Artemis Fowl- Eoin Colfer

Overall Rating: 9.5/10

Summary: When you pit a boy genius with seemingly unlimited resources against an underground, high-tech civilization of fairies, who is going to win? Who even should win? Artemis Fowl may be 12, he may be brilliant, he may be Irish, but he's a criminal. His only interest in the People is for their gold. And hotshot Holly Short of the LEPrecon (Lower Elements Police) is determined to prevent this from happening... despite the fact that she's the first female officer and the tough commander Root pushes her for any reason at all, no matter how insignificant. 

Artemis, after acquiring a Book begins his onslaught on the fairies. It's easier to get away with toppling civilizations when your father is missing and your mother is bedridden, of course. Your life-long, expertly trained Butler can also be of use.

But will he be able to separate the advanced society from their money, or will this be Aretmis's undoing?

Opinion: I love this book. I just finished reading it for the 7th time (I kid you not) and I still love this book, despite the fact that the main character is younger than I and I originally read this book back in 6th grade. Eoin Colfer is brilliant. He laces in background details while keeping the action going, he is excellent at setting the mood and is wonderful with the 'show, don't tell' rule. His characters are witty, charming, and fascinating. I absolutely love Colfer's sense of humor.

Artemis is dark, creative, cunning and deviant. These traits are highlighted very well in the book. Holly is refreshing, impulsive, witty, and strong. It's a bit difficult to decide who's side to be on. This story is told in the alternating POVs. Sometimes Holly, sometimes Artemis. It makes it hard to decide whose side to be rooting for. I'm still not sure if I find this annoying or if it just adds more to the story.

I may not read it again, but that's only because I can recite the plot (and even some specific lines) from memory. This is a book you should definitely go out and buy; not just borrow from the library.

Recommendation: For those who enjoy supernatural crime, Irish boy genii, and hotshot fairy police. There's relatively little violence/gore, the poor language is mostly disguised in fairy tongue, and there's no romance. Quite a 'family friendly' book, you might say. Grades 5-9 (or maybe even older than that)

Title: Not very original, but hey. It'll work.

Cover: Pretty plain and simple, not very attracting, but hey, it caught my attention when I was a 6th grader.

Series: If you liked book 1, you should definitely, absolutely, without a doubt read the next in the series. There are currently 6 (soon to be 7) Artemis and Holly (and others, even) develop greatly as characters. A very excellent series.