Skulduggery Pleasant, by Derek Landy

This book was actually featured in the Unshelved Book Club Sunday Strip for June 22. When I saw it on the "recommended" table at the library, I remembered the strip and picked the book up. Was I ever glad I did!

The age rating says "ages 10 and up". It really is, too - it's got enough action and wisecracking to make it appeal to kids, teens, and adults, without being overly graphic or resorting to "adult" material.

SYNOPSIS: Stephanie is a normal 12-year-old girl with a rather not-normal uncle. The book starts with his funeral, and the reading of his will - in which he leaves the majority of his vast estate to Stephanie! Also present is an unusual character named "Skullduggery Pleasant", apparently a friend of Stephanie's uncle.
He rapidly becomes a friend of sorts to Stephanie, as well. She stays the night at her uncle's (now her) house, and gets attacked by a man asking for a "key". Skullduggery comes to the rescue and is revealed to be a walking, talking, magic-using skeleton! The rest of the book deals with Stephanie's introduction to the world of magic and sorcery, and of course, the battles against the Bad Guys.
The Bad Guys are after the Scepter of the Ancients, an amazingly powerful (and indestructible) weapon made by (duh) the Ancients. With the Scepter, they plan to take over the world, call up an ancient race of gods, and get the gods to rid the world of humanity. I never quite did figure out how they thought they would be exempt from this purging-of-humanity, but apparently being a Bad Guy necessarily means that you have major holes in your logic. :D

Skullduggery has an impossibly large ego, a healthy sense of self-worth, and is incredibly sarcastic. His interactions with Stephanie, no slouch in those areas herself, are really funny. If you're a devotee of the Dresden Files novels by Jim Butcher, you'll understand when I say that Skullduggery is rather a combination of Harry and Bob when it comes to wisecracking and sarcastic comments.

Overall, it's a fun read, and, dare I say, a "Pleasant" book. Check out the website at http://www.skullduggerypleasant.com/us

4.5 out of 5 bones.