Waiting for the Voo by Dean Ammerman

Hi guys!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're taking a walk on the wildly weird side of things and if you think I'm simply being mean by calling names with that statement, I'm about to prove you wrong.  This time around, we've got a title from an author whose work I've read previously that's gracing the Middle Grade arena with his writing once again (my words, not his ^_^).  We've come a long way from Anteater-Boy, a tale whose story was fiction but grounded in reality, to meet the feature of the day that's certainly....OUT THERE.  Ready, set, here it comes!  Today's book of choice is....

Waiting for the Voo

by

Dean Ammerman

9780984682232

Kabloona

About the book...

Waiting for the Voo is a story about 13-year-old Wilkin Delgado (who’s from almost the exact center of Minnesota) and a tug-o-war champion, gray-haired, exiled 14-year-old tattooed Missouri girl by the name of Alice Jane Zelinski who join forces with an intergalactic flip-flop wearing plumber named Cardamon Webb to fix a nasty sewage problem that threatens to destroy the universe.

Along the way the three—and one or two others—must deal with smelly, spiky monsters, a ch-duck, an ancient book, a rat, a pair of ostriches and

the mysterious Voo.

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Where do I even begin?

First off, the book is labeled as Middle Grade or Young Adult.  In analyzing what I read, I'd have to say the imagination and creativity used would push me towards the former audience, but the vocabulary and word play steers me towards the latter.  A conundrum to be sure.  Let's split the difference and say a great read for the OLDER Middle Grade reader....okay?  Okay.  Now...

Story wise, this is one CRAZY read.  I mean we have two kids helping an intergalactic plumber to essentially re-plug the universe before all the nasty, smelly, weirdness that resides within can escape into our reality.  If that wasn't odd enough, the time has passed for easy fixes so the trio (and growing) must look for the (strangest) signs as well as the three miracles in order to set things right.  I won't even begin to explain either aspect of that to you because to do so without actually reading the book would probably either A) give you a headache or B) require me writing a book to supplement his.  Just take me at my word and leave it at that.

Character wise, you can't help but feel for both leads in one way or another.  They interact like siblings, pushing and pulling against each other the entire time, yet despite their obvious dislike for one another, deep down neither is going to let the big bad get them without having a BIG say in it first.  Touching....yes, but still awkward.  As for Cardamon, he's a foolish lad for getting stuck with that name but a genius for trusting two kids with the fate of the universe.  No, really!  Considering how everything turns out, total genius title belongs to him.  As for how they turn out, I shan't say but things get a bit hairy, uncertain and otherwise murky right up to the very end.  If you like the edge of your seat than the last few chapters will be your new best friend.

In conclusion, I enjoyed my time within the pages but I'm not exactly certain I can say why without sounding like a wackadoo myself.  It's not an earth-shattering read nor my top for the year, but it was fun nonetheless and by all means memorable.  Recommended as previously stated for the older Middle Grade set or anyone that likes a curious end of the world story with a dash of heart and a big whomping ch-duck.  (Don't ask.)

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Review copy received courtesy of author Dean Ammerman.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title or the mind behind the work, please feel free to click through the links above.  This title celebrated its public debut September 2014 via Kabloona, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.

Until next time...happy reading!