Rating: 
Summary: just MY opinion
Review: In an effort to make the wait for HARRY POTTER 5 and the follow-up to the Phillip Pullman trilogy more bearable, ARTEMIS FOWL is a good choice for reading material. During this waiting period, I've even gone up and done the reading level scale from the 26 FAIRMOUNT AVENUE series to the SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS and Lloyd Alexander. Thanks Eoin for helping to distract me!
Rating:
Summary: Evil is good
Review: For anyone who is under the empression that all books that all fantasy books for kids are like Harry Potter, this book will set you straight. If I was to compare it to something, I'd have to go with The Series of Unfortunate Events, due to how dark they are. It's a really good book, should be a great series. Wonder what the movie will be like.
Rating: 
Summary: well, this is different.
Review: Fairies. This probably makes you think of tiny dalicate things with gossamer wings. Well think again. These fairies are armed and have attitude. they also include elves, dwaves and anything else you find in books. This is not a fairy tale though the, characters are funny and original: Holly short the first female LEPrecon, the lower elements police reconnaisance (the LEP used to wear a uniform consisting of a green suit, hence our steriotypes.) Foaly is a centaur who wears a tinfoil hat and is a computer genius. He will crack jokes even at the direst moments. Mulch Diggums, a kleptomaniac dwarf, who, like all of his species, has an original way of digging. And of couse there is Artemis Fowl. A twelve year old genius from a long line of criminals. Artemis Fowl's family has hatched almost every crime imaginable, but he has devised something different. His plot is to kidnap a fairy and hold it for ransom. It goes off perfectly until the LEP stops playing by the rules.The plot is fast moving , interesting and always funny. Although Artemis Fowl is a strange protagonist he is a good one. You also have your doubts about him during some of his emotional battles. I recommend this book to anyone who liked Harry Potter and even if you didn't you would probably enjoy this book.
Rating: 
Summary: OK, but no Harry Potter
Review: I read this book in all of three hours one lazy afternoon. It was exciting and kept my interest. I felt it did not deserve the truly negative reviews in the New York Times Review of Books and Newsweek (or Time). I enjoyed it. I did find the characters interesting, if rather stock and cliched in some regards. I imagine my older children may enjoy it. However, if you're looking for the next Harry Potter, this is NOT it. While funny, it lacks the wholehearted humor of the Potter books and its plot was not as compelling. It's use of magic is limited, with the elves being more technologically advanced than humans. It felt more like a kid's sci-fi novel than a fantasy one. Still,it had some nifty concepts and an exciting finish, and I recommend it, as long as you're not looking for a Harry Potter clone.
Rating:
Summary: Artemis Fowl
Review: Artemis Fowl is a book about a twelve year old boy with the "Astuteness of Sherlock Holmes, the sangfroid of James Bond, and the attitude of Attila the Hun". Artemis' father was a Irish thief turned Russian Blackmarket buisness man. The Russian Mafia didn't like his Dad nudging in on their turf, so they sent a missle after his ship. Artemis decides to get back the family fortune. How does he plan to do it? By kidnapping a fairy, thats how! And Along with his loyal bodygaurd, Butler, Artemis pulls it off, kidnapping Holly Short, Captain of the LEPrecon elite force. He offers a ransom of one ton in pure, 24-twenty-four-carat gold ingots in exchange for Holly. The book tells about their dealings with the elite LEPrecon sprites and their awesome arsenal, Technology and Trolls.
Rating:
Summary: A new Kind of Magic
Review: This book has some of the most originality I have ever seen. I've read the Harry Potter books and I love em' and now that I've read this one I love it too! Colfer does a great job mixing humor, comedy and magic all in one! Anyone who likes original tales should get this book. This book should not be compared to Potter because it's nothing like it. It's so different and that's what's great about. Take it from a loyal Harry Potter fan that these books are worth a read. No they'll never replave Harry... but that's because it's not Harry... it's new. Take chance on this book and you'll be rewarded beyond your imagination! You'll fall in love with the characters, even Fowl, and by the time you finsh the book you'll be sad since those characters are gone. But they'll be back in the sequel... a sequel I'm craving as mush as Harry Potter 5. Try not to think of this book as the next Potter, or even remotely Potterish. Either way this is a great book, for all ages, and for all imaginations.
Rating:
Summary: Not Harry, But Just as Good
Review: I'm a children's book website's webmaster ..., so I'm in contact with children's books a lot. When I heard about Artemis Fowl, supposedly the next Harry Potter. It might be the next Potter in popularity, but not in storyline. Colfer's US debut tells the story of twelve-year-old Artemis Fowl, the last in a famous criminal family. His parents, once millionaires, have been reduced to much less, and Artemis has a plan to save them. Enter in the underground world of The People (magical creatures like elves, fairies, trolls, etc.) Artemis doesn't realize what he's done when he ... Holly Short of LEPrecon (a fairy police force), starting a war between humans and fairies. Artemis has a secret advantage, he has a copy of the Booke of the People, which contains all the rules for fairy life. He seems to be a step ahead, but then the fairies stop playing by the rules! I recommend Artemis Fowl to anyone over the age of 10 who likes fantasy and adventure with a slight twist of mystery.
Rating:
Summary: Worth reading for anyone who enjoys magic and fantasy
Review: I just finished Artemis Fowl, passed on to me by my 12 year old son. Artemis is quite a personality, very dynamic. My son and his friends are quite taken by this new player in the fantasy/magic realm, and I have to say that I am as well. Colfer weaves a great tale that combines high-tech contemporary references with good old fairies and leprecauns of yore. It would have been five stars, but some of the fart jokes did not go over well with me. Of course, 12 year old boys will find them hilarious, as did my son. I recommend Artemis Fowl for anyone who enjoys this genre, and is looking for a different spin on it. Artemis Fowl is a book like no other.
Rating:
Summary: Artemis Fowl - What Fun!!
Review: Stop! trying to compare this to Harry Potter. Potter's great! and this ain't bad either. As a matter of fact - it's pretty damn good. Fast paced, fun, and full of colorful characters. I held my breath with each turn of the page. Great story... I didn't want it to end. Harry Potter's the man but, Artemis Fowl ain't chopped liver.
Rating: 
Summary: I'm not ready for techno-faeries.
Review: I have to give credit for great imagination in concept, but I'm not impressed by the execution. The villain is obviously patterned on Moriarty, with the added interest of the master criminal at a young age. At least we're told he's twelve, I'd have forgotten if we weren't reminded because there is nothing in the writing to give the feel of youth. Instead of a classic battle between modern human technology and ancient faery magic we have faeries with even more advanced technology (but with magic too to make them so powerful we're supposed to forgive the villain his villainy). The villain is villainous but not interesting. The faeries aren't faery like (they've got a centaur for a Mr. Scott, but without the brogue).
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