Marvelous Middle Grade Monday - The Hound of Rowan

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday  

The Hound of Rowan

by Henry H. Neff

 

Goodreads Blurb:  

MAX MCDANIELS LIVES a quiet life in the suburbs of Chicago, until the day he stumbles upon a mysterious Celtic tapestry. Many strange people are interested in Max and his tapestry. His discovery leads him to Rowan Academy, a secret school where great things await him.

But dark things are waiting, too. When Max learns that priceless artworks and gifted children are disappearing, he finds himself in the crossfire of an ancient struggle between good and evil. To survive, he'll have to rely on a network of agents and mystics, the genius of his roommate, and the frightening power awakening within him.

This  is a fantastic series. I read it on the train when I went home for my step-father's funeral recently, and it vaulted straight to the top of my favorites list. 

The world-building in this series is incredible, as are the utterly lovable and complex characters. It has a Harry Potter flavor at times, but in a good way. The plot thickens with each book, to the point that you can't stop thinking about it. The end of book three caught me so unprepared that I actually said OUT LOUD (which really disturbed my hubby), "Well played, author, well played."

I could rave for days about this particular series! Trust me, and read it!!

Happy Monday!

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday - The Unicorn Secret Series

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

The Unicorn Secret Series

by Kathleen Duey

Shannon Whitney Messenger decided it was time to give middle grade stories the attention they deserve, and "Marvelous Middle Grade Mondays" was born. I couldn't resist being a part of such brilliance.

Moonsilver (book 1)

old cover / new cover

 Goodreads Blurb:

Heart Trilby has no family. She lives a hard and lonely life in the dusty village of Ash Grove — until she finds a scarred, skinny mare in the forest. Against the wishes of her guardian, mean-spirited Simon Pratt, Heart adopts the mare and names her Avamir. Heart is thrilled when she realizes Avamir is in foal. But when the colt is born weak and disfigured, Simon decides to sell Heart's beloved horses to be slaughtered by the town's soapmaker. Can Heart find a way to protect them — and the only love she has ever known?

I've reviewed mostly boy books for MG Mondays. I love boy books! But not this week . . .

I can't tell you how much I love this series. Even though it is probably more girl than boy book, there is a strong boy character that my sons loved. The first time I read these books was when my oldest was only six. We bought the first three at a school book fair, and we read them aloud. Oh. How. I. LOVED. Them!! And the best part is that he loved them too. We devoured them all and I mourned the end of the series.

Then, I read them with my middle son. Yep! He loved them too.

Now, I'm almost ready to read them with my daughter. She will love them too (whether she wants to or not!). They are just that good.

Buy them! Read them! You, too, will LOVE them!  

I do solemnly swear.