Book Review: Beyonders: A World Without Heroes

Beyonders: A World Without Heroes by Brandon Mull, Aladdin, New York, 2011.
Int this series, Mull continues on with a common theme, youth who have been sucked into another world, and have to prove their own courage.  Jason from Colorado, and Rachel form Florida are both brought to the world of the Beyonders by extraordinary, Jason through the mouth of a hippo, and Rachel through an arch.  However, both become part of a plot to discover a word, which if spoken in the presence of the evil emperor, will destroy the emperor.  The word is well hidden, and past users of the word cannot help, because using the word erases its memory.  Our two heroes from earth go on a quest for the word.  They are joined at times by Ferrin, a being who can take himself apart, and not to be trusted as he works for the emperor; and Tark, a musician who helped in bringing Jason into the world.  This series has many twists, but this first book ends with Jason being captured by the emperor--the word does not work--and facing continuous torture.  However Ferrin betrays the emperor, and sends Jason home to his own world.  Things on the world of the Beyonders are just worse rather than better.
This book is an excellent read.  I love the quest books, and then the addition of magical powers.  This is very well done.

Movie Review: ****A Quiet Place (2018)

Quiet and scary.  A Quiet Place (2018)  Emily Blunt and John Krasinski (a married couple) star in the science fiction thriller as they try to protect their family—three children, Regan (Millicent Simmons), Marcus (Noah Jupe) and Beau (Cade Woodward).  This is a post-apocalyptic world in which alien creatures inhabit the world feeding on people and other animals.  They hunt by sound. Early in the movie they take Beau when he makes too much noise with a toy.  Regan, who is deaf, thinks her father blames her for Baeu's death.

Available on Paramount +

A Quiet Place: Day One

A Quiet Place II

Book Review: Dragonwatch

Dragonwatch: A Fablehaven Adventure, Brandon Mull, illustrated by Brandon Dorman, Shadow Mountain, Salt Lake City, UT, 2017.  This is a continuation of the Fablehaven story.  I must admit, Mull keeps the adventures coming and I seem to enjoy them all.  We continue the follow the adventures of Seth and Kendra, brother and sister.  However this time they are facing the dragons, rather than the demons.  The dragons have sensed their increased power after the fall of the demons in Fablehaven.  Now they want their freedom.  However the dragon watchers fear this will lead to similar scenes of days of old when the dragons ruled, and humans huddled in fear.  Kendra and Seth become the caretakers of Wyrmroost, a dragon sanctuary, from which the dragons are not allowed to leave. because together they destroyed a dragon in Fablehaven.  All their skills are tested, and they even have to grow.  In this case Kendra is fairy kind, and Seth dark.  Together they make a formidable team.  They work much better together in this book than the first series.  The change is good to see.

Movie Review: ****Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Here is a movie that combines two film dynasties, the Avengers and Defenders of the Galaxy.  Even with their combined strength, they still are a bit inadequate to confront Thanos (Josh Brolin voice) and his hoards.  Thanos is on a quest to retrieve the five stones with which he will have all power: The Power Stone, The Reality Stone, The Space Stone, The Time Stone and The Mind Stone.  He destroys Thor’s (Chris Hemsworth) hammer in retrieving the Space Stone.  He is successful in getting three stones, but the Mind Stone is in Vision’s (Paul Bettany) forehead, and the Time Stone is kept safe by Dr. Strange’s (Benedict Cumberbatch) deceptions.  Thanos is gathering the stones to complete his life-long task of killing half the people in the universe, and thereby eliminating hardship and hunger.    Thanos is the father of Gamora (Zoe Saldana) and Nebula (Karen Gillam).  Gamora and Dr. Strange have the best chance of stopping Thanos.  There is a confrontation with Thanos on his home world with Iron Man ((Robert Downey Jr.), Spider Man (Tom Holland),  Star Lord (Chris Pratt), Drax (Dave Bautista) and Mantis (Pom Klementieff),  At the same time Thor is off to forge a new hammer.  He travels with Groot (Vin Diesel voice), and Rocket (Bradley Cooper voice).  Others prepare for a confrontation on the Black Panther world of Wakanda.  They are joined by many as the attempt to destroy the Mind Stone without killing Vision.  These are: Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk, Chris Evans as Captain America, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, Don Cheadle-War Machine, Chadwick Boseman-Black Panther, Elizabeth Olsen-Scarlet Witch, Anthony Mackie-Falcon, Sebastian Stan-Winter Soldier.  There are many more in this epic battle.  I must admit, the ending of this movie left me with a bad feeling of despair.  Thor battles hard, but with all five stones in place, Thanos has unlimited power.

Marvel Universe

Book Review: Five Kingdoms 5, Time Jumpers

Five Kingdoms 5: Time Jumpers, by Brandon Mull, Alladin, New York, 2018.  Last of 5 kingdoms.  Book to book this series gets more and more exciting.  This last is no exception, as Cole Randolph struggles with his new found powers, and explores their limits.  His powers are unique, and he has the biggest part to play in the upcoming showdown with Ramarro.  Fortunate for him, people from other times have put in place measures so he can win the impossible battle.  I had to wait for this book to be published and it was well worth the wait.  Lots of fun.  This one had me reading on and on to find out what was next.

Movie Review: ****Adrift (2018)

Adrift (2018)  In theaters now>  Shailene Woodley as Tami Oldham and Sam Claflin as Richard Sharp star in this romance.  These two are young world travelers, that meet in Tahiti.  Their relationship quickly turns into a romance, as they travel on Richard’s boat.  They want to make their way to Japan, but they receive an offer to take and even bigger boat to San Diego for pay and plane tickets back.  They reluctantly agree to this trip, because of the impressive nature of the boat.  All is going well, until a bird comes flying onto the boat.  They are many miles off shore.  A terrible hurricane is approaching.  Efforts to go around to avoid the hurricane fail, and they are caught in the middle of the storm.  The storm is worse than they had expected, and it leaves the boat crippled.  Richard has been blown overboard and Tami has injured her head.  This begins a 41-day journey of survival.  She rescues Richard from the ocean, so it seems.  He is badly injured. 
Based on a book by Tami Oldham Ashcroft.

Encyclopedia Brown Finds the Clues

Encyclopedia Brown Finds the Clues by Donald J. Sobol, illustrated by Leonard Shortall, Elsevier/Nelson Books, New York 1966.
It is always fun to match your wits against a master (though young) like Encyclopedia Brown.  This is ten stories, with the key to solving each mystery presented laters.  Encyclopedia Brown of course is a kid detective, and he helps his father, the police chief solve cases.  Some of these stories I figured out before reading the clues, most I didn't, and some I still don't get even with the clues. I like the case of robbery, with the suspect seeking through the hood, the bully who wants to sell divining rods, the bitter drink story, and many other fine stories.