It was cute. For a 7-10 year old boy I think it's a great book. Pretty specific demographic though... ( )

It was cute. For a 7-10 year old boy I think it's a great book. Pretty specific demographic though... ( )

HAL JUNIOR: THE SECRET SIGNAL is such a fun book! Hal is a curious, mischievous boy living on a space station. When his classmates and mother are kidnapped on a docked spaceship, Hal has to use all his tricks and the help of a computer AI to try and save the day.

Hal is such a typical kid. He gets into more scrapes that should be possible and yet always seems to come out on top. He’s endearing and funny, exasperating and brave and earnest. Hal is quite likeable and you find yourself both cheering and groaning at his antics. The writing kept a good pace and was quick and easy to read. The mystery surrounding the spaceship and kidnapping unfolds with some fun action scenes and a few twists and turns to keep things interesting. I enjoyed the sci-fi aspect of the novel and the mentions of things past that play an important part in the story – namely, Morse Code.

I think HAL JUNIOR: THE SECRET SIGNAL is a book that will really appeal to younger readers searching for a fun, adventurous sci-fi story. It’s a nice introduction to the genre, with memorable characters and a tone of writing that is serious and yet also kind of cheeky. I think Hal Junior has very many adventures in his future and I would happily read any subsequent books. ( )

Description:

How is life aboard a space station? Just ask Hal Junior, who lives on one! Hal's mom is a head researcher, his dad is a maintenance worker, and Hal - well, he's a bit of a trouble-maker - to the annoyance of his fellow space-neighbors. But, the "trouble" part isn't always his fault, most-times "trouble" seems to find him! Whether he accidentally reverses the ships gravity field, or loses his homework in a space trashcan, Hal always seems to be surrounded by mischief. So when a teacher is replaced by the mysterious Mr. Thimp, Hal must find a way to save his classmates, himself, and ultimately his space-station - without getting grounded.

Review:

I never expected to enjoy Hal Junior - The Secret Signal as much as I did. I love children's books, but many of them are written strictly for kids, with no aim towards older readers. This particular book could be enjoyed by kids 5 and older - much older. I am in my twenties and I thought that this 175 page book was a quirky, smart, and fun little riot for boys and girls of all ages. Simon Haynes' characters are great! I loved Hal's personality and his knack for getting into all things mischievous, but I also liked the bad guys - even Mr. Thimp. The writing style was very enjoyable, the plot had me laughing-out-loud one second and shaking my head the next, and the dialogue, although easy for kids to read and understand, was just as fun for me. Being a scientist, I really appreciated the amount of technical jargon about ship computers, robots, and space cannons, and I know that younger kids will love it too. This fast-paced read will have kids excited about science, especially space, and will leave them begging for more Hal Junior adventures! The cartoons and diagrams were fun too, a great way to get kids involved! I will definitely be reading Simon Haynes' Hal Spacejock series, (ages 15+), after seeing how fun the kid-version was! Hal Junior - The Secret Signal is highly recommended to children of all ages and the people that read to them!

Rating:On the Run (4.5/5)

*** I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. ( )

I don't normally read fiction. Hal Junior The Secret Signal by Simon Hayes was an exception. It is well written, easy to read, and full of suspense. The science-fiction plot and well-defined characters add to the overall enjoyment of reading. It reminded me of the young reader’s books of the 1960’s. I highly recommend this book to young readers. (Better yet read it to your children and you both can enjoy it!) ( )