Tag Archives: YA

The Adventures of the World Patrol Kids by Ben Goldstein (Book Review)


Strange things are happening in town. Mysterious accidents are occurring at the Recycling Center and hazardous wastes are washing ashore on the beach. When the beaches are closed for the summer due to the dumping of medical waste, the “World Patrol Kids” decide to track down who is responsible.

“The Adventures of the World Patrol Kids” features a multi-ethnic, crime-solving, environmental kids singing and dancing group, (ages 10-14) that take on polluters, climate change, and traffickers in endangered species.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery.  I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

Six brave kids, fourteen years of age and younger, have taken it upon themselves to figure out who’s illegally dumping poisonous chemicals into the ocean. Their mission began after they saw plastic washing ashore during a day at the beach. The trash that flowed in the water and covered the beach was potentially hazardous. Ten-year-old Thoreau was unexpectedly cut by the dangerous plastic and needed medical assistance. 

During a town hall meeting, the citizens had the opportunity to let their voices be heard about the closure and how to fix the contaminated water and beach. Many were angry over the closure and thought fixing the problem was too costly. Some opted to burn the trash than recycle. They didn’t seem to mind that it would cause more harm to the environment. The World Patrol Kids did care, and with a handful of volunteers, they went to clean up the beach. It’s at this point that readers will learn a valuable lesson. Tracey tells her friends in the book and readers at home why you should always cut up the plastic ring supporting soda cans and bottles. After reading the story, I implore you to follow Tracey’s example! 

As the kids band together to find the culprits behind the illegal dumping, lives come into jeopardy: on land and under the sea. We see how far some people will go for money. 

I’m unsure how the team found time to write a song for the WW101 Earth Day Contest, but they did. The event enabled them to attend a special Earth Day Special in Kenya, Africa, where the plot went from pollution to poaching. Poaching is a tremendous problem, so I was glad to see this addressed. Children need to realize that humans are causing harm to the animal population under the sea and on land. Humans are also the only ones who can rectify the disastrous situation.

As your family reads The Adventures of the World Patrol Kids: Kids Can Change the World by Ben Goldstein, you’ll learn the importance of recycling and how the process works. You will see the importance of protecting all animals, endangered or not. Thanks to the World Patrol Kids, you’ll also experience many moments of suspense and learn a new catchy tune.

The messages behind the story are ones that every child should learn. I would recommend this book for elementary school age and older.

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤

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Meet the Author

Ben Goldstein has written, produced, and directed, books, songs, films, and audio and video productions for such companies as Sesame Street, Jim Henson, Holt Rhinehart, Nelvana, CBS, and Scholastic. He has written for licensed characters, Clifford the Dog, Snuggle the Bear, and Rainbow Brite.

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As Red as a Munka Bean by Kristin T. Dethlefsen (Book Review)

Beings from all over the universe have gathered on Kamim for the yearly Interstellar Beauty Contest. Fifteen-year-old Liam and his best (and only) friend Absalom are there to represent Earth, although they never actually agreed to come. Now Absalom must put his reservations aside and convince the judges of something he doesn’t quite believe himself: that his short, fat, brown body is beautiful.

Liam only has to announce Absalom and translate the other beings’ sign language for him, a simple enough task for a deaf boy. But when he meets pretty Sadie right before the announcement, his mind goes blank and his hands can’t find the right words.

And then there is Topher, the boy who bullies Liam and Absalom on Earth and was accidentally brought to Kamim with them. He is sullen and mean, but he knows how to be cool and confident, two traits which would help Absalom immensely in the contest…

This contemporary fantasy for young adults and tweens is an adventure story about the power of friendship and believing in yourself.

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(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique)

Beings from around the universe gather together in an interstellar beauty contest. Liam, Absalom (Sal), and Topher were swept up in a green cloud and transported to Kamim, the host planet, for the extraordinary event. The three boys took everything in stride. They didn’t freak out about the situation. Topher, the class bully, was actually more upset about being mistaken for a girl than being abducted by a little green alien. 

Sal, the chosen contestant for Earth, wasn’t comfortable showing off his body. Fairies forcibly removed his shirt. Topher asks him to jiggle his fat. And he was repeatedly in a state of embarrassment. The aliens thought he was beautiful; he did not. I didn’t particularly appreciate how “fat” was constantly used to describe Sal’s physique. Words hurt. 

Luckily, as the story progressed, Sal became more confident with his body. However, it was a long road to this moment. I was saddened to see Sal body-shamed. I was upset to see how the cops manhandled him. They grossly abused their power. Unfortunately, that display of injustice happens far too frequently in real life. 

They were comedic moments in the story and had spectacular galactical beings with unique and fascinating skills. The aliens came in all shapes and sizes; some nice and some not so much. 

Whether you are on Earth, Kamim, Windshippers, or another planet, we are all different, and those differences shouldn’t divide us; however, they often do. 

Being comfortable in your own skin is hard for many people. 

Standing up to bullies is a challenging feat too. 

Both issues are addressed in As Red as a Munka Bean.

While I am thrilled Sal gained confidence, I would like another outcome for Topher. (Staying vague to avoid spoilers.) In a nutshell, I wanted him to do the right thing. 

This story did have a marvelous blend of hearing and deaf characters. It taught Sal to embrace his size and not let other people’s opinions weigh him down. For that, I recommend this story to teens. 

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤1/2

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Meet the Author

Kristin has always been an avid reader of many kinds of books: young adult, adventure, fantasy, travel, the classics. As with her reading tastes, her novels don’t adhere to just one genre. You’ll find elements of fantasy and contemporary, books for young adults and those for middle grade readers. Travel often figures into her stories as well.

Kristin grew up in a small town in Connecticut and began writing after her daughter was born. She lives in Germany with her family, where she teaches English as a foreign language to adults. To find out more about Kristin and her current projects, take a look at her website: www.dethlefsenbooks.com or follow her on Twitter @dethlefsenbooks

 

 

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Orientella by Elisabeth Vildstjärna (Book Review)

 
 
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
 
 

I’ve been captivated by magical carpets ever since I first watched Aladdin. While the magic rug, known as Carpet, in the blockbuster movie was fascinating, it does not hold a candle to Orientella. She’s the Rolls-Royce of carpets with her 24-carat gold threads, made from the finest worms Angelland. While she is masterfully constructed, her uniqueness comes from her ability to speak and express emotions. She cares for her owner/roommate/friend deeply, so when Madame Algarine Castel gets abducted, she doesn’t give up until they are reunited. 

As one would imagine, flying on top of a magic carpet comes with potential hazards, which the characters experience. But, being a magical carpet has its dangers as well. To perform at its best, the wondrous rug has to stay tightly woven. In addition, it has to avoid villains who want to own and control them. Speaking of villains, I love the last name choice, Tarantula. 

All the above came into play, but luckily Orientella wasn’t alone on her journey. She has acquired new friends: a talking church mouse (Walter), a sometimes cranky kitty (Frizzle), and a young neighbor (Emilia), plus additional help along the way. 

Orientella by Elisabeth Vildstjärna was a glorious, imaginative, magical read containing suspense, shocking disclosures, and the legendary Loch Ness Monster. It’s a story that could benefit from more images strewn throughout because readers will want to see Persley, the pirate ship, the castle, and more action and adventure shots. The cover illustration by Henry Johannes Matilainen, though, was spectacular. I adored Frizzle’s facial expression. He looked like a true scaredy-cat, whereas Walter, the mouse, appeared to enjoy the ride of a lifetime. 

I could see this story appealing to three-year-olds, possibly four if it had more images. As it stands, I would recommend the book to school-age children. 

Buy the book; you won’t regret it! 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤

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Meet the Author

Elisabeth Vildstjärna is an author from Sweden who writes fantasy for middle graders.

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Seekers: The Winds of Change by Troy Knowlton (Book Review)

After an assassination attempt that could lead to an all-out war, Tyras and Oren, two young Seekers of the Argan Empire, are each given secret missions in an attempt to thwart the coming chaos. Both tasks require the Seekers to venture through the war-torn continent of Tiarna where the young men face mortal danger, horrible monsters, and hostile groups – all challenges Seekers are trained to combat. Luckily, the two Seekers also find guidance, friendship, and romance along the way. However, powerful and mysterious forces are conspiring behind the scenes and both Tyras and Oren will have to overcome a host of obstacles, including their own inner demons, in order to maintain a glimmer of hope for success. With war imminent and the unknown ahead, will the Seekers triumph, or will they be swallowed by the turbulent, relentless Winds of Change?

Set in a new, masterfully created high fantasy world, Seekers: The Winds of Change is perfect for fans of An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir and We Free the Stars by Hafsah Faisal.

 

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The Winds of Change by Troy Knowlton is advertised as a teen and YA fantasy book, but I think many adults will find this an exhilarating read. It did not lack action sequences. Various weaponry was used in battle: swords, arrows, cannons, bombs, and spears. Tyras and his fellow travelers faced dangers from humans, but they also had to face off against creatures. While the giant lizard (Widower) and scorpions (Barbarians’ mode of transportation in battle) would be frightening to encounter, I found the guglanni terrified me the most. They can eat through metal cages. Imagine what these oversized worms could do to a human bone. They are the stuff of nightmares! Plus, worms are just gross. 

This story did have life-and-death situations and multiple losses, but it also has romance. The scenes are not graphic, but I would suggest a parent read this book first to ensure their child won’t have an issue with the more intimate settings. As I stated in my opening sentence, this book is written with YA and teens in mind, but every child’s comfort zone is different. 

I know this book is a fantasy book, but I did have an issue with how the aftereffects of altercations were handled. For the most part, people got over severe injuries rather swiftly. I wouldn’t like to see the injuries restrict their ability to perform at their peak in the next battle. The pace of the book also seemed to have one speed. It was one life-and-death encounter after another, which is fine if that’s what you like. 

If you like fantasy books with a hint of romance, action, strong female characters, and quick-paced with surprising plot twists, please consider picking up The Winds of Change by Troy Knowlton! 

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: 

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About the Author

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Troy Knowlton always had a burning desire to tell stories. He started at a young age by drawing maps of made-up continents and fantasy kingdoms. The empty kingdoms beckoned to be given life, and his work eventually blossomed, leading him to create full narratives and characters for his worlds. He currently lives in California where he works as an X-Ray technologist and teacher when he isn’t writing. He’s also a great lover of history, currently working to earn his bachelor’s degree in History and Political Science.

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Spacekid iLK: Stranded! by Andrew Hammond (Book Review)

Spacekid iLK is a sci-fi comedy about an alien finding courage through connection.

iLK’s dad is an alien overlord that invades Earth, but finds ruling over this complex planet too annoying, so he hands it down to his son to look after. iLK resists, but ultimately find a diverse range of friends on Earth and discovers a planet that is worth protecting.

In book 2 – Stranded! – having only recently saved Earth from complete destruction, Spacekid iLK now finds himself stripped of his power and sent to school!

iLK must find a way to get his power back, in order to save the world, from the evil genius he accidentally left in charge – Emilio.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

Spacekid iLK: Stranded! by Andrew Hammond is a comedy, sci-fi novel illustrated with comics and cartoons. While the suggested reading age is 7-13, I (a mid-age person) was drawn to the story. The characters were lovable, and the plotline’s resolution was unique. 

iLK, an alien, came to Earth with his father. His father’s mission was to make Earth go boom. Thankfully, he didn’t carry out his orders. Instead, he put his son in charge of the planet, who then delegated the “boring stuff” to Emilio, a human. iLK and Emilio soon butted heads on who should run the world and be named King. Emilio suggests having a special election in forty-six days to decide who should rule the world.

While iLK plots to win the special election, more aliens arrive on the planet. It was funny how earthlings seemed to grow accustomed to being invaded by aliens from outer space. The “Bubbles” were so cute, and earthlings loved them. The bubble aliens went pop a lot – some by accident and some not. I might’ve been a person who popped them on purpose. 

This story had several storylines happening simultaneously, but they soon merged at the end. Humans and Glubwark aliens were working together to save the planet! 

As I said in my opening statement, this book had comedy. I know readers will laugh at the “villain” who has set out to destroy Earth and the means to defeat them. The illustrations will delight young readers. I loved them all, especially the image of a drooling midget fartfly from Squench. It was oddly cute. Oh, and Y-bot posing as a Philosophy teacher was humorous. iLK wondered why no one saw through Y-bot’s disguise. I have three words for you: Superman, Clark Kent. 

I 100% recommend this series to readers of sci-fi or comic books. 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: 

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Meet the Author

Andrew is a Writer, Illustrator and Director from London. He believes we all have the capacity to be creative and regularly attends schools, delivering comic book workshops, creating opportunities for kids to discover their own stories.

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