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Summary and Reviews of The Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp by Richard (Rick) Yancey

The Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp by Richard (Rick) Yancey

The Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp

by Richard (Rick) Yancey
  • BookBrowse Review:
  • Critics' Consensus (6):
  • Readers' Rating (12):
  • First Published:
  • Oct 1, 2005, 375 pages
  • Paperback:
  • Jan 2007, 352 pages
  • Rate this book

About This Book

Book Summary

With an ancient order of knights in hot cars, thugs on motorcycles, and a mysterious international organization following his every lumbering step, Alfred undertakes a modern-day quest to unravel a thousand-year-old mystery and return Excalibur to its rightful place. Ages 12+.

Alfred Kropp is the last person you'd think could save the world. But when this oversized underachiever gets roped into a suspicious get-rich-quick scheme, his life takes a turn for the extraordinary. Little does Alfred know he has been tricked into stealing Excalibur — the legendary sword of King Arthur — and the most powerful weapon ever wielded by man.

With an ancient order of knights in hot cars, thugs on motorcycles, and a mysterious international organization following his every lumbering step, Alfred undertakes a modern-day quest to unravel a thousand-year-old mystery and return the sword to its rightful place.

Chapter One


I never thought I would save the world — or die saving it. I never believed in angels or miracles, either, and I sure didn't think of myself as a hero. Nobody would have, including you, if you had known me before I took the world's most powerful weapon and let it fall into the hands of a lunatic. Maybe after you hear my story you won't think I'm much of a hero anyway, since most of my heroics if you want to call them that resulted from my being a screw-up. A lot of people died because of me — including me — but I guess I'm getting ahead of myself and I better start from the beginning.

It began with my uncle Farrell wanting to be rich. He never had much money growing up and, by the time Mr. Arthur Myers came along with his once-in-a-lifetime deal, my uncle was forty years old and sick of being poor. Being poor isn't one of those things you get used to, even if being poor is all you've ever been. So when Mr. Myers flashed ...

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Reviews

BookBrowse Review

BookBrowse

Alfred finds himself caught up with descendants of the Round Table, both honorable and evil, in this light-hearted, somewhat violent (heads do roll) tale of quest and adventure; the first in a planned series...continued

Full Review (190 words)

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(Reviewed by BookBrowse Review Team).

Media Reviews

Kirkus Reviews
Starred Review. Yancey has hit one out of the part with this original, engaging sequel-worthy read. He does a fine job of balancing King Arthur's legend with contemporary action sequences well suited for the silver screen. The expertly paced plot will keep action-adventure fans entertained, and those interested in all things Camelot will get a kick out of watching this funny, self-deprecating teenager save the world.

Booklist - Michael Cart
Gr. 9-12 (age 14+). Heads literally roll in the intensely violent and cinematic action, as Alfred discovers enough astonishing things about himself to fire a whole host of sequels, which are sure to follow. For readers willing to suspend disbelief, Yancey's first novel for YAs is a white-knuckle, page-turning read.

Children's Literature - Heidi Hauser Green
Ages 13-17. Rick Yancey's first young adult novel owes much to the action movie genre. Librarians and parents should be aware that violence is both graphic and plentiful in this book.

Publishers Weekly
Like J.K. Rowling, first-time YA novelist Yancey deftly leavens the heavier plot elements with humor; this story of a "big-headed loser" is as funny as it is scary.

School Library Journal - Hillias J. Martin
Grade 6-8 (ages 11-14). True to its action-adventure genre, the story is lighthearted, entertaining, occasionally half-witted, but by and large fun.

Reader Reviews

Tina

the extraordinary adventures of alfred kropp
It was a great book. I have read it twice. I am going to read more of his books.
sarah

Great!... one of my faveorites
Alfred Kropp has been through a lot through his life; his father leaving him and his mother, his size, his losing his mother, but when Alfred goes to live with his uncle, things take a turn... not a good one when him and his uncle are tricked into ...   Read More
Kat

The book
Although this book is graphic in some parts it is also very funny and action filled. It is a great read for kids in 5th or 6th grade and should be recommended to all.
pickle

aawwweeeesoooommmeeeeeeeeee
This book was amazing. I read the first book as a book club in the 5th grade, and I loved it, then went on to read three other books and loved them the same. My fav books of all time.

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Beyond the Book



Rick Yancey is the author of two books for adults: a memoir, Confessions of a Tax Collector, and a novel (A Burning in Homeland - 2003). He is also a playwright and former theater critic.

Since then he has launched two series: The Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp, for young readers, and The Highly Effective Detective, for adults. Both books are set in Knoxville, Tennessee, where Rick lived for ten years before returning to Florida.

He lives with his wife, ...

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Read-Alikes

Read-Alikes Full readalike results are for members only

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