Josiah > Recent Status Updates

That definitely pushed the silly line over the edge. And as I suspected, there was no real reason to make us choose between the cake crumb and the icing.

Why was a choice necessary? Couldn't I have tried the cake crumb and icing?

Hmm...How convenient that you happened to find the old refrigerator at the dump so quickly.

For a book that started well, this has mostly devolved into a formless free-for-all.

I'm shrunk down so small that I can ride a popsicle stick through the sewers. I hope I don't shrink more, or no one will be able to see and help me.

Cover art by the well-regarded Steve Chorney. Most of these Gary Paulsen World of Adventure books are pretty good, and I'm curious to read one set in medieval times.

Back to the book's central branching decision. Will eating the weird peanut butter have better results than the tasteless chocolate cake from Effy's Bakery?

For me, this book is hovering close to one-star territory. At this portion of the text there's almost no regard for internal consistency.

I'm having doubts about this book. In the branch I'm on, at least, continuity regarding when and where you return to normal size is being handled in a fast and loose manner.

What happens if I yield myself to capture and study by Dr. Harlan?

There have been shaky continuity aspects recently. Why did you shrink back down so quickly in the first route, and take such a long time to do so in this one?

Are the alien researchers well-armed enough to take me in against my will?

Ha! There actually is a Maddy's Bakery? I wonder if that's a coincidence, or you'd heard the name and that's why you were confused.

That was an uncommonly long story thread, but not as well managed as the extended narratives of Trapped in Bat Wing Hall. This storyline strains credibility to the limit and beyond.

This ending is definitely longer than when we pick Barney up and dangle him off the ground to confront him. Can we successfully hide away from the pitchfork mob in the sideshow circus tent?

Throwing an object in Barney's path when I'm this size seems dubious...but I guess that's what I'll try next. My first ending of the book was not perfect, to say the least.

Not a bad ending, but I wonder how you explain the hole you gouged in the side of the house. Do you claim you ate chocolate cake in the off-limits basement that caused you to grow into a giant?

Will there be trouble with the law for batting that home run ball so far that we broke a window in a house that should have been unreachable?

Some of the baseball setup is cliche and convenient, but I like the feel of the narrative so far. It comes at us fast and direct.

Can you match your sudden growth with equal self-confidence?

This book does a good job setting the atmosphere. The description of the mostly nondescript basement makes it feel interesting, and as though you are there. I'm going to try the cake first, because eating glop in a jar is a revolting thought.

Cover art by the always amusing Mark Nagata. I've never given this book the cover-to-cover read and review it deserves, so now is the time. I always liked Beware of the Purple Peanut Butter; I hope it lives up to my memories.

A non-ending ending as my final one of the book? I don't love that.

Paul Abrams draws weird-looking people, but his scenes can be pretty good. I love the feel of this one, you backed into a shadowy corner by the mob men.

As soon as the Yakuza realized you were escaping, there was no way the police were going to catch them at the safehouse.

This is a gorgeous double-page illustration, especially this half of the page, showing the star-studded night sky and the coniferous trees. I haven't thought much of Paul Abrams's work so far, but this is superb.

Drowned in Lake Biwa. I should have grabbed the motorboat, noise or no noise.

Is there any escaping the Yakuza for me? Mrs. Oda is hard-nosed, but she's bitten off more than she can chew in her plot to steal the valuable tea bowl.

It's time for the seemingly dull route, interviewing Takashi's gem dealer contact.

Admittedly, it's weird that you remarked "cheerfully" on Mrs. Oda's murder, but it's interesting that, pieced together with alternative endings in this book, we know the genuine Yukisoo will be returned in short order, none the worse for wear.