Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

Title: Artemis Fowl

Author: Eoin Colfer

First Published: 2001

No. of Pages: 279

Synopsis (from B&N): "Artemis Fowl is a one of the greatest criminal minds the world has ever seen. He is heir to the Fowl family empire—a centuries old clan of international underworld figures and con artists. He is arguably the most cunning Fowl of all. He is also twelve years old.

Artemis' interest in mythology and an obsession with the Internet leads him to discover proof of the existence of "The People"- otherwise known as fairies, sprites, leprechauns and trolls. He learns every fairy has a magical Book. If he can find the Book, it will lead him to "The People's" vast treasure of gold.

With his brutish sidekick, Butler, he sets his plans in motion. Artemis tricks a drunken old fairy woman into loaning him her Book, a tiny golden volume, for thirty minutes. He scans it with a digital camera and emails it to his Mac G6 computer. Back in his mansion in Ireland, he is the first human to decode the secrets of the fairies.

Artemis needs a leprechaun to help him with this plan. He and Butler hunt down Holly Short, a tough, female LEPrecon, part of a gung-ho Fairy commando unit, who is on a reconnaissance mission. He kidnaps her, and a major battle begins. It's satyr against gnome, man against elf, and for the first time in his life, Artemis must decide what he values most."

Fiction or Nonfiction: Fiction

Comments and Critique: This is one of my son's favorite books and he has been encouraging (nagging) me to read it for months. I'm very glad I took his advice. I found this book delightful. It's imaginative and funny; there isn't a single character that you truly dislike; and it's never boring. I chose to listen to the audiobook version, which added to my enjoyment, as the reader did a wonderful job and even included various appropriate accents for the characters. I can see why this book was such a hit with kids, but I can safely say that this adult enjoyed it as much. I can't wait to read the next one.

Challenges: 999 ("Dewey's Books"); Dewey's Books Challenge; Orbis Terrarum 2 (Ireland)