The Academy 2

Leo is making his dream come true, he has worked hard and it has paid off he is a player on the U14 team, but not exactly the London Dragons, but the same league.  He is a member of the Lewisham Knights; however, he isn’t a starter, the team is in last place, and if they don’t win the top spot by the end of the season the owner is not going to keep the U14 team anymore.  Leo has to find a way to get on the field, and get the coach to see they need to change the way they play or they will never win a match.  But Leo can’t do it by himself he needs his team behind him.

Oh my this book has a lot of action, and even more suspense than the first book.  These characters are just as wonderful as the last and a bunch do make a repeat appearance, after all they play in the same league.  Even though Messi still isn’t there with Leo he is still giving him help from afar.  The story line is wonderful it picks up where the first one left off, but there was still a break in it.  I love how Leo’s friends are still there for him and they all joke around about Leo’s playing.  This series is wonderful for reluctant reader especially if they like sports, soccer in particular.  I have loved this series and now have to wait for then next to come out, I hope it is soon.

 

The Academy 1

12-year-old Leo has never really left his little town where he is the local soccer star. But when a chance encounter brings a recruiter to one of his games he is extended an offer to a youth soccer camp and tryout for the London Dragons youth development team. Leo is so excited that his dreams are starting to come true, but they are soon slowed down when Leo gets a rude awakening that he is one of the few players there that hasn’t had formal training and that makes his dreams even harder to reach. Can Leo’s creative playing work out for him in the end?

Oh my gosh I totally loved it all. I was a soccer player in my younger (and much better knees) years, and after watching some shows that also feature some of what is going on here, it made it even more interesting. I devoured this book and it’s second part The Academy II the Journey Continues and cannot wait for more. The characters are awesome and relatable even Messi was there cheering Leo on and helping him make good choices from afar. This book is action packed and has its very suspenseful moments. This is a book that will keep any soccer player engaged. It is a really good book and I cannot wait for more.

 

Keeper Chance and the Dubious Doppelganger

Keeper hasn’t been a EVIL (Evil Villains International League) long but he is already being put to use as one of their members has gone missing, Showboater.  But their foe is a team of one good villain and a few time benders including Toby’s brother, that when put together are going to be super hard to bring down. They even have Sensei on their side because it looks like Showboater took something everyone wants. 

 

This is a wonderful spy kid book but these spies have special talents, at least it seems everyone but Keeper. I love all the characters in the book, and how they finally come together to save Showboater and get things done, at least for a while.  I think I love the cats in the antiques shop the best.  But the action and suspense is so much it made for some late nights as I just couldn’t put it down.  I think even reluctant readers will like this series as the action is non-stop.

 

Pocket Bear

Made for soldiers going off to WWI these bears were made to fit in a soldier’s pocket with the eyes up higher so as to always be looking at the soldier, that way the soldier could glance down and see the little bear looking back up at him. Now many years after the war and pocket bear lives and oversees a place where older toys come and get refurbished so another child might play with it mostly stuffies.  Pocket bear and his best friend the thief cat who is the narrator of this story, and who better to narrate than a cat?  Ukrainian mother and daughter (Victoria and Dasha) rehabilitate the toys to send back out to needy children.  A low life lady comes in and wants to buy pocket bear who is worth a lot of money, and brings the mother and daughter to make hard choices.   

I loved the characters especially Zephyrina, but the history and the current events are both told with age appropriateness.  The big lesson I think is will you do what is easy or what is right for you and others? There is a lot going on but it is told in a way that you don’t get lost.  The story line is wonderful and I believe a pocket bear would still make any soldier or sailor happy to see.

 

Jax Freeman and the Tournament of Spirits

Jax has found out he is a summoner, one that can summon the magical powers of his ancestors, and there are more like him, and even some in his Chicago school.  Jax and the others get tossed into a tournament with some of the best summoners around, how are they going to compete, heck, they are only eleven to thirteen-year olds.  But Jax isn’t just there for the tournament he is also to spy on everyone, even his classmates, to see who is letting dangerous things through to the mortal side.  But to win this tournament is to save himself and his friends, can Jax do everything that is expected from him?

I love these books!  I have not read a bad Riordan presents book yet.  This one does not disappoint as a sequel at all, if anything I can’t wait to see what comes next. Jax has a special kind of talent it is tied to his ancestors, the more he learns about them the more he learns about himself.  I love the characters good and bad they all only bring out the best in this book.  There is so much action and suspense it will have even adults staying up past their bedtime to find out what happens next.  I really do love this book; even reluctant readers will come to find it hard to put down.

 

Westfallen Into the Fire

Three friends thought they were done fixing the timeline they messed up playing with a time traveling radio, but they are back in their own time only this version has Germany winning the war. But the three of them plus their friends in the 1944 time smashed the radios they were using so the kids must find other ways to communicate.  But how to fix this?  Frances whose parents are influential so she can move about more freely in this time variation takes on the research part of it while the boys work their hardest to keep Lukas from being sent away to a work camp.  They need to be able to stick together so they can go back to their time as soon as they can.  

I missed reading the first book so I will go from here.  This is the ultimate time change paradox, what would happen if story.  A story we don’t really want to think about but need to so history does not repeat itself.  It might be a different time and different people and different laws but can someone just take over like Hitler did, anything is possible.  This is a really good book for anyone regardless of whether a tween or an adult, I hate to say it is a thinking book but to kids, just know there is a lot of action, suspense and baseball, yep baseball.  

 

Soccer Spacetastrophe #2 (Quantum Interstellar Sports League)

12-year-old Wyatt thought winning the interstellar football thing was it for him, he is sure it should have been but when a loophole is found his team must come back and play for earth again, only it isn’t football this time, it is soccer, something Wyatt know nothing about.  Nitro takes up the role as Captain, and soon all Wyatt’s friendships and team are on the rocks as it looks like someone is sabotaging the team. 

This is a wonderful book with lots of pictures and lots of words. 😊 However, I think everyone will find their place in this book and stay up late to see what happens next, I did.  Reluctant reader will enjoy the many pictures but the words bring it all together.  There is so much action in this book, and suspense, but it always comes back to teamwork and friendship.  This is a great book.