The Architect, (Hardcover)

Phantom City's motto rings: "Never be about when the Zeppelin is out." Till one night, twelve year old Charlie comes face to face with the Zeppelin and instead of being abducted, she's awakened. And everything she's suspected suddenly comes to light. In a world of super villains, propaganda, and sinister schemes, Charlie must rely on the mysterious Architect and a quirky group of heroes in order to save Phantom City and unlock her past. When villains kidnap residents and use them to run a production factory, Charlie risks it all to restore order. But can she really rely on the Architect? And who will protect him when he's targeted for elimination? This offbeat superhero book wavers somewhere between the past and the present with old Hollywood film stars and voice activated computers. There are multiple historical and cultural references that may go beyond a typical middle graders comprehension, but all in all, the characters and main plot were easy to follow. The main character, Charlie, is insightful, although she carries a slight attitude throughout the book. The basic plot serves as an allegory for the redemption story without being overly preachy and the characters are mostly likeable. There was some unnecessary potty humor in the book that I didn't appreciate, but the rest was decently written. My 11 year old enjoyed The Architect and recommends it. I thought the story was ok, but there are better options on the market. *Disclaimer: I recieved a free copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.