Review: Fantastic Adventure
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 10, 2013
When three friends find out they've all been dreaming of the same ghost-girl, they know they need help to figure out what's going on. Mitchell, the compulsive liar; Joe, the tough-guy; and Ryan, the class joke-teller who can't say "no," decide to reach out to Marc, the school genius. But, Marc discovers he can't make the ghost girl stop her nightly visits. In fact, Marc doesn't even believe the ghost girl exists--not even when he's sucked into another dimension. Can these four boys band together to save a kidnapped girl, or will they be stuck far away from home forever?I loved the concept of this story. I love the idea of travelling to an alternate dimension with an alternate timeline. And, the fact that this story is geared toward middle school age boys is particularly exciting. As the mother of a twelve-year-old boy, I believe this story is very appropriate for the age group. Not just for boys, but for girls as well. The story combines science with adventure--the perfect combination for kids who are looking for something a little different.The characterization in this novel was wonderful, though I did struggle with Joe's point of view just a bit. But, for the most part, the characters seemed very authentic. Each character must overcome an individual issue, even as they join together to tackle the main problem in the story. Mitchell must face the underlying reasons behind his lies and overcome a problem with stammering. Ryan has to learn to stand up for himself. Joe has to learn to say no to a fight. And, Marc has to learn that not everything is rooted in logic; sometimes seeing is believing. Character growth is the element that takes this book from a fun adventure novel to a great novel with depth and substance.Needless to say, I would definitely recommend this book to readers eleven and up. The content would be appropriate for an even younger reader depending on reading level. There are some complex concepts that will make your child think, but it's also faced-paced enough to keep your young reader engaged and interested.