Molly Moon Stops the World (Molly Moon Books (Hardcover))

Amazon.com
The irrepressibly plucky Molly Moon returns for a sequel and discovers a super-power more amazing than hypnosis in this even-better follow-up to Georgia Byng's best-selling debut, Molly Moon's Incredible Book of Hypnotism.

Molly Moon Stops the World begins with our 11-year-old heroine back at the newly-improved (thanks to Molly's mind-control powers) orphanage in Brierville. A disturbing meeting with Lucy Logan (Molly's guardian librarian from the last book) changes everything--Molly must stop a megalomaniac master hypnotist named Primo Cell from taking over the world.

Many elaborate setups and silly reversals of fortune ensue, as Molly and Rocky hunt the villainous Cell. The duo discovers that things are even more dire than expected (could this evil genius really be running for President?), and Molly soon stumbles onto her even-more amazing ability: She can stop time.

It's hard to resist the obvious fun that Byng's having here, as the story takes countless twists amidst frantic, page-turning action (older kids will especially enjoy the many wry nods at celebrities and advertising). Molly fans get an extra treat in the book's white-knuckle conclusion: Molly finally learns how she ended up at the orphanage...and the true identity of her parents. (Ages 9 to 12) --Paul Hughes


From School Library Journal
Grade 4-6-A lighthearted sequel to Molly Moon's Incredible Book of Hypnotism (HarperCollins, 2003). In this adventure, Molly discovers from her mentor Lucy Logan that a man named Primo Cell is trying to take over the world and that she is the only one who can stop him. The girl goes to California, gets into the Academy Awards, swanky Hollywood parties, and more, all in an effort to discover how to stop Cell. She finds out that he has mastered the art of casting permanent hypnotic spells and must find out how to break them before he becomes president of the U.S. Readers are likely to enjoy this fun fantasy; as long as they don't delve too deeply, they won't notice the contrivances and the many holes in the story. This title will appeal to fans of the first story and may garner a few new ones-if they are willing to turn off their reality buttons.Saleena L. Davidson, South Brunswick Public Library, Monmouth Junction, NJCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.


From AudioFile
As Georgia Byng opens the curtain on her second Molly Moon adventure, Molly is back at the orphanage, now known as Happiness House, thanks to Molly's efforts as told in MOLLY MOON'S INCREDIBLE BOOK OF HYPNOTISM. This time she wrestles with a recurring desire to find out about her parents and to use her hypnotic powers in spite of her promise to the contrary. In a whirl of transatlantic travel and another newly awakened power, Molly and company have myriad opportunities for adventure. Clare Higgins delights in the show. As Molly tries to stop a master hypnotist from taking over the world, Higgins shares Molly's agonies and shepherds the reader through anxious moments. Will this be a trilogy? The stage has been set! A.R. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine


From Booklist
Gr. 5-8. Molly Moon (Molly Moon's Incredible Book of Hypnotism, 2003) is back, and Byng has outdone herself. This time Molly, Rocky, and the rest of the orphanage gang are off to Los Angeles, where Molly must foil Primo Cell, a brilliant, power-mad, billionaire hypnotist, who may have kidnapped Davina Nuttel and possibly hypnotized half of Hollywood and most of the important people in America. But that's not all. Can Molly learn to control her mysterious new ability to stop time? Molly is irresistible: a skinny, 11-year-old mastermind with wild hair, who eats ketchup sandwiches, defeats seemingly invincible adults with her amazing abilities, yet yearns for a family. Plot twists abound, characters aren't who they seem to be, and danger escalates at a breakneck pace. The action is nonstop, but kids who need to care about characters will find this to be more than just roaring good sf; it's a feel-good story that will leave them hungry for more about a winning kid who learns to be comfortable in her own skin. Chris Sherman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Book Description

Stop!

You are about to embark on an incredible journey to Hollywood with the dazzling young hypnotist Molly Moon.

But be warned: this trip is very dangerous, evil lurks on every page.

FROM OUR EDITORS

The Barnes & Noble Review
Georgia Byng's mind-bending heroine makes a California-bound comeback, this time heading to L.A. to stop a power-hungry businessman from hypnotizing his way into the presidency of the United States.

When Molly learns that Lucy Logan has a dangerous job for her -- stop multibillionaire (and ultra-strong hypnotist) Primo Cell in his tracks -- the orphan thinks this task might be more than she can handle. Thankfully, she has Rocky and other characters along for the trip, and Molly soon finds herself hobnobbing with Hollywood stars. But Molly learns that Primo has the power of permanent hypnotism that can only be broken by a secret password -- how can she reverse his effects? Molly discovers a startling surprise -- she has time-stopping powers of her own -- and after Primo's son saves them from near death, she finds out that her problems have only just begun.

Glittering with even more action and adventure than Byng's first book, Molly Moon's Incredible Book of Hypnotism, this sequel will have readers starry-eyed for more. Plot-twisting turns of events keep coming throughout, and with all of Molly's personal revelations, fans will feel like their world has stopped, too, until the last page. Shana Taylor

ANNOTATION

Believing that she has been sent to Los Angeles by her librarian friend, Lucy Logan, to stop an evil plot by the wealthy Primo Cell, Molly Moon and her friend Roger, orphans with unusual hypnotic powers, find themselves in danger from an unsuspected source.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Spunky heroine Molly Moon is back -- and this time she is hypnotizing her way to the Academy Awards in Los Angeles. When Davina Nuttel, star of Broadway's Stars on Mars, suddenly disappears, Molly finds herself in the middle of a dangerous investigation. Accompanied by Rocky and Petula the Pig, she flies to Los Angeles to trak the sinister activities of American billionaire Primo Cell, who wants to become president and take over the world. Molly is the only one who can stop him....

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

"The author offers more hypnotic high jinks in this sequel to Molly Moon's Incredible Book of Hypnotism," according to PW. "This time, Molly travels to Los Angeles to stop a powerful hypnotist businessman who is trying to take over Hollywood-and then the world." Ages 8-12. (Apr.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Children's Literature - Quinby Frank

Spunky heroine Molly Moon is back in this exciting sequel to Molly Moon's Incredible Book of Hypnotism. Now Molly and her best friend, Rocky, must outwit the evil hypnotist Primo Cell who is trying to take over the world. Orphan Molly has gained control of her earlier miserable life at the orphanage by means of her special hypnotic powers, and she has rescued her fellow orphans as well. Now arch villain Cell must be stopped. Peopled with wonderfully quirky stock characters like Forest, an aging hippie Yogic mediator; kindly, daft old Mrs. Twinkleberry who is obsessed with movie stars; Roger who communes with trees; and Petula the pug who takes herself to the dog beauty salon, the book reels from one madcap calamity to another. Byng's creative use of hypnotism as a device to move the plot along allows for wildly improbable scenarios and a great deal of humor. Although the book is long, the generous use of white space in the format makes for easy reading. A wickedly clever magpie-like guillotine almost finishes off our heroes, but, of course, good triumphs as Molly uses a Medusa-like trick to defeat her supposed enemy and bring events to a satisfyingly chaotic conclusion. Despite some awkward writing and an occasional bizarre metaphor, Molly Moon will delight fans of the Lemony Snicket series as well as devotees of Dido Twite in The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken. An entertaining romp. 2003, HarperCollins, and Ages 8 to 12.

School Library Journal

Gr 4-6-A lighthearted sequel to Molly Moon's Incredible Book of Hypnotism (HarperCollins, 2003). In this adventure, Molly discovers from her mentor Lucy Logan that a man named Primo Cell is trying to take over the world and that she is the only one who can stop him. The girl goes to California, gets into the Academy Awards, swanky Hollywood parties, and more, all in an effort to discover how to stop Cell. She finds out that he has mastered the art of casting permanent hypnotic spells and must find out how to break them before he becomes president of the U.S. Readers are likely to enjoy this fun fantasy; as long as they don't delve too deeply, they won't notice the contrivances and the many holes in the story. This title will appeal to fans of the first story and may garner a few new ones-if they are willing to turn off their reality buttons.-Saleena L. Davidson, South Brunswick Public Library, Monmouth Junction, NJ Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

AudioFile

As Georgia Byng opens the curtain on her second Molly Moon adventure, Molly is back at the orphanage, now known as Happiness House, thanks to Molly's efforts as told in MOLLY MOON'S INCREDIBLE BOOK OF HYPNOTISM. This time she wrestles with a recurring desire to find out about her parents and to use her hypnotic powers in spite of her promise to the contrary. In a whirl of transatlantic travel and another newly awakened power, Molly and company have myriad opportunities for adventure. Clare Higgins delights in the show. As Molly tries to stop a master hypnotist from taking over the world, Higgins shares Molly's agonies and shepherds the reader through anxious moments. Will this be a trilogy? The stage has been set! A.R. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine

Kirkus Reviews