Showing posts with label Middle Grade. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Middle Grade. Show all posts

Thursday 7 April 2022

Book Review: Jack Gregson & the Stolen Sons by Peter Wilson

Jack Gregson & the Stolen Sons
by
Peter Wilson 
 
 A darkness grows. A mysterious prophecy from long ago is about to be fulfilled.
 
Publisher: Crystal Publishing

Publications date: 6th December 2021
 
Series: Jack Gregson Trilogy #2
 
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
 
Pages: 204
 
RRP: $19.95
 
Format read: Paperback
 
Source: Courtesy of the author
 
My review
 
Often after I've read a fabulous first book in a trilogy I wonder if the author can do it again in book 2. Well, Peter Wilson has delivered again with Jack Gregson & the Stolen Sons.
 
Jack and his cousins, David & Rosie, are taken by a chaos fairy through the portal in the attic of their grandmother's mansion. They are told they must find Anthrow. Here they learn of the prophecy that must be fulfilled to stop the evil horde from devouring my planets. I love prophecies!!
There are the good guys (the ones we are barracking for) and the bad guys (the evil ones that must be destroyed) and then there is Shadow Man who was once human and has now been taken over by the top bad guy, Theorden. I did feel a little sorry for Shadow Man and didn't want him to be destroyed. He isn't bad by choice.

The magic is simple and easy to follow and it doesn't always go as planned which adds some humour. The world building isn't complex, therefore making for an easy plot to follow.
David and Rosie still argued in this book however they worked better together and I liked that David's character was a bit more confident.

The story is rich in action, danger, evil forces and magic. As the story unfolds the pace quickens and the suspense ramps up. Each chapter ends on a little cliff hanger. So good luck getting the kids to put this book down and go to sleep. They will always need to read just one more chapter.

I loved the inclusion of Jarl, the chaos fairy, she added a good dose of humour and gave me a few laughs. I hope she reappears in book 3.

Peter Wilson includes themes of defeating evil forces, invasion, displacement of people from their homes and rebuilding lives.

The Gregson's may have won this battle but the war isn't over yet. I'm looking forward to book 3.

Ages: 9+
Content: 
mild violence - not described, left to the reader's imagination.
infrequent very mild coarse language - bloody, what the hell, we're screwed, holy crap.

My rating 5 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the author

Peter Wilson is an award-winning writer based in Sydney Australia. His first novel, Jack Gregson & the Forgotten Portal has won awards internationally, in both the USA and United Kingdom, and quickly became a favourite with young readers.

In addition to children’s and young adult content, Peter is also interested in writing for the adult market and is currently working on a crime thriller set in his home city, Sydney.
 
 
 

 

Wednesday 16 February 2022

Book Review: Butterflies In Me by Denisha Seals

Butterflies in Me
by
Denisha Seals
Illustrated by Gabhor Utomo
 

An anthology bringing awareness to mental health 
 
Publisher: Boys Town Press

Publication date: 14th May 2018 - rereleased 2022
 
Genre: Children's / Middle Grade 

Pages: 92

Format read: eBook

Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Smith Publicity

My review
 
Butterflies in Me is a collection of short stories that focus on some common, yet challenging, mental health conditions in children.
 
The book covers an array of circumstances children may find themselves in; such as domestic abuse, PTSD, bullying, anxiety, ADHD and depression. Seals uses simple language and short stories making them child friendly.
 
Denisha Seals includes coping skills in her stories and avenues children can go through if they need help.
I liked that the happy endings came eventually but not immediately, as mental health issues take time to work through.
 
Each story is written in 1st person, narrated by the children, which gives a stronger connection to the child, making it more relatable to children reading the book.
 
Javier and his mother are abused by his stepfather. he is offered help from a trusted source (in this case a teacher) and he and his mother are directed to people trained to help in these situations.
Kenya is disfigured and bullied. Her anxiety becomes all consuming. When she opens up to her father he takes her to see a doctor who helps her.
Abbas has ADHD. He can't concentrate at school and his self worth is destroyed. He is helped with a simple explanation of his condition and tactics to employ to help him stay focused.
Lulu falls into a deep depression after her beloved grandmother dies. When she see a therapist she is given coping strategies to see her through this time of grief.
 
Each story ends with the catchphrase "I am special, strong, and I did nothing wrong." 
 
The stories are enhanced by Gabhor Utomo's vivid watercolour illustrations from each child's life and images from their imagination.
 
Butterflies in Me would be an ideal book to be used in schools and for child therapists. 
 
My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the author

DENISHA SEALS is an artist, filmmaker and author who uses the power of her pen to lift the voices of the marginalized and victimized. A survivor of childhood sexual abuse and trauma, she advocates for more awareness and understanding of the emotional toll abuse victims experience, particularly children of color. Her uplifting stories inspire readers to be strong, fearless and full of hope.

 
About the illustrator
 
GABHOR UTOMO was born in Indonesia. He moved to California in 1997 to become an artist. He received his degree from Academy of Art University in San Francisco, and now works as a freelance artist. Gabhor, his wife, Dina, and his twin daughters live in Portland, Oregon.




 
 

Tuesday 9 November 2021

Book Review: Snotlings by Tarryn Mallick

 Snotlings
by
Tarryn Mallick
Illustrated by Nahum Ziersch
 
 Can you survive the snotpocalpyse?
 
Publisher: Self published

Publication date: 25th October 2021
 
Genre: Middle Grade / Fiction
 
Pages: 298
 
RRP: $21.50AUD (Amazon)
 
Format read: Paperback 
 
Source: Courtesy of the author
 
About the book
 
Jackson Hart loves picking his nose. But when he finds a tiny warrior in his booger, everything turns WEIRD and DANGEROUS! Not only does he have a civilisation of snotlings up his nose . . . one wants revenge.

Mucuszar and his awful germ army have conquered both nostrils and Jackson’s world is next!

Can Jackson and his friends stop the snotpocalypse? Or will Mucuszar’s deadly creation destroy the planet?
  

My review
 
Snotlings is an adventure filled story about a tiny civilisation that lived in Jackson's nostril. They ate dust and battled germs. When one of the snotlings, Mucuszar, goes rogue and enlists the germs to take over Jackson's Immune system he spends a  lot of time home sick.
Mucuszar is not happy only making Jackson sick, he wants to take over the world starting with Sydney.

Snotlings is the highly imaginative and extremely descriptive debut novel by Tarryn Mallick. This science fiction tale brings the snotlings and their world into the world of Jackson and his friends.

Snot and boogers feature highly in Snotlings with names like Crust, Goober, Igunk, Vomitor, Razorthroat and Fluefector eliciting many giggles from my young reading  buddy. It may not be for those with a sensitive stomach. I was personally grossed out but Dot thought it was hilarious.

Tarryn Mallick has included themes of bullying and empathy and mentions of the healing power of Chinese herbal medicines.

Written in alternating chapters between Jackson and the snotlings. There is plenty of action and danger in both narratives to keep the reader entertained.
A fun addition to the story is finding the tiny illustrated snotling hidden in each chapter.

Will Jackson and his friends save themselves and the planet before they are all covered in snot?

My review copy came with germ collector cards with pictures and stats of the germs, a giant magnifying glass and a jar of slime. You can order this magnificent gift box from Tarryn's website.

 
 
Recommended age 7 - 12 years

Dot's rating 4 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐
 
 About the author
  
Tarryn became a writer because she had a story to tell. A story about snot! It may seem strange to write a book about boogers, but growing up, her little brother tormented her with his snot every… single… day!

She obtained a degree in Creative and Professional Writing and studied numerous courses and books, applying everything she had learnt to her first book. It took a short six years and now Snotlings is ready to be shared with everyone.

 

Challenges Entered: Australian Women Writers Challenge AWW2021

 
                                   Aussie Author Challenge #Aussieauthor21



Tuesday 12 October 2021

Book Review: Pony by R. J. Palacio

 Pony
by
R. J. Palacio 
 
The highly anticipated, unforgettable new story from the internationally bestselling, multi-award-winning author of WONDER.
 

 Publisher: Penguin Random House Australia
 
Imprint: Puffin
 
Publication date: 28th September 2021
 
Genre: Middle Grade Historical Fiction 
 
Pages: 304
 
RRP: $26.99AUD
 
Format read: Hardcover
 
Source: Own copy
 
About the book
 
When Silas Bird wakes in the dead of night, he watches powerlessly as three strangers take his father away. Silas is left shaken, scared and alone, except for the presence of his companion, Mittenwool . . . who happens to be a ghost. But then a mysterious pony shows up at his door, and Silas knows what he has to do. So begins a perilous journey to find his father - a journey that will connect him with his past, his future, and the unknowable world around him.
 
My review
 
When you pick up a book written  by the author of Wonder, you know you are going to be in for a great read.
 
R. J. Palacio has delivered in this wonderful historical fiction written for the middle grade reader but I'm sure will be loved by young and old alike.
 
Set in 1860 Ohio and narrated by 12 year old Silas. Silas was home schooled by his father where he lived with no constraints, free to be himself. We follow Silas as he ventures out to find his father after he was taken away by three armed men. Silas' companions are a stray horse, Pony, who appears to connect with Silas and urge him forward on this journey, and a ghost, Mittenwool, who is Silas' only friend.
Pony is rich in adventure, danger and suspense as Silas encounters life-altering moments and a battle for survival in the wilds of Ohio.
 
Silas' father is a boot maker and he also invented daguerreotypes, which is the concept of transferring images onto paper. Palacio has used real daguerreotypes and ambrotypes in the chapter openers with some characters physical attributes inspired by the photos, which gave an added visual element to the characters.
 
I can see Pony becoming a future classic. I could read it over and over!
 
Middle Graders will read Pony as a great adventure story as Silas must push himself past all his fears and confront difficult decisions. Through it all he is urged on by the love he has for his father. The older reader will see the heartbreak and love, that Silas has been brought up with, shine throughout the novel. Tissues will be required!
 
My rating 5 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
 
About the author
 
Photo credit: Goodreads
 

R.J. Palacio lives in NYC with her husband, two sons, and two dogs. For more than twenty years, she was an art director and graphic designer, designing book jackets for other people while waiting for the perfect time in her life to start writing her own novel. But one day several years ago, a chance encounter with an extraordinary child in front of an ice cream store made R. J. realize that the perfect time to write that novel had finally come. Wonder is her first novel. She did not design the cover, but she sure does love it.
 
 
 

Thursday 30 September 2021

Spotlight: The Order of Time by Scott Southall

 


To celebrate his Readers Favorite Gold Medal win in the Children's Mythology/ Fairy Tale category Scott Southall has The Order of Time discounted on Amazon Kindle until October 3rd 2021.
 


 About the book
 
Anastasia and Edward Upton are eleven years old twins who are different in almost every way. Despite this they are inseparable and the best of friends. They tackle the highs and lows of sixth grade together whether they are fending off bullies at the elite Blake Academy or examining rare antiquities as the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. Then: life gets complicated.

They discover that their friend and mentor, Dr. Gregorian, is part of a secret society called the Order of Time. It turns out that time is not fixed, it's a fluid continuum where changes to the past can create ripples all the way through to the present. It unwittingly falls to the twins to travel back through time to ancient Egypt where they must overcome deadly assassins, evil high priests and vengeful gods in order to prevent disaster. Together Anastasia and Edward must navigate all obstacles to preserve the past and find their way back home.
 
Publisher's age recommendation - 8 - 12 years
 
You can read my 5 ⭐ review HERE 
 
 
 
 
 

Saturday 3 April 2021

Book Review: The Good, the Bad and the Backstory by Melissa Minery

The Good, the Bad and the Backstory
by
Melissa Minery
Illustrated by Stephanie Hider
 A Unique Story that Presents a Timeline of Events in the Day of the Life of Five Middle-School Students

 
Publisher: Boys Town Press 
Publication date: 9th March 2021
Genre: Middle Grade
Pages: 172
Price: $10.12AUD for kindle
Format read: eBook
Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Smith Publicity
 
About the book
  
This story presents a timeline of events from sunup to sundown, in a day in the life of five seventh graders - Ashley, Kenisha, Taara, Ryan and Andrew.

As they walk the hallways, attend class and navigate the dreaded lunchroom, they experience all the messiness of middle school - the fragile friendships, the peer pressure, the fickle social hierarchy and the relationship drama. Issues at home and interactions at school influence how they relate to one another, their classmates and their teachers throughout the day.

 My review
 
The Good the Bad and the Backstory follows five year 7 students through an entire day from waking in the morning, through the ups and downs of the school day, to back to bed that night. The story is told from all the characters’ perspectives giving the reader a rounded view of every situation.

Melissa Minery has written an entertaining story that includes messages of self-esteem, family relationships, courage, forgiveness, empathy and resilience.

The five pre-teens, Ashley, Kenisha, Ryan, Andrew and Taara, all have different backgrounds and family dynamics and through these characters Minery shows how upbringing and family circumstances can affect a child’s actions.

 
The children have their tiffs but come together to talk about their feelings and also reach out an arm of friendship putting aside the fear of rejection.

The school counsellor has an important role in this story and I liked the way the children stopped and thought about the lessons from the counsellor and how they could use these lessons in the situations they found themselves in.

 
The Good, the Bad and the Backstory brings up everyday events that children will encounter in the school environment, bullying, jealousies, rumours and feelings of anxiety and offers effective solutions by encouraging children to voice their feelings, own up to their mistakes, offer forgiveness to others and have compassion.
 
This book will be a valuable teaching tool perfect for classroom discussions about the different families, the situations that arose for the children and the coping skills and strategies they used to handle them.
 
Each chapter is headed by a full page cute greyscale pencil drawing depicting a scene from that chapter.
 
5/5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 
 
Recommended for ages 9 -13 years
 
About the author
 
 Melissa Minery is a Certified School Counselor in New Hampshire. She has worked at the elementary-to-high school levels and as a career Counselor with young adult's. She's always doing something to "grow her brain" and loves going on adventures with her family and hiking in the white mountains. This is her first published work. 
 
 

Saturday 6 February 2021

Book Review: Gone to the Woods by Gary Paulsen

Gone to the Woods
by
Gary Paulsen
 
A TRUE STORY OF GROWING UP IN THE WILD

 

Publisher: Pan Macmillan  
Imprint: Macmillan Children's Books 
Publication date: 12th January 2021
Genre: Children's / Teenage / Memoir
Pages: 224
RRP: $16.99AUD
Format read: Paperback
Source: Courtesy of the publisher
 
About the book
 
From the author of the bestselling Hatchet comes a true story of high-stakes wilderness survival!

At the age of five Gary Paulsen escaped from a shocking Chicago upbringing to a North Woods homestead, finding a powerful respect for nature that would stay with him throughout his life. At the age of thirteen a librarian handed him his first book, and there he found a lasting love of reading. As a teenager he desperately enlisted in the Army, and there amazingly discovered his true calling as a storyteller.

A moving and enthralling story of grit and growing up, Gone to the Woods is perfect for newcomers to the voice and lifelong fans alike, from the acclaimed author at his rawest and realest.
 
My review
 
I'm finding it hard to know where to start with this story. My son, when young, was a huge Hatchet fan. He read the book over and over and talked of it often. This is how I came to know the name Gary Paulsen, so when I heard he had written a memoir of his childhood I jumped at the chance to read it.

Gary Paulsen writes with stark reality, there is no softening around the edges. He writes about life exactly as he lived it and some scenes are quite gruesome. The story contains vivid descriptions of a train load of injured soldiers and also a frenzied shark attack on the passengers of a plane crash. What I found most distressing is that these are actual real events witnessed by Paulsen as a young child.

The story is narrated in third person with Paulsen referring to himself as 'the boy', so it reads more like a fiction novel than the usual memoir with first person narration.

Paulsen takes moments from his life and weaves a story around that event introducing history and education into the narrative.

The boy, at age 5, after living a life of neglect with his mother, is sent to live with his aunt and uncle on a farm. Here he learns to work hard and to live off the land but mostly he learnt how it felt to  belong. Every sight, sound and smell the boy experiences comes alive on the page. These few years are what set him up to survive life when he was taken back by his mother. What followed  was years of neglect, poverty, bullying and hunger.
The story isn't all bleak as Paulsen interjects humour into even the bleakest events.
 
When he discovers the library and the librarian who gently encourages him to read more and more books that broaden his mind a whole new world of hope is opened up to him.
 
Paulsen's writing starts out soft and gentle when he is a young child naive and fragile, as his life moves on you can feel the writing is more jaded, edgy. Then as a teen, 16 - 17, the writing is angry, disillusioned. I find this type of character change through words and sentence structure unique and engaging.
 
Gone to the Woods is a harrowing and moving true life story of resilience, perseverance and the healing power of books. Narrated with warmth and humour it is touching and informative.

This book is being marketed as middle grade but I would recommend 12+ as there are some quite horrifying and descriptive scenes of war and a shark attack.

5/5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the author


Credit: Pan Macmillan

Gary Paulsen has received great acclaim and many awards for his novels written for young people. HATCHET, and its sequel, THE RETURN, are among his best-known works. He has sailed the Pacific and competed in the gruelling 1,049 mile Iditarod dog-sled race across Alaska. He lives with his family in New Mexico, USA.


 
 
 
 
 
Challenge entered: Non Fiction Readers Challenge 
#2021ReadNonFic
 
 

Friday 5 February 2021

Spotlight and Giveaway: The Schoolboy Sherlock Holmes (Books 1-5 Boxed Set) by Cenarth Fox

The Schoolboy Sherlock Holmes Box Set
by
Cenarth Fox 
 
 

The Schoolboy Sherlock Holmes is a 5 book series staring Nicholas Twit aimed at middle-grade readers aged 8 - 12.
 
About the books
 
Book1: The Cat Burglar / Fifi and the Angels

In Book 1 Young Nick uses the detection methods of Sherlock Holmes to expose a scam and catch a very clever cat burglar. Later in Book 1 the young sleuths solve mysteries with a little help from a friendly policewoman, Detective Sergeant Les Trade. A simple observation turns into a tale involving illegal immigrants, blackmail and lazy dog-owners. But who will be the boss detective? And is Doctor Watson smarter than Sherlock Holmes?  
 
 
 
Book 2: The Garden Gnome Mystery / The Goldfields Ghost Adventure

Nick’s new partner is Felicity Heywood-Jones who is 13. So there are two detectives—Holmes and Watson. But will they co-operate? And is Watson smarter than Holmes? In Book 2 Nicholas investigates a mystery about garden gnomes. It reminds him of a famous mystery solved by Sherlock Holmes. Felicity meets a girl who works from home and is being ripped off by a cruel person. Can Felicity help the girl and expose a nasty businessman? Strangely Nick’s gnomes and Felicity’s rip-off are linked. But how? Then Nicholas goes for a weekend trip to the country where he meets a ghost and an escaped convict. It all happens in an old gold-mining town
 
Book 3: The Mystery of the Awful Painting / The Mystery of the Terrible Twins / The Ned Kelly Adventure

Nick investigates a strange case and notices something unusual in the house next door. A man is stealing garbage. Nick follows and gets kidnapped twice! Felicity has to work at a creepy old house and accidentally pushes one of the owners off an upstairs balcony. More trouble. But things get really explosive when Nick tackles a mystery starring Ned Kelly. He was a famous outlaw and getting caught in the crossfire means Nick is seriously in danger. There's a map of where all the mysteries are located, word puzzles, Twit-Speak words including the fabulous sotov and edhen, a mini mystery and tips on how can write your own mysteries.
 
Book 4: The Clayton's Murder / The MCG Bomb Mystery / The Stinging Mystery of Jeremiah's Ghost

In this book, Felicity has some serious personal problems. Her father's girlfriend is missing presumed dead and Flick's dad is in the frame. Can Felicity help her father? And in the meantime Nick gets a really silly case of stolen roses. Ah but it involves two ladies of the theatre and boy can they act. One of the women has some rotten food and cobwebs on her dining-room table as she's mad about Charles Dickens-or is she just mad? But things hit overdrive when Nick 'n Flick get involved with a would-be terrorist at a major sporting event. Nick discovers schizophrenia and learns heaps. But suddenly it looks to be all over for the Schoolboy Sherlock Holmes. He gets tricked into saying he saw a ghost when it was a set-up, a sting to catch him out. How can the boy detective survive?
 
Book 5: Mr Hawthorn's Hedge / The Tallest Women in the World / The Bee & Bee Cottage / Cranley Glasspot's Newspaper

When we first meet them in this book, Nick and the others are facing a possible disaster. Nick has been tricked. A sneaky journalist has set up a trap and Nick has walked right into it. Nick is about to be exposed as a sham. How can he survive? And Felicity is investigating some strange sights and sounds happening at midnight behind a nearby hedge. Then for something special, we take a step back in time to Victorian England with a story featuring the real Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson. It's the adventure of The Tallest Woman in the World. And finally there are two mysteries with one each for Nicholas and Felicity.
 
About the Author     
 



Cenarth Fox has written plays and musicals, novels and non-fiction books. 
As a long-time fan of Sherlock Holmes, Fox has written three stage shows and a novel about the famous detective and given over 200 performances of his one-man show, G’day Sherlock.

The five books for young readers make up the rest of his Sherlockian canon. 
His other novels include an 8 book crime series The Detective Joanna Best Mysteries and a series about a young English actress during WW2.

Fox has turned his plays about the Brontes, Agatha Christie and Shakespeare into novels and his play about Dickens is now a film. 
 
His books are at www.cenfoxbooks.com and his stage shows at www.foxplays.com 
 
The inspiration behind the Nicholas Twit series.

Having written so much about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his most famous creation, writing crime fiction for children seemed the next step. Nicholas Twit (aged 10) is the schoolboy Sherlock Holmes and has turned his bedroom of today into the sitting-room of Mr Holmes in London in 1890. The mysteries he tackles with Dr Watson (Felicity aged 14) – Nick ‘n Flick - use the methods the great detective used. The printed books are in a glossy magazine format copying The Strand Magazine which published 59 of the 60 Conan Doyle tales. They are a great way to introduce young readers to mystery fiction.
 
 
 
Cenarth Fox has generously offered 2 x hardcopy box sets to Australian addresses.
 
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED AND THE WINNERS WERE LIZ D & HEATHER

Tuesday 14 July 2020

Book Review: Crack Up by Jules Faber

Crack Up
by
Jules Faber


Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia
Imprint: Pan
Publication date: 31st March 2020
Series: Book #2
Genre: Middle Grade / Teen
Pages: 232
RRP: $12.99 AUD
Format read: paperback
Source: courtesy of the publisher


Max Crack and his best friend Frankie are back with even more quest-ordinary adventures!

Armed with a shiny new quest list, they are on a mission to find a meteorite, make a movie, solve a sisterly feud, eat truckloads of chocolate, set a World Record ...

Funny fonts, gross stuff, embarrassing moments, speech bubbles and strange creatures.
Read all about it!


Max Crack and best friend Frankie Doink are back again with more quests, bigger and better than before.

Max starts a new journal/diary which runs from November to end of February. A four month period that includes the end of year school holidays which gives the boys plenty of time to complete new quests.

After seeing a shooting star and feeling a shudder like an earthquake the boys think it could have been a meteorite. Their first quest: find a meteorite.

At school their class will be involved in trying to break a world record. They will also be having a movie making competition.

I loved that the stories weren’t all about winning but working together and having fun.

The boys are eager to attend their first pop concert and find work mowing lawns for an elderly local resident who tells them of her falling out with her sister. Thus prompting their next quest: to reunite the sisters.


The boys take the ups and downs of life in their stride. Max eager for his own smart phone is happy to take his father’s hand-me-down and the rules that go with owning a phone.

We see the comparison of Frankie’s large rambunctious family to Max’s only child family. Both families are caring and interested in the boys activities.


As an adult I am keen for young children to read books with good role models and I think Max and Frankie have achieved this status. They have fun, are a little dorky, are respectful, don’t expect to be given the world, argue and make up, give everything their best effort and never complain.

I loved the second book in this series even more than the first.


There are blank pages at the end to write your own quest list, favourite movies, world records you want to set, places you wish to explore and also a few pages to try your own sketches.

My rating 5/5         ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Jules Faber is a cartoonist and illustrator, most well-known for illustrating the 'WeirDo' series by comedian Anh Do, for which they've won multiple awards, including Book of the Year for Older Children at the Australian Book Industry Awards

He's also illustrated David Warner's 'Kaboom Kid' series Michael Pryor's 'Leo Da Vinci' series, Alex Ratt's 'Stinky Street Stories' and some of Dr Karl Kruszelnicki's science books.

When he's not illustrating books, Jules loves reading books and graphic novels, and collecting comics. he has served four, two-year terms as the president of the Australian cartoonists Association and is a member of the CBCA NSW Committee.


This review is part of the Book Lover Book Review Aussie author challenge


Click the cover to read my review.















Monday 22 June 2020

Book Review: Thomas Wildus and the Wizard of Sumeria by J. M. Bergen

Thomas Wildus and the Wizard of Sumeria
by
J. M. Bergen



Publisher: Elandrian Press
Publication date: 20th May 2020
Series: The Elandrian Chronicles #2
Genre: Middle Grade / Fantasy
Pages: 408
Format read: eBook
Source: Courtesy of Book Publicity Services



A boy discovering his destiny. An ancient object of unspeakable power. An impenetrable web of deception.

It's been three months since Thomas and his friends faced off against the enigmatic Arius Strong in an epic fight for the future of humanity. They thought the battle was over. It was only just beginning.

Now, with a mysterious message from an unknown hacker, the action starts again. This time an ancient talisman with legendary powers is at stake, and Arius will stop at nothing to make it his own. Dark witches and wizards are rallying to his cause, and behind it all, a mysterious figure with inexplicable abilities. The forces of light are gathering as well, but the web of deception is thick. Will Thomas and his friends see through the lies in time to stop the forces of evil and prevent a catastrophe of historic proportions?


In book two of The Elandrian Chronicles J. M. Bergen has delivered another edge of your seat story featuring Thomas Wildus and his friends, Enrique and Akhil. I enjoyed this book even more than the first one!

The boys are now 14 and there is a brief introduction of girlfriends and movie dates before they are called away during school’s summer break to once again find a magic-imbued ancient artefact before it falls into the wrong hands.

The three boys all have their own unique qualities. Whilst Thomas is hesitant and thinks before acting, Enrique is snarky ans quick to act. Akhil will be coming along on this mission where his outstanding computer skills will be of great value.

The magic is stepped up in this book, both in the boys training and in battles with sinister elements. The chapters are short and the plot is easily followed. I became captivated as the story moved along at a steady pace.

No-one is who they seem to be and as the boys and their mentors plan to find the magical staff help will come from an unlikely source.

A new, powerful and evasive enemy is lurking. Someone more sinister than any enemy they have encountered before.

Triumph doesn’t come easily and Bergen includes themes of team work, friendship and perseverance.

There are a few mentions of people and events from the first book and to get the full benefit from book two I would suggest reading book one first.

This book includes moderate violence and awesome magic scenes.

Ages 8+

 My rating 5/5          ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


Photo credit: Goodreads
J.M.’s debut fantasy/magic series originally started as a bedtime story for his oldest son. The story turned into a saga, and one book turned into five. The first book in the series, Thomas Wildus and The
Book
of Sorrows, is scheduled for release in February 2019.

When J.M. isn’t working on the Thomas Wildus books, you can find him playing with his kids, napping, or dreaming up new adventures. If you ever meet him and can’t think of anything to talk about, you might ask about Herman the Shark, the Kai and Eli stories, or why Riddle-Master by Patricia McKillip is his all-time favorite book. Or maybe, just maybe, you’ll have questions and stories of your own (if you do, he’ll think that’s far more interesting).