Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Artemis Fowl
Fiction Series
For ages 12 and up
Hyperion, 2001 ISBN: 978-0786808014
There can be no doubt that Artemis Fowl, though only twelve years old, is a force to be reckoned with. Brilliant, ruthless, and the heir to a criminal empire, Artemis has decided that the family coffers are in need of a healthy influx of gold. Does Artemis try to rob a bank or break into Fort Knox? Indeed he does not for Artemis is above such mundane crimes. Instead Artemis is going to separate the Little People from their gold. That?s right, Artemis is going to steal from the fairy folk.
Artemis has been doing a lot of research on these little magical creatures and when he manages to acquire the Book, the fairy bible if you will, he is fully equipped to deal with anything that the fairies throw at him. With the help of his body guard and aide, Butler, Artemis kidnaps Captain Holly Short, a fairy who is an officer in the LEPrecon Unit. If the fairies want Captain Short back, they are going to have to relinquish a sizeable amount of the gold reserves.
Of course, the Book does not prepare Artemis for the determination of the LEP commander Commander Root, nor does it warn him about Mulch Diggums, a kleptomaniac dwarf who can dig himself in and out of almost anywhere. With Mulch?s help Commander Root sets about trying to free Captain Holly. Who is going to prevail in this battle of wills and wits? Will Artemis' actions bring humans and the Little People to the point of war?
This ingenious, gripping, and incredibly funny book will give older readers a very novel look at the fairy world. These are not ethereal delicate winged creatures who sip from spring flowers. These are tough, well armed characters who are centuries ahead of humans when it comes to technology, and who have no patience for us humans and our violent, thoughtless, and environmentally suicidal behavior. Readers will be interested to see how the characters change as the adventure unfolds. They will find that Artemis Fowl has a soft side to his character and there is indeed hope that he might not be as evil as he portrays himself to be.
