."
A brilliant piece of work by a masterful writer. I rate this work five stars.
November 28, 2016
This novel revolves around a girl’s relationship with her grandfather, Jack, who left her in the wake of a family tragedy when she was eight years old. He returns when she is fifteen, bringing back their old, special relationship, along with a mysterious antique typewriter with a mission of its own and a tendency to shoot out garbled information, noise, light and electrical shocks. Hence the name of the novel.
A rather lengthy research session in the New York Public Library sets Elizabeth and her grandfather on the trail of their heritage, trying to discover the source of a fatal family curse. However Jack’s methods get increasingly desperate, even illegal, and Elizabeth has to wonder whether she should be going along with him. But their scavenger hunt keeps tossing them new tidbits of information, and she is pulled into the game again.
There is a lot of action and suspense in this story, some of it rather contrived. But once the main characters get to the Netherlands, the story gets moving, and the plot fits more neatly together as it moves to an exciting climax.
The strengths of the novel are the relationships between the main character and her mother and grandfather, and the action sequences in the final section. The painful personality clashes between people who love each other deeply are realistic, moving and integral to the development of the external conflict.
I am sorry that the lack of editing prevents me from rating this novel higher. There are simply too many misspellings, muddled sentences, faulty facts and awkward transitions, and an overall need for trimming of the manuscript. These all get in the way of the reader’s enjoyment of a great story.
Recommended for YA readers with the ability to skim through and pick up a good tale.
A rather lengthy research session in the New York Public Library sets Elizabeth and her grandfather on the trail of their heritage, trying to discover the source of a fatal family curse. However Jack’s methods get increasingly desperate, even illegal, and Elizabeth has to wonder whether she should be going along with him. But their scavenger hunt keeps tossing them new tidbits of information, and she is pulled into the game again.
There is a lot of action and suspense in this story, some of it rather contrived. But once the main characters get to the Netherlands, the story gets moving, and the plot fits more neatly together as it moves to an exciting climax.
The strengths of the novel are the relationships between the main character and her mother and grandfather, and the action sequences in the final section. The painful personality clashes between people who love each other deeply are realistic, moving and integral to the development of the external conflict.
I am sorry that the lack of editing prevents me from rating this novel higher. There are simply too many misspellings, muddled sentences, faulty facts and awkward transitions, and an overall need for trimming of the manuscript. These all get in the way of the reader’s enjoyment of a great story.
Recommended for YA readers with the ability to skim through and pick up a good tale.
December 20, 2016
For full review - The Whizbang Machine on The InkedIn Book Blog
The Whizbang Machine is the story of a girl and her grandfather and their great adventure. It’s a great read with lots of suspense and intrigue and fantasy.
Things haven’t been all that great in Elizabeth’s family for eight years now. Her grandmother and her father died in quick succession of each other which made her grandfather up and leave because he couldn’t handle all the painful memories, leaving her and her mother alone. But, now, eight years later, he’s back home with a truckload of gifts for the two of them from all the countries he’s visited while he was away. One of those gifts is a typewriter which whizzes life to everytime she touches it and tries to harm both Liz and her grandfather, Jack. Solving the mystery of the typewriter sends them on a wild chase.
The story is extremely well written. I like how Vann has described everything that’s happening in the book. It’s utterly captivating. The characters are really good, even if Jack is questionable as a guardian. They’re multi faceted and almost come alive. I love that.
The plot is extremely captivating. It was fast paced and well distributed. I wasn’t bored once during this story. Neither did I ever think that it was moving too slowly or that there wasn’t interesting or exciting stuff happening because it was. All the time. I liked the fact that the author didn’t insert an element of romance in the story. It was just Elizabeth and her family. Nobody else. And I think that’s great. And amazing. And awesome.
All in all, The Whizbang Machine is one interesting read that you should definitely pick up.
The Whizbang Machine is the story of a girl and her grandfather and their great adventure. It’s a great read with lots of suspense and intrigue and fantasy.
Things haven’t been all that great in Elizabeth’s family for eight years now. Her grandmother and her father died in quick succession of each other which made her grandfather up and leave because he couldn’t handle all the painful memories, leaving her and her mother alone. But, now, eight years later, he’s back home with a truckload of gifts for the two of them from all the countries he’s visited while he was away. One of those gifts is a typewriter which whizzes life to everytime she touches it and tries to harm both Liz and her grandfather, Jack. Solving the mystery of the typewriter sends them on a wild chase.
The story is extremely well written. I like how Vann has described everything that’s happening in the book. It’s utterly captivating. The characters are really good, even if Jack is questionable as a guardian. They’re multi faceted and almost come alive. I love that.
The plot is extremely captivating. It was fast paced and well distributed. I wasn’t bored once during this story. Neither did I ever think that it was moving too slowly or that there wasn’t interesting or exciting stuff happening because it was. All the time. I liked the fact that the author didn’t insert an element of romance in the story. It was just Elizabeth and her family. Nobody else. And I think that’s great. And amazing. And awesome.
All in all, The Whizbang Machine is one interesting read that you should definitely pick up.
December 29, 2016
Wow - I was SO excited about this one, it's an amazing, original premise (mystical typewriter tied to a bizarre set of family secrets) and I couldn't wait to get started. It started with, well, a whiz-bang - a very strong beginning, sympathetic and interesting characters (including the typewriter itself, which almost counts as one), mystery and suspense and drama galore... Then it sort of stopped being that interesting. Randomly. The characters that seemed so complex wound up vacillating between acting like children (no matter their age) and acting like stereotypes. The secrets felt convoluted and somewhat forced at times - as did their reveals. And the action sputtered and banged like the typewriter itself. There's a ton of promise here - it just felt like it still needs a HEAVY edit to pull all the pieces together...
I liked it, but it was work to read at times - and it also suffers from my LEAST FAVORITE book issue of all time: it stops. Right in the middle of the action. And there was no indication at any point in the marketing materials or the story itself that this wasn't going to be a stand-alone book. I HATE THAT. As I've said before, I don't mind a cliff-hanger. Well-managed, a cliff-hanger is a great way to bring readers back and to continue a story into new territory. But a cliff-hanger shouldn't come in the middle of a plot point - this is not a weekly serial; it may well be a year (or more) before another book. Stopping at a point where the story you've been reading feels unfinished is not cuing up a cliff-hanger, it's irritating your readers by forcing them to buy another book to finish the one they're currently reading...
My review copy was provided by NetGalley.
I liked it, but it was work to read at times - and it also suffers from my LEAST FAVORITE book issue of all time: it stops. Right in the middle of the action. And there was no indication at any point in the marketing materials or the story itself that this wasn't going to be a stand-alone book. I HATE THAT. As I've said before, I don't mind a cliff-hanger. Well-managed, a cliff-hanger is a great way to bring readers back and to continue a story into new territory. But a cliff-hanger shouldn't come in the middle of a plot point - this is not a weekly serial; it may well be a year (or more) before another book. Stopping at a point where the story you've been reading feels unfinished is not cuing up a cliff-hanger, it's irritating your readers by forcing them to buy another book to finish the one they're currently reading...
My review copy was provided by NetGalley.
November 1, 2016
The Whizbang Machine by Danielle A. Vann
This is a YA book that was interesting and will be viewed by older readers with a touch of skepticism. An almost 16 year old girl and her grandfather are embroiled in a mystery that has a curse, mysterious deaths and possessed machines.
I guess as a grandfather my skepticism is based on the fact that I would never expose my granddaughter to the dangers Jack, the grandfather in the book, exposed his granddaughter to. Jack initiated many really bad examples and led his granddaughter into multiple illegal activities. Jack also set his granddaughter up to lie to her mother. It is possible that I may be a touch provincial regarding grand parenting but Jack was seemingly out of control. Elizabeth on the other hand was willing to swallow just about everything Jack suggested. Sadly I suspect that I have grandchildren who would accompany me on ill advised adventures but hopefully I have more common sense than the fictional grandfather.
I know it is fiction and far more preposterous things have been written. My proclivity for my g-kids most definitely colored my opinion of the book. Naïveté was named Elizabeth.
If I can suspend my outraged responsibility factor, it was an entertaining adventure. Considering one of my all time favorite stories as a child had a space ship fueled by the explosive power of popping corn, one would think I would be well practiced in stretching the imagination.
Web: http://authordanielleavann.com/
This is a YA book that was interesting and will be viewed by older readers with a touch of skepticism. An almost 16 year old girl and her grandfather are embroiled in a mystery that has a curse, mysterious deaths and possessed machines.
I guess as a grandfather my skepticism is based on the fact that I would never expose my granddaughter to the dangers Jack, the grandfather in the book, exposed his granddaughter to. Jack initiated many really bad examples and led his granddaughter into multiple illegal activities. Jack also set his granddaughter up to lie to her mother. It is possible that I may be a touch provincial regarding grand parenting but Jack was seemingly out of control. Elizabeth on the other hand was willing to swallow just about everything Jack suggested. Sadly I suspect that I have grandchildren who would accompany me on ill advised adventures but hopefully I have more common sense than the fictional grandfather.
I know it is fiction and far more preposterous things have been written. My proclivity for my g-kids most definitely colored my opinion of the book. Naïveté was named Elizabeth.
If I can suspend my outraged responsibility factor, it was an entertaining adventure. Considering one of my all time favorite stories as a child had a space ship fueled by the explosive power of popping corn, one would think I would be well practiced in stretching the imagination.
Web: http://authordanielleavann.com/
November 19, 2016
Any time I can read a book that is so clean, yet so adventurous, it is a win-win situation. It is a win for me because I can recommend it to my students and parents. It is a win for my students because they are in for an adventure they won’t want to end. Most young kids have never seen or touched a typewriter. They may have seen pictures. They have so many different fonts available with computers today. The author used old typewriter font throughout the book so the reader knows when the typewriter is putting out a message. This is what I call charming. One of my students thought it was cool because they had seen papers at their grandmother’s house that looked the same.
The adventures keep readers turning the pages. They are carried along on the adventure. The reader never feels like they are on the outside of the story reading along. It is more a feeling of traveling with Jack and Elizabeth as a third member. It has a creepy, mysterious feel to it. These are all elements I love in a book. I kept thinking about the dangerous aspects they find themselves in and if I would be the kind of grandparent to go on that adventure with a grandchild. I’d like to think I am adventurous enough I would, or that my grandchildren could persuade me to. I definitely recommend this book to young and old alike. There are so many great things about it. You have a curse, a mystery, travel, history, and one adventure after another. I am definitely anxiously waiting for the next book by this author.
I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
The adventures keep readers turning the pages. They are carried along on the adventure. The reader never feels like they are on the outside of the story reading along. It is more a feeling of traveling with Jack and Elizabeth as a third member. It has a creepy, mysterious feel to it. These are all elements I love in a book. I kept thinking about the dangerous aspects they find themselves in and if I would be the kind of grandparent to go on that adventure with a grandchild. I’d like to think I am adventurous enough I would, or that my grandchildren could persuade me to. I definitely recommend this book to young and old alike. There are so many great things about it. You have a curse, a mystery, travel, history, and one adventure after another. I am definitely anxiously waiting for the next book by this author.
I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
October 29, 2020
The story's idea is so interesting and exciting, but it could've been executed much better. This book would've benefited from another draft or another editor's eyes.
Aside from head-hopping, tense changes, and punctuation errors, the dialogue is not always believable. For example, would a 5.75 year old child really say: "Did you forget I'm five and three quarters?" or "Now about the outside lights" or "I'm sorry, Daddy" when told someone in the family passed away before she was born? Would a child that age even know what "passed away" meant?
There are distracting dialogue tags as well as tons of "-ing" words, some used wrongly.
Then it sometimes feels like there are actions missing, like in chapter 5: Jack, "hanging his head," walked away. But two sentences later his voice suddenly fills her ears, and as the reader, I'm left to wonder, wait, didn't he just walk out? How can he be back there an instant later and speak to her without her first noticing he returned? Or in chapter 7, she holds her ear to the door of the hospital room Jack is in, and a moment later, she can't wait any longer and "yanked the curtain back." We never saw her go inside.
It seems like a fun story but it could've benefited from some more love during revision.
I almost stopped at 50 pages in, and finally gave up at 77 pages. Perhaps the writing gets better after these 77 pages, but most of the time when the beginning is in need of help, it shows throughout the rest of the writing, too, and I had no desire to spend any more time on it.
Aside from head-hopping, tense changes, and punctuation errors, the dialogue is not always believable. For example, would a 5.75 year old child really say: "Did you forget I'm five and three quarters?" or "Now about the outside lights" or "I'm sorry, Daddy" when told someone in the family passed away before she was born? Would a child that age even know what "passed away" meant?
There are distracting dialogue tags as well as tons of "-ing" words, some used wrongly.
Then it sometimes feels like there are actions missing, like in chapter 5: Jack, "hanging his head," walked away. But two sentences later his voice suddenly fills her ears, and as the reader, I'm left to wonder, wait, didn't he just walk out? How can he be back there an instant later and speak to her without her first noticing he returned? Or in chapter 7, she holds her ear to the door of the hospital room Jack is in, and a moment later, she can't wait any longer and "yanked the curtain back." We never saw her go inside.
It seems like a fun story but it could've benefited from some more love during revision.
I almost stopped at 50 pages in, and finally gave up at 77 pages. Perhaps the writing gets better after these 77 pages, but most of the time when the beginning is in need of help, it shows throughout the rest of the writing, too, and I had no desire to spend any more time on it.
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