Mr. Lemoncello and the Titanium Ticket (Mr. Lemoncello's Library)

Ordered for our grandson for Christmas and he loved them

Game-maker extraordinaire Luigi Lemoncello is building something secret. And hidden deep inside his secret building there is one . . . and only one . . . titanium ticket.When the building is finished, four lucky boys and girls will participate in a spectacular scavenger hunt, zooming through life-size live-action games, each one of which will get them closer to the well-concealed titanium ticket. The boys and girls must complete the hunt and solve the phrase that is the key to finding the ticket. Mr. Lemoncello promises that the lucky winner of the titanium ticket will join an elite group of kids who will compete for ownership of Lemoncello Gameworks and all things Lemoncello.With a ticket search and the prospect of winning the company, "Mr. Lemoncello and the Titanium Ticket" pays homage to Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” while delivering its message of kindness and empathy and encouraging collaborative teamwork. As with the earlier books in the series, there is sufficient backstory here for the book to work as a stand-alone, but the previous books are filled with so much fun that readers are sure to want to read the earlier four stories.This fifth installment of the Lemoncello Library series brings some new characters into the amazing Lemoncello competitions. Soraiya Mitchell is as kind and fair as bully Jack McClintock is mean-spirited and duplicitous. Simon Skrindle is the kid that everyone roots for, the one kid that’s far smarter and much more capable than anyone realizes. Kyle, Haley, Akimi, and Andrew all have a part to play in these new games, serving as advisors to the other competitors who’ve won the right to move on to the next level in the search for the titanium ticket.As the plot takes some surprising twists, the unfolding story draws the readers into the mystery of the secret construction and then into the excitement of the games themselves. As in earlier books, the main part of the story involves Lemoncello-created games. Here the participants are interacting with life-size games . . . and those games are ones every reader will recognize: Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, Battleship, Stratego, Rubik’s Cube, Rush Hour, Don’t Break the Ice, and, oh, so many more. It’s almost as much fun looking for classic board game names as it was looking for middle-grade book titles in the earlier stories. And, as in previous books, there are word puzzles, riddles, and rebus puzzles throughout the story that readers can figure out right along with the characters in the contest.There are some moments of solemnity and seriousness amid the fun and games, mostly surrounding Simon and his particular backstory. The revelations surrounding it and the newest Lemoncello building give readers some unexpected insight into Luigi Lemoncello’s background.The targeted audience here is the middle school reader, but these endearing stories, with their strong emphasis on thinking, with their intransigent messages of compassion, friendship, and kindheartedness, have earned themselves a far larger following. With mega-doses of amazing Lemoncello legerdemain, readers will find much to appreciate here. And there is no doubt that, as soon as readers finish this book, they will already be anxiously awaiting the next installment in this magical series.Highly recommended.

Kids love this series

Mr. Lemoncello's Library Series, Book 5This is a book that is extremely relatable ,When I first read the first book of the series (Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's) I thought of my dad, he was the one who read me books when I was a kid, he would make funny voices, sound effects and pretend to be a character sometimesIt really reminded me of how fun ,wacky, fantabulous reading can be, especially when you've got a great author like Chris Grabenstein …I've just got to say that time flies oh so quickly,It's been a long time since the first book was relased,when my mom got me this book I immediately opened the book, and waited to see what fantabulous fun Kyle,Sierra and Akimi,etc, were up to ; )To my surprise there were new characters,WOOHOO!and hey, I absolutely love characters like Akimi and Soroiya that stick to their friends through thick and thin ,and never give up no matter what,I just love that in every lemoncello book there is a hidden puzzle. The characters also solve puzzles and rebuses from time to time( chapter to chapter?)I just love the idea of a story centered around a library, those are like a second home to me , >think like how Sierra just crawls into a book and lives there for a while<…3 words that describe this book:fantablous wondermous funnyBuy this book now!!!!!!!!!More books like this;Welcome to Wonderland by James Patterson and Chris GrabensteinShine! by J.J and Chris GrabensteinMax Einstein and Genius Expreriment by James Patterson and Chris GrabensteinReview by Chloe Paige Yamzon :)

-GenreMiddle Grade Action and Adventure-Opening LinesIt was after nine o’clock on a school night.Simon Skrindle, a short (and nearly invisible) seventh grader at Hudson Hills Middle School, had just crept out of the dark forest near the Lemoncello Gameworks Factory.He was a twelve-year-old on a mission.He was alone. Simon didn’t have many friends, especially not the kind who’d go on an adventure with him, sneaking through the woods late at night.And this was a BIG adventure.Simon was going to be the first to see what secrets were hidden inside the new building behind Mr. Lemoncello’s factory!-Your one sentence reviewMr. Lemoncello (and Chris Grabenstein) have done it again, created another wacky series of games for kids but this time the prize is a titanium ticket and the right to compete for the whole Lemoncello empire.-How it made you feelLike a kid in a game store—so many references to so many board games.-Favorite partI really like that Grabenstein continues to build out the story and of Mr. Lemoncello. Introducing a new group of kids is great and I love that Simon brings different puzzle solving skills to the table.-One-word descriptionWondermous-Would you recommend?Yes, although this is a complete story with a new set of characters, I think most new readers will want to start the series at the beginning. Fans of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will enjoy seeing how Grabenstein uses some key elements from that book in his story.

The media could not be loaded. My son loves these! He reads them in order so this is the last one of the series until the next one is released later this year. He can’t wait.