A star-studded anthology with a devilish hook, whose proceeds benefit 826nyc: the fabulous literacy non-profit founded by Dave Eggers.
Can you imagine the most cantankerous book editor alive? Part Voldemort, part Cruella de Vil (if she were a dude), and worse in appearance and odor than a gluttonous farm pig? A man who makes no secret of his love of cheese or his disdain of unworthy authors? That man is Herman Mildew.
The anthology opens with an invitation to a party, care of this insufferable monster, where more than 80 of the most talented, bestselling and recognizable names in YA and children’s fiction learn that they are suspects in his murder. All must provide alibis in brief first-person entries. The problem is that all of them are liars, all of them are fabulists, and all have something to hide...
- Used Book in Good Condition
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful.
Great concept, too many executions....
By dSavannah George-Jones
...literally. The concept is that the hated editor of a number of authors has been murdered. Since each of the writers have a motive to off the man, hilariously named Herman Mildew, they must each give an alibi for their whereabouts.The concept is brilliant, and I wish I'd thought of it. (Have I mentioned *I'm* an editor?) It's fun to read, with alibis ranging from "I couldn't have done it; I love Hermie even tho he doesn't like me to call him that and in fact has a restraining order against me" to "My alibi is a list of failed attempts at trying to murder him". The authors participating in the project write for children and young adults, so it was fun to read something (slightly) more adult.I love that the proceeds benefit 826NYC, a literacy and creative program for kids. I hope lots of people buy this book so the organization gets tons of money.However, there are just too many alibis. Although they are (mostly) original, after awhile they run together and it gets to be too much. I think this volume would have been better with at least 25 fewer. It also would have been nice to have had more illustrated alibis; there are only a few. Of course, I realize this was dependent on the authors who agreed to participate. I recommend getting a copy; just don't try to read it in one sitting!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful.This is better than ok, but I didn't like- like it.
By Julia Walter
This is over eighty YA writers, most of them writing two pages on how they weren't the killer of the odious editor Herman Mildew."You look as busy as a teenager's thumbs," I said..."Guilty as a nun with Beauty Queens stashed in her wimple."(20) Written by Judy Blundell.Todd Strasser writes: "Oh no. Don't tell me you're still reading this. What am I, the fifty- fifth author in a row who is supposed to spew out the same nonsense about the death of some pompous jerk named Herman Mildew?"(299) This was fun-nish, but ended up getting old. I would have preferred fewer writers and longer stories, but then the authors should have gotten paid, not written to benefit 826NYC, a worthy organization.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful.
Five Stars? It should be 80!!!!!!
By S. Berner
To begin with, even if this were the worst book ever written, it would be worth buying since the proceeds go to 826NYC a literacy program for kids.BUT it is, most definitely NOT the "worst" book ever... it's one of the best of it's kind!WHAT kind?The multi-author "novel" (see: Naked Came the... fill it in)"Multi", did I say? Try 80 of the best Children's authors ever!And each and every one of them MAY be guilty of the murder of Herman Q Mildew, the most despicable book editor... EVER... EVER... EEEEEVVVVERBut, each of them has an alibi... which they wrote... and which makes up this bookUntil the SHOCKING! SURPRISING! STUNNING! ending!Buy it! Read it! DON'T give it to a friend! Make them buy it, too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
