Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Lively nod to Willy Wonka rewards teamwork, empathy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
MR. LEMONCELLO AND THE TITANIUM TICKET finds the banana-shoed game genius opening his top-secret game factory to an elite team of kid contestants. Oh, and also Simon Skrinkle, who's never played a game in his life and has been zealously shielded from all things Lemoncello by his grandfather, who blames the brilliant eccentric for the deaths of Simon's parents. He's the most invisible kid ever, and pretty much likes it that way. But when classmate Soraiya befriends him, admires his puzzle-solving skills, and goes to great lengths to make sure he's in the competition, things are about to change. Especially once Kyle, Akimi, and other characters from the previous Lemoncello tales get involved.
Is It Any Good?
This series installment has wildly imaginative fun throughout, friendships forged, puzzles solved, bullies foiled, and plots twisted in a frenzied (but strategic) race for the best prize ever. Inspired rather than intimidated by Roald Dahl's classic Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Mr. Lemoncello and the Titanium Ticket takes the contest and factory tour to entirely new places, and it's a fun, satisfying, brain-teasing ride.
"'Are you really certain you wish to go through with this, sir?' said Dr. Zinchenko. 'The titanium ticket seems so dramatic. So Willy Wonka-ish. So Ready Player One.'
"'As it should, Yanina. Are our Ohio friends in the air?'
"'Yes, sir. The banana jet left Alexandriaville an hour ago. Kyle, Akimi, Andrew and Haley are on their way.'
"'Wondermous.'"
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the contest in Mr. Lemoncello and the Titanium Ticket. If you've read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or seen the Willy Wonka movie, how do you think this book compares with the story that inspired it?
Have the books in the Mr. Lemoncello's Library series changed the way you think about libraries and what you might find there?
If you could pick any of the Lemoncello kid characters as your gaming teammate, who would you pick? Why?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Friendship
- Topics : Friendship , School ( Middle School )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Random House Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : August 25, 2020
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 288
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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