Maze Zing: Junk Drawer Jewels
by Jeffrey David Montanye
Grade: A-

Date reviewed: 4/15/07

When opening this book, you will first be impressed by the beauty of the pictures. You will also be impressed by the originality and creativity of the very concept of a book of mazes that are each made from a single photograph. Then, when you actually start to try to solve the mazes, you will be impressed by the work that must have gone into planning and executing the staging of these unique challenges.

Take "Dad's Office," a large array of paper clips bent into a maze. Or "To the One I Love," which incorporates five pounds of candy hearts in an attractive swirling design. Many of the pictures, at first glance, don't even appear to be mazes - for example, "One Goes Out, They All Go Out," which looks like nothing more than a tangle of Christmas tree lights. My favorite is "Easy as ABC," a picture of over 800 alphabet refrigerator magnets thrown into a seemingly chaotic mess that actually hides three distinct paths and six simple words.

The book is slim, with only twelve puzzles. It's targeted to children, but is challenging enough for adults; it's a fun rainy day book to work through together.