Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Exciting, immersive kickoff to new fantasy series.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
THE EXTRAORDINARY DISAPPOINTMENTS OF LEOPOLD BERRY are mostly thanks to his utter averageness. Pretty much right down the line, Leopold, or Larry as most people call him, does not stand out in any way. And his "life success coach" father never misses a chance to make sure Larry knows that he's not measuring up to expectations. Since his mother's death five years ago, Larry has coped with her loss by immersing himself in Sunderworld, a fantasy realm from an old TV show Larry found videocassettes of after she passed away. But when he starts seeing strange phenomena around Los Angeles, he starts to wonder if there's more to that old show than he thought. And when Larry and best friend Emmet actually cross over into Sunderworld, he finds out the hard way that there is indeed so much more out there.
Is It Any Good?
This is an intriguing, exciting fantasy series start that fans of Ransom Riggs' popular Miss Peregrine series will enjoy, and it has a lot to offer newcomers, too. Characters are believable and colorful. Leopold is a bit of an antihero at first, but as the series continues, there's plenty of room for growth. Riggs skillfully builds a world that's a blend of modern and vintage LA with a bizarrely fascinating fantasy world. Tension and suspense build nicely and keep the pages turning. The ending is satisfying while raising more questions than it answers, so fans will be eager for the next installment.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in The Extraordinary Disappointments of Leopold Berry. Is it too much? Does it make a difference if it's in the fantasy realm or the real world? Is reading about it different from seeing it in games, videos, and other media?
What about the strong language? Is it a big deal? Is it realistic, and does that matter?
How does Isabel show compassion for others? What kind of effect does that have on Leopold?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Dutton Books
- Publication date : August 27, 2024
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 17
- Number of pages : 336
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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