Artemis Fowl

Artemis Fowl. By Eoin Colfer. Hyperion, 2001. 277 pages. Tr. $16.95 ISBN 978-0786808014

Summary: It’s been two years after his multimillionaire father’s disappearance in Greece, and Artemis Fowl II needs to step into his dad’s place and provide for his mother and himself. When searching online he finds a secret book that belongs to the people, a group of mythical, elf-like creatures, and threatens a member of the group to reveal the location of the tome. From here he can access the wealth of this group, but can he succeed without being caught by the police or being attacked by a biological weapon?

Critical Review: Others have compared Colfer’s Artemis Fowl to J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter. I do not see the connection. Artemis II is an evil, vile and selfish little boy. Though he comes to the aid of his insane mother, the moral values on display in Harry Potter are absent here. If you’re looking for Harry Potter readalikes, look to Lemony Snicket, Phillip Pullman, and Brain Jacques.

Genre: Fantasy; Action and Adventure

Reading/Interest Level: 9-12 years 

Awards: Costa Book Awards (NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD) 2001
Galaxy British Book Awards (WON AWARD) 2002
Original Voices Award (NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD) 2002
Nevada Young Reader's Award (NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD) 2003
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award (NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD) 2003
Massachusetts Children's Book Award (WON AWARD) 2003
Bilby (Books I Love Best Yearly) Award (NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD) 2003
Young Reader's Choice Award (WON AWARD) 2004
Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award (NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD) 2004
Iowa Teen Award (NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD) 2005
Nene Award (NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD) 2006
Wyoming Indian Paintbrush Book Award (NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD) 2004
SCASL Book Award (South Carolina) (NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD) 2004
Garden State Teen Book Award (WON AWARD) 2004
Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award (NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD) 2008

Reviews:  Library Journal (2001, June 15); School Library Journal (2001, May 1); Booklist (2001, April 15); Publishers Weekly (2001, April 9); Kirkus Reviews (2001, April 1)

Series: The Artemis Fowl series

Similar Materials: The Following books in the Artemis Fowl series: The Arctic Incident; The Eternity Code; The Opal Deception; The Lost Colony; The Time Paradox; The Atlantis Complex

Subjects/Themes: law and crime, Europe, kidnapping, England, mothers and sons, fairies, fantasy and magic, action and adventure 

Character Names: Artemis Fowl II; Butler; Captain Holly Shorter; Commander Julius Root; Foaly; Mulch Diggums; Briar Cudgeon

Author Website: http://www.eoincolfer.com/

Brief Annotation: A twelve-year-old criminal mastermind locates an Elfish treasure while surfing on the Internet.