the 13th reality the journal of curious letters

Will Tick have the courage to follow the twelve clues M.G. promises to send Tick twelve riddles that will reveal on a certain day, at a certain time, at a certain place, something extraordinary will happen. Postmarked from Alaska and cryptically signed with the initials 'M.G.,' the letter informs Tick that dangerous - perhaps even deadly - events have been set in motion that could result in the destruction of reality itself. Tick, is an average thirteen-year-old boy until the day a strange letter arrives in his mailbox.

Scholastic | 1st March 2018 | AU$17.What if every time you made a choice that had a significant consequence, a new, alternate reality was created - the life that would've been had you made the other choice? What if those new realities were in danger? What if it fell to you to save all the realities? Atticus Higginbottom, a.k.a. Someone who doesn’t mind their characters completely predictable and boring but likes non-stop action once it starts will enjoy this novel. It is fitting then I think that I gave this 3 stars. I could see on Goodreads that this was quite a polarising book – people either loved it for the action or completely hated it for the flat characters. I do find that hard to believe – what right-minded parent of a 13 year old lets their kid wander like that especially after he has just been eaten? A 13 year old bullied small boy gets a mystical letter, and then is eventually whisked away to somewhere odd by some equally odd people? Has this now become a mainstream trope? Except that of course Tick’s dad loves Tick enough to take him to far away places, and let Tick travel with crazy people. I saw pale parallels between this novel and Harry Potter (um, also, the name Norbert?). The author harped back to it, but it turns out that no-one actually cares (surprise surprise). Except for Tick but that was all described in terms of him finally standing up to the school Bully – not anything more important. In fact, the whole novel was so plot based that we didn’t see any character development at all. And almost meeting a sticky end didn’t even improve him! He didn’t feel like a real person. Then again, I’m sorry, but Sato’s pensive and rude emotional state did nothing for me. I did like the elements of problem solving, and that redeemed the novel somewhat.

Wow, this novel’s first half was incredibly slow. Tick isn’t afraid to admit he’s a nerd, and he’s rather fond of solving puzzles, but will his best be enough?

But if he burns it, many people will be harmed. Tick has received a letter promising him that he will be exposed to incredible danger unless he burns the letter. The 13th Reality #1 – Journal of Curious Letters

The 13th reality the journal of curious letters