Module 8 - Artemis Fowl

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

Summary - Artemis Fowl the Second is an extraordinary 12 year-old boy with extraordinary plans. In the opening book of the Artemis Fowl series, simply titled Artemis Fowl, he plots to capture - and ransom - one of the fairy folk, making real the old tale of catching a leprechaun and getting their pot of gold. When Artemis is actually able to capture LEP Captain Holly Short with the aid of his trusty bodyguard, Butler, he sets off a chain of events that will set man and the fairy folk against each other, test the boundaries of reality, and, quite possibly, save his fractured family and teach the impossibly bright Artemis a few lessons of his own.

Impressions - Artemis Fowl is a mix of an adventure story and a coming of age story. It gives children a fun and fantastical look into the world of fairies - and the similarities and differences they have with mankind, or as they call us, the Mud People. Additionally, it shows the journey of a young boy in a broken family and the impossible lengths he will go to to try to put it back together. Artemis' gruff demeanor and incredible intellect make him a less than sympathetic character most of the time, but the flashes of insecurity and pain shown throughout the text remind the reader that he is also a lonely, and scared, young boy. CAPT Holly Short, the fairy Artemis is able to capture, is a more realistic personality, even if she is a fairy, and her battle to be the first successful female RECON officer is an interesting and educational plotline for children - although very young readers may miss some of the undercurrents involved. There is plenty of 'action and adventure' and descriptions of fantastic technology in this book which will keep children of all ages engaged and eager for more, although the characters are a bit more esoteric and less identifiable than in some other children's books/series, so some children may lose interest if they don't feel a connection to them. Overall, this book is a fun read which has more heart than other adventure books, but its focus on the wild and wonderful - and its increasingly detailed descriptions of strange technologies - distracts the reader from coming to a real empathy with Artemis and fully investing in either him or his plans. The throw away reunion at the end is an attempt to bring the story back to its heart, but it is short-shrifted in the attempt to set Artemis up for further adventures.

Reviews - In his Entertainment Weekly review (1), Daniel Fierman calls Artemis a "criminal mastermind" and describes the last half of the book as a "Die Hard-style stand off" (which he asserts, correctly, detracts from the initial, more emotional and realistic, section). Both of these descriptors stand out to the reader as phrasing that Artemis himself would approve of and gives a good impression of what the reader will take away most from the text. Speaking to the pervasiveness of the overwhelming children's series of the modern age, Fierman compares this series opener to Harry Potter..., and asserts that the comparison does not allow Artemis Fowl to shine (it is "good" rather than "great"). He concludes by pointing out that the focus of this book is more "high-tech babble and raw exposition" which will appeal to less sophisticated readers and those who demand fast paced fiction, but leave less of a lasting impression on those seeking the depth of Potter-esque world.

Use - Artemis Fowl should be used as an introductory book/series for children who seem bored by other fiction. Any child who has shown an interest in fantasy or adventure novels will, most likely, be interested in the story and some will especially be drawn by the fairy characters and descriptions and the fast-paced text. Mid- to late-elementary school children or young middle schoolers should be invited to read this book, and the accompanying series, but some children will find it more interesting than others, and it may be too complicated of a plot covered in too simple of text for a teacher to choose to assign. It is the type of book where some readers will be drawn in and have a new series to read and world to explore, and others will dismiss it or end their Artemis journey with the first adventure. Either way, Artemis will continue to plot daring deeds and incite the wrath of the fairy world.

(1) Fierman, D. (2001, July 20). Artemis Fowl (Book Review). Entertainment Weekly, (605), 62.