Chris von Halle

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!… (más)

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.… (más)

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!… (más)