Ayan's Book Review
People of the Sun

-by Ben Gartner

People of the Sun is the third book in the Eye of Ra series, and it's the best yet.

In People of the Sun, John and Sarah are confronted by an earthquake. During the earthquake, two mysterious figures whisked them away through time. 

With the knowledge of the origins of the Ra device comes responsibility—their hardest mission yet: stopping Toci, who is making changes to the Aztec civilization. But, what makes this mission next to impossible is the fact that time is more elusive than it seems.

The themes in this book include perseverance and courage. (You should see John’s courage as he conducts the prison escape. It was pretty cool.)

Once again, Ben Gartner makes the beginning of this book kick off with a plot twist. I find that this is the thing to kick off another exhilarating time-travel adventure.

I recommend this book as a read-aloud for 8+ and as a reader for 9+.

I give this book 5/5 stars as it’s sure to whisk you away.

     

Ayan's Book Review
Monster Problems

-by Jason R Lady

Monster Problems by Jason R Lady is an engaging middle-grade read.

Brad Micheal is a normal kid who loves to draw. When he receives a pen delivered by a mysterious black crow, he feels compelled to draw with it, so he draws a picture of a Daley-Destroyer, a monster that can destroy Brad’s annoying little brother. But the pen Brad was using turned out to be a magic pen...and the monster turned real. Can Brad and his friends save Daley, defeat the Daley-Destroyer, and protect the magic pen...all before it’s too late? Join Brad in this captivating escapade to find out!

The pacing of this book is awesome, and the book gets more and more suspenseful as you read through it.

I recommend this book as a read-aloud for 5+ and as a reader for 7+ as I think it will be easy even for younger readers.

I give this book 5/5 stars as it’s sure to glue your hands to the book.

Happy reading!

-Ayan

P.S. It would be good if you read this book first and then its prequel (Super Problems) to better understand the story.

     

Ayan's Book Review
The Verdigris Pawn

-by Alysa Wishingrad

The Verdigris Pawn by Alyssa Wishingard is a fantastic middle-grade novel that is hard to put down.

Beau is the heir to the throne, and trouble is brewing. Evidence of the talk of rebellion has been coming up, a charmer is supposedly using natural disasters to create havoc, and people are forced to send their children to work due to high taxes. Beau doesn’t know about any of this until a nursemaid informs him. Seeking to fix this, he sets out to try his hand at killing three birds with one stone.

This book is similar to The Kingdom of Secrets as both have a kingdom with the notion of a rebellion that the main character sets out to investigate.

This book’s plot is suspenseful right from the start and kept me captivated till the end. But in the middle, there’s a surprising set of plot-twists…

I recommend this book as a read-aloud for 9+ and as a reader for 10+ as there were some scenes at the end that younger readers might not be able to handle.

I give this book 5/5 stars as it’s a great middle-grade read.

    

Ayan's Book Review
One if by Land, Two if by Submarine

-by Eileen Schnabel

Are you ready for an action, adventure, and time-travel book? One if by Land, Two if by Submarine by Eileen Schnabel is one such middle-grade novel.

For Kep Westguard, the Revolutionary War reenactment camp was torture. But that was nothing compared to when he, Max, Tela, and T.J. were sent back in time to the beginning of the real revolution. 

They have to take place of Paul Revere, who was kidnapped by another time-traveler determined to crush America. They face test after test, facing the British army to freeing a captured teammate. Can they battle the British, get the message to Lexington and Concord, and warn Hancock and Adams…before it’s too late? Read this book to find out!

This book teaches about the American Revolution in such a way that you won’t even know you’re learning in the process! You can use this book in school or at home, as a history supplement while doing reading.

The themes in this book include courage, friendship, and patriotism. 

I recommend this book as a read-aloud for 8+ and as a reader for 10+, as the book has war and other topics that might be hard for younger readers.

I give this book 5/5 stars as it’s a captivating time-travel novel.

Happy reading!

-Ayan

    

Ayan's Book Review
Kingdom of Secrets

-by Christyne Morrell

Oren seems to be a normal kingdom. Built on a valley, it had a large wall around it, like a city wall. But on the inside, it had more secrets than you could imagine.

Prismena Reece, the balloonist’s daughter, is tinkering with some odds and ends when Abigail Smeade steals her mother’s scarf. The scarf is the only remnant of Prismena’s mother that she has, so she strikes a deal with Abigail: in return for the scarf, she would send a box to Tulera (another kingdom). Sounds simple, but this trade would not leave them unchanged.

The themes in this book include friendship, trust, and family relations. This book uses these themes to amplify the pacing of the story.

The pacing in this book develops quickly from the inciting incident right in the first chapter all the way to the climax and even in the resolution.

I recommend this book as a read-aloud for 8+ and as a reader for 10+.

I give this book 4.8/5 stars as the end had a few unexplained questions. Well, that didn't stop me from enjoying this book, and I really hope there will be a sequel. I absolutely love it and would love to read more books by the author.

Happy reading!

-Ayan

   

Ayan's Book Review
The King's Ransom

-by Cheryl Carpinello

You know what, if Prince Gavin hadn’t alerted his friends of the Wild Man’s arrest, Sir Lancelot may well have lost his life.

Gavin, Phillip, and Bryan were all great friends of the Wild Man and all shocked when he was accused of committing murder and heisting a priceless jewel—the King’s Ransom. Fueled by the disbelief of the Wild Man’s capture, the three embark on a quest to find the real criminal. None of them will remain unchanged.

The themes in this book include friendship, loyalty, and trust. I find that when these themes are used together, they combine to give a powerful message; that’s one of the things that led me to love this book.

The plot in this book combines with the pace to give a vivid experience as if you were the point of view. Besides, it’s written in omniscient, so you’ll know where the bad guys are, but the good guys won’t!

I recommend this book as a read-aloud for 5+ and as a reader for 8+.

I give this book 5/5 stars as it’s a highly engaging middle-grade read.

Happy reading!

-Ayan

  

Ayan's Book Review
The Rise of a Golden Lion

-by Michael Feng

I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'The Rise of a Golden Lion'—a cool superhero book—by Michael Feng.

Ranford, a young biologist, is playing soccer with his friends when he is confronted by a strange sight—an army of droids armed with a mutant lion, who attacks Ranford. Ranford loses consciousness and wakes up in a hospital. When he heals, he is sent back to his home immediately. 

However, he is called to the hospital a second time and is now told that the treatment given was actually Serum X—a chemical that could mutate any living being, and he was now actually a cross between a human and a lion. The agency of mutants he had now joined was battling Jacen Lee, another mutant who strives to take over the world. Can they locate Jacen and defeat him...before he takes over (or destroys) the world? Read this book to find out!

I think this book is a lot like 'Super Problems' as both have a team with superpowers crusading against a powerful enemy.

This book is written in omniscient POV, which puts you in suspense of what happens next—whether the bad guys get caught or they escape again.

I recommend this book as a read-aloud for 9+ and as a reader for 10+.

I give this book 4.5/5 stars as there’s killing and violence (which I don’t think is needed in children's books). 

That said, this book is written by a twelve-year-old boy, and he has done an excellent job writing an action-packed fast-paced book. And I hope you'll support this young author.

Happy reading!

-Ayan

  

Ayan's Book Review
Journey to Zentobia

-by Stacy D'Alessandro

'Journey to Zentobia' is a middle-grade fantasy. 

This book's main characters are Maggie and Peter, who are two normal children living with their parents. Their lives are turned upside down when they meet their neighbor Mr. Drop, who says he’s from another world, Zentobia. Mr. Drop asks them to help him find a particular rainbow—one that leads to Zentobia.

When they pass through this portal, they’re caught in a whirlwind of action, with the north and south sides of Zentobia struggling against each other for power. Can the trio find the evil side and defeat it before being caught as war prisoners? Read this magical book to find out.

The themes in this book include family, friendship, and perseverance.

The pacing in this book is fast and engaging. It adds an element of surprise to each event that happens, whether caused by good or evil. I recommend this book as a read-aloud for children 7+ and as a read for 9+.

I give this book 5/5 stars as it’s a great middle-grade read that’s sure to keep the readers engaged.

Happy reading!

-Ayan

P.S. I find this book similar to The Chronicles of Narnia series, as in both the books, the characters pass through a portal to another world, and in both, there’s a war going on in the other world.

Ayan's Book Review
Arash the Archer

-by Shahriar Bourbour

This is my first time reading a book based on Persian mythology, and I must say it’s very intriguing.

In Arash the Archer, the kingdoms Persia and Tooran had been at war for years over their border. But after losing many battles, the Persians agreed to a truce. 

However, the Persians were to get further humiliated because the Toorans promised they would return the captured Persian lands if a Persian archer could shoot an arrow from the new border back to the old one. Nobody could accomplish the feat—until Arash’s true determination began to shine out…

I recommend this book as a read-aloud for 5+ and as a reader for 8+; I think this book will be easy to read for younger children.

I give this book 5/5 stars as it’s a great introduction to Persian mythology.

Happy reading!

-Ayan

 

Ayan's Book Review
Puzzle Island

-by Richard James Edwards

Puzzle Island is the sequel to 'Puzzle Train.' And I'm glad to say that the second book is as good as the first if not better.

When Tom barely survives a helicopter crash on the transfer from the Puzzle Train to Puzzle Island, the pilot reports it as a failure of computer systems. But as Tom and his team from the Puzzle Train take on the new Puzzle Island, there seems to be a mysterious man trying to thwart their quest. 

Can Tom, Isabelle, Harvey, Darren, and Holly take on the mysterious Puzzle Island in time with the ultimate challenge of defeating an intruder set upon ruining Puzzle Island? Read this book to find out!

I loved the puzzles in this book; they were so interesting that I always wanted to solve them before Tom did. And Tom is a brilliant kid!

Actually, all the characters in this book have unique personalities that make this book even more interesting.

I recommend this book to ages 8+ as, even though it’s a middle-grade book, I think it’ll be easy for young readers to understand and appreciate.

I give this book 5/5 stars as it’s a fascinating middle-grade read.

-Ayan

P.S. I would love to read the third book in the series. 

    

Ayan's Book Review
Mapmaker's Mistake

-by Meilani Schijvens

What a wonderful start to a series.

In Mapmaker’s Mistake, Asha is still struggling against her preordained fate of having an arranged marriage with a prince (to let her kingdom Zanzia use aristocracy to ward off attacking warlords) when she is confronted by King Dokar and his ruthless army. 

But as she wins a duel against King Dokar, his army begins to scour Zanzia for Asha, so she escapes to Pome for shelter. Still, King Dokar’s men ravage Zanzia, leaving Asha to choose between her kingdom or herself.

This book taught me a lot about medieval warfare—sword-fighting, longbows, spears, etc. What’s more, the author neatly weaves this into the main plot, so you’ll drown in the story without knowing that you are taking a history lesson. Cool!

I like how the plot of this book flashes by with incredible plot twists and fast-paced action. Besides, it was very suspenseful and kept me hooked from cover to cover.

I recommend this book to readers 9+ as the plot might be a little too complex for younger readers to understand.

I give this book 4.7/5 stars as it has some violence (but that was needed for the plot.) This is a unique story, and I haven't read anything like this one before. 

    

Ayan's Book Review
Axel Rhodes and the Golden Scarab

-by S.W. Lothian

Axel Rhodes and the Golden Scarab is an edge-of-your-seat thriller in which Axel is exploring the Egyptian exhibit when a statue of Horus comes to life! 

Horus tells Axel that Axel is to go to ancient Egypt to retrieve the golden Scarab, which holds the powers of the evil god Seth, and put it in a safer place where Seth can’t steal it. Axel takes the quest, bringing along only his best friend Linc. Horus sends in a girl named Rani to accompany them on this quest. 

Can they survive the challenges they face, find the Golden Scarab, and restore it to its final resting place…all before they are captured by Seth? Read this gripping adventure to find out!

The pacing in this book is impressive. And in the battles and chase scenes, I wouldn’t put it down for anything in the world.

My favorite part was when they entered the Temple of Bast. It had lots of traps and puzzles that affected their mission.

I recommend this book as a read-aloud for 6+ and as a reader for 8+.

I give this book 5/5 stars as it’s the best thriller I’ve ever read.

   

Ayan's Book Review
Sol Invictus

-by Ben Gartner

When I first read 'The Eye of Ra,' I thought this story of Sarah and John couldn’t get any better, but with 'Sol Invictus,' the author, Ben Gartner has outdone himself. The plot is really intriguing and is sure to capture any reader in minutes.

In 'Sol Invictus,' Sarah and John are exploring a history museum when a notorious criminal from ancient Egypt confronts them with the fact that they have to go to ancient Rome to unite two warring kings. They don’t believe him but are forced to take on the mission. Can they survive the dangers they face, complete the assignment, and find the portal back home—all before it’s too late? Read this exciting adventure to find out!

All the characters are very well developed. Crocus is an avid warrior, John is a witty boy, Sarah is an instinctive girl, Constantius is a kind emperor—the relationships between these characters create a lifelike experience.

I recommend this book as a read-aloud for 6+ and a reader for 9+.

I give this book 5/5 stars as it’s definitely a must-read.

Happy reading!

- Ayan

P.S. Even though this can be read as a stand-alone, I highly suggest reading the first book in this series, 'The Eye of Ra,' before this one, to fully appreciate the story.

 

Ayan's Book Review
The Search for the Stone of Excalibur

-by Fiona Ingram

‘The Search for the Stone of Excalibur’ is the thrilling sequel to ‘The Secret of the Sacred Scarab.’ In this book, we again have Adam and Justin, and we join them in their search for the second stone of power.

The two boys had barely returned from their adventurous visit to Egypt when Adam received an urgent letter from his archeologist friend, James, who revealed that the second stone of power had been discovered. The stone was supposedly embedded in the legendary sword of King Arthur. James had also included the air tickets to Scotland. Whether ready for another adventure or not, the two cousins had to travel to Scotland in search of the second stone of power. To make matters worse, their nemesis, Dr. Khalid, also followed them to Scotland in pursuit of the same stone. I loved that we have a girl, Kim Maleka, join them in this quest, and she turned out to be very helpful.

Do Adam and Justin find the stone before it falls into the wrong hands? Read this second installment of this adventure series.

I loved the parts of the book where Adam gets dreams. Especially the one with King Arthur in it. The descriptions of the dreams are very intriguing and suspenseful. I love the use of sensory details that make the entire book even more thrilling and gripping. 

In this book, children will learn a lot about the legendary King Arthur and mythology in a fun and engaging way. 

I recommend this book for children 11 years and older, and I’m sure even adults will enjoy this book.

I give this book 5/5 stars as it’s a sure page-turner, and the mystery will keep readers hooked until the last page. I can’t wait to read the third book in this series.

Happy reading!

-Ayan 😊

P.S. I highly recommend reading this series in order to enjoy this book better.

 

Ayan's Book Review
Rea and the Blood of the Nectar

-by Payal Doshi

I love to read books set in different places in the world, and I was so happy to read a book that was set in Darjeeling, India. This story follows a twelve-year-old girl Rea and the escapades of finding her twin brother Rohan.

The night Rea and her brother Rohan turn twelve, they had a huge fight. And strangely early in the morning, Rohan went missing. 

Their Amma was in shock and acted as if Rohan was missing forever, and their grandmother, too, started acting weirdly. Rea and her friends set off on a quest to find Rohan. They met an old fortune-teller who helped them in the pursuit, and they found a portal to Astranthia. And then started the magical and adventurous quest of “Rea and the Blood of the Nectar.” 

Will Rea ever find her brother? Or will she be lost in the magical world forever?

Join Rea as she solves the clues to find her brother and save the land of Astranthia.

The themes in this book include family values, friendship, and perseverance. Rea’s development as a character is wonderful, as she learns to come out of her comfort zone and make friends along the way. There were no boring or confusing parts, making the entire story was easy to follow.

I recommend this book to children 8 years and above. I give this book 5/5 stars as this is a very engaging read, and I couldn’t wait for our family reading time. Can't wait for the next book in this series.

Happy reading!

-Ayan

 

Ayan's Book Review
The Ghost and the Greyhound

-by Bryan Snyder

I’ll start by saying that reading this book is like living inside it with the characters. The scenes, descriptions, the woods, the smell, the sound, everything draws the reader into the book to have a vivid cinematic experience instead of just reading a book. I loved the world-building of this slightly fantastical story and the transition from the real world to the fantasy world.

Piers was an average boy living an average life, and he was also bullied by older and stronger boys. Everything changed for him the day, in the woods, suddenly his dog Nixon started talking. Following Nixon, Piers entered deep into the forest and met a ghost girl. The girl takes Piers to her world. What follows next is the gripping tale of ‘The Ghost and the Greyhound.’ 

I loved this book’s themes, which include friendship, perseverance, and that, big and small, everyone can work together. 

This book’s pacing is fast and engaging and made it hard to put down the book each night. 😊 The character development is great, too. 

To summarize, I absolutely loved this book. This is the first book I’ve read by this author, but I can assure you that it won’t be the last. I can hardly wait for the sequel of “The Ghost and the Greyhound.”

I would recommend this book for children 11+ as there are some difficult concepts for younger children to handle, but I think even adults will enjoy this book very much.

I give this book 5/5 stars as this is one of the highly engaging tales I’ve read. This book is nothing like I've ever read. It's one of a kind.

Happy reading!

-Ayan

  

Ayan's Book Review
Guinevere: The Legend

-by Cheryl Carpinello

Right when you think that a series can't get any better than this, you read the next one only to find this the best so far. Well, that's what happened to me when I read the third book in the Guinevere series. 

I felt Guinevere: The Legend’s plot highly captivating. Why? Mostly because of Cedwyn’s sacrifice for the kidnapped children, which plunged Guinevere into a desperate mission to rescue all of them. She discreetly escapes from the castle at Cadbury and ventures out in search of the renegades. Meanwhile, Cedwyn is forced to suffer the harsh life of a kidnapped slave. Can they each survive far from the comfort of home and find each other in time to rescue the others? Read this action-packed book to find out!

The themes in this book include friendship, loyalty, and trust. Guinevere and Cedwyn are loyal friends who trust each other! This book is actually built on that relationship.

I would like to point out that the pacing is superior—right from the start. This third book is like a sequel to the second, so you can expect this one to start suspenseful. I highly suggest reading Guinevere Book 2 before reading this book.

I recommend this book to anyone aged 8+ as some of the scenes may be too difficult for younger children to follow.

I give this book 5/5 stars as it’s an adventurous and exciting book that’s sure to please all. 😊

Happy reading!

-Ayan

 

Ayan's Book Review
Midnight at the Barclay Hotel

-by Fleur Bradley

Hi,

Do you like mysteries? If yes, then you will definitely enjoy this book!

'Midnight at the Barclay Hotel' is a compelling murder mystery of Mr. Barclay’s death. The suspects are a librarian, a CEO, an actress, and a cowboy, all of which received all-expenses-paid invitations to the Barclay Hotel. A detective was also called in to conduct a questioning. However, the CEO’s son, JJ, is determined to clear his mom’s name. 

Can JJ find proof that she didn’t commit the crime and find the real culprit…all before the detective accuses JJ’s mom? Read this book to find out!

I think JJ is a pretty cool guy—his hobby is ghost hunting. He even has an official ghost hunting kit—an infrared camera, an EMF detector, and a voice recorder. Pretty cool gadgets for a kid to own!

The pacing in this book is great, but you might find the start a little slow. Finish the first chapter, though, and you’ll find yourself caught in a flurry of action!

I recommend this book to any 9+ kid as murder might be a little hard to handle.

I give this book 5/5 stars as it’s one of the best mysteries I’ve ever read. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Happy reading!

-Ayan

P.S. The murder happens before the book even starts, so there's nothing to be afraid of. You can safely read this book.

 

Ayan's Book Review
Journey Beyond the Burrow

-by Rina Heisel

Hi,

Are you ready for an adventurous tale? If yes, read this exciting and cute yet edge-of-the-seat action-packed book by debut middle-grade author, Rina Heisel.

'Journey Beyond the Burrow' is a fascinating adventure of how Tobin, Wiley, and Talia—three very resourceful mice—search for Tobin’s baby brother, who was captured by attacking spiders. 

As they pursue the spiders’ lair, they encounter many other dangers of the forest, like snakes, owls, and foxes. With these (and many more) hurdles in their way, they struggle to even survive. Will they be able to defeat the predators, get past the spiders and free the baby? Or will one have to sacrifice oneself for the mission? Read this book to find out!

The themes in this book include teamwork, perseverance, and friendship. The main characters—Tobin and Talia have a lot of perseverance and like working as a team, while Wiley is quick-witted (and sometimes reckless) but also a great friend.

I find this book a lot like the 'Freddy the Detective' series, in which Freddy goes out on dangerous expeditions with his friends (and once almost got eaten by a crocodile).

I recommend this book as a read-aloud for 5+ and as a reader for 8+.

I give this book 5/5 stars as it was a fun read.

We received an ARC of this book.

Happy reading!

-Ayan

P.S. We love Tobin's rules, and the best is Rule 1. Want to know what it is? Read the book to find out.

P.P.S. Are we reading or doing Yoga?

  

Ayan's Book Review
The Eye of Ra

-by Ben Gartner

Hi,
Have you ever imagined what it would be like to visit ancient Egypt? Or ever imagined time traveling? If yes, then this book is going to take you on a time-travel adventure that you will never forget.

In 'The Eye of Ra,' Sarah and John are on a hike when they stumble upon a mysterious cave. Sarah instinctively enters, followed by John. 

After exploring the cave, they expect to return to Colorado, but instead, they surprisingly time-travel to ancient Egypt! Join Sarah and John in this time-travel novel as they search for the portal to lead them back home and uncover the clues to unravel a baffling mystery.

The themes in this book include family relationships, friendship, and perseverance. The characters of this book are very realistic, and the pacing is amazing, making the story flow well with no boring or confusing parts.

I recommend this book as a read-aloud for 6+ and as a reader for 9+.

I give this book 5/5 stars as it’s an engaging and delightful read. 😊

I can't recommend this book enough. I can hardly wait to read the next book in this series, 'Sol Invictus.' Review coming soon!

Happy reading!

-Ayan