Alligators Overhead: The Adventures of Pete and Weasel Book 1

Kirkus

McKenzie pens a swampy middle-grade story full of humor, hauntings, quirky characters and a mystery that continues to develop to the very end.

Twelve-year-old Pete is a small-town kid prone to mischief and trouble. Luckily, his best friend, Weasel, attempts to keep him in line. But when Pete develops a mysterious supernatural power that allows him to make anything he imagines come true, he's in for some trouble that even he finds difficult to handle. Pete's aunt knows a bit more about these powers than Pete; she's convinced he has inherited traits and abilities in witchcraft from his ancestors, something she'd never told him, fearful that he wouldn't comprehend how to harness his powers at such a young age. As Pete develops an understanding of his new talents, he searches for a way to use them wisely, with Weasel acting as a voice of reason and fully committed to staying by his side. While the themes and plot are certainly based in fantasy, the nature of Weasel and Pete's relationship is grounded in reality and will be recognizable to young readers who've begun to understand the importance of compromise, healthy conflict and teamwork. As the two work together to save the day and solve the biggest mystery their town has ever encountered, they also learn about each other and their own powers to make good choices. In its twists, turns and surprises, the novel reads quickly and should keep the attention of any young middle-grade reader. With fresh language, loads of perky dialogue and unpredictable characters such as witches and talking alligators, McKenzie spins a tale that isn't just entertaining; it also offers valuable lessons, as the cast of strange characters bond around common goals: save their swampland and deter a crisis. The folksy diction and lyrical, verb-heavy storytelling will leave readers turning the pages all the way to the end, where big surprises await and the real villains are revealed.

A short, fun story that will excite both young and old imaginations.

By SGFwriter

Alligators Overhead is a book for middle graders, but I am adult (probably twice over). I won a copy of the book and started reading it soon after.

It sucked me right in and I was that age again, right there with Pete and Weasel.They are so true to life. It had me on the edge of my seat most of the way through, especially toward the end. It is a great book to read with your middle graders, or even older.

A fantastic adventure tucked between the pages of this book and I highly recommend it.

What happens when you mix witches and warlocks, a mansion and alligators, mental telepathy and two twelve-year-old boys on a mission? You end up with an adventure, a mystery, a cast of unique characters, and a whole new attitude about alligators, that's what.

By Beverly's Reviews

ALLIGATORS OVERHEAD, Author C. Lee McKenzie's novel for mg/tween readers, takes the reader on a fast paced, never dull journey with Peter Riley and his friend Weasel in their attempts to save the Ornofree Swamp from being destroyed. On the way to achieve their goal, the boys explore a mansion that vanished years ago, but suddenly appears on the vacant lot by Pete's Aunt Lizzie's house. (He came to live with his aunt after his parents died.) They meet witches also on a mission to save the swampland, hunters determined to capture the alligators, and have to right a witch's spell that goes terribly wrong. As Pete and Weasel struggle to solve each problem, confidence in their abilities grows and each boy discovers strengths in himself to carry on, in spite of the danger they face.