The Gecko and Sticky: Villain's Lair - by Wendelin Van Draanen (Paperback)

About the Book

Filled with outrageous adventures, over-the-top characters, and snappy dialogue, this new series featuring a boy and his talking pet gecko is sure to be a hit with young superheroes everywhere. Illustrations.

Book Synopsis

The Gecko & Sticky are a fabulous crime-fighting duo! This quartet of funny adventures will appeal to fans of superheroes both young and old, and would make terrific all-family read-alouds.

Dave Sanchez is an average boy with an after-school job and a pet gecko named Sticky. All very normal--until the day Sticky talks!

Sticky tells Dave a wild tale of a former life of crime, searching for Aztec gold with a treasure hunter named Damien Black, and of a magical Aztec wristband with shiny gold power ingots that will give the wearer super powers. Dave doesn't believe a word--until Sticky shows him the wristband.

But while Sticky managed to escape with the wristband, Damien Black has the power ingots. So the lizard and treasure hunter each have something the other wants . . . very badly.

Filled with wild adventures, larger-than-life characters, and snappy-funny dialogue, The Gecko and Sticky books are perfect for young superheroes everywhere.

Don't miss the other Gecko & Sticky adventures:
1. The Villain's Lair,
2. The Greatest Power,
3. Sinister Substitute, and
4. The Power Potion.

Review Quotes

Praise for the Gecko & Sticky books:

"A dastardly good read. Written with gleeful wit, rapid-fire pacing and snappy dialogue." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Fearsome is rarely this much fun. Van Draanen has a super imagination, to which she never applies the brakes. Readers who enjoy loony adventures will love this ride." -- Children's Literature

"Consistently entertaining . . . reaching a frenetic level of energy and comedy as the story's tension builds." -- Booklist

"Peppered with exaggerated alliteration and the excitable lizard's Spanish-tinged 'Stickynese, ' the wisecracking narrative bounds from one slapstick scenario to another." -- Publishers Weekly

About the Author

WENDELIN VAN DRAANEN spent many years as a teacher before devoting herself to writing full-time. She loves reading, running, writing, and rock 'n roll!

Her books for younger readers include The Gecko & Sticky quartet and The Shredderman quartet. For middle graders check out the Sammy Keyes mysteries and Swear to Howdy. For tweens and teens, look for Flipped, The Running Dream, Confessions of a Serial Kisser, and Runaway.