Ronan Boyle and the Bridge of Riddles (Ronan Boyle #1)

by Thomas Lennon (Author) John Hendrix (Illustrator)

Ronan Boyle and the Bridge of Riddles (Ronan Boyle #1)
Reading Level: 6th − 7th Grade
Series: Ronan Boyle
Fourteen-year-old Ronan Boyle is the youngest and lowliest recruit to the secret Garda, an Irish police force that handles the misdeeds of numerous magical creatures. Ronan's parents are in jail, but Ronan is convinced that they were framed by the wee people. So, despite his small size, poor eyesight, and social awkwardness, he's determined to learn all he can in the Garda in order to prove his parents' innocence. To show he's got what it takes, he'll have to confront a fiery leprechaun, a sinister harpy, and a whole world of monsters hidden in plain sight next to real-life Ireland. Fast paced, action packed, and completely hilarious, this is the start to an exciting new middle-grade series by actor and writer Thomas Lennon.
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Publishers Weekly

In this tongue-in-cheek middle grade adventure, 15-year-old Ronan Boyle is tapped to join the Garda Special Unit of Tir Na Nog, an elite division of the Irish police dedicated to handling supernatural-related incidents, such as those involving leprechauns, trolls, and changelings. Determined to prove that his incarcerated parents were framed for the theft of a mummified "Bog Man," Ronan pursues his law enforcement career with an eye toward finding the true culprit. First, however, he must survive the harrowing training process, which includes learning Shillelagh Safety and Combat as well as Weaponized Poetry. His greatest test comes when his team is sent to investigate reports of a harpy, a mission that goes disastrously wrong. Actor/screenwriter Lennon (the Night at the Museum series) makes a spirited debut with this mythology-laden tale, but his comic voice suffers from an overload of jokes, quips, and ludicrous situations. Every page is littered with clever asides or helpful footnotes, making it difficult for the reader to consider one before moving on to the next. Even so, the memorable voice and playful sensibility make this an entertaining series opener. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 10-14. Agent: Stephanie Rostan, Levine Greenberg Literary Agency. (Mar.)

Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

Gr 4-7--At the age of 14, Ronan Boyle is the youngest recruit to the Garda Special Unit of Tir Na Nog, the Irish law enforcement agency tasked with investigating crimes involving the wee folk. While Ronan enrolls in the Garda as a means of finding evidence to free his parents, museum curators framed for the theft of an artifact, he learns that chasing after law-breaking faeries and other magical beings is not for the faint-at-heart. Ronan's training includes shillelagh class and weaponized poetry, as well as tin whistling for beginners; he needs all these skills and more when he and his captain set out to catch some leprechaun wine thieves. After encountering a dizzying array of faeries, and with the aid of a smarter-than-average Irish wolfhound police dog, the criminals are apprehended and Ronan returns to the human world with a lead on his parents' case. In the author's forward, Lennon states this book is his "love letter to Douglas Adams," and his efforts to emulate Adams' linguistic zaniness are evident throughout the book. However, Adams' genius is a challenging muse to follow, and this story reads like frenetic slapstick. Additionally, Lennon relies on the stereotypical trope of the Irish fondness for alcohol, and an overabundance of footnotes slows the pacing. VERDICT While the premise of the series is enticing, this first entry has trouble finding its voice. Hand readers Eoin Colfer's "Artemis Fowl" series instead.--Nancy Nadig, Penn Manor School District, Lancaster, PA

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"As flavorful as the strongest Irish stout."—Kirkus Reviews
Thomas Lennon
Thomas Lennon is a writer, comedian, and actor who has worked on a number of things you probably love, including Reno 911! and Night at the Museum. Lennon lives in Los Angeles with his wife, the actress Jenny Robertson, and their son, Oliver.

John Hendrix is the illustrator of Nurse, Soldier, Spy and author/illustrator of Shooting at the Stars and The Faithful Spy, which won the 2018 Society of Illustrators Gold Medal and received 4 starred reviews.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781419734915
Lexile Measure
1060
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Harry N. Abrams
Publication date
March 05, 2019
Series
Ronan Boyle
BISAC categories
JUV019000 - Juvenile Fiction | Humorous Stories
JUV037000 - Juvenile Fiction | Fantasy & Magic
JUV001000 - Juvenile Fiction | Action & Adventure
JUV028000 - Juvenile Fiction | Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories
JUV030050 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | Europe
Library of Congress categories
Adventure and adventurers
Magic
Adventure stories
Police
JUVENILE FICTION / Mysteries & Detective Stor
JUVENILE FICTION / Action & Adventure / Gener
Ireland
JUVENILE FICTION / Fantasy & Magic
Imaginary creatures
Action and adventure fiction
Prisoners' families

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