THE TELL-TALE START (THE MISADVENTURES OF EDGAR & ALLAN POE #1) - Gordon McAlpine

Ever since J.K. Rowling made it cool for adults to read kids and YA literature, adults have become even more aware of just how good "children's fiction" continues to get.  The Tell-Tale Start - designates for reader eight years and up - creates interest for kids and adults alike by bringing to life the great-great-great-great grandnephews of literary legend Edgar Allan Poe, orphaned identical twins Edgar and Allan who live in present-day Baltimore with their caring aunt and uncle.  The psychic bond between Edgar and Allan is almost supernatural; even when not together, one sees and feels and reacts to what is going on with the other, their minds virtually one - and while it's elevated both their intelligence and crafty senses of humor to levels adults can't begin to understand, it's also made them the target of a sinister scientist who kidnaps their best friend and cat, Roderick Usher, in order to lure the twins into his own experiments.  Fun, a bit macabre, and with enough Poe references (including a few cameos from the great writer himself) to both entertain adults and get kids curious about the literary legend, The Tell-Tale Start (which includes wonderful illustrations by Sam Zuppardi) is a nice intro to a unique series.  ****