Chris von HalleRecensioni

Easily the best addition to this series yet, there's so much I loved about it, and I'll do my best to not give any spoilers! The opening sucks you in right away to the world Mara lives in, and introduces her in an unforgettable way. From there, the story only gets more intriguing and fun to read. I love the way things were described in unique ways that give you hints as to what they are, but make them sound much more fantastical than you'd think if you encountered it in everyday life. About the time Mara started suspecting things, I did too, and I put most of the pieces together, but it wasn't until the very end that all the pieces fell into place. An excellent read for middle graders and anyone who enjoys mystical adventures!

Saving the universe becomes an adventure with unique aliens, unexpected situations, and heroes, who aren't quite sure what they're doing.

Ben is hanging out with his best friend Joe, trying to enjoy one of the last nights before school starts, but it's turning into the most boring night ever. When the third friend, Dana, stops by, all of that changes as aliens march into the house shortly behind her and escort the trio to see the leader of the universe. After all, the three friends are the only ones who can save the universe from the evil force of The Realm Beyond...at least, that's what the strange aliens claim. But things run sideways and what was supposed to be a super simple push of a button turns into a fight for survival and more.

These pages shoot into the realm of galactic imagination and never-ending, ridiculous situations, which pack danger, too. While the first pages had me a bit confused and wondering, it soon slid right into nonstop action. The three heroes carry quite the subtle, silly wit, while still passing as pretty ordinary...at least, enough so for readers to connect with them and want to dive right into the adventure themselves. While the threats are dangerous, they carry tons of quirks to ensure snorts and eyebrow raises. And we learn that aliens speak French and Italian, too. But none are to be underestimated and often carry more of a threat than might first appear.

It's a fast-paced adventure, which will keep even more reluctant readers in the pages. It's plot and dialogue driven, meaning little time for deep thoughts and heavy descriptions. There's just enough world building to sink into and let imagination fly. While this is very humor and action driven (and that is a treat), there is a message about learning to realize ones own capabilities. There's also goodness surrounding friendship and working together.

Space fans, and especially those who enjoy a fun read, will find themselves wanting to join in and save the universe, too. I received a DRC and smiled the entire way through.

A fun, alien-filled, action-packed adventure that everyone middle grade and up won’t want to miss! There’s plenty of humor woven into the story, and I was giggling quickly once I started reading. I love how each of the trio has their own personality, they mesh well together, but they’re still unique. The story moves along smoothly at a good pace, and is described in a way that you can see it unfolding in front of you, like watching a movie. I think my favorite part is the three MCs aren’t typical popular kids, but have a strong friendship and support each other through everything. If you like fun space adventures, you’re going to love this!

I don't usually read this type of book but I'm glad I did. It's a quick story full of imagination and a very cool talking dragon. The twist at the end was well done. Definitely worth a read.

Aliens and superpowers mix with mystery, exploding heads, and chilling moments to form an exciting and surprising adventure.

Drake doesn't recognize the world, anymore. A week before, little human-like creatures began to pop up around the world. They'd touch an unexpecting human's skin, disappear instantly, and the person developed amazing superpowers. For one hour. Then, their heads exploded. There was the 5% chance the person would survive, but then, their powers would be gone. There are rules in place to keep everyone as safe as possible, but the incidents grow by the day...and then, a boy in Drake's class gains the power to fly. But that's not the only disturbing thing. Drake's own father is acting more than weird...and not telling the truth.

The story dives right into the middle of the already-underway, alien invasion with Drake witnessing his first possession right in front of his eyes. The tension mounts high and fast as this newly formed superhero turns out to tilt toward the super-villain side. And it gets a tiny bit gritty, which means this one is for less sensitive readers ages 10 and up (but it's not overly heavy, by any means, either). Horror, mystery and action fans will be hooked right away.

There's a nice bit of character arc, family love, and friendship built in as well. While Drake is trying to mentally sort through the alien thing, while dealing with his dad's odd behaviors, he's also learning more about himself and his relationships to those around him. Now, that isn't to say this is an emotional/heartfelt tale because it is mystery with a bit of horror thrown in. But this deeper side-step does make Drake a more realistic character and engaging to follow as he faces the impossible.

With less than 150 pages, this is a short, quick read, too...which is great for more reluctant readers out there. The story runs along smoothly, sticking to the action and important factors to drive it forward. The ending does follow a more quirky-ish twist, which makes it great for the age group and does remind a little more of RL Stine's fun. Everything is wrapped up nicely and in a very surprising way. So, I do recommend this one for thriller fans, who are ready for a unique and exciting tale. I received a complimentary copy and really enjoyed the fun story.

This was a great, creepy story that shines a light on some real life horrors along with those of the aliens. I don't want to give too much away, but there was some great building of tension, and an explosive opening to the story. There was a bit of mystery woven in - what do the aliens want? How long are they staying? Then another layer is added - what's going on with Drake's parents, why are they acting so strange recently? I didn't stop reading once I started, and blew through this in a few hours. A great, chilling story with an important underlying message for readers young and old.

I enjoy this type of genre of juvenile paranomal/supernatural but wanted a bit more from this one. I liked the insights from the main character, a 12 year old boy who is grappling with noticing some changes in his Uncle Jed. The plot had promise but it seemed to focus too much on his grandfather's new religious proclivities instead of other aspects that were more interesting (and telling) about the character. I enjoyed the very end but the book seemed to drag in the middle and then throw in several new characters and elements in the last few chapters that maybe should have been more cohesively incorporated throughout to keep things engaging for the reader.

I loved this book! It's creepy, intense, and captivating. Jason is a great main character, and easy to like. It's a fairly short read for older readers, and perfect for middle grade readers looking for some chills and thrills. There are enough twists sprinkled in that you don't always know for sure what's going to happen next, and will definitely keep you turning pages from cover to cover. Highly recommend.

Spooks and chills accompany unexpected twists to form an exciting...and short adventure.

While his parents attend a business trip, Jason is spending his usual time with his uncle, but this time will be a bit different since his aunt passed away a few months before. He expects his uncle to be depressed. He doesn't expect the big changes, though. Knowing that everyone mourns differently, he tries his best to go with the flow until things go downhill fast.

This does remind of a Goosebumps read with all the haunting moments and creepy surprises. The tale is told by Jason, who comes across as a nice kid. He has great relations with his parents and uncle, and seems like the boy next door. He's very understanding when it comes to his uncle's sudden changes, which works for the age group and makes him come across as simply a nice kid. His choices are understandable. Plus, he's easy to connect with and root for.

Creepiness settles in slowly with hints and nods, the entire time, at what is truly going on. It's not impossible to guess, but also not fully clear, either, and will keep readers on the edge of their seat. Tension mounts from page to page, and the end resolution comes quick but satisfyingly rounded. Younger and more sensitive readers should be aware that this does hit upon death and being threatened with a gun. It makes a great read for a fast thrill and is appropriate for the intended age group.
I received a complimentary copy and found it well done.

This was an absolutely delightful, creepy, chilling read. Growing up, I was a huge fan of the Goosebumps series. If you loved those books, you're going to love this one! A bizarre illness, a lovable cast of characters, and a brilliant plot all serve to keep you riveted to the pages once you start reading. There was nothing too dark or scary, just enough to give you some chills and keep you on the edge of your seat. The perfect book to curl up with on a dark, stormy night for kids and adults alike!

At first I thought. Wow, this is so predictable. But it turned out that it surprised me. It is short and such a fun middle grade book. The main character was really relatable and so nice. I loved it and gave it four stars. Four stars for me means that it was great! I received this as an ARC from the author, so a big thanks to him!

Imagination teams up with science fiction adventure for a mystery with unique twists and turns.

Amanda is bored out of her gourd, mostly because Picket Town never involves anything exciting. Except for a new disease, that is. Kids are dropping from school like flies thanks to a mysterious disease. In an attempt to find some sort of adventure, Amanda convinces her best friend, Sam, to climb a fence and explore the forbidden forest. There they discover a UFO. And that's where the real excitement begins.

This was an enjoyable science fiction read with just the right amount of mystery, thrilling moments, and several unexpected surprises. The first chapter begins with a fairly normal school setting, allowing readers to grasp somewhat familiar moments before heading off into fantasy. And there is tons of imagination in these pages. With well done descriptions, which are detailed yet kept brief enough not to ruin the flow, the author creates a vivid world and scenes.

Amanda is a very determined character, who lets her mouth get the best of her as well as her spontaneous decisions. Her personality is balanced out with the more careful one of Sam, making them a great duo. In other words, friendship is key.

The plot moves along quickly, and while some surprises are fairly easy to see coming, others are unexpected. The first chapters dive in to the situation almost too quickly, but later on, the story grabs. There are several logic stumbles and holes intermixed with the adventure. Many of these find their solutions toward the end. And this isn't an ending to expect! It's an easy read which leaves no room for boredom, and will even interest more reluctant readers with the short length. This isn't a deep read but concentrates on aliens, rapid adventure and science fiction fun.

I received a complimentary copy and found it entertaining enough to want to leave my honest thoughts.