Skip to content

Alcatraz versus the Scrivener's Bones

Alcatraz versus the Scrivener's Bones

Children's BooksFantasy
Pages
345
Published
2008
Language
English

Synopsis

Alcatraz and his friends travel to the Library of Nalhalla in the Free Kingdoms — an enormous structure that Librarians across the world compete to control — to search for Alcatraz's missing father. The Library houses Scriveners, dangerous Librarian agents who have made a bargain Alcatraz finds deeply unsettling. Alcatraz learns more about the Smedry family history, the origin of the Talents, and the ongoing war between the Free Kingdoms and the Evil Librarians. Scrivener's Bones continues the series' self-aware comedic voice while darkening the stakes around what the Librarians are willing to sacrifice for power.

Prose complexity
2/10

Vibe

FunnyAdventurousLightheartedTense
QuestComing of AgeFound FamilyMystery Box

Genres

Children's Books Fantasy Middle Grade Humor

About the author

B
Brandon Sanderson

Born in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1975, Brandon Sanderson spent his early twenties working graveyard shifts at a hotel — writing novels at the front desk between guest check-ins. By the time his debut, Elantris, was published by Tor Books in 2005, he had completed thirteen novels in the drawer. His subsequent Mistborn trilogy and the ongoing Stormlight Archive series established him as the primary architect of the Cosmere, an interconnected fictional universe in which most of his fantasy series share...

Characters

Alcatraz SmedryProtagonist

Now more aware of his Talent and his family's legacy, but still learning to trust others and accept help.

Grandpa Leavenworth SmedrySupporting

Alcatraz's grandfather, whose cheerful demeanor conceals knowledge of the Smedry family's darker history.

BastilleSupporting

Alcatraz's warrior-knight companion whose protective instincts and blunt honesty remain a core dynamic of the series.

All characters in Alcatraz versus the Scrivener's Bones

Frequently asked questions

  • Do I need to read the previous books in the Alcatraz series before this one?

    Alcatraz versus the Scrivener's Bones is the second book in the Alcatraz series. While each book has a self-contained adventure, the overarching plot and character development build from the first book, so reading them in order is recommended for the full experience.

  • How does this book connect to Brandon Sanderson's other works?

    This book is part of the Alcatraz series, which is a distinct and separate universe from Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere books. It features a different magic system and tone, making it accessible to readers unfamiliar with his other fantasy series.

  • Do I need to read the first Alcatraz book first?

    Yes — Scrivener's Bones continues the storyline and character relationships established in Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians.

  • Does this book answer questions about Alcatraz's parents?

    It introduces more information about his father and the search for him, but does not resolve the mystery — that develops across the series.

Read all 3 reviews