Book Review: Sophia Freeman and the Mysterious Fountain (Sophia Freeman, #1) by T.X. Troan

Sophia Freeman and the Mysterious Fountain by T.X. Troan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Imaginative and exciting middle-grade fantasy adventure!

Sophia Freeman and the Mysterious Fountain is the first book in author T.X. Troan's middle-grade fantasy series featuring the poor little rich girl left alone on a mysterious island. The author has created a magical world filled with mythical beings and talking, walking trees, all working to defeat an evil and powerful island demon.

The main character is Sophia Freeman, the motherless daughter of a wealthy and often too-busy business tycoon. While able to have any physical object her heart desires, what she wants most is the love and understanding of her workaholic father. Despite the fulfillment of her every whim, Sophia is a kind and compassionate child, showing entitled or bratty behavior only on rare occasions, even after being left behind on her father's newly acquired island.

Sophia's main supporter in her predicament is the fledgling island guardian, a tree boy named Silimon. Adventure ensues as he tries to get her the help she needs to survive until her father returns to rescue her and take her home. As the two youngsters make their way around the island, they encounter its many magical and mythical inhabitants, including the spirit of the entrapped island demon whose curse has long affected all who have set foot on his former island domain.

The plot moves quickly with exciting twists and turns as the island's secrets and Sophia's reason for being stranded there come to light. The ending isn't a final resolution to Sophia's story but a jumping-off point for the next adventure in the series.

I recommend SOPHIA FREEMAN AND THE MYSTERIOUS FOUNTAIN to upper elementary and middle-school-aged readers who enjoy stories of adventure, magic, and mystery, and for reading aloud at home, school, or after-school settings.

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Audiobook Review: Living at the Edge of the World - Spring (Papala Island Adventure, #2) by S.J. Barratt

Living at the Edge of the World - Spring by S.J. Barratt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Viking history and modern-day treasure hunters clash on a small, isolated island.

Living at the Edge of the World – Spring is the second book in author S.J. Barratt's Papala Island Adventure series and, once again, excitement visits the tiny, remote island in the Scottish Shetlands. When tween twins Timothy and Tabitha Brown and their friends uncover what may be the most perfectly preserved Viking helmet ever found, their excitement draws unscrupulous thieves to their remote community, and they will stop at nothing to get their hands on the valuable ancient artifact!

Readers are returned to Papala Island, a small island on the far reaches of Scotland's Shetland Islands, where Tim and Tabitha are nearing the end of their stay with their Great-uncle Tamhas. With only a few weeks left before their departure and return to their London home, mother, and father, the twins are sad to leave their newfound friends and the close-knit community that made them so welcome. While Tim will miss all the opportunities still available to expand his knowledge of life and the island, Tabitha has really grown up during her sojourn, and the place and its people have become her new life. Her innocent announcement of their discovery of the Viking helmet on her social media accounts, though, has unexpected consequences.

The plot is exciting and full of local lore and nature. Readers who enjoy stories with a lot of interaction with animals will find themselves right at home among the pages. I was glad their leave-taking was gentle, with a proper plan for returning during their upcoming summer break from school. No tearful scenes or traumatic incidents to delay their departure.

Gill Mills narrates the audiobook, and her performance really brings the twins, their friends, and their family to life. While it took me a little while to connect with Mills's accent (so very different from the voices in my part of the world), once I did, I clearly imagined all the characters and the story's excitement and emotions.

I recommend LIVING AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD – SPRING to middle-grade readers and listeners, and for reading aloud at home, in the classroom, or at after-school programs.

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Audiobook Review: Living at the Edge of the World - Winter (Papala Island Adventure, #1) by S.J. Barratt

Living at the Edge of the World: Winter: The Papala Island Adventure Series, Book 1 by S.J. Barratt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fun, middle-grade fish out of water story.

Living at the Edge of the World – Winter by S.J. Barratt introduces readers to Timothy and Tabitha Brown, twin tweens from London, sent to spend a couple of months with their Great-uncle Tamhas, who lives on the isolated island of Papala in the Scottish Shetland Islands, while their parents take a round-the-world cruise. While Tim is delighted, excited by the prospect of exploring the small island and learning as much as he can about his temporary home, Tabs is completely out of sorts with the lack of amenities and WiFi that are always available in London.

Although the twins, brother and sister, are temperamentally opposites and there’s very little crossover in their interests, they get along very well, and their casual banter is cause for quite a few laughs. They are close and obviously love each other. Problems arise from Tabitha’s privileged attitudes, which lead her to believe she knows better than their local friend, Fenella, and her refusal to listen puts them all in a dangerous situation. Eventually, she comes to acknowledge her responsibility for her actions. I enjoyed how she grew up and came to love the island as much as her brother and the 30-odd souls who call Papala home. I loved how her Uncle Tamhas was so low-key, patient, and, I think, deliberately obtuse about her TikSnap social media obsession and desire to become a successful influencer. However, it was her special expertise that helped her foil a dangerous scheme by a group of older boys on the mainland later in the story.

The story handles the children’s separation from their parents, friends, home, and the only life they’ve ever known gently, and Tabitha’s change in attitude is subtle and gradual. There are plenty of places for discussion, not only of Tabitha’s behavior, but of the culture and nature of the Shetlands, and there’s never a feeling of being lectured to in the narrative.

The audiobook edition, narrated by Gill Mills, was initially a little difficult to follow because I was unaccustomed to her accent and the Shetlandic dialect. But once I synced with the cadence and delivery, I was absorbed by the story. However, Tabitha’s whining and complaining at the start of the book was so strident and shrill, I worried I wouldn’t be able to stick with it for long. Thankfully, Tabitha’s voice mellowed as she settled into life on Papala.I recommend LIVING AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD – WINTER to middle-grade readers and listeners who enjoy exciting and warm adventure tales, and for use at home, in the classroom, or after-school programs.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Silver Dagger Book Tours.

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Children's Book Review: Gonzales The Street Cat (The Adventures of Gonzales, #1) by Kitty Mae Grucelska

Gonzales The Street Cat: A Feline Adventure for Travellers, Cat Lovers, and Fans of True Animal Stories by Kitty May Gruchelska
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Gonzales’s first adventure in which he adopts his hoomans!

Gonzales The Street Cat by Kitty Mae Gruchelska, is the first book in a planned series for middle-grade readers, featuring the adventures of a feisty young male feline found living on the streets in Yasmin, named Gonzales by his humans. Gonzales and his fellow street cats spend their days napping in hidden nooks and crannies and their nights searching for enough scraps of food to stay alive. However, when a new couple moves onto their street and leaves food and water dishes outside their front door for the strays, Gonzales begins to consider adopting them as his own family to ensure food and shelter security. The decision is not an easy one for the young cat; he has been disappointed by humans before, and he must consider trading the life he knows for the unknown.

The story unfolds through the eyes of Gonzales, a fun white and orange alley cat, with an attitude you can easily accept coming from a cat. His inner dialogue is priceless, and the banter among the close-knit cat gang of Street 122 is brilliant.

While Gonzales is privy to his humans’ discussion of their plans and his future, much goes over his head, so he’s in for a surprise when they decide to move and take him with them. Of course, that decision leads to moments of pure chaos for Kitty and Jack, and confusion, fear, and discomfort for Gonzales, but eventually results in a happy ending and a lot of entertainment for readers.

I recommend GONZALES THE STREET CAT for middle-grade readers who like stories prominently featuring cats.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy through RABT Book Tours and PR.

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Children's Book Review: The Lost Journals of Bud Wiper by S.M. Morgan

The Lost Journals of Bud Wiper - A Middle Grade Adventure Kids Will Love: An Exciting Adventure Full of Life Lessons and a Healthy Dose of Potty Humor for Kids by S.M. Morgan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A likable and relatable main character and an adventuresome story from the past!

After his father's death, Teddy Larson's mother relocates them to the town of Ravenwood for a fresh start. School is already in full swing, so Teddy is a newcomer to Ravenwood Middle School in the middle of the semester. On his first day, he not only attracts a lot of stares from the other kids but also draws the attention of the school bully, Zane.

With students having already formed their friends' groups, Teddy feels completely isolated, so he talks his mother into letting him skip school on Friday of his first week. His mother, a real estate agent, is readying a spooky old mansion in town for sale, inventorying its contents before listing, so Teddy accompanies her and explores the old place while she works. In a secret room, he discovers a box of old journals written by the house's previous owner when he was a boy, the same age as Teddy is now. Intrigued, Teddy takes the first volume of the journals home that night.

Back at school, Zane and his cronies delight in tormenting the lonely boy. Still, when Teddy accidentally bloodies Zane's nose during an ambush in the boys' restroom, there are unexpected consequences. Three against one convince the principal that Zane's story that Teddy attacked HIM earns Teddy swats and a two-day suspension. However, on his return to school, he discovers that the story that he bested the bully has circulated throughout the school and has gained him some new friends.

Bud Wiper's journals are riveting reading for the miserable Teddy. Beginning in 1949, they detail Bud's daily life, revealing that he, too, is lonely. As the only child of wealthy parents, Bud is often left at home in the care of the butler while his parents travel the world in search of treasure. However, one day the butler brings him a strange letter written in code, and when the secret message is revealed, Bud is shocked to learn that his parents have gone missing, and he needs to mount a rescue. The story hooks Teddy, and due to his continued school misfortunes, it may be the only thing that helps him make it through each day.

The Lost Journals of Bud Wiper is a fun, adventure-filled story for middle-grade or older elementary-age readers that even reluctant readers will enjoy. Teddy is sweet, likable, and oh-so-misunderstood, making him a perfectly relatable hero sure to capture the imagination.

The story switches point of view from Teddy to Bud as pages of the journal are read. While both boys experience a lot, Bud's adventures are much more action-hero-oriented: think "Indiana Jones." In Teddy's case, "Revenge of the Nerds" would be more apropos. Both are fun and compelling reading.

The adults in Teddy's life are exceptionally clueless about what is going on between him and Zane. While I was somewhat disturbed by this, young readers will probably relate to a time when they felt they had been treated unfairly. The story leaves a couple of ideas unexplored that, hopefully, are bridges to future Bud Wiper journal adventures. I certainly would pick up any sequels to this book.

With its likable and highly relatable main character and the adventuresome story from the past, I recommend THE LOST JOURNALS OF BUD WIPER to elementary students ready for chapter books and middle-grade readers, especially those falling in the reluctant reader category.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tours.

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