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Dr. Fell and the Playground of Doom
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Middle Grade & Children's (2016)“Such deliciously creepy fun! I fell in love with Dr. Fell!” —Chris Grabenstein, New York Times bestselling author of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library
When the mysterious Dr. Fell moves into the abandoned house that had once been the neighborhood kids’ hangout, he immediately builds a playground to win them over. But as the ever-changing play space becomes bigger and more elaborate, the children and their parents fall deeper under the doctor’s spell.
Only Jerry, Nancy, and Gail are immune to the lure of his extravagant wonderland. And they alone notice that when the injuries begin to pile up on the jungle gym, somehow Dr. Fell is able to heal each one with miraculous speed. Now the three children must find a way to uncover the doctor’s secret power without being captivated by his trickery.
"Deliciously dark, funny, and foreboding, Neilsen’s first novel delivers with broad appeal." — Booklist
"Recommended for school libraries that need to breathe life into their traditional mystery collections." — School Library Journal
From the Hardcover edition.
When the mysterious Dr. Fell moves into the abandoned house that had once been the neighborhood kids’ hangout, he immediately builds a playground to win them over. But as the ever-changing play space becomes bigger and more elaborate, the children and their parents fall deeper under the doctor’s spell.
Only Jerry, Nancy, and Gail are immune to the lure of his extravagant wonderland. And they alone notice that when the injuries begin to pile up on the jungle gym, somehow Dr. Fell is able to heal each one with miraculous speed. Now the three children must find a way to uncover the doctor’s secret power without being captivated by his trickery.
"Deliciously dark, funny, and foreboding, Neilsen’s first novel delivers with broad appeal." — Booklist
"Recommended for school libraries that need to breathe life into their traditional mystery collections." — School Library Journal
From the Hardcover edition.
240 pages, Library Binding
First published August 9, 2016
15 people are currently reading
1228 people want to read
About the author
David Neilsen
27 books34 followersDavid Neilsen is a classically trained actor and professional storyteller from Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow who has performed all over New York City, Westchester County, and the Hudson Valley. Specializing in traumatizing children for life during the Halloween season, he has performed in such locations as the New York Botanical Gardens, Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, and Washington Irving’s Sunnyside in addition to warping minds at various schools and birthday parties. He has also created a number of one-man shows based on the works of author H.P. Lovecraft, as well as an educational show based on the life of Revolution-era British Spy, Major John Andre.
His debut Middle Grade novel, Doctor Fell and the Playground of Doom--published by Crown Books for Young Readrs in 2016--was named an Editor’s Pick by Amazon and was a Semifinalist for Best Middle Grade / Chidlren’s Book in the 2016 Goodreads Choice Awards. His second book, Beyond the Doors, will be published in August, 2017.
Learn more about David on his website. https://david-neilsen.com/
His debut Middle Grade novel, Doctor Fell and the Playground of Doom--published by Crown Books for Young Readrs in 2016--was named an Editor’s Pick by Amazon and was a Semifinalist for Best Middle Grade / Chidlren’s Book in the 2016 Goodreads Choice Awards. His second book, Beyond the Doors, will be published in August, 2017.
Learn more about David on his website. https://david-neilsen.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
March 2, 2017
Also posted on my blog Got My Book.
Real Rating = 3.5
A mysteriously creepy MG Fantasy
Source: I received this book for free from the author. My opinions are my own.
BOOK DETAILS:
Dr. Fell and the Playground of Doom by David Neilsen, read by the author, published by Listening Library (2016) / Length: 5hrs 23min
SUMMARY:
I think the scariest part of this book is how alone these children are in their efforts to figure out what is happening. It is a common theme in MG & YA books that the adults are somehow not there (or the kid's fail to consult them). In this book they are there, but (for reasons I won't reveal) are of no help whatsoever. That seems worse to me somehow.
CHARACTERS:
The main characters are Nancy, her best friend Gwen & Gwen's younger brother Jerry. Nancy lives with her divorced mother (with whom she has a strained relationship), and she has a habit of calling Jerry names & treating him less than kindly. Gwen is nice, but not as strong or forceful. And Jerry is a thinker. The three have to learn to work together.
The antagonist, Dr. Fell, is beyond creepy.
WORLDBUILDING:
For the most part, the book takes place in a typical suburban neighborhood. However scary, most likely magical things appear to be taking place.
PLOT:
Just like the Playground from the title, the mystery at the center of the book starts small and continues to grow. There are some great action scenes at the end (which may be a bit much for young children and those with intense arachnophobia). The book has a satisfactory ending with some good character growth, but there remains the possibility of a sequel.
HIGHLIGHTS:
--The solution (accidentally discovered) to Gwen's problem
--Old Lady Witherton, watch out if she gets bothered
NARRATION:
My experiences with author narrated audiobooks have been mixed. Thankfully Mr. Neilsen has a very nice voice that I quite enjoyed. Those who prefer to have character voices which match the age & gender of the characters need to know that his voice is quite deep, and therefore never sounds young or feminine. He did a good job of portraying character & emotion though.
Real Rating = 3.5
A mysteriously creepy MG Fantasy
Source: I received this book for free from the author. My opinions are my own.
BOOK DETAILS:
Dr. Fell and the Playground of Doom by David Neilsen, read by the author, published by Listening Library (2016) / Length: 5hrs 23min
SUMMARY:
I think the scariest part of this book is how alone these children are in their efforts to figure out what is happening. It is a common theme in MG & YA books that the adults are somehow not there (or the kid's fail to consult them). In this book they are there, but (for reasons I won't reveal) are of no help whatsoever. That seems worse to me somehow.
CHARACTERS:
The main characters are Nancy, her best friend Gwen & Gwen's younger brother Jerry. Nancy lives with her divorced mother (with whom she has a strained relationship), and she has a habit of calling Jerry names & treating him less than kindly. Gwen is nice, but not as strong or forceful. And Jerry is a thinker. The three have to learn to work together.
The antagonist, Dr. Fell, is beyond creepy.
WORLDBUILDING:
For the most part, the book takes place in a typical suburban neighborhood. However scary, most likely magical things appear to be taking place.
PLOT:
Just like the Playground from the title, the mystery at the center of the book starts small and continues to grow. There are some great action scenes at the end (which may be a bit much for young children and those with intense arachnophobia). The book has a satisfactory ending with some good character growth, but there remains the possibility of a sequel.
HIGHLIGHTS:
--The solution (accidentally discovered) to Gwen's problem
--Old Lady Witherton, watch out if she gets bothered
NARRATION:
My experiences with author narrated audiobooks have been mixed. Thankfully Mr. Neilsen has a very nice voice that I quite enjoyed. Those who prefer to have character voices which match the age & gender of the characters need to know that his voice is quite deep, and therefore never sounds young or feminine. He did a good job of portraying character & emotion though.
looks-interesting-maybe-read
March 30, 2017Physical copy $5.61, e-book $10.99.
That's just NUTS! What is the publisher thinking?
That's just NUTS! What is the publisher thinking?
July 8, 2017
So much fun creepy goodness!
My first thoughts after I began reading was that of the Pied-Piper luring innocent children from their normal lives with promises of fun and excitement in his playground. Or even Pinocchio, when he was tricked to journey to a faraway land only to be turned into a donkey. But there is so much more here!
There's normal parents and snooty-nosed parents, and hyper kids and mischievous kids. We find typical friendships between school-aged kids, regular chores and school work, and the average interaction between parents and child. And - of course - there has to be a spooky abandoned house that suddenly isn't abandoned anymore. I don't blame the neighborhood for being a bit miffed at first notice the house was occupied. After all, it was the kiddos' neighborhood hangout, the place where they battled invisible dragons and ran gauntlet races in some imaginary fairy tale land. But when the ornery attitudes of some parents and kids soften, turning to almost adoration, after Dr. Fell erects his playground the fun really begins.
This was an absolute pleasure to read! The story brims with energy, mystery, and all sorts of spookiness! And this girl loves the spook, creep, and kind-of-sort-of not really normal folk. Just look at Dr. Fell. He has a sinister feel to him with that purple top hat he always wears. He's got this calm and gentle demeanor, which totally red flags the reader. And the funny thing about it is that it's all part of the eerie lure to keep reading. It's a cleverly written and engaging tale for readers young and old! Streets and character names, and visual descriptions set this unique world apart. A playground, a mysterious doctor, and awe between the pages...who could ask for more?
My first thoughts after I began reading was that of the Pied-Piper luring innocent children from their normal lives with promises of fun and excitement in his playground. Or even Pinocchio, when he was tricked to journey to a faraway land only to be turned into a donkey. But there is so much more here!
There's normal parents and snooty-nosed parents, and hyper kids and mischievous kids. We find typical friendships between school-aged kids, regular chores and school work, and the average interaction between parents and child. And - of course - there has to be a spooky abandoned house that suddenly isn't abandoned anymore. I don't blame the neighborhood for being a bit miffed at first notice the house was occupied. After all, it was the kiddos' neighborhood hangout, the place where they battled invisible dragons and ran gauntlet races in some imaginary fairy tale land. But when the ornery attitudes of some parents and kids soften, turning to almost adoration, after Dr. Fell erects his playground the fun really begins.
This was an absolute pleasure to read! The story brims with energy, mystery, and all sorts of spookiness! And this girl loves the spook, creep, and kind-of-sort-of not really normal folk. Just look at Dr. Fell. He has a sinister feel to him with that purple top hat he always wears. He's got this calm and gentle demeanor, which totally red flags the reader. And the funny thing about it is that it's all part of the eerie lure to keep reading. It's a cleverly written and engaging tale for readers young and old! Streets and character names, and visual descriptions set this unique world apart. A playground, a mysterious doctor, and awe between the pages...who could ask for more?
April 20, 2019
A book which both has the classic charm of Roald Dahl's darker stories and feels like a new, modern folk tale all of its own. My favorite aspects of DR. FELL AND THE PLAYGROUND OF DOOM are 1. that it had just the right amount of scares to thrill children (and grownups such as I) and 2. a terrific villain.
Sometimes horror stories do not deliver on their promise to frighten readers or—worse—go too far with gore, but this one hits the perfect sweet spot: genuinely scary and suspenseful, as we breathlessly follow the 3 young protagonists in their battle against a FANTASTIC, original villain, the equally charistmatic and evil Dr. Fell, with a touch of humor. The writing is always on key, vividly conveying the personalities of the young children, and the mellifluous, verbose manners of the creepy doctor. I'm now greatly looking forward to reading David Neilsen's follow-up.
What I mean to say is… a masterfully scary debut novel.
Sometimes horror stories do not deliver on their promise to frighten readers or—worse—go too far with gore, but this one hits the perfect sweet spot: genuinely scary and suspenseful, as we breathlessly follow the 3 young protagonists in their battle against a FANTASTIC, original villain, the equally charistmatic and evil Dr. Fell, with a touch of humor. The writing is always on key, vividly conveying the personalities of the young children, and the mellifluous, verbose manners of the creepy doctor. I'm now greatly looking forward to reading David Neilsen's follow-up.
What I mean to say is… a masterfully scary debut novel.
August 13, 2016
So... I'm actually going to kick-off this review with a bit of an apology to David. He asked me awhile back if I was interested in reading the book - I absolutely was - but a few subsequent fires with the day job meant that I never had a chance to get back to him.
(So sorry about that, David! I was genuinely interested!)
With that being said, I knew I had access to the e-galley, so I charged ahead with reading the book. And guys, let me just say: you know how I always appreciate books with sly humor and great characters? This is one of those books.
Things that worked:
Characterizations:
While I know the book's promo materials compare Neilsen to a younger version of Lovecraft, I actually think that a more apt comparison would be to Lemony Snicket and Heidi Schulz.
From the start, Neilsen's characters come to life with the sly, sarcastic humor and droll dialogue that can be readily appreciated by readers both young and old. Younger readers will love the tweens who tartly stand up to Dr. Fell for taking away their playhouse, while older readers will most definitely chuckle at the nosy neighbors who wildly speculate on the contents of what Dr. Fell is bringing into his new home.
Neighbor in the book: "He works for a foreign government, and those crates are filled with stolen zoo animals!"
Me: HAH! (They totally sound like MY neighbors!)
The writing:
Ok. I feel like I've hit a point where I'm just throwing out the names of well-regarded authors at this point, but guys: Neilsen's writing really IS that good.
Not only is his writing darkly humorous like Daniel Handler/Lemony Snicket, but it's also wryly humorous by like Douglas Adams. Neilsen has a knack for stringing together visual imagery that will get readers laughing and thinking, e.g. "The playground of Dr. Fell was covered with a thin layer of children at all times",
(Is that not the best sentence?)
The book is filled with imagery like that, which will absolutely get younger readers to seek out the older readers in their lives, to compare their favorite lines.
Plotting/pacing:
While I had a pretty good idea where the story was going, Neilsen does an admirable job of keeping up the tension and upping the stakes. There's subtle humor and horror, that actually made me think quite a bit of R.L. Stine. It's a zippy way to pace the story, and had me frantically tapping at the phone to figure out what would happen next.
Though the book ended exactly how I thought it would end, it was absolutely worth the journey.
And finally...
The ending:
Is pitch-perfect. Read it. You'll see.
Things that didn't work/Things to consider:
My one minor complaint with the book actually has nothing to do with the overall story.
Instead, it's this: the cover doesn't work. There's a richness to Neilsen's writing that simply isn't conveyed by the cover. In fact, my first impression when seeing the cover was: "Well...I guess?" And then thought to myself that the cover looked a bit MS paint-happy.
So while I know that cover redesigns aren't common for MG, I strongly urge Random House to consider it in this case. You have a winner on your hands with this book, and it deserves a cover that will appeal to readers across the board.
Final verdict:
David Neilsen's debut novel shows a promising new talent emerging in the middle grade field. Dr. Fell's (mis)adventures will capture the imaginations of readers young and old, and keep readers hoping for more
Highly recommend, full stop.
(So sorry about that, David! I was genuinely interested!)
With that being said, I knew I had access to the e-galley, so I charged ahead with reading the book. And guys, let me just say: you know how I always appreciate books with sly humor and great characters? This is one of those books.
Things that worked:
Characterizations:
While I know the book's promo materials compare Neilsen to a younger version of Lovecraft, I actually think that a more apt comparison would be to Lemony Snicket and Heidi Schulz.
From the start, Neilsen's characters come to life with the sly, sarcastic humor and droll dialogue that can be readily appreciated by readers both young and old. Younger readers will love the tweens who tartly stand up to Dr. Fell for taking away their playhouse, while older readers will most definitely chuckle at the nosy neighbors who wildly speculate on the contents of what Dr. Fell is bringing into his new home.
Neighbor in the book: "He works for a foreign government, and those crates are filled with stolen zoo animals!"
Me: HAH! (They totally sound like MY neighbors!)
The writing:
Ok. I feel like I've hit a point where I'm just throwing out the names of well-regarded authors at this point, but guys: Neilsen's writing really IS that good.
Not only is his writing darkly humorous like Daniel Handler/Lemony Snicket, but it's also wryly humorous by like Douglas Adams. Neilsen has a knack for stringing together visual imagery that will get readers laughing and thinking, e.g. "The playground of Dr. Fell was covered with a thin layer of children at all times",
(Is that not the best sentence?)
The book is filled with imagery like that, which will absolutely get younger readers to seek out the older readers in their lives, to compare their favorite lines.
Plotting/pacing:
While I had a pretty good idea where the story was going, Neilsen does an admirable job of keeping up the tension and upping the stakes. There's subtle humor and horror, that actually made me think quite a bit of R.L. Stine. It's a zippy way to pace the story, and had me frantically tapping at the phone to figure out what would happen next.
Though the book ended exactly how I thought it would end, it was absolutely worth the journey.
And finally...
The ending:
Is pitch-perfect. Read it. You'll see.
Things that didn't work/Things to consider:
My one minor complaint with the book actually has nothing to do with the overall story.
Instead, it's this: the cover doesn't work. There's a richness to Neilsen's writing that simply isn't conveyed by the cover. In fact, my first impression when seeing the cover was: "Well...I guess?" And then thought to myself that the cover looked a bit MS paint-happy.
So while I know that cover redesigns aren't common for MG, I strongly urge Random House to consider it in this case. You have a winner on your hands with this book, and it deserves a cover that will appeal to readers across the board.
Final verdict:
David Neilsen's debut novel shows a promising new talent emerging in the middle grade field. Dr. Fell's (mis)adventures will capture the imaginations of readers young and old, and keep readers hoping for more
Highly recommend, full stop.
April 28, 2017
A very good book for the young people. Dr. fell and the Playground of Doom, by David Neilsen. Where did he come from, why is he dressed so different? There is a vacant old broken house in the neighbourhood where the children had played for years. One day it was sold and Dr. Fell moved in. The children were upset that someone bought it. Where would they play? They met Dr. Fell and told him that they were upset and he promised them that he would make a place for them on his property.
Soon moving trucks came and boxes and boxes of stuff was unloaded. On the way to school next day the children found a most magnificent, magical place on the lawn of Dr. Fell. Soon that yard was filled with children playing on this structure. Why, how, could this be here overnight. Three of the children thought something was odd. Strange things began to happen and these three kept thinking about it.
Eventually the children found out what it was and why Dr. Fell began to look younger.
This is a book most young people would like to read, it is full of mystery and adventure all taking place on the property owned by Dr. Fell.
Soon moving trucks came and boxes and boxes of stuff was unloaded. On the way to school next day the children found a most magnificent, magical place on the lawn of Dr. Fell. Soon that yard was filled with children playing on this structure. Why, how, could this be here overnight. Three of the children thought something was odd. Strange things began to happen and these three kept thinking about it.
Eventually the children found out what it was and why Dr. Fell began to look younger.
This is a book most young people would like to read, it is full of mystery and adventure all taking place on the property owned by Dr. Fell.
November 10, 2021
I have to say, I didn't want this book to end. I took my sweet time reading this because the story was a lot of fun. Even the characters were really awesome. Especially when it came to Dr. Fell and Jerry. It would be cool to have book two. I need more Dr. Fell 🙃 I recommend this book to be read to children, even for yourself. It's a fun adventure to take on free time. 🎩
March 22, 2017
Received for free for a review:
All in all, I’m giving it 4 out of 5 stars. It’s a quick read (for a grown- ass woman) that is fun and interesting. I will recommend it to 10 year olds and up (and the odd jaded 8 year old) that enjoys a bit of spook with their adventure story.
http://bookedupandbossy.blogspot.com/...
All in all, I’m giving it 4 out of 5 stars. It’s a quick read (for a grown- ass woman) that is fun and interesting. I will recommend it to 10 year olds and up (and the odd jaded 8 year old) that enjoys a bit of spook with their adventure story.
http://bookedupandbossy.blogspot.com/...
August 16, 2016
Dr. Fell and the Playground of Doom was an interesting and slightly creepy read.
On Hardscrabble Street there sits a house that has been abandoned for a long time. It was used by the neighboring kids as a place to play and use their imagination. Then one day out of the blue an old man buys the house.
When he meets Gail, Nancy and Jerry he finds out that all the kids use to use that place as a playground and before you know it there is a huge playground outside for kids to play on. Play on they did and at all hours of the night and day. It seemed that nobody cared that the kids were skipping school and playing.
The only ones not charmed by the playground were Gail, Nancy, and Jerry. They knew something was wrong with that place but they couldn't figure out what. The more they witness the more they knew they had to do something about Dr. Fell.
Dr. Fell is a creepy old man in a black jacket with a purple top hat and he seems to always pop up when kids got hurt on his playground and would patch them up. He was only creepy to the three kids whom he first met. His house was pretty creepy two as he had all sorts of cat pics but hated cats.
Gail and Nancy are best friends and Jerry aka Dorknose was Gails younger brother who just sort of follows them around. Jerry was the smartest one of the three and my favorite.
This story would be great for young readers as well as adults as I found it to be a fun read. It had just enough creepiness to it to fascinate young readers without being scary. It has some cool illustrations throughout the book. Since mine was an ARC not all of them was there and I really wish they were cause I sure was hoping to see a certain character in the book...lol. (So I hope one of the blank spots might be that.)
I would recommend it to anyone who has young readers.
On Hardscrabble Street there sits a house that has been abandoned for a long time. It was used by the neighboring kids as a place to play and use their imagination. Then one day out of the blue an old man buys the house.
When he meets Gail, Nancy and Jerry he finds out that all the kids use to use that place as a playground and before you know it there is a huge playground outside for kids to play on. Play on they did and at all hours of the night and day. It seemed that nobody cared that the kids were skipping school and playing.
The only ones not charmed by the playground were Gail, Nancy, and Jerry. They knew something was wrong with that place but they couldn't figure out what. The more they witness the more they knew they had to do something about Dr. Fell.
Dr. Fell is a creepy old man in a black jacket with a purple top hat and he seems to always pop up when kids got hurt on his playground and would patch them up. He was only creepy to the three kids whom he first met. His house was pretty creepy two as he had all sorts of cat pics but hated cats.
Gail and Nancy are best friends and Jerry aka Dorknose was Gails younger brother who just sort of follows them around. Jerry was the smartest one of the three and my favorite.
This story would be great for young readers as well as adults as I found it to be a fun read. It had just enough creepiness to it to fascinate young readers without being scary. It has some cool illustrations throughout the book. Since mine was an ARC not all of them was there and I really wish they were cause I sure was hoping to see a certain character in the book...lol. (So I hope one of the blank spots might be that.)
I would recommend it to anyone who has young readers.
August 5, 2016
At first the new playground Dr Fell builds in the neighborhood seems innocuous enough. As more and more kids come to play, however, Jerry, Nancy, and Gail realize that it is anything but, and it’s up to the 3 of them to figure out what is going on, and to stop whatever it is that their new neighbor is up to. Ahh, such a nice man is Dr. Fell.
What a smart, macabre story! The protagonists are a group of clever grade school kids, but not so clever as to seem unrealistic. Dr. Fell himself felt to me like a character from an Edward Gorey illustration inserted into a Goosebumps book. Evil or not, I loved him and his old-fashioned, over-the-top form of speech. While the book is aimed at kids around my daughters’ ages, I really enjoyed it myself! I hope we’ll be seeing lots more from David Neilsen.
If you'd like to read my interview with the author, visit my blog.
NOTE: I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review. All comments and opinions are my own.
What a smart, macabre story! The protagonists are a group of clever grade school kids, but not so clever as to seem unrealistic. Dr. Fell himself felt to me like a character from an Edward Gorey illustration inserted into a Goosebumps book. Evil or not, I loved him and his old-fashioned, over-the-top form of speech. While the book is aimed at kids around my daughters’ ages, I really enjoyed it myself! I hope we’ll be seeing lots more from David Neilsen.
If you'd like to read my interview with the author, visit my blog.
NOTE: I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review. All comments and opinions are my own.
August 19, 2016
Dr. Fell and the Playground of Doom is a different type of magical fantasy. The well-written story captivated me from the first page. It is creepy, yet not nightmare inducing. The plot is devious, with twists and turns to confuse and delight readers. We will root for the three heroes-to-be, yet hope—just a little—that Dr. Fell will win. He not only captures the town and Hardscrabble Street in his mysterious net, but also the reader. Dr. Fell’s big flaw is his dated language, which needs translated for the kids. At first amusing, Dr. Fell’s translations grow weary over time.
Will Terry’s black and white illustrations complement and enhance the story of Dr. Fell and the characters, especially Nancy, Gail, and Jerry. Terry visually brings Dr. Fell’s playground to life, which seems a near . . .
Originally reviewed at Kid Lit Reviews. To read the full review or to see the image reveal, go to: http://bit.ly/DrFellPlaygroundDoom
Will Terry’s black and white illustrations complement and enhance the story of Dr. Fell and the characters, especially Nancy, Gail, and Jerry. Terry visually brings Dr. Fell’s playground to life, which seems a near . . .
Originally reviewed at Kid Lit Reviews. To read the full review or to see the image reveal, go to: http://bit.ly/DrFellPlaygroundDoom
March 11, 2017
probably/possibly a 3.5...
in my mind, nit really a children's book... Cthulhu mythology in the basement?? totally evil, time-traveling dude?? lots of pain, injuries, death, rebirth, brainwashing?? this was a cool idea that would have been way better as a novella... or as an 'adult' book maybe... die interior artwork... this just did not seem to be for the youth, way complex ideas about evil and badness and morality and such... fun, but kinda thin...
in my mind, nit really a children's book... Cthulhu mythology in the basement?? totally evil, time-traveling dude?? lots of pain, injuries, death, rebirth, brainwashing?? this was a cool idea that would have been way better as a novella... or as an 'adult' book maybe... die interior artwork... this just did not seem to be for the youth, way complex ideas about evil and badness and morality and such... fun, but kinda thin...
October 8, 2016
creepy middle grade books always has ghosts in it. this book is a perfect creepy mg book, where there a no ghost for a change. i like to read creepy & spooky mg books & this was a perfect find.
December 2, 2018
The children who live on Hardscrabble Street are upset to learn that an abandoned house, their favorite playground, is no longer abandoned. It has been purchased by Dr. Fell, a man of indeterminate, but advanced. age. Attired in a long, black coat and a purple top hat, he is accompanied by many crates and large boxes.
The next morning, the children see the ultimate in playgrounds in his front yard. It has everything a child could possibly want in a playground. The children spend every spare minute at the playground. All of the elementary schools in town establish regular school bus routes to Dr. Fell's playground.
With any group of children playing, there are going to be bruises, skinned knees and other minor injuries. Dr. Fell takes them into his house to get fixed up, and they emerge brainwashed. Even more serious injuries are fixed by Dr. Fell like they are nothing.
As time goes on, the popularity of Dr. Fell's playground grows to the point where every elementary school within twenty miles sends their children to him. The brainwashing includes the parents, who want Dr. Fell to do their children's yearly physical (even if they have just had their yearly physical).
Jerry, Gail and Nancy are the only ones not under Dr. Fell's spell. Can they discover his evil plan before it is too late? Does Dr. Fell plan to take over the world, starting with the children?
Intended for children 8 - 12 years old, this is a gem of a book. It works really well as a mystery, and it will certainly keep the reader's interest.
The next morning, the children see the ultimate in playgrounds in his front yard. It has everything a child could possibly want in a playground. The children spend every spare minute at the playground. All of the elementary schools in town establish regular school bus routes to Dr. Fell's playground.
With any group of children playing, there are going to be bruises, skinned knees and other minor injuries. Dr. Fell takes them into his house to get fixed up, and they emerge brainwashed. Even more serious injuries are fixed by Dr. Fell like they are nothing.
As time goes on, the popularity of Dr. Fell's playground grows to the point where every elementary school within twenty miles sends their children to him. The brainwashing includes the parents, who want Dr. Fell to do their children's yearly physical (even if they have just had their yearly physical).
Jerry, Gail and Nancy are the only ones not under Dr. Fell's spell. Can they discover his evil plan before it is too late? Does Dr. Fell plan to take over the world, starting with the children?
Intended for children 8 - 12 years old, this is a gem of a book. It works really well as a mystery, and it will certainly keep the reader's interest.
May 7, 2019
This mysterious school-aged chapter book kept my 4th grader’s attention. She would even read ahead when I was unable (read: too exhausted) to read to her at night.
As an adult reader I found the characters very lackluster and the dialogue between the kids a little forced sounding.
The author worked in theatre, which is very apparent with his purposefully long descriptive names of places and people that are fun to say and paint dramatic pictures in the reader’s mind.
In my opinion, the point of chapter book read alouds are to help children fall in love with the craft of storytelling and spark their imagination. This only slightly creepy book ( no blood or real violence) did that perfectly. There is a “monster” scene at the end that does not actually harm the children and is shrouded in more mystery and suspense than gross graphic description.
The creep factor is more like a Washington Irving folk tale than the typical modern scary books. I really liked that. It takes a much more talented author to pull that off.
Recommended for girls or boys for self read from a very strong 3rd graders to 6th grade. For a teacher/parent/librarian read aloud I think 2nd graders could handle this and some 7th graders (probably boys) would still enjoy this tale of a demented doctor who sneakily preys on children.
As an adult reader I found the characters very lackluster and the dialogue between the kids a little forced sounding.
The author worked in theatre, which is very apparent with his purposefully long descriptive names of places and people that are fun to say and paint dramatic pictures in the reader’s mind.
In my opinion, the point of chapter book read alouds are to help children fall in love with the craft of storytelling and spark their imagination. This only slightly creepy book ( no blood or real violence) did that perfectly. There is a “monster” scene at the end that does not actually harm the children and is shrouded in more mystery and suspense than gross graphic description.
The creep factor is more like a Washington Irving folk tale than the typical modern scary books. I really liked that. It takes a much more talented author to pull that off.
Recommended for girls or boys for self read from a very strong 3rd graders to 6th grade. For a teacher/parent/librarian read aloud I think 2nd graders could handle this and some 7th graders (probably boys) would still enjoy this tale of a demented doctor who sneakily preys on children.
August 31, 2018
Dr Fell and the playground of doom is an interesting book.
It is about Dr Fell went to a street and got his playground there and everyone was under his spell. Except three kids, they tried to find out the truth, and I fell the truth they found is actually quite good, but how can three little kids fight with a person who is at least five hundred years old and very powerful. This doesnt make sense to me. A part from that, the book is great. When the old lady telling the kids the story about Dr Fell I was really attracted, before I thought Dr Fell is just a nornal person but after I really changed my mind.
I really recommend it to those who likes mystery books, there's a big secrete about Dr Fell waiting for you to find and you can only find it in the last few chapters of the book. So keep on reading!
It is about Dr Fell went to a street and got his playground there and everyone was under his spell. Except three kids, they tried to find out the truth, and I fell the truth they found is actually quite good, but how can three little kids fight with a person who is at least five hundred years old and very powerful. This doesnt make sense to me. A part from that, the book is great. When the old lady telling the kids the story about Dr Fell I was really attracted, before I thought Dr Fell is just a nornal person but after I really changed my mind.
I really recommend it to those who likes mystery books, there's a big secrete about Dr Fell waiting for you to find and you can only find it in the last few chapters of the book. So keep on reading!
January 10, 2017
I really enjoyed this one. All the local kids play at an old abandoned house, which is suddenly bought by a man named Dr. Fell. Gail, Jerry, and Nancy meet him, and notice that he seems a bit sinister. But he builds a fantastic playground that captivates the minds of all of their friends. Soon, kids start getting hurt and disappear into the house, only to return healed and saying "Dr. Fell is a wonderful man." Can the kids figure out what he's up to without him noticing?
I didn't get into it right away, but once the playground appeared, I was hooked. The purple prose may turn off some kids, so it's a little weird in that it has a large vocabulary but is aimed at younger readers. However, the language is almost always translated, so that will help. I really liked it.
I didn't get into it right away, but once the playground appeared, I was hooked. The purple prose may turn off some kids, so it's a little weird in that it has a large vocabulary but is aimed at younger readers. However, the language is almost always translated, so that will help. I really liked it.
July 11, 2017
All the children in the neighborhood play in the abandoned house until it is purchased by Dr. Fell. Then he builds them an amazing play structure with parts of it being a castle, a pirate ship, a stage, and so much more. The kids, and even their parents, seem to fall under a spell and are often heard murmuring, "What a nice man is Dr. Fell." Only 3 children seem impervious to the spell and sense that something is really wrong. It is up to them to save their community and figure out why Dr. Fell can quickly heal the children who are injured on the playground and why some children seem to be aging.
It was nice to have the children, including 2 girls, saving the day. A nice mixtute of brains and steadfastness.
It was nice to have the children, including 2 girls, saving the day. A nice mixtute of brains and steadfastness.
February 11, 2018
I listened to the audio version of this, read by David Neilsen himself, and was completely hooked. His voice isnperfect for the tone of this book. I can't decide what part of it I liked best! The names of the characters and schools, the repetition, or the continuous yet changing descriptions of things such as playground, the pictures of cats, and Dr. Fell's cup! In truth I loved it all! Highly recommend and already have one of my 5th grade students begging for it!
June 2, 2020
My son strongly recommended that I read this after he finished it, and you know, it was pretty good! It definitely pulls strongly from the John Bellairs playbook, with an Edward Gorey naming convention for the streets and characters, and I'd go so far as to say the Shtriga episode of Supernatural which all makes sense, since those things are all linked as well.
It's a nice intro to horror and Lovecraftian tentacle monsters for kids. And that is a sentence I never thought I'd type.
It's a nice intro to horror and Lovecraftian tentacle monsters for kids. And that is a sentence I never thought I'd type.
Read
September 21, 2020DNF. I was excited to read this book as part of a build-up to Halloween, but I couldn't get past the over-use of gimmicky character names and the authorspeak of kids thinking like adults. I have trouble believing any child would see an old man moving into a house and go "Why would someone so elderly move into a lively and noisy street like ours?" They'd probably just think, "Wow, he's old," and that would be the extent of it. I'm sure this book is great for some—it just wasn't my thing.
October 4, 2017
Excellent! I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I had the fortune of meeting the author at a convention over the summer and this book is a truly exceptional middle grade experience of what I would call "Weird Fiction." There is a perfect amount of horror, suspense, mystery and true "dread" in the enjoyable characters. Dr. Fell is a perfectly written villain, and I hope to see him return.
March 18, 2018
"What a nice man is Dr.Fell." He gave all us children the most spectacular playground. He heals all our boo-boos, he has hundreds of pictures of cute and cuddly kittens all over his house... and he raises the dead. What a nice man is Dr. Fell.
Go to http://talestoldtall.com/blog1/elemen... for more great Gothic Literature for guys.
Go to http://talestoldtall.com/blog1/elemen... for more great Gothic Literature for guys.
July 5, 2025
“But boy and girl, toddler and teen, right-handed and left-handed, all craved the playground of Dr. Fell.
Not a free moment went by that screams of glee did not sound from within its depths.
So it was only a matter of time before they were replaced by screams of pain.”
4 ⭐️
This exceeded my expectations, totally fun and creepy.
Not a free moment went by that screams of glee did not sound from within its depths.
So it was only a matter of time before they were replaced by screams of pain.”
4 ⭐️
This exceeded my expectations, totally fun and creepy.
November 14, 2017
It felt like I was reading a thesaurus. A thesaurus would actually be more fun to read and would probably have less irritating characters.
Cry-o-meter: 2/5 I cried from joy during the final chapter. Tears at having made it through the book.
Cry-o-meter: 2/5 I cried from joy during the final chapter. Tears at having made it through the book.
December 18, 2019
Middle grade fiction with enough tongue-in-cheek humor in the person and place names alone that any adult can happily giggle their way through an afternoon reading it. A nice way to unwind after a heavy dose of literary fiction. :)
April 5, 2020
Not the best written book I have read. The characters names as well are just random strings of letters put together. I enjoyed the plot ending but it could have had a lot more description to it, not just repetition.
January 27, 2022
Bradbury’s “Something Wicked This Way Comes” cribbed by Lemony Snickett.
Some decent scares for the audience, but a few things that could have been left out. There are some seems involving check ups by the villain that left an unpleasant taste in my mouth.
Some decent scares for the audience, but a few things that could have been left out. There are some seems involving check ups by the villain that left an unpleasant taste in my mouth.
February 13, 2017
If I could give it a 4.5/5 I would
July 11, 2017
Great fun although the names the author gave his characters and place names began to wear a bit thin.
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