Time Warp Trio, Vol. 1: Nightmare on Joe's Street

Time Warp Trio #graphic novel 1

by Jon Scieszka

While on a sleepover, Joe and Sam learn the meaning of a horror story as they get caught up in a real, live nightmare of their own! Join Joe and Sam as they come face–to–face with Frankenstein's monster, and take him back to the nineteenth century to drop him off with his creator, Mary Shelley. Will Joe and Sam fix everything with their time–warping power, or will Mary Shelley's famous monster be erased from history forever? 6 – 11

Genres: Childrens, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Fantasy

96 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2006

About the author

Jon Scieszka is an American children's writer, best known for picture books created with the illustrator Lane Smith. He is also a nationally recognized reading advocate, and the founder of Guys Read – a web-based literacy program for boys whose mission is "to help boys become self-motivated, lifelong readers."

Reviews

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well done.

[AllBookedUp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strangely enough, it was entertaining and had me wanting more. That's usually not the case in terms of graphic novels. Let me be the first to admit, I can't follow graphic novels. The drawings of the characters are consistant and the dialogue is easy enough to follow.

This deals with Frankinstein coming to life and in Joe's kitchen. He time warps with his bff Sam back to see Mary Shelly, the author and "creator" of the monster. It seems the monster is p.o. at Mary for creating him so he wANTs to terminate or at least find out WHY she created him, the way she did.

We meet Lord Byron, and the author who created Vampire. They go off to get the monster and the poet who wrote the Vampire (he wanted his creature to come to life bc they all thought the Vampire was boring) so he "borrowed" The Book and wrote in it, thusly had himself turn into the vampire. Sam and Joe decided to use Frankie and Vamps to fight it out and since the poet can swim, he lived...to return to Lord Byron's home. There, they all corrected the mistakes and when back in time, again, to redo Mary's dream so she will write Frankenstein and then zap back into Joe's kitchen, pre monster smashing.

Not too bad.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I took this one home to read to the kids since they so enjoyed the last graphic novel I brought home. They liked this one, too, but I don't think it has quite the same qualities as "Knights of the Lunch Table." That one was just so well-written. Plus, since they are 4 and 6, they might have had trouble understanding the back story of Mary Shelley, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and Lord Byron. Still, they liked it well enough to want to get another one.

[Kelly Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the original Time Warp Trio series and I really liked them. They're the perfect combination of goofiness, adventure, with some real, interesting facts thrown in. The graphic novel versions seem O.K. They might appeal to some of the same readers who enjoy the Wicked History series.

[Bill · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very disappointing. As a graphic novel, this was just didn't work for me.

[Laurie]

Time Warp Trip visits Mary Shelley at Villa Diodati, 1816.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

AR 2.7 -- 0.5

Frankenstein comes alive in real life!

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good stuff--loved the protrayal of Frankenstein!

[Bridget · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really cute. I want it for our library.

[Peacegal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like many tie-in books, this one had an unfinished, slapdash feel to it.