Maggie Lyons

Dewi is just your average young dragon until one day when he gets hit by a fallen rat. Not wanting to leave the at to perish, Dewi takes it upon himself to discover what happened to the poor rat. All of this leads him to a gloomy castle and some very strange happenings. Dewi will have to use everything he has to try and help save the world from this mess.

This is a super cute story. Dewi is a smart dragon, and he's not afraid to find others to help him. He really just wants to help people stay safe and happy. Even people or rats that fall on him from above. Dewi uses this sense of justice to help guide his decisions. Of course, he probably should talk to his dad about more things. Along the way, Dewi manages to get a few jokes in with friends as well. There's fun and action in this book, and many young children will get caught up in the story of Dewi.

Book provided for review.… (altro)

Young Reader Reaction: Our daughter kept asking if there were any pictures on the inside of the book. She thought Dewi was so cute on the cover, she wanted to see more of the story.

Adult Reader Reaction: The story is cute. What kept our daughter's interest were the jokes Dewi and his friends shared, as well as the way they played with words. Even though the story is very descriptive, I could see why she would want to have illustrations.

Pros: Fun-loving characters take readers on an adventure to save the world. Who doesn't love that?

To read our full review, go to The Reading Tub®.… (altro)

Dewi and the Seeds of Doom is a chapter book for middle graders (age 8 to 12). It is relatively short at 70 pages. The story has loads of adventure and humor. Each chapter ends with a cliffhanger, making turning the page irresistible. Kids could read this in one sitting. Dewi easily rectifies the conflicts he encounters, most often quickly. The main character needs difficult conflicts—challenges—if he is to grow by story’s end. The non-challenging conflicts, short chapters, and relatively easy language makes me believe Dewi and the Seeds of Doom is best suited for younger aged (age 6 to 8), chapter book readers.

Middle grade kids will like Dewi and the Seeds of Doom, just as I liked the story, but it lacks something—, which is on the tip of my tongue, refusing to be spoken. I like the humor and the characters, though most need fleshed out more. As a commentary on the power and greed of a corn company, Dewi and the Seeds of Doom hit the mark. Adults might see Dewi’s story as a commentary on genetically modified corn and its possible long-term dangers. Baron Doom reminds me of Monsanto, which reportedly boarders on bullying farmers. Baron Doom has a contract with specific demands, such as buying corn only from him, and agreeing never to complain to any court in the world. The difficult Complaints Department Dewi tried to talk to fits in this commentary.

On a child’s level, Dewi and the Seeds of Doom is about a greedy, nasty baron, tying to take over the world, who is thwarted by a brave young red Welsh dragon and a chemistry adept toad. Dewi has a few wonderful friends, who help him at a moment’s notice. I like the message of friendship. I would like to know more about Dewi, and maybe that will happen if this becomes a series. A red dragon with a heart of gold and a curiosity streak he must explore would be open to many wonderful adventures.

(Received from author in exchange for a review.)
Originally reviewed at Kid Lit Reviews: http://kid-lit-reviews.com/2013/05/18/review-dewi-and-the-seeds-of-doom-by-maggi...… (altro)

If your sister wanted you to set her up on a date with the brother of one of your classmates whom you really didn’t like, would you do it? Bevyn (Vin) is a seventh-grade boy who plays the trumpet and lives with his Dad, Mom, and older sister Meg who plays the piano. Meg asks Vin to perform with her at the Halloween concert in what he considers a “dorky duet” which she has composed for trumpet and piano. However, her real plan is to let Vin off the hook if he will get dreamy Brad Stewart, who also plays trumpet and is the brother of Vin’s nerdy classmate Binkley (Eyeballs) Stewart, to perfirn the duet with her because she has a crush on Brad. Vin at first refuses, but he finally succumbs when Meg offers him a David Beckham autographed soccer jersey.
Vin has five days to accomplish the job—operation BS (Brad Stewart)--or the deal is off and he has to play the duet. He gets lucky when he and Eyeballs are assigned do work on a science project about whales together. His hope is to go to the Stewart house to study with Eyeballs and talk to Brad about Meg’s proposal. However, a number of situations arise which interfere with Vin’s achieving his goal. He is waylaid by an exploding fish tank. He is attacked by a neighbor’s compost heap. He is almost drowned in an ever-expanding bubble bath. And he is captured by a giant plastic duck. Will Vin succeed in his goal? Will he ever find an opportunity to talk with Brad? And even if he does, what will Brad say about playing the duet?
Vin and the Dorky Duet, which is identified as a “middle grade adventure novella,” is a madcap romp through one week in the life of a hapless but always ingenious seventh-grader. Some parents might wish to know that there are a few childish slang terms. Vin sees “a stone statue of a boy taking a whiz—water actually came out.” He also explains why his friend “Cheeky had to pee in a lilac bush in his yard.” And he describes a scene in which things “smelled of mouse turds.” And Vin ends up telling some rather tall stories along the way in the process of trying to help his sister. However, there is nothing overtly objectionable. Tweens who appreciate a wacky, zany type of humor will enjoy this rollicking story.… (altro)