Today is Memorial Day in the US. This a day for all Americans to honor or remember soldiers that are fighting, veterans, and especially those who lost their lives.
Happy Memorial Day!
By Z. Altug and Tracy Gensler
326 pages – ages 8+
Published by CreateSpace on February 29, 2012
Some Taloshians (beings from the island of Patalosh on the planet Lumina) settled on Earth once they were able to travel through space and time on the airship HMS Exploricus. Orion Spence is a ten-year-old NonTaloshian (a NonTaloshian is a thing (a tree is an example of a “thing” being a NonTaloshian or just a regular human) with no powers) who lives with his parents on Earth in Antarctica. Orion just wakes up after being clobbered on the head. His parents are gone, his home is burned and the HMS Exploricus is crashed (Orion’s Dad is he Captain of the air-ship). Orion knows it was “Red Eyes” that took his parents and he finds out that only he has the key to stopping Red Eyes and rescuing his parents. Together with the crew of the HMS Exploricus and some new (and old) friends, Orion sets off on a journey that takes him across the world and time to try to solve seven riddles that will help him find his parents and stop Red Eyes.
This book had a very cool plot to it. It was very different from any middle grade book I’ve read. Who wouldn’t like to go on a time traveling journey to all seven continents on Earth?!? I really like how the book is about the really great adventure of a boy trying to save his parents, but you also learn about cultures from different times and places on Earth. Orion makes and/or brings a friend along at each continent he goes to. I liked how the crew of the Exploricus ate food that was from the place/time the ship was “sky-docked” over. I thought it was very interesting. I also really like the Taloshian characters. They are in different forms – human-like, cats, even plants! They can fly and cast energy spells. There is some very mild violence and a few scary situations, but noting that a young advanced reader couldn’t read. There is no bad language in the book. The reading level is harder than most MG books (I liked that) but the plot doesn’t drag.
To learn more about Patalosh and Z. Altug and Tracy Gensler, please visit the official Patalosh website by clicking HERE.
Check out the Patalosh trailer!
Categories: Age 9+
Great choice for Memorial Day Erik!
Thank you Ms. Johnson! 🙂
Thoughtful choice for today, Erik. I liked the idea of the family living in Antarctica!
They lived in Antarctica because it was safe there from Red Eyes! 😮
Happy Memorial Day, Erik!
Thank you Ms. Larson!
I like the illustrations of the ships in the trailer. Really cool! How about I wish you a memorable Memorial day. I’m having a tough time with ‘happy’ after hearing reports of lives lost on the radio today. I hope the sun is shining where you are!
Yes I forgot to mention the illustrations in my review. There are a few in the book and they are really nice! Good point about “happy”. I like “memorable” too.
Sounds like fun, Erik. I love time travel, and getting to visit all 7 continents sounds neat!
It was very interesting to learn about the different place / times they went to! Thank you Ms. Hill! 🙂
Sounds good. I like the geography coupled with time travel. And I always appreciate clean reads!
I think you would like this one. The cover looks creepy, but it isn’t a super creepy story. 🙂
I enjoyed reading your review of this story. Certainly sounds like an interesting read. The illustrations in the book trailer really caught my eye with their “steampunk” style. Really loved them. 🙂
The illustrations are really cool. The airship is kind of steampunkie 🙂
I love time travel! Can’t imagine seven continents covered in a book. Sounds very interesting! Great review.
It was really cool how they visited all 7 continents but at different times in history. It was a very interesting book!
I love time travel and this book sounds great incorporating other cultures. Thanks Erik!
Thank you Ms. Foster!
This book sounds really cool! I might have to check it out soon!
It is cool! I hope you like it if you get it!
Wow! Thanks to your review, if I get to read this book I can visit the world and not have to leave home to do it. 🙂
😉 I hope you like it!