Official Review: Of the Woods by Dennis Sanchez

Heidi M Simone · Post by **Heidi M Simone** » 10 Apr 2016, 14:48

I read this review way back. However, reading it over today reminded me how funny the book sounds! It looks like the author has a gift to write a children's book that can make adults laugh! Wonderful review!

Congratulations to the author for receiving such a positive review and writing such an entertaining story!

1_2_5_am · Post by **1_2_5_am** » 10 Apr 2016, 17:19

This is such a lovely review! I was quite interested in this to begin with, but your mention of Page 46 hooked me in!!

CLRogers90 · Post by **CLRogers90** » 10 Apr 2016, 17:26

This book sounds adorable. I might have to find a copy for my step-daughter. Thank you for your review!

ChrisKauf · Post by **ChrisKauf** » 10 Apr 2016, 20:08

I enjoyed this book very much. It is a take on Pinocchio, Oz, Sherlock Holmes, and other well known tales that will be familiar to adults for sure, not sure how old young adults need to be to catch some of the more subtle references. A tree is chopped down by Tin Woodman and the pieces end up in the hands of a puppet maker and artist who carves them into the family they tell him they are. Mom and Dad are kidnapped and the mystery begins. Miguel, the carver goes after the kidnappers, the children get together with Private Eyes to help them rescue their parents. It is a comedy if errors at times that will keep you wanting more all the way to the end.

I found it moved along at a very good pace and kept my attention. I basically read it in one sitting; I was anxious to find out what would happen. There are lots of funny scenes and I found myself laughing out loud. New dimensions were added to familiar characters from other stories. We get a glimpse of what happened to Dorothy and friends after she left Oz and how the gifts or lessons they learned are being used. I think this would be a great read for middle school age children and up. As an adult I thoroughly enjoyed the story and all the characters familiar from my younger days.

-- 10 Apr 2016, 20:21 --

OOPs, forgot something. I think page 46 is there to show Toto is a typical dog and not some perfect specimen. It was probably unnecessary but it didn't bother me at all. The typeface that changed, sometimes from paragraph to paragraph, was a bit annoying to me but it didn't take away from the story at all. Just a bothered my old eyes a bit to keep adjusting.

-- 10 Apr 2016, 20:22 --

It is definitely a 4 out of 4 stars book. I gave it a 5 out of 5 on Amazon.