The Greatest Power

We found this book and couldn't pass it up. I read it to my kids (ages 9 - 12) and they laughed so hard. I love how the author rewords some statements over and over in different flowery ways! So fun to read and great visuals - you can just see a little monkey hyped on coffee! We haven't read the first book in this series, but intend to now! Awesome!

With his wisecracking spotted gecko Sticky tucked under his sweatshirt, 13-year-old Dave Sanchez drops by City Bank to pick up some Roadrunner Express delivery envelopes. While Dave and Sticky are in the bank, a masked man --- a criminal named Damien Black --- wields a multi-muzzled gun and takes everyone hostage. Stealing the bank's money isn't enough for the greedy robber. He also snatches an heirloom tiger-eye ring that belongs to the kind-hearted Ms. Kulee, a bank employee who has helped Dave pursue his dream of operating Roadrunner Express delivery. Before Damien Black makes his getaway, he fires off darts from his weapon. The darts strike the hostages and put them all to sleep, except for Sticky. While the bank employees and customers snore away, Sticky crawls out of Dave's sweatshirt and witnesses the robber slip out the door and disappear down a manhole cover. When Dave finally awakes, he is determined to recover the bank's money, but most of all he wants to return Ms. Kulee's treasured tiger-eye ring to her. With the help of the magical Aztec wristband, Dave and Sticky track the robber through the city's stinky sewers and end up at Black's dark and scary mansion. Inside the villain's creepy home, the brave duo must use their cunning to avoid hidden alarms and dangerous traps to recover the stolen money and ring. During their search, they free from a golden cage a noisy, coffee-loving rhesus monkey. They also must outwit the inept Bandito Brothers, a mariachi band of minor-league criminals who idolize the sinister Damien Black. This second installment in Wendelin Van Draanen's series --- following VILLAIN'S LAIR --- is a fun-to-read adventure story that should appeal to intermediate-grade readers. "A Guide to Spanish and Stickynese Terms" at the end of the book aids in the understanding of unfamiliar Spanish (and Lizardly) terms and phrases. Plus, Stephen Gilpin's clever and crisp illustrations help readers visualize the story's unique characters and creative setting. The book's underlying message --- what makes a superhero isn't the power he possesses but how he uses those powers --- is a positive lesson that will resonate with both parents and teachers. --- Reviewed by Donna Volkenannt

Dastardly Famien Black is holding a bank full of people hostage as he loots - but one of the people is ordinary boy Dave who holds ancient powers and a secret gecko as weapons against evil. Sticky and Dave hope to recover the loot - but danger may keep them from being heroes in this fine easy reader, a step above chapter books for elementary grades.

The Gecko and Sticky return! This is the second adventure of a young boy named Dave Sanchez and his pet Gecko. Once again, they are battling the evil villain Damien Black. It just happens that one day when Dave and Sticky are at the bank, a bank robber storms in and demands that everyone hit the floor. He proceeds to demand money from the tellers and fills a stretchy bag. Two things happen just before he uses an odd weapon to shoot sleeping darts into all the banks' employees and customers. First, Dave recognizes it is the evil Damien Black, and second, the villain turns back and steals a tiger-eye ring from a woman's finger. Dave and Sticky know what they have to do and the chase is on. The two crime fighters follow Damien Black down into the sewer. They follow the trail to his fabulous mansion. Using the ingots of Invisibility and Wall Walking, they are able to sneak into the mansion. The question is can they find the money and the ring before Damien discovers they are there and uses his many thingamagigs, doohickeys, and multi-purpose gadgets to stop them. Important facts that readers of the previous adventure will need to remember is that Dave and Sticky are in possession of the amazing Aztec wristband that utilizes the magic ingots. Dave only has two of the ingots while Damien Black has the rest and desperately wants them and the wristband back. This new adventure also continues the mystery of the famous Gecko superhero that Dave has become. He is still hoping for a more exciting name, but so far Sticky is making that impossible. Wendelin Van Draanen must have a blast when she's writing these action-packed adventures. Thinking of the wacky, off-the-wall gadgets and gizmos, not to mention the witty dialogue, must keep her laughing as much as her readers will as they turn the pages. This is some fun stuff for middle grade readers. Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"