The Opal Deception by Eoin Colfer (2002, Paperback, Reprint)

Great first book for a series...you will want to buy all the books after reading this one! Artemis is always up to some deliciously devious plot, and the fairy world is always there to defend themselves and lend a hand when needed. We need more books, Mr. Colfer!

this was just one of my recent ebay purchaes that I got ripped off on, which has caused me to no longer trust the ebay system. there were two auctions recently that I had won and then found that for some reason ebay had canceled both auctions (with no word or notifcation) leaving me with no means of contacting the seller to find out what happened. in both auctions I had checked out the sellers feedback before bidding and felt like both had enough positive feedback to trust them as good ebay sellers. I guess that's where I lost my trust in the ebay system, since as a buyer that's about all we have to go on to figure out if a seller is trustworthy or not. I was lucky that in both of these auctions the overall cost (bid price plus shipping cost) was rather small and I feel like it the price paid for a lesson learned. I am affraid though that next time it happens I may not be so lucky, it could just as easily happen on a much more expensive purchase. so, I am a little learly of ever trusting the ebay system again

Reviewed by Me for TeensReadToo.com

I've been trying to find a new series to hold me over until the next Harry Potter book--and I've finally found it. Meet Artemis Fowl the Second, a twelve-year old genius who doesn't want to go to school, is worried about his mother's fragile mental health, is preoccupied with his father coming back from the dead, and who is determined to add to his family's coffers by any means possible. In a word, Artemis is an evil genius, and you just can't help but love him. Or hate him. Or love to hate him. Or hate to love him. Or...well, you get the picture.

Artemis, along with his bodyguard/manservant/butler ironically named, of all things, Butler, Artemis sets out on his greatest, and most ambitious, scheme to date--discover the secrets of the fairy world, and relieve some of said fairies of their precious gold. After all, they have plenty to spare, and after Artemis Fowl the First lost a vast majority of their fortune, the Fowl family needs to pad the coffers.

So off Artemis sets on a world jaunt to discover the secrets of the fairies, and his ambitions and delusions finally pay off--he meets an alcoholic sprite who, in exchange for the return of her magic, lets Artemis get a good look at her Book. The Book, you see, contains all the mandates, rules, and regulations (along with a slew of secrets) of the fairy world--and now Artemis Fowl is able to hatch his nefarious scheme.

Artemis discovers that the fairies must adhere to very specific rituals to renew their powers, so along with Butler, he sets out on a stakeout to catch himself a fairy. Hoping, of course, that he can hold said fairy for ransom in exchange for some gold.

What Artemis didn't include in his calculations, however, was Captain Holly Short. A member of the LEPrecon Unit, Holly, although a small sprite, is very human looking--and can be extrememely wily and dangerous. As Artemis implements his evil plan, Holly uses her own military-type background to hatch her own plan of escape. The results are both disastrous and hilarious.

I read ARTEMIS FOWL in one sitting. Once you get started on this story of the human world of the Mud People mixing with that of the magical beings who live below ground, you just can't stop! The magical quality of the book is that it is all too believable--and so much fun! You envy Artemis his brilliance at the same time you can't believe how undenianably evil he is. You pity him, and you despise him. As for Holly Short, you love the fairy, admire her tenacity, yet hope at the same time that she spares the lives of Artemis, Butler, and Butler's sister, Juliet. I have to admit that I loved Foaly, the centaur in charge of computers and technical equipment. Actually, I loved ALL the characters of ARTEMIS FOWL, and can't wait to read the next book! Pick up a copy today!

Readers of all ages are immediately engaged in this wonderful fantasy story of a young teenage "brainiac" who discovers a way to communicate with the wee folk who also inhabit our planet. The great thing is that they engage in exciting adventures together: fairies, dwarves, teen boy and his guardian. Thoroughly enjoyable!