Monday, August 5, 2013

Sci-Fi for Kids: Penumbras Book Review

If you follow me on instagram you saw pictures from our "Yes-Day" and I told you all I would give you more details about it today, but that will have to wait for tomorrow as today I have a great book I want to share with you.

I was given a copy of Penumbras Middle School Magic by Braden Bell to review.  This is actually the second book in the series, so he also sent me the PDF of the first book, as who wants to jump into the middle of a series?

From Goodreads about The Kindling (first book in the series):
 "All thirteen-year-old Connor Dell wants to do is pass pre-algebra, play lacrosse, and possibly kiss Melanie Stephens, but when a run-in with the school bully ignites strange powers inside him, Connor's normal teenage life goes up in flames. Now he'll need his new powers to defeat the Darkness that's coming for him."

In the second book, the kids continue to develop and learn how to use the Light to fight Darkness, or evil.

Even though these books are written towards a young teen audience I was surprised with how much they really sucked me in. The characters are likable, with at times slightly annoying junior high traits. The story moves along at a great pace with great character development and believable victories and setbacks (as believable as sci-fi type books can be).  Braden is a theater and music teacher at a middle school in Tennessee which I believe helps him know his characters and audience really well. 

While these books deal with Light fighting darkness, they are done in such a way that get you thinking and involved but aren't too "dark" and remain great and clean for younger readers.


This book is filled with a great lesson about forgiveness, of one self and others, and overcoming darkness. 

Even if you aren't a sci-fi fan but like books with a little magic you will really enjoy this series and I definitely recommend it for pre-teens on up; I think both boys and girls would really like these books.  There will definitely be more books in this series and I am really looking forward to the next one coming out. 


Braden is hosting a giveaway on his site for a $50 Amazon Gift Card and you can use the rafflecopter form below to enter-- then come back tomorrow for "The Yes Day"

You can find Braden at the following places:
  At the Penumbras Website Here
  On Facebook
  On Twitter @bradenbellcom
  On His blog

If you want to purchase this book (which I reccomend it)- he is selling it deeply discounted on his website here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I was given a copy of Penumbra to review; all feelings and opinions are my own and truthful. 

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