Frognapped

Araminta Spook #3

by Angie Sage, Jimmy Pickering (Illustrator)

When something's amiss in Spookie House, there's usually only one person to blame—Araminta. But this time she had nothing to do with the disappearance of Barry Wizzard's frogs, and she is determined to find them. Of course, it's not going to be that easy, especially when dealing with a crazy character named Old Morris, a dangerous shark, and a demanding aquarium show audience. Can Araminta find the frogs and steal the show?

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Childrens, Mystery, Young Adult, Juvenile, Middle Grade

208 pages, Hardcover

Published June 1, 2007

About the author

Angie Sage (born 1952) is the author of the Septimus Heap series which includes Magyk, Flyte, Physik, Queste, Syren, Darke and Fyre. She also wrote the Todhunter Moon series, and the Magykal Papers, an additional book with extra information about Septimus' world. She is also the illustrator and/or writer of many children's books, and is the new writer of the Araminta Spookie series.

Angie Sage grew up in Thames Valley, London and Kent. Her father was a publisher. He would bring home blank books that she could fill with pictures and stories. Sage first studied medicine, but changed her mind and went to Art School in Leicester. There she studied Graphic Design and Illustration. She began illustrating books after college. Then she progressed to writing children stories, including toddler books and chapter books. Her first novel was Septimus Heap: Magyk. Angie Sage is married and has two daughters, Laurie and Lois.

Reviews

[Dion Yulianto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Saat kau kecil, pernahkah kau merasa sepertinya orang-orang dewasa itu sangaaaaatttt membosankan dan sangggaaaaattt suka menghakimi? Seperti itulah yang tengah dialami Araminta di Spookie House. Saat kepala besi Tuan Horace bergulingan di tangga, bibi Tabby akan berteriak memanggilnya. Saat kelelawar besar Paman Drac hilang, dia juga yang disuruh mencarikan. Dan kali ini, giliran kodok-kodok penari milik Barry Wizzard yang hilang, dan Araminta teteup saja menjadi pihak eh anak yang disalahkan. Yah, mau bagaimana lagi, Araminta memang dasarnya badung sih.

“Apakah kau pernah memperhatikan, saat seseorang jengkel denganmu, mereka selalu memanggil lengkap namamu?” (hlm 6)
Kan, celetukan Araminta selalu saja ngangenin!

Karena belum ketahuan kemana raibnya kodok-kodok itu, Araminta dan Wanda memutuskan untuk … menjadi detektif anak. Kasus pertama mereka adalah menyelidiki dan mencari tahu misteri hilangnya kodok-kodok Barry. Kecurigaan pertama mengarah kepada Perawat Watkins yang bertugas memberi rehabilitasi kepada Paman Dracul yang masih dalam proses penyembuhan karena kakinya patah saat terjatuh dari tidur bergelantungnya di menara kelelawar (Don’t ask again please, this family is weird indeed, but you'll like them the way they are!). Dari situ, kecurigaan semakin meluas dengan makin banyaknya karakter yang diperkenalkan Sage. Dasar anak-anak, makin rame malah makin seru kalau kata mereka. Calon tersangka bertambah, dan Araminta serta Wanda malah semakin tertantang memecahkan misteri ini.

Penyelidikan di mulai di Dunia Air Ajaib milik Tuan Old Morris. Kali ini, Araminta dan Wanda mendapatkan musuh pertama mereka yang sebaya, yakni si Nora si-ikut-campur yang adalah putri dari Old Morris. Berulang kali kedua ayah beranak itu menghalangi penyelidikan dua detektif cilik kita ini, tapi bukan Araminta namanya kalau dia menyerah apalagi takut dan mundur. Dengan keberanian dan rasa ingin tahu yang tinggi—dua keunggulan usia kanak-kanak—keduanya tetap maju melanjutkan penyelidikan. Menerobos ke balik panggung, dikejar hiu berisi hantu, hingga masuk ke lubang gelap di belakang bekas lahan ladang jamur. Penyelidikan mereka membuahkan hasil di luar dugaan. Tidak hanya mereka berhasil menemukan katak-katak Tuan Barry, tetapi Araminta dan Wanda juga menemukan milik Tuan Horace yang paling berharga.

Sekali lagi, dari Araminta, kita orang dewasa diajak untuk "iri" kepada anak-anak. Spontanitas dan keberanian mereka mengambil risiko, semangat bertualang yang tak kenal takut, serta perjuangan pantang menyerah sebelum mencapai hasil. Hal-hal itulah yang semakin menghilang dalam diri ini seiring dengan semakin mendewasanya kita. Ada kualitas-kualitas baik dalam diri anak yang wajib kita tiru, sebagaimana kata sebuah ungkapan yang saya lupa dari siapa, tapi bunyinya seperti ini:

"Tirulah anak-anak, tapi bukan dengan bersikap kekanak-kanakan, melainkan menjadi seperti anak-anak yang ingin tahu, gemar bertualang, spontan, tanpa beban, dan senantiasa mengagumi kehidupan."

Sungguh, seri bacaan yang menghangatkan hati, menghibur pikiran, menerbangkan angan. Araminta membawa pembaca dewasa kembali pada keindahan dunia anak. Sementara bagi pembaca anak, seri ini akan memperkenalkan mereka kepada satu teman bandel namun kreatif yang sungguh sayang jika kamu tidak kenal dengannya. Buku yang bagus bisa menyentuh pembacanya, berapapun usia mereka. Dan, Araminta Spook membuktikan bahwa buku seperti itu memang ada.

Terima kasih Penerbit Mizan atas buntelannya.

[Emily S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great and funny. Loved it!

[Keeley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book and it is really funny although it is a bit old-fashioned,I still really enjoyed it as it is full of very high intensity adventure.My favourite character is Wanda because she is really funny.One of my favourite bits is when they put the funny hats on.I would it ages 6 children could read it because it is big print words.There is also a lot of pictures which adds to the quality of the book.It is an amazing book and it is in my top 5 favourite books in the 30-book challenge.

[Ira Booklover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buku yang sangat menyenangkan untuk dibaca XD

Kodok Barry hilang. Araminta yang disalahkan. Well, padahal Araminta sama sekali tidak tahu kemana perginya kodok-kodok tersebut.

Paman Drac juga tersiksa karena ada perawat galak yang menyuruhnya belajar berjalan pasca kecelakaan yang mengakibatkan kedua kaki Paman Drac patah. Padahal Paman Drac cuma ingin istirahat dan membuat rajutan.

Sebuah kecelakaan kecil menyebabkan Wanda yakin kalau kodok-kodok tersebut diculik. Araminta akhirnya memutuskan untuk menjadi detektif dengan Wanda sebagai asisten. Tapi Araminta sama sekali tidak menyangka kalau untuk mengerjakan urusan detektif, dia harus menyingkirkan ibu asistennya dan juga bibinya sendiri yang selalu ingin tahu dan ikut campur.

Sementara itu, si Tua Morris tiba-tiba tidak lagi menjual jamur dan membuka usaha pertunjukan Dunia Air Ajaib.

Dibuku ketiga ini, saya rasa saya kembali merasakan aura dunia Septimus. Bukan sihirnya, tapi lebih ke ... errr ... lingkungannya yang suram tapi menarik.

[Tilly_2009 · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a very odd book so I didn't really like it. This book is not my favourite book also it's not my type of bookalso it was very very boring and it did get quite excited sometimes very very very weird so I don't know I really did not like it so that is the end saying I like further maths book

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Araminta Spookie series by Angie Sage. I discovered this book at our local library and thought it might be a fun, spooky read for our oldest. She loved it and has read through the entire series very quickly. Now I'm just trying to catch up.

This story centers on Araminta and Wanda's efforts to rescue Barry's stolen frogs and recover Sir Horace's lost treasure chest. The story is entertaining and exciting. It's an easy read and I really enjoyed reading it. I'm looking forward to the next book, Vampire Brat.

[Heather Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this with my 7 year old daughter. It was a fun read, but I would have greatly preferred if the author had left out the word "stupid" which was used way too many times, and the reference "dim-witted" that described the other main character in the book. We don't use the word stupid, so it was just something I had to filter out many times in the book.

[Ethan Billington · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as funny as I thought 💭 but still funny 😂 love it I recommend it

[Kira Nerys · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm glad to confirm I've read this before. I prefer the first and second Araminta Spookie books, but it's a pleasure to return to her spider- and ghost-infested home. With a tone that parodies mysteries (or perhaps detective noirs), Araminta and Wanda set about solving the case of the disappearing frogs, aka the Frognapping. Sage builds the world outward here, beyond the bounds of the house and its grounds, but Araminta still gets into loads of trouble. Minor spoiler: She spies on a nurse, swindles tourists, and takes over a live show! Despite these antics, this is my least favorite book; outside the wacky bounds of her own house, Araminta's self-centeredness comes off less and less funny. She's still amusing, but even the first time I read this I worried about Wanda. It's my opinion that Araminta's not a particularly good friend in this one, and unlike the previous books (where she doesn't want to be), that irks me. With that said, it's a thoroughly enjoyable read, and perhaps I simply loathe to think that I could run into her someday!

[Sarah - All The Book Blog Names Are Taken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eleanor says: frogs are kind of well they really are slimy. So I would never want to sleep with one, even just a stuffy. Favorite part was when they got the frogs. This one wasn’t my favorite but I didn’t like it as much as the others.

Momma says: this one had some funny moments but was not my favorite. I love learning more about Sir Horace though and that’s what we got here. I hope he gets his castle back someday, even though it’s just ruins.

[Maya Poedji · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sebetulnya buku ini bagus untuk ukuran anak2. Petualangan-nya juga seru. Meskipun masih dr segi anak2 hehehe jadi rasanya ngga adil klo bilang seluruh seri buku ini dibilang aneh. Meskipun ya, memang aneh-nya itu ngga salah hahaha
GaJe!

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely Adorable. I really enjoyed the cute conundrums Araminta and Wanda seem to get themselves into. I very good starter chapter book for you reader's that is able to be enjoyed by kids and adults alike. Can't wait to see what book 4 has in store for us.

[Millie Chamley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hooooooo........I just finished this wired but ok book 📚 em so .........ah yes a review.......well this book wasn’t the best of all books but".... it is still really good em ...so yeah thank u and good bye 👋

[Philhatch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another one read to 6yo Tiny. A solid outing, it's as silly as the first two but not quite as enjoyable. It had hardly any Uncle Drac in it and I'm not sure Big Bat featured at all. High hopes for the 4th one, Vampire Brats, though.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 out of 5. A bit short on empathy. Silly enough that my 7-year old enjoyed it, but not sure there were any positive take-aways.

[Alva Staaf · Rating 4 out of 5]

a fun, quick spookie read!!

[Macy Savage · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the best in my standards could be told in a page of writing.

[Nam · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main character just doesn't seem very likable.

[Daciana Washburn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rated by my kids

[Zach short short · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good 😊 liked it my fave bit was when the guy got locked under the file box 😂 it was funny when his daughter came asking where her dad was

[Harrison Handley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the book I thought it was amazing

[Ellie-may carberry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was fun to read.
I would of liked it to be longer because I loved it that much.
I would recommend it for anyone.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book very much. My favourite character was Wanda I liked the way she could be brainy at parts and dum at others.

[яσвεят · Rating 4 out of 5]

چقد خوبه که اینارو اینجا دوباره پیدا میکنم خاطراتمو

[fanboyriot · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was amusing to read. Really a cute series.

[Adam Stanhope · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

Amazing books to read . Easy to read .. Amazing characters you get to meet in each book ... A great collection of books

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating: 2.75

[Tarawyn Baxter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, sweet, and funny

[Nasrin Yousefi · Rating 4 out of 5]

کتابی جالب و سرگرم کننده از یک مجموعه ۴ جلدی که مربوط به رده‌ی سنی نوجوان میشه.

[Rebecca Galbraith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as books 1 and 2, but still pretty enjoyable.