Review: Fierce Winds and Fiery Dragons by Nan Sweet

 

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy/Adventure

Description:

“Ivy and Carrie love their new classroom even if the new teacher is a little strange. When Mrs. Huffity asks for volunteers to care for an egg, Ivy doesn’t budge. She’s had a few scary dreams about that egg and wants nothing to do with it.

But when trouble comes, Ivy defends the egg. In her desire to save the baby that hatches, Ivy is tossed into the middle of an adventure. She discovers more than she ever wanted to know about fierce winds and fiery dragons.”

Author:

“About Nan Sweet: I don't eat dragons, fairies, or toadstools, although I will admit to swallowing the occasional gnat. One really couldn't swallow a dragon or fairy without full knowledge. In addition, I write. You'll find my books are full of adventures and well, dragons. Soon I'll be entering a new galaxy with a science fiction adventure. I look forward to seeing you there.”

To learn more about Ms. Sweet you can visit her website or follow heron Facebook.

Appraisal:

Fierce Winds and Fiery Dragons is quite an elaborate fantasy tale. Ivy and Carrie are best friends starting fifth grade with a teacher who is new to the school. Mrs. Huffity is strange. Her voice changes to a low gravely sound at times and she says what sounds like a prophecy to the girls. Mrs. Huffity seems to be hiding this colorful egg by assigning kids to take the egg home with them and then bring it back to class the following day. All the kids think the egg is a fake, except Ivy, who has been having bad dreams about the egg. However, when Ivy and Carrie see David, who was assigned to babysit the egg, stuff the egg in his locker for the night, they break into his locker and take the egg for safe keeping.

Both girls are thrown into a fantasy world full of strange creatures. Carrie is captured and thrown into a cage in an underground world whose inhabitants live in darkness. Ivy ends above ground, abandoned after a heroic rescue mission. Then she navigates this strange world trying to find Mrs. Huffity or Carrie, while trying not to get eaten.

This is a unique story that will capture a middle grade student’s interest with an adventure that is exciting, a bit tense, and a bit frightening at times. Fierce Winds and Fiery Dragons also explores familial dynamics and friendships. The journey of these two friends were different, and fun to watch as they grew more confident in their ability to face whatever life throws at them.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Fierce Winds and Fiery Dragons is book 1 in Sweet’s, Dusky Hollows Series.

Format/Typo Issues:

The only significant proofing issue I found was the author spelled Barry’s name, Barrie -- one time. Barry is a secondary character so it was a minor detail to me.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 40-45,000 words

Review: Diamond of Aether by Scott L. Collins

Genre: Middle Grade/Epic Fantasy/Adventure/Coming of Age

Description:

“One more gem to complete the Scepter. One more battle, this time with everything at stake. A small band has rebelled against the evil king and fought to reunite the power of the Scepter of Harmony before confronting him in a fight to free the kingdom from his brutal rule.

Daniel, Aidan, and friends search out the Diamond of Aether, the last missing stone, before planning their assault on Argyle. How can one small group of teens hope to defeat the most ruthless king the land has ever known? How can they hope to launch an assault on a fortress guarded by everyone Argyle has called to defend him?

The time has come to put an end to the chase, one way or the other.”

Author:

 “Scott Collins was born and raised in Southern California but relocated to the Denver area following the birth of the first of his two sons. Days' End was his debut novel but has since switched to Middle Grade Fantasy so he can share his writing with his young boys. In addition to writing, he enjoys spending his free time (with two kids that's not much time) running and cycling.”

You may visit Mr. Collins’ Amazon Author page or follow him on Facebook.

Appraisal:

The quest of our small group of heroes is to restore the Scepter of Harmony to reestablish peace in the kingdom. Lilli can feel the last gem to recover is deep inside the White Mountain, but not how to get to it. Aidan’s dragon friend may be able to help, but even that plan is sketchy.

Even if they get the last gem, they have to build an army to storm Argyle’s castle. They have been lucky enough to make some allies during their quest. Surprisingly, they find some strong allies in the least likely creatures in one of the saddest moments. These men are able to help Daniel to hone and finalize their plans of attacking the castle.

Diamond of Aether is action packed and enthralling. War is a nasty business and there are losses. Storytelling is a great way to instill morals in our children as they grow. Our heroes learn some powerful lessons during this quest, and they take them all to heart. Scott Collins has done a wonderful job weaving together many fantastical beasts and elements in this epic fantasy series. I hope I’m not giving anything away when I say Aidan has a new awesome gift bestowed on him and there is a budding romance, which made me smile.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Diamond of Aether is book five in the Scepter Series. This series builds on each other. I would recommend starting with book one, Scepter.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 70-75,000 words

Review: Ghosters 3: Secrets of the Bloody Tower by Diana Corbitt

Genre: Middle Grade/Paranormal Mystery/Ghosts

Description:

“When Theresa and her little brother Joey tour The Tower of London with their good friend Kerry, the kids expect to see a ghost or two, but they never imagined they’d find themselves involved in one of history’s most infamous missing person cases. They’ve got a pair of very impatient spirits on their hands and for good reason. The two 15th-century English princes have been forced to haunt The Tower for more than five-hundred years, all because someone else is buried in their Westminster Abbey tomb.” 

Author:

“Diana Corbitt is a retired elementary school teacher living in northern California. Her work has appeared in Bewildering Stories and Encounters Magazine. She had a podcast on Manor House and one of her short stories was anthologized in Wax and Wane: A Gathering of Witch Tales.”

To learn more about Ms. Corbitt check out her website.

Appraisal:

In this addition to the Ghosters series, Theresa, Kerry, and Joey get to take a hop across the pond. Theresa and Joey Martinez’s father is an author who is invited to do a two-week book tour in the United Kingdom. It would be an educational trip for the kids, and a shame for them to miss out on. It would also be a bummer if they had to traipse their father around to all the book tour stops. Luckily, their good friend and fellow ghost chaser, Kerry Addison, is from England and her grandmother lives in London. Grandma is more than willing to have the three kids stay with her while dad is gallivanting around the countryside on his book tour. It’s been a year since Gran has seen Kerry, so she’s overjoyed about the visit. Gran happens to be a retired history professor and an ex-tour guide at the Towers of London, so she knows the best attractions to get the kids tickets for. She is also ghost savvy. 

Not two days into their visit Gran suffers an appendicitis attack and ends up in the hospital. Luckily Aunt Ginny lives right next door to Gran. The kids are allowed to tour London on their own during the day since Gran has it all planned out for them, then they’ll report back to Aunt Ginny’s every evening for dinner.

When a small boy appears to Joey in the Bloody Tower, he and the girls are curious. When they see the boy’s likeness in the portrait gallery, they are off and running to try to figure out why he and his brother are stuck in a small Bloody Tower room instead of properly buried in Westminster Abby, where their bones belong. They learn that there was scuttlebutt back in the day that the two young princes were murdered and their bodies hidden in an unmarked grave. No one knows whose bones are actually in the Abby in their place.

It’s a fun and educational adventure. As you can imagine there are lots of ghosts around London, some are new and some hundreds of years old, many of which are friendly and helpful or in need of help. Each encounter is different and engaging.

Poor Kerry has to lug around her electronic thingamajigs just to see and hear the blasted ghosts. And it’s always entertaining when Joey, who has Asperger syndrome, often takes words, rules, and common phrases quite literally. He also doesn’t like to be touched, so strangers aren’t allowed in his bubble. However, his sister, Theresa or Kerry, are always close by to protect, or explain situations and phrases for him. I especially enjoyed the times Theresa and Kerry tried to explain rule breaking to Joey, so he’d understand that sometimes rules have to be broken for the greater good.

Secrets of the Bloody Tower is a delightful romp through London with a big finale that makes this trip even more memorable. Don’t miss out on this story.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Secrets of the Bloody Tower is book 3 in Diana Corbitt’s, GHOSTERS Series.

Format/Typo Issues:

A small number of proofing misses, such as missing, extra, or wrong words.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 60-65,000 words

Reprise Review: Adventures of the Tooth Fairies: The Wobbler! by S. de la Perrelle

Genre: Middle Grade

Description:

“When Isabella, the tooth fairy, falls foul of a trap to capture her, it is up to her lifelong friend, Jamie, to mount a fearless rescue.

Isabella is not only captured but she also loses her magical powers; she is a prisoner with no means of escaping by herself.

Her only chance of freedom is if Jamie realizes that she is missing and can get to her before it is too late.

Will Jamie find Isabella?

Will he suffer the same fate as his lifelong friend?

Will they manage to escape and return home safely?

This is an original story with a modern twist on the classic tooth fairy character.

The fairies are both male and female and they use computers to hold their tooth schedules.”

Author:

An English native, de la Perrelle is fulfilling her lifetime dream to write after a long and successful career.

For more, visit de la Perrelle’s Facebook page.

Appraisal:

“Crash, bang, clang, clatter! Isabella was rudely shaken from her peaceful slumber.”

A simple, yet powerful, first two lines that struck me as especially good. Already, we have a conflict developing to pull the reader in. It worked for me and it worked for “The Princess,” my nine year-old granddaughter, who assisted me with her thoughts on The Wobbler! This is the first of three books planned in a series of tooth fairy adventures. It’s well edited with a modern fairy tale storyline and story world that should appeal to children of many ages. The vocabulary and length are perfect for ages eight to ten and would be ideal for a parent or older sibling to read to younger kids.

The Princess enjoyed The Wobbler!, giving it a letter grade of A-. Her favorite part was when the main character, Isabella, got “trapped.” I don’t want to say too much about this to avoid spoilers, but I can say that this happens relatively early in the book and is the first major crisis, setting up the rest of the story. The Princess was drawn into Isabella’s dilemma, wondering, “what’s going to happen next?” Strange (at least to me) was when I asked The Princess her least favorite part of the story and she said it was Isabella’s “complaining” after getting trapped. This didn’t seem extreme to me and only emphasized her desperate situation. I guess The Princess wanted her to “suck it up” and get on with problem solving, trying to figure out how to get out of the trap.

Although The Princess liked the book, she suggested that, while kids up to nine or slightly older would enjoy reading The Wobbler!, the book was ideally suited for reading to younger kids who “still believe in the tooth fairy.”

Buy now from:       Amazon US           Amazon UK

FYI:

UK spelling conventions.

The book has some illustrations that render well in black and white for an eink Kindle, but to get the full flavor, a Fire or other color capable reader or app would be slightly better.

Added for Reprise Review: Adventures of the Tooth Fairies: The Wobbler! by S. de la Perrelle was the WINNER in the Children's Books category for B&P 2013 Readers' Choice Awards. Original review ran February 14, 2013.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl with input from The Princess

Approximate word count: 10-15,000 words

Review: Ghosters 2: Revenge of the Library Ghost by Diana Corbitt

Genre: Middle Grade/Paranormal Mystery/Ghosts

Description:

” A 6th grade class's weekly visit to their school library suddenly goes sideways when an angry ghost attacks. Lights go off and on and air conditioning vents blast icy wind, making books fly and terrified children run screaming.

The only ones not running are Joey Martinez and Elbie Bird.

Yes, Joey has autism, and Elbie has ADHD. But that's not why the boys aren't frightened.

They've seen this type of thing before.

As resident of an actual haunted house, a haunted school library is no big deal to Joey. It's also nothing special to his new best friend. Having lived over a funeral home his entire life, Elbie has seen quite a few ghosts himself.

But why is the ghost so mad, and what does it want?

The boys don't know, but if they're ever going to check out another book, they'll have to solve this ghostly mystery. Luckily, Joey's sister Theresa and her friend Kerry are there to help.  

The second book of the series, Ghosters 2 is about pulling pranks, friendship, but most importantly, helping others.”

Author:

“Diana Corbitt is a retired elementary school teacher living in northern California. Her work has appeared in Bewildering Stories and Encounters Magazine. She had a podcast on Manor House and one of her short stories was anthologized in Wax and Wane: A Gathering of Witch Tales.”

To learn more about Ms. Corbitt check out her website.

Appraisal:

Joey Martinez and Elbie Bird are sixth grade friends whose class is in the school library when a ghost starts wreaking havoc. Neither of these two boys are bothered by ghosts, they are part of their daily life. Joey Martinez lives in a haunted house with his older sister, Theresa, and their father. Joey, who narrates the story, is a high functioning Asperger's/autism spectrum individual. He struggles with social cues, sarcasm, and takes things quite literally. It is enlightening to watch as he works through his neurotypical world for understanding. Elbie struggles with ADHD, and has lived over a funeral home his entire life. Ghosts are nothing new to either of these boys.

The problem is finding a way to communicate with each ghost. Since this ghost is holding a new book Joey wants to check out hostage, he has to figure out why the ghost is angry and how he and his side-kick Elbie can help set things right. Thankfully they have Joey’s older sister, Theresa, and her ghost-chasing friend Kerry. It’s interesting and educational to watch how Joey navigates in his neurotypical world as we are often in his head. This will benefit all young readers understanding classmates who struggle with a similar diagnosis.  

The story is engaging and has many twists that call for Theresa’s and Kerry’s involvement. It is a complicated plot the kids need to work through. There are plenty of humorous moments to ease the tension. The climax is brilliant with lots of action as these four friends satisfy the ghostly entity’s desires. And Joey gets the book he wanted.

In the aftermath Elbie and Kerry are having a difficult time keeping things to themselves because of an ongoing criminal investigation. There are some good things happening around their school library now. Then Elbie and Joey are asked to come straight to Elbie’s house after school for a heartwarming end of the book. These two supposedly challenged boys not only brought justice to one spirit they also succeeded in improving the resting place for many other spirits.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

  

FYI:

Revenge of the Library Ghost is the second book of the Ghosters series. 

Format/Typo Issues:

The book file I was given was a formatting nightmare and should have been tossed. However, I liked the characters so I plowed through. In looking at the version now available on Amazon it appears these issues have been fixed, so no stars were deducted.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 50-55,000 words

Review: Magical Princess Harriet by Leiah Moser

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy/Jewish Mysticism/LGBTQ

Description:

“To put it simply, Harris Baumgartner was late to school on the first day of the seventh grade because something he saw in the abandoned lot at the end of his street changed his life forever…”

“Middle school can be tough, especially when you can’t figure out whether you’re supposed to be a boy or a girl. Homework and gym class are hard enough to deal with, but what exactly do you do when a pushy angel shows up insisting you’re a magical princess and that it’s your job to defend your school from the forces of darkness? For Harris Baumgartner, only one thing is certain — life is about to get a lot more complicated!”

Author:

Rabbi, author, teacher, fairy stepmother, and noted headscarf enthusiast Leiah Moser was ordained as a rabbi in the Reconstructionist Movement in 2017. Her first book, Magical Princess Harriet, was published in 2018. When not expanding the boundaries of Jewish fantasy fiction she works as a freelance teacher, endeavoring in her own quirky yet effective way to make the priceless treasures of Talmud and Jewish mysticism available and accessible to students from all walks of life… She lives in Philadelphia with her husband Ross and his amazing kids.

To learn more about Rabbi Moser please visit her website.

Appraisal:

Wow, I had no idea what I was stepping into with this book. I was looking for something different, and I sure found it. Twelve year-old Harris Baumgartner and his mother have recently moved into a smaller more affordable house after Mr. Baumgartner deserted his small family. With no explanation to Harris, whose life is already complicated enough moving up to a new middle-grade school. Francis, his Autistic best friend, has struggled her whole young life in a neurotypical world.  

So, Magical Princess Harriet tackles a lot of serious issues with compassion. I am not even close to this books demographic audience, I am not Jewish, transgender, Middle Grade aged, or Autistic. However, you do not need to be to enjoy this fantasy story that encompasses and explores all of these issues. The Jewish lore and magic is fascinating and endeavors to educate the reader in all its facets. Each chapter is started with statements or truths to Judaism lore.  

There is also one other character who Harris/Harriet and Francis accept into their tight knit friendship. Aiden is a school outcast who expresses his inability to fit in with his Goth wardrobe. This trio works together to support each other while they fight an evil that threatens not only their school but the town and eventually the downfall of the whole world if not stopped. The characters are diverse, well-developed and likeable. The settings are multiple and described well enough to put you right where the action is.

I did find the whole book a little wordy at times, but it has a lot of good lessons on morality, acceptance, and life. I also enjoyed the humor to lighten the gravity of such heavy subjects. The story ends with harmony and I can see more stories being told with these three friends.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

Format/Typo Issues:

A small number of proofing issues.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 80-85,000 words

Review: The Night Before Krampus by Peter Johnson

Genre: Folk Tale/Middle Grade/YA/Fantasy/Christmas

Description:

“It’s two days before Christmas and a quiet Rhode Island town is about to be visited by a number of unexpected guests—including a pair of very different Krampuses. Are they there to protect the innocent, or to exact revenge for a long-forgotten tragedy? Some curses fade over time, while others grow stronger. In this homage to Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, a young boy named Christoph and his friends must find some way to atone for a wrong committed a generation before they were born.”

Author:

“Peter Johnson is the critically acclaimed author of several collections of poetry, short stories, and YA and middle grade novels… Johnson is the recipient of two creative writing awards from Rhode Council on the Arts and a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. He is a Professor Emeritus at Providence College where he still teaches, and he lives in Barrington, RI with his family and his black pug, Winnie.”

To learn more please check out his website.

Appraisal:

The Night Before Krampus is a deliciously twisted novella about a curse, which has taken a generation to come to fruition. It takes place in a small Rhode Island town where two wealthy, bigoted, mean-spirited men decide to run a small destitute family out of town. Despite some well-meaning citizens’ compassion, they succeed. All to protect the town’s economic standing.

The story is told through an omniscient narrator with multiple points-of-view that centers mostly on a small group of middle schoolers. Christoph, Clarisse, Bullet, a recent new comer, and Studs, the school bully. The town has also attracted some strange new citizens recently. Like the new disabled and kindhearted baker, Mr. Engle, who is delightful. Ms. Bright who is the new drama teacher directing the school Christmas play, The Night Before Krampus. And Adrian Hasty, the creature posing as Bullet’s father.

Mr. Johnson weaves this contemporary tale of old world creatures, ghosts, magic, and humor into a captivating and entertaining Christmas story. Compassion rises in the most unlikely places as the story unfolds. The theme is a classic good struggling to overcome evil, with the possibility of redemption. Which is why no two Krampus stories will ever be the same. I am glad I picked up this novella, it was a frightfully fun read with heart.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Some scenes could be distressing to readers.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 35-40,000 words

Review: The Sapphire of Poseidon by Scott L. Collins

Genre: Middle Grade/Adventure/Epic Fantasy

Description:

“With the Emerald and Ruby now reunited with the Scepter of Harmony, the rebellious group of children intent on overthrowing the malevolent King Argyle must face a new challenge: recovering the Sapphire of Poseidon. In order for the full power of the Scepter to be restored, the jewel must be inserted back into the staff.

With Argyle now at war with Queen Kyrie, and his ships scouting the lake to locate her, as well as the realm of the Merfolk, the small band of insurgents must find a way to cross the Great Lake while avoiding not only Argyle's fleet, but the kraken he's released in an attempt to draw the Queen of the Lake into battle.

Time is running short as Argyle is sure to figure out their plans for bringing together all the pieces of the Scepter. Once he does, it'll be a race to recover the remaining gems, and if Argyle finds one first, the fight, and the kingdom, will be lost forever.”

Author:

“Scott Collins was born and raised in Southern California but relocated to the Denver area following the birth of the first of his two sons. Days' End was his debut novel but has since switched to Middle Grade Fantasy so he can share his writing with his young boys. In addition to writing, he enjoys spending his free time (with two kids that's not much time) running and cycling.”

You may visit Mr. Collins’ Amazon Author page or stalk him onFacebook.

Appraisal:

The Sapphire of Poseidon is packed with adventure, battles, and life transforming lessons. This small diverse band of rebels grow closer to each other than ever before, while their numbers increase as well. I think I can safely say they will all be friends for life.

Their quest is to restore the Scepter of Harmony to restore peace in the kingdom. At the beginning of this book the young rebels have recovered two gems for the scepter and are searching for the third. The last known location was the island of Lethe in the Great Lake. So the group has to figure out how to get a ship and sail it. Once the scepter is restored their goal is to overthrow the evil King Argyle and free his slave camps. Their biggest obstacle, by far, is that King Argyle is a sorcerer who conjures with spells.  

The storyline twists and turns as circumstances change and deadly risks are taken. I love the way that Daniel, the oldest, is their unassuming leader. No choice is made without consulting with the whole group before a decision is made, be it a path or an action taken. Except the one time when Daniel felt like he had to jump on an opportunity when it presented itself and in the process gained the questers some new allies. Daniel’s cool head helps him to keep focus where it belongs. At center stage through much of the novel is Aiden, Daniel’s younger brother, and his special abilities.

The Sapphire of Poseidon is jam-packed with adventure and all I can say about the ending is you better hold on tight! The tension runs high with drama when the kraken show up. Emotions and endurance are tested. Young teens will enjoy the action and adventure, while absorbing the best qualities from each character without realizing it. That’s what I enjoy most about reading quality novels with well identifiable characters. All ages will enjoy this addition to the Scepter series.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

The Sapphire of Poseidon is book four in the Scepter Series. The books are starting to build on each other. I would recommend starting with book one, Scepter.

Format/Typo Issues:

I found a small number of minor proofing errors. Such as missing words, wrong words, or an extra word.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 70-75,000 words

Reprise Review: The Hunt for the Well Hidden Treasure by Bob Sheard and Timothy Taylor

Genre: Middle Grade/Action/Adventure/Mystery/Detectives

Description:

Will Grainger is new to Knightsbridge, California. Since his parents’ separation, Will has relocated five times in six years. This time, Will is hoping to establish some roots and make a few friends. When the remains of the notorious Spanish pirate, El Cazador are unearthed in Knightsbridge, gold fever erupts, bringing thousands of treasure seekers to the sleepy California town.

Author:

Timothy Taylor traveled around a lot as a kid to places like California, Massachusetts, and Saudi Arabia. He loved reading mysteries and decided he’d write one too for kids like his son.

Bob Sheard, a web publisher, enjoys writing, investing, and spending quality time with his wife and two children in and around Cincinnati, Ohio.

Appraisal:

In a fast-paced descriptive style middle grade students enjoy, the writing team of Bob Sheard and Timothy Taylor tell a fascinating story of friendship, mystery, and adventure.

While researching in the town’s public library, Will meets other seventh graders with treasure fever. Mikey is an electronics buff, Susan is a computer wiz, and Evelyn has an amazing aptitude for photography. Joined with Will’s knowledge of the outdoors, these young sleuths are seemingly unbeatable, except for the fact that professional treasure hunters are on their tail willing to prevent their success at all costs.

The Hunt for the Well Hidden Treasure is an exciting read for kids, teens, and adults alike.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Added for Reprise Review: The Hunt for the Well Hidden Treasure was a nominee in the Children's/Middle Grade category for B&P 2015 Readers' Choice Awards. Original review ran May 12, 2014.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: Michael Thal

Approximate word count: 40-45,000 words

Reprise Review: Kid Nitro and the Sinister Slorp by Rusty Sherill

Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy/Children’s/Middle Grade

Description:

Rusty Palmer is a precocious little boy who perceives himself to be an imaginary super hero straight out of comic books. This week he thinks he’s Kid Nitro about to battle “mutant brain-eaters from the planet Ploog.” When he witnesses a meteor streak through the sky and plop near his backyard, Kid Nitro soon finds out he’s about to become the focus of a real battle for the survival of Earth itself.

Author:

Rusty Sherill started out his professional career as a graphic artist in the clothing industry. Since then, he has free-lanced for the movie industry, comic book companies, and advertising agencies. Today, Mr. Sherill lives in Big Bear City, CA with his wife, Cathy. Kid Nitro and the Sinister Slorp is his first novel.

Appraisal:

Author Rusty Sherill has created a very entertaining novel for kids: Kid Nitro and the Sinister Slorp. The protagonist, Kid Nitro, imagines himself to be a super hero. However, soon he encounters an alien sphere from outer space. Quickly, the sphere takes over the boy’s life, to Kid Nitro’s glee. Along the way, readers will meet Kid Nitro’s nemesis, Catherine, a fellow third grader whose only flaw is her feminine gender. Then there’s best friend B4U who sees himself as a rapper who speaks only in rhyme.

Kid Nitro encounters aliens in space, weird monsters, and the indestructible Slorp, a planet eater with a bottomless pit for a stomach.

Parents will enjoy reading this book to their children, for some vocabulary and concepts may be too advanced for elementary age children to understand. Kid Nitro and the Sinister Slorp could provide entertaining hours for parents and kids to bond as they laugh and bite their nails over Kid Nitro’s exciting adventure.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Added for Reprise Review: Kid Nitro and the Sinister Slorp was a nominee in the Children/Middle Grade category for B&P 2015 Readers' Choice Awards. Original review ran February 4, 2015

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: Michael Thal

Approximate word count: 55-60,000 words