The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel -- Michael Scott

I tried and tried and tried and tried and tried and TRIED (for two weeks!), but I could NOT get into this book.  I made it to page 83.

I found it very irritating that the narrator told me over and over again this adventure was going to CHANGE Sophie and Josh's lives FOREVER.  Also, their parents are archaeologists.  Want to know how I know?  I know because it was mentioned at least four times in 83 pages. 

Three times too many.

Anyway.  Those are certainly things that probably wouldn't bother some people (and didn't, judging by the majority of the Amazon reviews), and wouldn't necessarily stop me in other circumstances, but combined with my lack of interest in the characters... Yeah.  Not for me.

Luckily for some fan of The Alchemyst, I happen to have a copy of the sequel, so I'll be giving it away soon...