THE GECKO & STICKY: THE GREATEST POWER
written by Wendelin Van Draanen
illustrated by Stephen Gilpin
Knopf Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780375843778
Ages 8-12
208 pages
With his wisecracking spotted gecko Sticky tucked under his sweatshirt, 13-year-old Dave Sanchez drops by City Bank to pick up some Roadrunner Express delivery envelopes. While Dave and Sticky are in the bank, a masked man --- a criminal named Damien Black --- wields a multi-muzzled gun and takes everyone hostage. Stealing the bank’s money isn’t enough for the greedy robber. He also snatches an heirloom tiger-eye ring that belongs to the kind-hearted Ms. Kulee, a bank employee who has helped Dave pursue his dream of operating Roadrunner Express delivery.
Before Damien Black makes his getaway, he fires off darts from his weapon. The darts strike the hostages and put them all to sleep, except for Sticky. While the bank employees and customers snore away, Sticky crawls out of Dave’s sweatshirt and witnesses the robber slip out the door and disappear down a manhole cover.
When Dave finally awakes, he is determined to recover the bank’s money, but most of all he wants to return Ms. Kulee’s treasured tiger-eye ring to her. With the help of the magical Aztec wristband, Dave and Sticky track the robber through the city’s stinky sewers and end up at Black’s dark and scary mansion. Inside the villain’s creepy home, the brave duo must use their cunning to avoid hidden alarms and dangerous traps to recover the stolen money and ring. During their search, they free from a golden cage a noisy, coffee-loving rhesus monkey. They also must outwit the inept Bandito Brothers, a mariachi band of minor-league criminals who idolize the sinister Damien Black.
This second installment in Wendelin Van Draanen’s series --- following VILLAIN’S LAIR --- is a fun-to-read adventure story that should appeal to intermediate-grade readers. “A Guide to Spanish and Stickynese Terms” at the end of the book aids in the understanding of unfamiliar Spanish (and Lizardly) terms and phrases. Plus, Stephen Gilpin's clever and crisp illustrations help readers visualize the story's unique characters and creative setting. The book’s underlying message --- what makes a superhero isn’t the power he possesses but how he uses those powers --- is a positive lesson that will resonate with both parents and teachers.
--- Reviewed by Donna Volkenannt (dvolkenannt@charter.net)
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