The First Ten Focus Group Feedback for Bear Company (Dark Corps) (Volume 1)
Because Bear Company (Dark Corps) (Volume 1) was Book of the Day, some of our most trusted members have carefully looked over the cover, the description, and other aspects of this book as a part of purchase-intent focus group. We then asked each participant in the focus group if they planned to buy and read the book, and why they planned to buy and read the book or not. Their answer to that question and reasons are displayed below. We call this awesome feature The First Ten Focus Group.
Keep in mind, the responses from the members are not reviews. This is purchase-intent focus group which means the participants are people who have NOT yet bought or read your book. A purchase-intent focus group is an important and extremely useful marketing tool for any product, not just books. For other products, you might walk on the street and show people an item in a package and poll them about whether they would buy if or $X or not. These kind of focus groups are one of the ways big marketing companies find the ideal price points for products and test the effectiveness of different packaging. The focus group can help you identify your market so you how to target ads of your book, and it can (but may not) provide you new useful info about your "packaging" (e.g. your book cover, your book synopsis on Amazon, etc.). The point of the focus group comments is to give you information from people who have not bought or read your book about why they plan to buy your book which will help you in marketing the book. These are not reviews or critiques of your book because they are not from people have read the book. This is a marketing tool, not reviews. The trick of book marketing and book advertising is that you have to convince people who have not read your book yet that your book is worth buying and reading. For marketing, it doesn't matter much if people love your book after reading it if you cannot convince potential buyers before they read it that they will love it.
IMPORTANT: Any score over 10% is considered very good. And any score above 0% is acceptable. This is because we only poll about 20 or so readers, and all readers have to say "no" to almost all books. Over a million books are published each year. Even a very active reader cannot come close to even reading 1% of books out there.
This is also why publishing books is such a tough industry.
va2016
The title and the cover clearly indicate that it has something to do with action and fantasy. There are only 6 Amazon customer reviews. The Amazon summary gives a clear plot of the story. Based on the Amazon summary, I would have sampled the book even if not for the First Ten program. As I sampled through the book, I found the narration really intriguing. It made me curious about how the scientist is going to escape from the captivity of the evil people, while they are pressuring him to complete a device which will open the door to another universe! It also remains to be seen how his son Timmy is going to get reunited with his father. I am going to read the book in full to find out. I found the book professionally edited. There are no mechanical or grammatical errors. What I liked most about the book is its way of storytelling and making the reading curious. I could not find anything that could be improved with the book. Although I found one OBC review on the book, my decision to read the book in full is based on my own sampling.
First Ten review added on February 19, 2019, at 4:35 am by va2016.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Alice Heritage
I would not have sampled this book without the programme as I'm not in the market for children's books. Although it seems a good book, I probably won't read the rest of it after sampling the first ten pages because I'm reading more adult literature at the moment. The book appears professionally edited as I didn't notice any errors in the sample. I liked the cinematic beginning, where the "camera" zooms into the dark entrance and down to the laboratory. The child-friendly description of how the scientist explained parallel universes with maths is also a nice touch that will make the plot clear to the target audience. There's a lot of telling as opposed to showing in this opening, but I think that is fair enough for setting the scene in a children's book. I think children in the target age range would appreciate the fast explanations of the doctor's presence in the bunker, so probably nothing needs to be improved. I didn't see an OnlineBookClub review, which didn't affect my decision.
First Ten review added on February 19, 2019, at 4:22 am by Alice Heritage.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Bianka Walter
The cover of this book is very cool. It's something that would attract a younger audience quite easily. Seeing as it's classified as a children's book, this is a good thing. I enjoyed the sample that I read. Because it's aimed at a younger audience, it wasn't of huge interest to me, but I saw the attraction for the intended reader. The first ten pages were shrouded in intrigue and secrecy, and I found myself wanting to read on. Doctor Barnes experiment seems like it could be quite the discovery. His son, Timmy, seems to be quite a sad kid - but I have no doubt that that should change soon. This book is very well edited; I found no errors. I will not be reading this book further. It looks like it should be a lot of fun, but I am definitely not the intended audience.
First Ten review added on February 19, 2019, at 3:41 am by Bianka Walter.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Annelore Trujillo
I would not have sampled this book based on the genre, blurb, OBC review, cover and title. I do sometimes read children's books, but this seemed like a science-fiction children's book, which I don't read very often. After reading the first ten pages, I won't be finishing this book. I really liked that the author provided definitions for some of the words and concepts that children might not understand. This is perfect for a children's book. However, the story itself isn't for me. Dr. Barnes was working on a portal to other dimensions and doesn't know what might come through when he is forced to test his invention. While this might sound exciting for some people, it isn't a concept that really piques my interest, unfortunately. The book did seem to be professionally edited.
First Ten review added on February 19, 2019, at 1:33 am by Annelore Trujillo.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
MsTri
I was immediately captivated by both the cover and title for this book when I saw it. The Amazon synopsis and OBC review both confirmed my initial thoughts. I don't know that I'm too keen on the plot with Timmy and his father, but I do love the idea of the Bear Company! The sample read drew me in right away, and I was happy that I didn't find any grammatical errors, leading me to think that the tome was professionally edited. I especially liked the explanations about Timmy receiving a new gift whenever his father and he were going to be moving. I have no suggestions for changes because the book is already written perfectly.
First Ten review added on February 19, 2019, at 12:27 am by MsTri.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Sicily Joy
I love this cover and the title. The cover alone made me want to sample the book as I liked graphic novels, and illustrated books. The cover gives the idea that there will be illustrations. Plus, the bears look really cool. After sampling the book, I decided I want to continue to read it. What I liked best about the book are the characters. They are richly described from Mrs.Gertrude( the tough, unfeeling nanny), Timmy (who is the lonely boy) and AI bears. My favorite is when the bears activate. I liked that Cameron Alexander introduces that the bears have different names and unique personalities. The one thing element I didn't like is by calling the book Volume 1 it implies this is a graphic novel, and yet the only drawings are in the chapter headings. I found no errors in this book, therefore, I believe it was professionally edited. After reading the positive official review, it ensured my desire to read this book as I like light science fiction novels.
First Ten review added on February 19, 2019, at 12:16 am by Sicily Joy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
KRay93
The design of the cover properly conveys the childish tone proposed by the blurb. The official review highlights the development of the protagonist and the relationship established with his father. The first ten pages start with the protagonist's father being pushed to meet a deadline with his experiments around an interdimensional portal in a secret underground facility. The prose is fluid and appropriate for a book of these characteristics, while the editing work looks acceptable. This book looks too childish in its way of dealing with certain themes, and while this is to be expected considering its target audience, it is not what I am looking for, so I will not continue reading it.
First Ten review added on February 18, 2019, at 9:23 pm by KRay93.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
AA1495
Had I not sampled the book, I would not have read it. I usually read pure romance books. However, the cover (with the image of the creatures) caught my attention. Further, I liked the contrast of white and yellow text on a black background. Having read the sample, I was disappointed at the lack of a proper introduction. The actual content of the book (chapter one) began immediately after the table of contents. I would have liked an introduction to the author, some favorable reviews and a preface. However, I liked how the author described the events. They were in adequate detail and enabled me to imagine the scene. I found no major grammatical errors. However, I felt like each sentence was rather long and should have been broken down into smaller sentences. Since I do not read the genre usually, I will not be reading the book further.
First Ten review added on February 18, 2019, at 7:36 pm by AA1495.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
micoleon13
When I first read the title I had a vague idea as to what the book was about, but then I saw the cover page and it changed my mind completely and I immediately wanted to read it. It is a great cover page. The OnlineBookClub review was very complementary and well written. It outlined a story that I would be interested in. I liked that it looked at the relationship between Timmy and his father as well as the obstacles that he would have to face to be reunited again. I was looking forward to reading it. The pages which I read were well written and edited and I liked that it explained longer more difficult words such as "undisclosed" and "dimensions" in a way which would not belittle a younger reader. I was drawn into the story immediately as it was easy to read with enough mystery as to why Dr Barnes was tricked into the secret facility and what were they building a portal to? I would like to continue reading this book and I have no ideas for improvement.
First Ten review added on February 18, 2019, at 4:30 pm by micoleon13.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Vickie Noel
I love children's books, so I would have sampled this book outside the program. Reading the first ten pages so stimulated me that I went on to read the complete 154 pages. I guess it's pretty obvious how much of a success the book is. One of my favorite aspects about it is the author's penchant for explaining possible tough words for his perceived audience by infusing them into the dialogue instead of creating the regular glossary. A sample sentence is, "...but his calibration—which means small changes and adjustments to make something just right—was the hardest part of the experiment." Also impressive is the absolute absence of grammatical/technical errors in the entire book! This certainly made for a seamless read. The OBC review was also enthusiastic, and that was what first attracted me to the book. But, of course, my sustained reading was as a result of the powerful and warm writing skills of author Cameron Alexander.
First Ten review added on February 18, 2019, at 4:23 pm by Vickie Noel.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Heidi M Simone
Without this program, I would not have sampled this book. I don't have children and I only read certain children's book. Therefore, the cover, title, blurb, and genre do not appeal to me. Though there are positive customer and OBC ratings, these do not affect my opinion of the book. Based on what I read, the book could use another round of editing/proofing. There seems to be several run-on sentences. For instance, in Chapter One, the fourth paragraph that begins with, "And if you walked across all those miles of frozen land and got to the small shed-sized building and got inside and took that elevator down...", the word, "and", is used several times. The sentence could easily be split into two or possible three sentences instead of one long one, which would help eliminate a couple of the repeated conjunction. The author does a nice job in portraying Timmy as a lonely, quiet boy as he is forced to move around a lot due to his father's work and has a difficult time making friends. A hard time making friends, I'm sure, is a relatable theme for many children. However, I did find that this information was repeated twice within a couple of paragraphs and it doesn't really need to be repeated. Due to this repeated way of telling the story and the fact that I found the text to be a bit too simple for me, I do not plan on reading the rest of the book.
First Ten review added on February 18, 2019, at 3:58 pm by Heidi M Simone.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
ritah
Based on the cover and genre, I would have sampled the book because the cover captured my attention. I read the official review and then sampled Bear Company. I liked the vivid description of the underground base where Dr. Barnes was being held captive. It's sad that they got him there under false pretense and forced him to complete an experiment he didn't want to be part of. I find the narrative extremely interesting, which is why I will be reading the rest of the book. Also, I did not find any errors in the pages I read.
First Ten review added on February 18, 2019, at 2:12 pm by ritah.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Fu Zaila
I wasn't interested in the cover or by the blurb, but the sample was very alluring. I loved the introductory part where the narrative compels you to read further about the mysterious underground basement. I liked Timmy Barnes and his Dad too. The writing was very interesting and fast-paced. The concept of alternate dimensions is pretty great. There wasn't anything I disliked. The book is edited professionally and I'd love to read more.
First Ten review added on February 18, 2019, at 11:34 am by Fu Zaila.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Mercelle
Judging by the cover, I wasn't going to read this book, but the OBC review urged me on when it mentioned that the author narrates the story of a kidnapped scientist. When I read the first ten pages, I liked that the narrator revealed that although Dr. Peter Barnes worked at the underground laboratory, he wasn't there by choice. Since I noticed no errors, I'll conclude that the text underwent professional editing, but I won't read the rest of the book because it doesn't appeal to me. As it is, there's nothing I would change about the bit I read.
First Ten review added on February 18, 2019, at 9:35 am by Mercelle.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
ReviewerDiksha
By the look of the cover, this book seems to be for children. So, I wouldn't have bought it. I had not read any reviews before reading the sample. From the title, I could infer that this was a sci-fi novel. And so it was. A scientist trying to build a portal between two worlds, and leaving behind mysterious stuffed toys for his son Timmy- the mystery was built right at the beginning. The writing style seemed a bit different as compared to what I read in other novels. Lighter and fresher. I didn't find any grammatical mistakes. Though good, the writing style was quite simple. This points towards the fact that it was written for children. If I was younger, I'd have liked to read this book. If I had any children, I'd have been tempted to read this to figure out if it was suitable for them. Other than that, I wouldn't have felt motivated to read this book. I am not the audience it requires.
First Ten review added on February 18, 2019, at 7:26 am by ReviewerDiksha.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Yoli García
Even though I like the cover, I would not have sampled this book on my own because it is for middle graders. The OBC review did not convince me to read it. The premise of a kid looking for his world-famous scientist father is interesting, but it is not for me. I think a professional edited the book. The beginning is intriguing as it describes a secret location underground an area full of ice and snow. It was funny reading that the area in question makes Area 51 look like a candy shop. I will not read the book because I am not the target audience, but I think middle graders will have a blast reading it.
First Ten review added on February 18, 2019, at 5:16 am by Yoli García.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Gravy
I really don't read books aimed at this young of an audience, so I would not have been likely to look at it. However, the sample very much changed my mind, and (while I must answer no due to not purchasing it today (I prefer physical copies), I will be reading it!
There were no errors that I noticed. There were a few very long, and somewhat complicated sentences, but they came across as fun style quirks and would actually sound particularly well read aloud. The inclusion of interesting science (the way the theory of alternate dimensions were explained and rivers/streams that run upstream) is a nice way to engage the intended audience in learning.
And I must say, I absolutely love the thought of the bears and look forward to seeing them. This seems to be an all over fun and smart children's book.
I did not see a review for this book, but that does not affect my opinion.
I will be reading this, but I will not be purchasing it today, so I must answer with a no.
First Ten review added on February 18, 2019, at 3:49 am by Gravy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Sahani Nimandra
Bear Company (Dark Corps) (Volume 1) by Cameron Alexander is a read about a father and son's struggles to reunite after the father's kidnapping. The cover illustration certainly knows how to make a statement. The official review gave away a sufficient amount of details about this read that enticed my interest to know about this read better. I noted punctuation errors on a significant level. For example, This something would look very small and square and black (p.1) - This something would look very small, square and black. Then, And if you walked across all those miles of frozen land and got to the small shed-sized building and got inside and took that elevator down underground... (p.2) - And if you walked across all those miles of frozen land and got to the small shed-sized building, got inside and took that elevator down underground... Reading this book made me realize the narrator was a great storyteller. It sets a perfect picture from the start which assured me that readers who are drawn to plot developments would enjoy this read. As for me, I wish to set this a side since it's not in my to favorit list.
First Ten review added on February 18, 2019, at 2:42 am by Sahani Nimandra.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
ladycraic
I would not have chosen to sample Bear Company apart from First Ten due to my lack of interest in the cover and title. The cover art gave me the impression that this book was a graphic novel, which is not a particular favorite genre of mine to read. However, I thought the blurb was interesting. I thought it was so cool how stuffed bears could simultaneously be identified as armored protectors. That was definitely a new concept that I was wanting to read more about. Overall, I enjoyed the first few pages. I empathized with both Dr. Peter Barnes and his son, Timmy. Dr. Barnes is held against his will in order to successfully operate an experiment, and Timmy is suffering from the apparent loss of his father. I would love to see a reunion. I plan on reading the rest of this book! Bear Company seemed professionally edited and I didn't notice any grammatical errors.
First Ten review added on February 18, 2019, at 2:12 am by ladycraic.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
revna01
Although the cover is a bit strange in my opinion, I like the title. The Online Book Club review noted the valuable lessons about friends and oneself. The first ten pages were without editing errors and the author did a nice job setting the tone regarding Timmy's solitary life and his father's work. I would have liked to have more access to Timmy's thoughts right off the bat. Timmy is a ten year old boy with a famous scientist father, Peter Barnes. Peter has been kidnapped and is being held at a very remote location, now expected to open a portal to another dimension. Timmy is quiet boy who moves around a lot, so chooses to not get attached to friends. I like where the story is heading and the idea of the other dimension (and the bears!), so I will be reading this book.
First Ten review added on February 18, 2019, at 1:09 am by revna01.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Chelsy Scherba
I love this book already! I like how the author talks to “you” in the first chapter and I laughed when they said something like, “unless you do that everyday” when describing the hidden lab in the ice where Dr. Peter Barnes was being kept. I enjoyed meeting Timmy and learning he had eleven nannies, but the latest one doesn’t like children and calls him “Timothy” which he hates. I’m intrigued by the adventure Timmy will soon undertake to help his dad, and editing looks perfect, I saw no issues. The review was great and got me interested in reading the book, and the cover is great too, kind of reminds me of Ninja turtles or something like that. I’ll keep reading!
First Ten review added on February 17, 2019, at 8:13 pm by Chelsy Scherba.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
LV2R
The book cover and title were interesting, but I wasn’t sure about reading the book or not. The Amazon Blurb summarized the book well and described Dr. Peter Barnes, a famous scientist, who was kidnapped and forced to open up a portal to another dimension that let Dark enter into our world. Five stuffed bears (Bear Company) were activated to help and protect Timmy to find his dad. I wanted to read the sample. I enjoyed the author’s writing style to introduce the secret lab where Timmy’s dad was forced to stay until he could open a portal. I best like how Timmy was very close to his dad and enjoyed doing many things together with him. He traveled and learned a lot about different places and talked about “everything and anything.” This set up the drive for Timmy to find his dad with the help of the bears. The book seems to be edited well, as I did not notice any errors. The OBC review mentioned that some of the themes were about courage and learning to overcome and fight fears. I think this will be a good adventure story that will have some insights into fighting the “Dark.” I want to read this book because I like this kind of imagination and story. I hope this will be a good book to recommend to my nephews.
First Ten review added on February 17, 2019, at 7:42 pm by LV2R.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Catherine Hsu
If I had not read the sample I would not have read the books as I do not read this genre; the cover reminds me a little of Five Nights at Freddy's though. After reading the sample, I have changed my mind. I thought it was really interesting how the book talked to the reader directly by using second person perspective. I also liked how the book started to set up background knowledge by showing us the relationship between Timmy and his dad through the stuffed animals. The book was professionally edited. I did not read the official review but that did not affect my decision.
First Ten review added on February 17, 2019, at 7:26 pm by Catherine Hsu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Kajori Sheryl Paul
'Bear Company' is a book written by Cameron Alexander. The title, blurb, the OBC review, and the customer reviews in Amazon did a good job of convincing me to give the book a try.
The first ten pages of the book leads me to believe that it revolves around Timothy aka Timmy and his father Dr. Peter Barnes. Dr. Barnes has been forcefully kept in an isolated place to work on an experiment. Meanwhile, ten-year old Timmy is left alone with his strange nanny Ms. Gertrude. Almost as month without any word from his father makes him worried. I love the tone of the book. In just ten pages, I could relate with Timmy. I did not find any error. Hence, I consider this book professionally edited. I will give this book a try as I like the writing style. Also, I would like to know how Timmy reunites with his father.
First Ten review added on February 17, 2019, at 5:46 pm by Kajori Sheryl Paul.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Kristy Khem
The armoured bears on the cover didn’t really appeal to me and neither did the title. Although there were several excellent reviews and ratings on Amazon, I wasn’t encouraged to read this book because the storyline (which I gleaned from the blurb) was one that I’m not interested in. I read the sample as part of the First Ten Programme. The characterization was great which will hold kids’ interests. For example, Miss Gertrude was Timmy’s nanny and she was described as someone who was always wore a tight bun and a business suit. She also had a crooked nose as if it had been broken but hadn’t healed right. Additionally, she didn’t seem to like children. Another good aspect of the book was that it seemed to have been fully edited. I saw zero errors while I was reading the sample. I’m not in the age range to read this one, so I wouldn’t buy and read it.
First Ten review added on February 17, 2019, at 5:40 pm by Kristy Khem.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Sonya Nicolaidis
I suspected that this was a chldren’s story from the bears on the front cover, but were it not for that aspect, I really wouldn’t have guessed what this book was all about. If anything, I wasn’t really drawn to the cover illustration, and found it a bit dark, but that could be just what the author intended. It is unlikely that I would have picked up this book, but the splendid reviews that it received made me curious. All indicators pointed to a wonderfully charming tale involving a young boy and his missing father, some evil ‘dark’ creatures and a team of protective toys that the title refers to. My first thought was that I really wasn’t going to enjoy this book. I started to read the sample and was immediately surprised at how easily it flowed, at how engaging I found it - in fact, how much I enjoyed it. It is really well written. I loved the first chapter and how the author describes the top secret facility located underground and how one would find it. It is a different way of writing that I find very appealing. I didn’t see any errors which is pleasing, and in fact the sample was very, very good. I might suggest an adjustment of the cover picture, perhaps making it less morose and unattractive. I can see how this would develop into a first-class children’s story. In spite of my first impression, I think I would really love to read it, if not so much for the content but rather to explore this author’s writing talent a bit closer. I suspect we’ll be hearing much more from Cameron Alexander in the future.
First Ten review added on February 17, 2019, at 3:40 pm by Sonya Nicolaidis.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
HRichards
I normally wouldn't have picked up this type of book as it is aimed towards younger readers. Having read the sample I won't be continuing with the book as it is for the interest level of younger readers. The sample deals with a scientist who is working on an experiment that will open gateways between dimensions. The sample then introduces Timmy, a very lonely boy whose father is gone at work a lot. The writing is pretty good and would probably appeal to younger readers. I'm not really the audience this book is geared towards. I noticed the very first sentence in the sample is a run on that should have been split up into several shorter sentences. I have not read any other reviews of this book.
First Ten review added on February 17, 2019, at 3:39 pm by HRichards.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
CataclysmicKnight
I like YA books, and this one definitely has a cool cover, so I could definitely see myself looking into it even if it wasn't the book of the day.
When I first started reading Bear Company, I was confused that this was considered a children's book even though it was around 150 pages long. Reading the first ten pages made it clear that the pages in Bear Company are much shorter than pages in other books. Typically I read 18 Kindle screens, give or take, to equate to 10 pages; for Bear Company there were only 7 screens from page 1 to page 11. The writing is definitely very child-friendly, yet even as an adult I'm intrigued by the story of a scientist who creates a portal to another dimension without knowing what's there.
I haven't seen a single error, and if the pages are all as short as the first ten, this will feel like a 50-75 page book at most. That's something easy enough to read in an hour or two tops, and since the book is free I definitely want to finish it.
First Ten review added on February 17, 2019, at 2:35 pm by CataclysmicKnight.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Laura Ungureanu
"Bear Company" is an adventure book for middle-aged kids. It chronicles Timmy's adventure to get to his father, Dr. Barnes. He must overcome his fears. The description of the setting of snow and clouds, with only an elevator that looks like a small building and goes underground, is beautifully pictured. Dr. Robert Barnes is forced to work in the underground research laboratory. The premise and the cover would attract the target audience, but it is not the kind of book I would normally read. I wouldn't have checked it without this program and I'm not going to continue it. I found no grammar errors.
First Ten review added on February 17, 2019, at 2:29 pm by Laura Ungureanu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Cristina Chifane
I wouldn't have sampled this book without the first ten program. The cover is nightmarish, but the title seems to reflect the content of the book. With good editorial reviews and 6 customer reviews of 5-star ratings, the book is recommended as a delight to read and perfect for beginning chapter readers. I liked the author's playful tone in the pages I've read. The story flows smoothly and I'm sure children will find Timmy a relatable and likeable character. The OBC reviewer mentions that he could be an example of courage for other children. Besides, his relationship with his father is also something worth exploring and a great addition to the plot. Even if I couldn't find any editing errors in the first ten pages, I'll not continue reading the book because it mainly targets children and the plot is much too simple for me.
First Ten review added on February 17, 2019, at 2:14 pm by Cristina Chifane.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Scerakor
From the cover, blurb, and review of this book, I wouldn’t have read it. I don't really read kids books and my children aren't old enough for this one yet. After reading the first ten pages I didn’t change my mind and therefore will not be buying and reading the rest of this book. I love the foreshadowing and the light bits of humour that could be found early on in this book. From the banter of the narrator in the first chapter about Area 51, to the foreshadowing of the little black boxes on the stuffed animals given to Timmy, the author is setting up a great story. That being said, although it did seem well written, the story is a bit childish for me to read by myself and neither of my children are old enough to take on a book like this. I will perhaps consider it for later on. I didn’t see anything specific that I would have wanted to change within the sample that I read, but it did seem well written and edited. The official review did not affect my decision at all.
First Ten review added on February 17, 2019, at 1:47 pm by Scerakor.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kendra M Parker
I liked the title and the picture on the front of this book. The official review certainly makes this sound like a great book to share with my kids. I think they might really enjoy this. As I read the first ten pages, I did not find any grammatical errors. What really appealed to me was the way that the author will use a large or difficult word or concept and then quickly define it for the reader. For example, the way that the author explained the multiple dimensions theories was a great way that even my young kids will probably appreciate. It’s always wonderful when the author answers the “why” question for me, especially if he does so in a way that does not feel condescending to the reader (or kids). The author certainly handled this well in my opinion. I’m certainly going to read some more of this book and then possibly read it with my children as a read-aloud book.
First Ten review added on February 17, 2019, at 1:12 pm by Kendra M Parker.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
cpru68
Dr. Barnes is working in a secret lab and has been instructed to open a portal between our world and a parallel universe. Meanwhile, he has left behind his young son Timmy who is under the care of a nanny named Ms. Gertrude who seems to be working for the same people who took his father away. Her child rearing skills are cold and demeaning. Timmy has no idea that his dad has opened a portal that has unleashed shadow creatures that seem determined to cause harm.
I liked how the author took the time in places to explain words and terms such as what a parallel universe is. I found that a nice addition since this is geared for middle schoolers. The writing is fast-paced which I think young readers of this genre will enjoy. I also thought the strong bond between father and son was a great example for young people to see in a novel.
I did not find any errors in punctuation, spelling or grammar so it would seem that this has been professionally edited. And I have no suggestions to make. I generally read non-fiction, and I don’t fit the demographic for this book, so I probably wouldn’t have found this one on my own search without the online book club. I won’t be finishing this as I am not in the age group it’s meant for, but I appreciate the opportunity to have read the sample pages, and will send it out on my social media for others to look into.
First Ten review added on February 17, 2019, at 12:51 pm by cpru68.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
BelleReadsNietzsche
The cover of this book makes it seem incredibly action-based, which is not very appealing to me, but which I think would be appealing to its audience of middle grade readers, especially boys.
I was really impressed by sampling the book, however. The format appears extremely professional and I did not find any spelling or grammar errors. The images that introduce each chapter give the book a military/spy feel that fit the mood. The writing is age-appropriate but really, really excellent. It’s vivid, with good vocabulary and humor, and it builds interest in the story with every sentence. I think I will finish the book because, as a children’s book it won’t be too time-consuming and it’s really very good! The positive OBC review did make me think it was probably a good book, but it wasn’t enough to push me “over the edge” into deciding to read it. The sample really clinched it for me. There was nothing I didn’t like.
First Ten review added on February 17, 2019, at 11:25 am by BelleReadsNietzsche.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
desantismt_17
This book’s title made me curious. The description also grabbed my attention. I enjoy middle-grade fantasy adventure stories. Before sampling, I was interested in reading. After sampling, I want to read this. The book appears professionally edited. I noticed no errors. The introduction with the description of the frozen wasteland and the building that’s not a building and the elevator leading down into laboratories hooked me. The line about finding Dr. Barnes who works there but not by choice cemented my desire to read. The portals to other dimensions aspect grabbed my attention and didn’t let go. I love these kinds of adventure stories, and I was reminded of A Wrinkle in Time, my all-time favorite book. Between the content and writing style, I am hooked. I have no improvements to suggest. The OnlineBookClub.org review was not very detailed. It didn’t describe the plot well and didn’t even mention that this book had science fiction/fantasy elements. If my decision had been based only on the review, I might not have read this. Fortunately, there are other factors, and I’m excited to read this book.
First Ten review added on February 17, 2019, at 10:28 am by desantismt_17.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Jsovermyer
I love this cover art. It would attract any child and make them want to read the book. I really enjoy Cameron Alexander's style of writing. It's as if someone is telling a story. I also like how he introduces new vocabulary and then explains what the word means. The writing is very clever. I didn't see anything that I would change about the book. It seems to be professionally edited and I found no grammatical or spelling errors. The official reviewer rated this book highly and I would agree. Even though this book is intended for children, I found it interesting and would like to read the rest of the book. The author did a very good job and I predict this series will become very popular.
First Ten review added on February 17, 2019, at 10:03 am by Jsovermyer.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Camille Turner
I would not have sampled this book without the program because it's clear from the title, cover, and Amazon blurb that it's a kid's book, and I don't have any kids. After reading the first ten pages, I believe the book to be professionally edited as I didn't note any grammatical errors or typos. My impression has stayed the same, as it's definitely a book for younger audiences, and because I don't have kids yet, I won't read the rest of the book. However, I think it's a really cute book so far, and I'm certain that people with kids will enjoy reading it with them. I wouldn't improve anything. I liked that the author defined difficult words like "calibration" and "undisclosed." Sprinkling in these bigger words and defining them is wonderful for expanding kids' vocabulary. I also think the immediate introduction to both a scientist confined in a secret government lab and his young son who moves around a lot and is lonely will appeal to kids. It gives them both adventure and a character to relate to at the same time.
First Ten review added on February 17, 2019, at 9:08 am by Camille Turner.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
sarahmarlowe randomeducator
The cover is great! The illustration is clever and colorful, and the title design looks professionally done. I probably would have picked it up to see what it was about. The sample is well-written. I like the tone the author uses, which takes away the seriousness of events, giving an impression that things are going to be ok. Otherwise, kidnapping, imprisonment, and Timmy’s severe nanny might be too much for a story like this. I have not read an OBC review, and I will not be reading this one as it is not in a genre I normally read.
First Ten review added on February 17, 2019, at 8:35 am by sarahmarlowe randomeducator.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
gali
I probably wouldn't have sampled the book without the program, as I am not the intended audience. I didn't change my mind after sampling the book. The book is geared toward middle-grade readers, and I'm way past that age. It does sound like a delightful read for kids, though. The book follows a boy's quest to save his scientist father from his kidnappers with the help of his activated teddy bears. I love the idea of activated teddy bears coming to the rescue! The idea of a portal to another world isn't that original, but the execution sure is. The author set up the stage well. The faculty where the scientist was held came to life with its comparison to Area 51. Although I didn't notice any glaring errors, the writing was a bit juvenile to my taste. I won't read the book, as I am not in the age demographic for which it is intended. The official review didn't sway my decision either way.
First Ten review added on February 17, 2019, at 7:55 am by gali.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Total ~ 49%
Bear Company (Dark Corps) (Volume 1) earned a score of 49%.
In other words, out of the top-level reviewers who read at least the first 10 pages of this book, 49% plan to read the whole book.
IMPORTANT: Any score over 10% is considered very good. And any score above 0% is acceptable.
Over a million books are published each year. Any given person could not even read .0001% of the books out there. This means readers have to be very selective. Even taking the time to look over reviews and blurbs, let alone read samples, is more time than most readers can afford for most books. The First Ten is a powerful focus group that addresses those issues. It creates a helpful tool for authors, publishers, and other readers.
Go to main Bookshelves page for Bear Company (Dark Corps) (Volume 1)
