Code Red at the Supermall

Tom and Liz Austen #11

by Eric Wilson

Have you ever visited a shopping mall that has sharks and piranhas, a triple-loop rollercoaster, 22 waterslides, an Ice Palace, submarines, 828 stores and a major mystery to solve? Soon after Tom and Liz Austen arrive at the West Edmonton Mall, a bomber strikes and they must follow a trail that leads through the fabled splendors of the supermall . . . to hidden danger.

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Childrens, Canada, Fiction, Crime, Teen

Mass Market Paperback

First published March 1, 1988

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Eric Wilson is a Canadian children's author and now living in Victoria, British Columbia.

Reviews

[Melinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was fun reading about West Edmonton Mall, a mall I know well since I lived in Edmonton for years and still go there often. I love Bourbon Street where part of the book takes place in the mall, go to it whenever there and picturing everything in the book was very nostalgic. These were a series of books my oldest son loved when he was young.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun little romp through an actual supermall -- the mystery was well-constructed, and there was plenty of excitement. I think the location may have outshone the characters, but that would be hard not to do with a place like that!

[Mandvi Singh · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book should not have been written in the first place. It scarred the memory of all kid detective books i read.

[Ophelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I leisurely read this one strictly for the nostalgia factor of having read this in school.

[C. (Comment, never msg). · Rating 3 out of 5]

Novels in which ‘Dietmar Oban’ accompanies Tom are more juvenile, due to antagonism and practical-joking. Liz always introduces new friends. I’m proud every novel highlights Canada; a unique and effective education for worldwide readers. It is a compliment to fans that his choice of the Edmonton mall was entirely in response to their request. It’s cute that Eric namelessly incorporates himself into this story: a writer in glasses scribbling notes, to whom his own heroes suggest the title! It was touching that Liz & Tom met their author between the pages of their fiction.

This novel is driven by bomb threats and a police investigation, setting a brisk pace by osmosis but possesses no mystique. A rich variety of themes and experiences were described that I didn’t see at Edmonton Mall and would certainly seek next time I’m in the city. However an indoor story contained entirely in one setting can’t help befalling a tinge of dullness. For Eric an example of his protagonists’ characters is always deemed important and so his mysteries expand to ‘coming of age moments’: like Tom standing up to a racist and Liz asserting her dignity before a bossy blind date. I applauded her brother’s support in regarding him as a jerk, as well as his praise of the East Indian boy’s ability to ignore a would-be tormentor.

I especially enjoyed spending time with the Austen parents at last. We’d seen a little of the Dad and this is the first we’ve spent time with their Mom, a lawyer. What I gleaned that is most valuable to me, is that Liz is the eldest sibling! I had no inkling she was 16, which explains why she is frequently attracted to sub characters. Tom was the earliest protagonist, making it easy to presume he was older.

[Kireja · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Have you ever visited a shopping mall that has sharks and piranhas, a triple-loop rollercoaster, 22 waterslides, an Ice Palace, submarines, 828 stores and a major mystery to solve? Soon after Tom and Liz Austen arrive at the West Edmonton Mall, a bomber strikes and they must follow a trail that leads through the fabled splendors of the supermall . . . to hidden danger."

[Katya Kasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

i still wish west edmonton mall as as exciting as this book is!

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Supermall! Fabled splendors! Submarines! Edmonton...

[Genevieve · Rating 5 out of 5]

i don't know i only read the first page but it was good until i got to the end and wanted to read more

[Amy Coles · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5 stars **