My students really liked this book, and I can see the appeal from an 11 year old's perspective. Brandon Mull is no J.K. Rowling, and it's probably unfair to compare YA fantasy to all of her books, but alas, I do.
The first several chapters and the last several chapters kept me hooked, but I found the plot development and character development annoying. Seth constantly breaking the rules and not thinking twice about it at all bothered me, but the way Grandpa S. handled it also bother me...the idea of "following the rules because they're rules" doesn't work with mischievous kids.
I would like to give the 2nd boom a chance and really hope that Seth has matured a bit more after leaving Fablehaven.