Blue Avenger Cracks the Code

Blue Avenger #2

by Norma Howe

Maybe nothing. Or maybe everything. It's a mystery...some would say a code. A code that only an adept code-cracker like Blue Avenger (aka David Schumacher), secret champion of the underdog, modest seeker of truth, and fearless innovator of the unknown, would even think about trying to decipher. And it couldn't come at a better time. Having accomplished several seemingly impossible missions, Blue is now a superhero without a cause, directionless and nearly girlfriendless. When he is offered a chance to visit Venice, it seems the forces of nature have aligned, and like all good and noble superheroes, Blue must choose to accept his mission.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Adventure, Teen

368 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Norma Howe was an acclaimed author of young adult fiction known for blending humor, philosophy, and heartfelt storytelling. Raised in east San Jose, California, she began writing while raising her children and working various jobs, from soda-jerking to phone answering. Her early success came through confession stories, which paved the way for more ambitious works. Norma's novels often explore themes like faith versus reason, peer pressure, and the randomness of life. Her celebrated Blue Avenger trilogy, praised for its wit and philosophical depth, was sparked by her interest in free will and determinism. Other notable works include God, the Universe, and Hot Fudge Sundaes, In With the Out Crowd, Shoot for the Moon, and Angel in Vegas. With a BA in English from San Jose State University, she traveled widely and drew inspiration from both everyday experiences and abstract questions. Norma wrote with an omniscient voice, grounding complex ideas in accessible, often comical narratives. A self-described perpetual thirteen-year-old, she brought authenticity to her young adult characters. She continued writing with humor, insight, and heart until her passing in 2011, leaving behind a legacy of thoughtful, joyful storytelling that continues to resonate with readers of all ages.

Reviews

[Marsha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Different story ideas permeate this book, making for a less-than-satisfactory reading experience. It might be a romance except that the main romantic pair gets separated when the boy goes on a trip to beautiful Venice with another girl. It might be a mystery but one that gets forestalled when a crucial piece of evidence is whisked away by a sullen stranger. It might be an attack on Shakespeare, but you wonder why a teenaged boy would be getting himself involved in another man’s crusade. It might be a comedy but a lot of the humor is of the low, prepubescent sort involving scatology. It might be a story about a masked crusader. But little major criminal activity is involved; the “superhero” seems to spend most of his energy writing complaint letters to offending corporations.

The story is well written, no doubt, with engaging characters, none of whom is very offensive (thus partially explaining our protagonist’s less than sensational crime fighting). To its credit, the novel also makes Shakespeare’s works seem fresh and new, what with its riff on “The Merchant of Venice”, one of his most famous plays about this floating world.

But what really shines here, raising it slightly above the mediocre, is the emphasis on beautiful Venice. La Serenissima is described here with all the fervor and passion of the awestruck tourist. Seen through the eyes of these sightseeing American teens, the winding streets, little shops, the flowing rivers, statuary, buildings, architecture and bridges of Venice acquire new splendor. It’s enough to make you drop whatever you’re doing and buy a ticket to see this gorgeous republic.

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blue Avenger Cracks the Code continues where The Adventures of Blue Avenger left off. In this volume, the author reduces the many narrative asides and doesn't try as hard to be silly. Unfortunately, she doesn't have enough action to hold up the story and it drags until our hero reaches Venice. As in the first story, Howe excels at the teenage character and does well when exploring heavy teen issues and relationships. One of the largest losses between the two stories, and the highlights of this, are when Omaha is brought on the scene. However, she goes missing for most of the book. Instead, the author uses the opportunity to explore the Shakespeare question and make her recommendation for the author of the bard's works, which is interesting by itself, but it given too much emphasis and overwhelms the story. Howe is much better off examining teen trials and relationships.

[emo · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Adventures of Blue Avenger is one of my favorite books, which may strike you as strange, but I'm past that. Having said that, I was completely disappointed by its sequel.

Honestly, I read this too long ago to remember it exactly, but I remember that the author was being experimental with her writing. This is cool, but it didn't come back together by the end of the book. It was less about anything moreso than an episode of Seinfeld.

That being said, goodreads dot com has informed me that there is a third book with the Blue Avenger stamp.

@#!* yeah I'm going to read it!

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sequel to The Adventures of Blue Avenger about a high school boy's quest for justice. Blue tries to help his girlfriend, Omaha, make peace with an absentee father. He travels to Venice with his friends Louise & Drusie to create a new computer and he tries to help his English teacher solve The Shakespeare Mystery: Did Edward de Vere really write under a pseudonym to avoid angering Queen Elizabeth I?

[805josh]

This was an amzing book. It was a thriling story with mystery, comedy, and drama. It combined all of the great things that a book should have. It was Great and i would reacamend people of all ages all types of reading taste to read it

[Pork Fried Rice · Rating 1 out of 5]

bad books should not be written. this is a bad book.

[Maureen Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, but not as good as the first one.

[Mr. Page · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not leveled. Second in the series.