I was at an independent bookstore when my friend had $100 certificate to spend so I picked this out for my sons. It sounded funny enough and I liked that the protagonist was a girl which has been hard to find in the midst female classmates wanting to be Harry Potter and so many stories being split into the male / female stereotypes. We had just finished the Narnia series which, especially for its day, gave nearly as much credit to the strength of the female characters as the male. Overall, the book has incredibly funny moments filled with irony and a style reminiscent for me of Douglas Adams. There are some rather dry times and times that are a little creepy. I wish the Daughters of the Founding Fathers Society had been played up more as you move through the novel, but all in all my 5 year and 8 year love the books and specifically have two chapters I've read to their friends several times: the police interrogation and the act of arson. They also can't get enough of Jack.
We have two chapters left and so far (to my count) there have been 6 deaths including 4 of innocent victims... including an uncle and others Alex meets on the way. A bit heavy for the book which gives it an odd cast to it.
Also is the fact that Alex doesn't make it to the ship "The Ironic Gentleman" until (I'd guess) the last 4 or 5 chapters out of thirty-some. In that way, it is a bit tedious as she runs into problem after problem trying to reach the ship, but never getting there.
All in all, though, these are minor gripes and I'm looking forward to reading the follow on book to my boys and have gotten extra copies for my nephews & my boys' friends.

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