Bruce Gargoyle - 4 Stars.
Dip into it for an original story packed with humour, believable characters and a bit of the ol’ supernatural charm. This book is probably going to appeal most to the high end of the middle grade bracket and the lower end of the YA audience and along with a fantastic friendship and adventure tale, it features some cracking mysteries to solve and red herrings to trick the reader into complacency. The story moves at a steady pace and there are enough twists here and enough paranormal elements to keep the reader guessing to the very eventful and emotional ending. The great thing about this book for me was the depth of the characters and the banter that goes on between the group of friends – it gave the book a light, fun atmosphere that nicely balanced the darker aspects of the plot.
But don’t dip into this if you aren't prepared to suspend your disbelief in a big way in the first few chapters of the book. This paragraph might contain a few spoilers, so skip to the next one if that offends you…Hartley’s got gumption, I can tell you that, because in the very first chapters of the book he reveals a quite shocking secret about Leodoni’s ice cream – all the more so if you work in any part of the food safety and regulatory business! – and then kills off Carlo’s father in possibly the most ridiculous death ever penned. While it turns out that this death is necessary to the plot, the manner of the death was so bizarre and unexpected (to me, anyway!), that I nearly put the book down. I’m glad I didn’t though, because I would have missed a fun and original story. But heads up, anyway.
Overall the plot of this book really stood out to me as something different for the target age-bracket. A thoughtful mix of summer adventures with friends, ghostly goings-on and coming of age tale, Hartley has done a great job at creating a book that is both engaging and light-hearted while at the same time featuring grittier elements of grief, family secrets and the ugly side of getting ahead in business. This would be the perfect read for young people who want something a bit out of the ordinary, that embraces the paranormal without a single vampire/werewolf/human love triangle in sight, and features ordinary kids in an extraordinary situation.
Namrata Ganti - 5 Stars
To be frank I was not entirely sure what to expect from this book and I did start reading it with the preconceived notion that it may be boring. However it turns out I thoroughly enjoyed this story and would happily recommend it to everyone!
This is a nice and funny story about a young boy of fourteen who is suddenly facing the task of running his father's ice cream factory. The story highlights all the emotions that run through a fourteen year old's mind in such a situation when he has just lost his father and has been left the family business as part of his father's will. He is to be taken care of by his father's friend and partner Mr Randolph who assumed that the company would be left to him. Accompanied by his four friends, Carlo sets out to bring the company back to the top and show their competition Mr Hill that Leodoni's is indeed the best ice cream.
There is a slight twist in the story and this adds more mystery and makes it more interesting. The reader is sure to enjoy following Carlo and his friends as they behave like any other fourteen year old, running around and assuming they can do anything while at the same time stepping up to support their friend and showing us what true friendship is. All the elements put together make this story delightful to read with all it's ups and downs, fun moments and dark moments. For all those readers who have enjoyed Enid Blyton's stories in their childhood, this story is not far behind. It's as good as they come and worth the read!
GC MacQuarie - 5 Stars
When this book was forwarded to me, I was told that another reviewer had compared the story to that of an old fashioned kids book. I guess I am old enough to now call myself one of those kids who loved the 'old fashioned' kids books like Roald Dahl, so I was more than happy to read The Secrets of Ice Cream Success.
As soon as I began reading this story, I thought of books by YA authors such as Morris Gleitzman or Paul Jennings - books that had a dark twist. Books you read when you were a kid that seemed like a fascinating tale, yet secretly taught you a valuable life lesson between the lines. To appreciate this story, you need to remember what it was like to be adolescent.
AD Hartley has successfully created a new YA tale of this style. I'm going to be honest, it's darkly quirky at times, yet satisfyingly humble.
14 year old Carlo is the son of an ice cream factory owner. He doesn't see his future as taking over the family business as his father and grandfather before him, until a tragic turn of events. He has a great band of misfit friends, complete with their own loud personalities. He's thrown into a life of responsibility and never stops to question why he wouldn't take them along for the ride.
There's two major pieces of this story that make it memorable - the first I won't mention because it wouldn't be fair for me to reveal it, however for those who have read it, you will understand what I'm talking about. The second is the paranormal element. I found this to be quite clever. Here we have the story of a boy who really has no family left - apart from an adopted uncle and a group of teenagers - that really just needs his father.
What a way to keep this relationship alive.
There's two major pieces of this story that make it memorable - the first I won't mention because it wouldn't be fair for me to reveal it, however for those who have read it, you will understand what I'm talking about. The second is the paranormal element. I found this to be quite clever. Here we have the story of a boy who really has no family left - apart from an adopted uncle and a group of teenagers - that really just needs his father.
What a way to keep this relationship alive.
All in all, this story is quite charming, enjoyable, and a little disturbing!
Michael Thal - 5 Stars
AD Hartley does an amazing job of creating realistic characters overcoming adversity during their summer holiday. The author has also developed a dynamic plot, which includes intrigue, suspense and villains. All of this is done with humour and the help of a very lively ghost.
The Secrets of Ice Cream Success will attract middle grade and YA readers alike. The story’s pace is up-beat with enough twists and turns to hold the interest of its young audience.The novel is a light-hearted coming of age tale placing ordinary kids in an extraordinary situation as they use teamwork to reach their goals.
Michael Thal - 5 Stars
AD Hartley does an amazing job of creating realistic characters overcoming adversity during their summer holiday. The author has also developed a dynamic plot, which includes intrigue, suspense and villains. All of this is done with humour and the help of a very lively ghost.
The Secrets of Ice Cream Success will attract middle grade and YA readers alike. The story’s pace is up-beat with enough twists and turns to hold the interest of its young audience.The novel is a light-hearted coming of age tale placing ordinary kids in an extraordinary situation as they use teamwork to reach their goals.
Clowns, jokers and best friends they teased each other and everyone else, wrestled and created a friendly hulabaloo everywhere they went. Everyone giggled with them and nobody ever took seriously until one day you turned around and realized that somehow, between all the fart jokes and noogies, they'd gone out, conquered demons you didn't even know they had and accomplished things.
The gang in this book is saving an ice cream emporium but I think you'll recognize them anyway. Would I recommend it? Yes! The antics of the boys (and girl) are an excellent counter balance to the heavier elements of the book. I was hooked by the drama and laughed my way through the plot. Which might mean I have the sense of humor of a fourteen year old boy... But it certainly means that I'd recommend it as a great middle grade or young adult book. Heck, I'd even say that, as your child's responsible parent, you think you should probably "check" this book for them and read it first!
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