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Liked It2 of 2 members found this review helpful “Betty Dravis has created a unique, imaginative and fun story; one that lends itself to a sequel, as well as an animated movie. If your precocious children or teenagers are looking to read about some quirky characters in a contemporary setting with an old-fashioned theme, "The Toonies Invade...” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“ Reviewed by Me for TeensReadToo.com
TeensReadToo.com wrote this review Sunday, July 19 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
In this charming story of good versus evil, author Betty Dravis introduces us to the Toonies. Small beings who live in Cartoon Land, the world inside of our computers, the Toonies, like humans, come in good and bad form. Although some of them look a lot like us, others, such as the Mischief-Makers, resemble ape-like birds. But I bet you're wondering what the heck Toonies have to do with Silicon Valley, aren't you?
Thirteen-year-old Jeremy Kern is a young cartoonist/illustrator with his own very popular cartoon, "Doog Days." Absolutely enamored with his Apple computer, nicknamed "Wiseguy," Jeremy spends a lot of his time creating and updating the characters involved in his "Doog Days" cartoon. The world of the Toonies provides a reprieve for Jeremy, since his parents seem to be constantly arguing ever since his dad lost his job.
But the day Doog, the main character from his cartoon, jumps out of his computer and enters Jeremy's real life is a little bit beyond imagination. Doog is on a mission, though, and he won't quit until he convinces Jeremy that the world he has created is more than just fiction.
It seems that, in Cartoon Land, there's a Mischief-Maker named Dab who will do anything to stay in the real world. He plans to take over all of the computers he can -- hoping, one day, to even take over the world. But Doog, working under the guidance of the leader of Cartoon Land, Uncle Wom, is on a quest to stop Dab and his fellow Mischief-Makers before bad things start to happen in the real world. Along with his fellow Toonies, they need Jeremy's help, and his expertise, to stop Dab.
This is a great science-fiction fantasy story for kids of all ages, or for those who are young at heart. Although the story of good versus evil has been told thousands of time, it's never been told quite like this. You'll appreciate Ms. Dravis' insight into the behind-the-scenes workings of a young teenager's mind, and laugh-out-loud at the humorous scenarios her humans and Toonies find themselves in. This story is a real winner!”
2 of 2 members found this review helpful“I can't remember the last time I had so much fun reading a book. At the age of twenty six I still remember my favorite childhood tales while I read regular adult stuff but when I picked up Toonies I was in for a fantastic surprise, a book for children that an adult can love too! Of course whether I really feel like an adult is another story...
VALUSIA wrote this review Saturday, August 25 2007. ( reply | view 1 replies | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Toonies is an amazing adventure, vividly woven by a masterful story teller, Betty Dravis. Her language, imagination, in your face color and action shimmer brightly on every page. The rich and far out characters that possessed an aura of authenticity, I could almost imagine myself living through this story because it was very real but also incredibly magical. The story line was also extremely exciting, I had an incredibly tough time putting the book down and once I got time to read, forget it, nothing else existed until I finally reached the last page. I might also have to add that the cover art and the inner art work were perfect for the book! What I imagined while reading was only supported by the vivid artwork, which I liked so much that I kept looking at the cover every once in a while to envelop myself in the story even more. If all children's books were this good I would probably have to quite my job so I had more time to read!
In a nutshell the story is about a young boy named Jeremy Kern who lives in the Silicon Valley with his parents Arthur and Jessica. Even thought I am a girl I could relate easily to his childhood, with the parents fighting often Jeremy escaped into his own world, the cartoon strip he drew for the local paper on his Orange Computer. In the fantasy Cartoon Land the main character was Doog, a whimsical boy with red hair and fantastic personality. One day during a bad fighter at dinner, Jeremy excused himself only to run to his room and lose himself in his art. Little did he know that this beloved character was not only real but ready to help him out. Betty Dravis has outdone herself in the imagination department, I have never read such on original idea in any kind of a book, where the characters jump out of the computer, flat paper figures with feather, clothing, glowing edges, wearing funky clothing ready to do good and bad, depending on their character. Once the good guys get out of the screen to help Jeremy out the bad ones, called the Backgrounders are close behind, where there's good, evil surely lurks! The real adventure begins when Jeremy's dad releases something out of the computer that should never have the freedom to exist in the real world, something sinister, evil and truly dark. Together the family must stop the bird like creatures that followed orders delivered by a truly wicked character of Dab, I have no doubt that any reader will be truly taken by him. I found it truly incredible how Betty would portray the good and the bad with her imagination, giving each a real breath of life that simply jumped out of each page! Dab has a devilish plan to take over the world, spilling evil characters out of computer screens unless Jeremy and his family with the help of his darling friends and other Cartooon Land characters can stop him!
As the good and bad characters escape the computer and make Jeremy and his parents busy with a mission that requires team work and a secure and strong family to solve the problem, their fights and misunderstandings cease to exist to make room for solutions and peace. This story has some fantastic family values interwoven, I can see kids reading this and really feeling the true meaning to the story, feeling warmth and support, love and helping them see the world in a new light. Betty is a warm and fabulous person and her love spills through her writing, not only giving kids and adults entertainment but bringing back the morals and good, pure values into the tale, reaching the reader that life has a golden road that once found can be followed to a happy way of being.
Once I find a book I really love I can't wait to read it again and this is one of them. I wish there were many volumes to this tale. For those who think that Harry Potter is the only tale that kids and adults can read, this is the real awakening. Toonies is simply super, I cannot express how much I love it and how it touched me, the colors, the magic, the writing, the characters and the dialog were simply out of this world and I am really looking forward to reading it again as soon as I have some time.
I know that when I have children I will make sure they grow up reading this story, it will make them think and see things in a new light and I just know that they will love it. Stories such as this one make me realize how precious the gift of reading is, to dip into the pool of the authors imagination and take the swim in their magical world is an experience humans should be proud to behold because once the pages of this book are open nothing else matters!
- Kasia S.
”2 of 2 members found this review helpful“Betty Dravis has created a unique, imaginative and fun story; one that lends itself to a sequel, as well as an animated movie. If your precocious children or teenagers are looking to read about some quirky characters in a contemporary setting with an old-fashioned theme, "The Toonies Invade Silicon Valley" might be just the book for them.”
starcrossed wrote this review Thursday, August 23 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
1 of 1 members found this review helpful“TOONIES -- What's in YOUR computer?[br/][br/]My friend across the country from me took this and another book to Guam, and when she got back she sent them to me to take on my trip to Australia. It was our little joke, a "Sisterhood of the Traveling Books." I thought it looked like good airplane reading so I started it in Maine and finished it over the Pacific. What a fun book![br/][br/]Betty Dravis tells a great little story about a teenaged cartoonist named Jeremy Kern whose characters step out of his computer. Your attention will be grabbed by the delightful inhabitants of Cartoon Land, but the top-notch human characters more than hold their own. Jeremy and his friends Buddy and Ashley practically jump off the pages themselves, their issues, interests and dialogue are so vivid. They're smart, inquisitive kids with nurturing natures and a sense of responsibility -- and what an adventure they have! Wouldn't you like all the kids you know to be just like them?[br/][br/]The Toonies are enormous fun. Their characteristics and background are described in enough detail to engage and entertain the reader, but by no means overwhelm the rocking story line. The good and the bad Toonies have their own culture, history and idiom -- golly-by-golly, they do! I wonder if anyone else will be reminded of THE BORROWERS, the Carnegie Medal-winning classic by Mary Norton? TOONIES has the same delightful feel while being thoroughly modern. (Hint, hint: there were a number of sequels to THE BORROWERS -- we sure would like to see more of the Toonies! Where are they going to turn up next?)[br/][br/]TOONIES deals with some tough issues and models some excellent approaches to them. Jeremy's parents Arthur and Jessica are having problems, but they drop their squabbling to get involved in the Toonies crisis, supporting their son all the way. Along with Steve "The Woz" Wozniak, Jeremy and his family and friends use all their creativity and courage to fight off the evil challenge of the Mischief Makers.[br/][br/]TOONIES is aimed at kids aged 8 to 13. When I was that age I loved stories with a strong sense of place, and I still enjoy that in a book. Somebody's sure to see a fun movie in it, but don't wait for that because the book is so rewarding. Kristy Soza Ardizzone's illustrations are the perfect finishing touch and will inspire your own imagination.[br/][br/]Here's a win-win idea -- read TOONIES to a child this month, or take turns reading it to each other! You'll have some giggles and some excitement, and maybe a chance to talk about a few things kids should know about the world.[br/][br/]originally posted on www.amazon.com”
Linda in Maine wrote this review Sunday, September 2 2007. ( reply | view 1 replies | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
1 of 1 members found this review helpful“I wrote this book and am very pleased that it's doing well. I do all my own marketing and It has mostly 5-star reviews on Amazon and BN.
BettyDravis wrote this review Saturday, September 1 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
It's about cartoon characters who come to life as they escape from a Silicon Valley teen's computer. The fun begins when bad TOONIES follow the good TOONIES out and try to take over Orange Computer. The good TOONIES and "humanoid" kids enlist the help of the main character's parents and Steve "THE WOZ" Wozniak to help save Silicon Valley. Wozniak, as most people know, is the inventor/creator of the first APPLE computer and co-founder of the company.
I enjoyed writing this book because it allowed my imagination to roam free.”
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