Cricket Readers Recommend

The Phantom Tollbooth

by Norton Juster

This is one of my all-time favorite books. Milo is a boy interested in nothing. One day, out of sheer boredom, he builds a tollbooth. When he drives through it, he enders another world. He meets intriguing characters such as Tock the watch dog, the Humbug, the Spelling Bee, the Soundkeeper, and more. Everyone should read this book. Full of wordplay and adventure, it is worth its wait in platinum (which is a medal more valuable than gold).

4.92857
Average: 4.9 (14 votes)
submitted by Reuben K, age 12
(July 6, 2008 - 6:49 pm)
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I love all the word puns in this book. I was in The Phantom Tollbooth as a play and I was Tock! It was really fun.

submitted by Willa , age 12 4/4, Nehalem, OR
(July 13, 2008 - 8:17 pm)

This sounds good! It also sounds weird but I WANT TO READ IT!

submitted by Kirby B, age 11, ohio
(July 20, 2008 - 4:37 pm)

I liked this book but it was odd and confusing... but odd in a good kinda way

submitted by Shannon
(July 23, 2008 - 8:06 pm)

Shannon, I so agree with you. Confusing and funny. Can't really get my head around some of that stuff. Only thing I don't like about it is the name of the book. Couldn't Norton Juster thought of something a little more creative?

submitted by Frances, age 12, Georgia
(August 21, 2008 - 1:30 pm)

For some strange reason the characters he meets in the other "world' remind me of the weird characters in Alice in Wonderland!! I havent read the book yet but I'm going to the library this week so I will get it then!!!!!!!

submitted by Kirby B, age 11
(July 25, 2008 - 3:17 pm)

Yes, Kirby, this book reminds me quite a bit of Alice In Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, (by Lewis Carrol). They are both rather fantastical stories, created by people with very active imaginations! I LOVE The Phantom Tollbooth. It is one of the craziest, yet most amazing, books that I have ever read. ("Shhh! Be quiet, for it goes without saying.") It's somewhat undescribable. The characters are amazing, with so much life. And not just the main ones. The side characters play just as big a part as the leads--Faintly Macabre, the "Which", The Terrible Dyn, Alec, who grows down, King Azaz, the Mathmagician, Rhyme and Reason, all of the Monsters, etc... What a great book! I should really re-read that. It's been too long. 5 crickets from me!

submitted by Evan I., age 16, Bellingham, WA
(July 31, 2008 - 12:49 am)

5 Chirps from me, too! It's such a quirky and amazing book, you can't help but love it.

submitted by Allison P., age 12, Orlando, FL
(January 14, 2009 - 4:31 pm)

This is a thoroughly weird book, but that doesn't mean it isn't good!

submitted by Natalia M, age 10, Kansas
(March 19, 2009 - 9:20 pm)

It's so queer that it reminds me of Alice in Wonderland except funny.

submitted by Camille W., age 12, Chicago IL
(April 17, 2010 - 1:17 pm)