The First Ten Focus Group Feedback for The Invisible Realm: A-maze-ing Adventures I

Because The Invisible Realm 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.

Bianka Walter

This is not a book I would have sampled without the first ten program. Dacey and Hattie seem like two normal stepsisters. They are trying to navigate their parent's marriage and get along. The sample of this book involved the two of them looking around the cottage that they're staying in. It was actually quite uneventful and it didn't make me want to read on. I didn't find any errors in the first ten pages. The OBC reviews didn't change my mind about reading this book. It is not one that I will be reading further as there was nothing that grabbed my attention enough to make me want to read on. It also seems that it is meant for a younger audience.

First Ten review added on April 7, 2019, at 4:58 am by Bianka Walter.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Vickie Noel

I definitely would have picked up this book outside the program because the title and the genre being a children's book is quite appealing to me. The blurb and cover page also had a hand to play. My opinion hasn't changed because I'd enjoyed reading the first ten pages. I like the author's use of words, similes like "...dumping seaweeds like wet dishrags across the sand." I saw no grammatical errors at all so the book is professionally edited. The OBC review also stimulated me into checking out the story.

First Ten review added on April 7, 2019, at 4:52 am by Vickie Noel.

Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

briellejee

Based on the cover and title, I think I would have sampled the book. The illustration is appealing and the title can spark any curiosity. As for the first few pages, I liked the illustrations for the title of each chapter: they made the book attractive and interesting. Both Hattie's and Dacey's characters are also well-written. Hattie's personality and attitude towards her stepsister is a bit relatable to kids with younger siblings. Also, the author's writing style is easy to understand, simplistic enough for kids and enjoyable enough for all ages, even adults. With that said, I'm going to read the rest of the book. I really want to know where the door leads and what would become of their sibling relationship. I found no noticeable errors and the official OBC review is good enough and persuasive to tell me to sample it.

First Ten review added on April 7, 2019, at 4:27 am by briellejee.

Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Ekta Kumari

I wouldn't have read this as it sounded like a fantasy read to me from the official review, and I was not interested in reading a fantasy. However, I sampled it and quite liked the beginning to the story. I was introduced to the two sisters, and it became apparent to me that they need to work on their bonding. I found the storyline to be engaging in spite of my reservations about not reading this book. Plus, the book seems very well edited. After sampling this, I would say I'll read the rest of the story. I'm intrigued to find out the adventures of the two sisters and how they get together through those.

First Ten review added on April 7, 2019, at 4:00 am by Ekta Kumari.

Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Dolor

Everything in this book from the book cover, the title, the blurb, the official OBC review and the first ten pages had piqued my interest. I love illustrated books, so I have decided to read the entire contents in this book even in the absence of The First Ten program. The first ten pages talked about the stepsisters who explored the old cottage. Their parents were out for grocery shopping. Since outside seemed to have a hurricane, Hattie decided to explore the attic. Dacey had no choice but follow to rescue her cat, Sir Whiskers, which ran up to the attic. Here are the errors I noticed:
*grammar error*
in her pants pocket => pant's

*fragmented sentence*
Some family vacation.

Maybe a living room or kitchen drawer?

Or the pantry, or possibly the back porch.

I would like to know more, so I will read on. I have no improvement suggestion for this book. The Invisible Realm by Evelyn Dunbar Webb is an illustrated book for #Children. It follows the #TreasureHunt #Adventure of the #Stepsisters Hattie and Dacey. It is the first book in the A-Maze-Ing Adventures Series which targets children between the ages of seven and eleven.

#FreeBook

First Ten review added on April 7, 2019, at 3:23 am by Dolor.

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 two sisters who discover a magical world. When I read the first ten pages, I liked that Hattie told Dacey that if she was old enough to read, she could stay by herself for an hour or two. Since I noticed no errors, I will 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 April 7, 2019, at 1:55 am by Mercelle.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Annelore Trujillo

I would have sampled this book based on the genre, blurb, OBC review, cover and title. I liked that the review compared it to The Chronicles of Narnia. After reading the first ten pages, I will be finishing this book. I loved the dialogue between the girls. It really sounded like that of two sisters arguing. The age difference between the two was portrayed well, especially with comments like “I’m 11; I’m the boss.” I am excited to see how the relationship between Hattie and Dacey grows throughout the book. I also want to know more about this magical land they find. The book did seem to be professionally edited.

First Ten review added on April 7, 2019, at 1:35 am by Annelore Trujillo.

Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

unamilagra

Before sampling this book, I would already have been interested in it. I have a daughter in elementary school who loves adventure stories, and the cover art is intriguing. The first ten pages really drew me into the book. It did a great job of introducing the two step-sisters and their personalities, as well as setting the story up for mystery and adventure by leading them to the spooky attic. I will continue reading this book, and I think my daughter will love it. I did not notice any errors in the section I read.

First Ten review added on April 7, 2019, at 1:19 am by unamilagra.

Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Sarah_Khan

I love the cover of this book, the title sounds intriguing. I probably would not have picked it up because I do not have children. The first few pages seem well-edited. I liked that this book explores the relationship between two stepsisters. The OBC review was positive. I think this would be a great read for kids, but I am not the intended audience. So I must pass on reading the rest of this story.

First Ten review added on April 6, 2019, at 10:39 pm by Sarah_Khan.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Samantha Simoneau

Very eye-catching cover, great title. The to-the-point blurb puts me in the mind of the Narnia series. I wouldn't pay any attention to the single review. On to the sample. There should be a comma between "do" and "or," because that is a compound sentence. There should be a comma between "thick" and "silver," as well as between "and" and "with." Okay, done with the sample, other than the comma-related errors, I think this book is well edited. The font looks really small and the columns really narrow in the Amazon sample, though. I'm assuming that's not a problem in the actual book, digital or otherwise, but that in itself might keep me from spending $7.99 on it because I couldn't be sure the formatting isn't also strange in the Kindle book. I like Hattie, I like Dacey, I'm interested in the old cottage, and I like Sir Whiskers, especially, but I wasn't caught up enough to spend almost 8 bucks on the download. Cute book, though.

First Ten review added on April 6, 2019, at 9:03 pm by Samantha Simoneau.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Alice Heritage

I wouldn't have sampled this book without the programme as I'm not in the market for children's books. I also won't buy and read it on the basis of the sample (it's not free in my region) because it didn't draw me in sufficiently. The text seemed accurate as if professionally edited. At one stage, Hattie says: "You're hardly big enough to make a difference" and Dacey replies "So are you." This read oddly - I would have expected "Nor are you." I liked the word choices when referring to the cat's behaviour best - he "squiggled away" and "curled himself into a corkscrew". Nothing particularly needs to be improved as I think this would fascinate children. One small point is that it wasn't clear where the parents had gone, especially in a hurricane. Also, when it was mentioned that the house was built before the Civil War, I automatically thought of the English Civil War (a house built around then might have a priest's hole, which would definitely be interesting). It would be helpful to have this spelt out before the nineteenth-century date is mentioned, therefore. I didn't see an OnlineBookClub review, which didn't affect my decision.

First Ten review added on April 6, 2019, at 2:01 pm by Alice Heritage.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

MarisaRose

I don't typically read children's books, so "The Invisible Realm" isn't a book I would purchase blindly based on the book cover and the Amazon blurb. An OBC review wouldn't sway my opinion in this case because of the fact that this book is meant for a much younger audience. After sampling the first ten pages, I thought this book would be great for the target audience, but it still isn't something I'd read myself. First off, I thought the font, spacing, and images at the beginning of the chapters were all appropriate for the target demographic. Second, the author does a great job getting right into the story in a way that young kids will be able to relate to. Hattie seems really bummed out as her family vacation isn't going the way she envisioned; we've all experienced that! The author also creates realistic dialogue for the characters' ages. The conversation between Hattie and Dacey was realistic and humorous. Further, I enjoyed the juxtaposition between the different personalities of Hattie and Dacey. Hattie, the main character, seems more pragmatic, whereas Dacey is obsessed with the fantastical: weird sea creatures, stories about monsters, etc. I think the story will play out nicely with these two opposites. I also like that the two main characters are female. There wasn't anything I really disliked about the sample, and I didn't notice any grammatical errors. However, the genre just isn't for me, so I won't be reading more of this one.

First Ten review added on April 6, 2019, at 10:34 am by MarisaRose.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

CinWin

"The Invisible Realm" by Evelyn Dunbar Webb opens with step-sisters Hattie and Darcey trying to decide what to do on their vacation. It is raining and that is ruining their outdoor plans. They decide to go exploring the cabin - the attic first. I enjoyed the first 10 pages of this wonderful children's book. It already started to sound mysterious and you could just tell the girls were going to have an adventure. I think this will really appeal to the younger reader. The author writes simply, yet the storyline is very interesting. I have nothing to add that would improve upon the story. I won't be finishing it because it is for 8-11-year-old children. If I had a child that age, I would recommend it. There were no typos in the part that I read, and there was an onlinebookclub review. The cover grabbed my attention right away. There was a strong resemblance to "The Chronicles of Narnia."

First Ten review added on April 6, 2019, at 9:58 am by CinWin.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Emy Katherine

I would have read the book based on the OBC review, Amazon reviews, cover, and genre. Unfortunately, I changed my mind after reading the first ten pages; I did not feel invested in the story. "The Invisible Realm" by Evelyn Dunbar Webb is the first book in the A-Maze-Ing Adventures Series. While exploring the attic of their cottage, two stepsisters (Hattie and Dacey) come across a map that transports them to a magical world. From there, the story follows their adventures and misadventures as they bond together, overcome obstacles, and make new friends. It is a story filled with adventure, magic, mystery, and suspense. The writing style is descriptive, and the dialogues between the characters are realistic. I particularly appreciated the colorful illustrations at the beginning of each chapter. Also, I did not find any grammatical errors, so the book seems like it was professionally edited. Undoubtedly, fans of children's books will enjoy it.

First Ten review added on April 6, 2019, at 9:04 am by Emy Katherine.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Gravy

While I read children's fiction, this one doesn't really interest me, and is a little young for my taste. The sample did not change my mind about it.
I didn't notice any grammatical errors or typos. There were, however, a number of continuity errors (I absolutely despise continuity errors). For instance, first Dacey is holding Mr. Whiskers, who then gets down to rub on Hattie. Mr. Whiskers is then suddenly back in Dacey's arms. Then, while searching for flashlights, Dacey first says that she doesn't know where to look, has never left her stepsisters side, but then says she already checked the pantry. Later on, Hattie thinks that Dacey has "another point," but Dacey hadn't had a previous point, so this makes no sense.
In my opinion, this many continuity errors in the first ten pages does not bode well for the rest of the book, and I can't imagine that an editor wouldn't have noticed them.
What I did like about this, the cover is fun and imaginative, Mr. Whiskers being a maine coon, and the girls are fairly well developed.
If this were aimed slightly older and there weren't the issues with continuity, I may have been tempted in to reading it. With the issues and the target age, it just doesn't appeal to me, so I won't be reading it.
There is a review for this book, but my opinion would be the same without one.

First Ten review added on April 6, 2019, at 6:54 am by Gravy.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

gen_g

After reading the first 10 pages, it does seem like a great book for older children. It kicks off with a bang, as Hattie decides to explore the attic of their new house, dragging her stepsister Dacey along. However, to build to the atmosphere, I would suggest including a bit more detail about about the thunderstorm and weather outside, to give the story a sense of mystery and adventure. I do think this is a good book, but I won't be reading any further just because it's not in my age range; however, I will recommend this to my younger relatives. The book seems professionally edited.

First Ten review added on April 6, 2019, at 5:26 am by gen_g.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

va2016

The cover and title are indicative of the theme of the book. There is only one Amazon customer review for the book. The Amazon summary succinctly describes the plot. Based on the above factors, I would have skipped sampling the book if not for the First Ten program, as children books are not my genre. As I sampled the book, I found the narration describing the interaction between the twin sisters Hattie and Dacey, and how they bond together in their home. I found the narration not interesting, so I am not going to read the book in full. I found the book professionally edited, although the font size is too small for comfort. I didn't find any grammatical or mechanical errors. I didn't like anything specific about the book. As an improvement, I suggest that the font size be made bigger for the reader to comfortably read the book. Although I found 2 OBC reviews on the book, my decision to not to read the book in full is based on my own sampling.

First Ten review added on April 6, 2019, at 5:19 am by va2016.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Lorraine De Vos

I am a fan of well written children’s adventure books so I would have given this book a try without reading the first ten pages. After reading the first ten pages I am elated to say I am now invested in the adventure of Hattie and Dacey and can’t wait to finish reading the book. The characters are well written, the book is professionally edited and the story is compelling. Once I started reading, I battled to put the book down. I love the writing style the author has - I was there in the attic, smelling the dust, wondering if the light was going to work, listening for the cat and hearing waves break as the storm rebelled outside the window. I centainly felt the excitement when Hattie discovered the map! No improvements are required. The official OnlineBookClub review was excellent and just made me feel the need to continue reading even more. Best of all, this is just the first book in a series!

First Ten review added on April 6, 2019, at 3:58 am by Lorraine De Vos.

Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Sonya Nicolaidis

The cover of this book took me back to my childhood, when books like this would be my first choice! What a wonderful cover illustration - immediately appealing and well presented. I was sure this would be a great book for children. The reviews were filled with praise for this author and the lessons taught within these pages about friendship, problem-solving and teamwork. I read the first ten with a mind that I would love this book. It took a while to get off the ground, with most of the sample devoted to scene setting and characterization, which may not be great for a children’s book. However, the introduction of a cat lent another dimension to the story, and it seemed to be headed in the right direction. I did notice a couple of grammatical errors, mostly to do with overuse of semi-colons in the sample. An example is when Hattie says, “Ghost, goblin; who knows...” which would be better without a semi-colon, and with a question mark after ‘knows’. The flow was interrupted somewhat by these semi-colons and made the sample a bit awkward to read. Still, it was an enjoyable story although I would suggest another careful edit to get the grammar perfect. Although I won’t read it myself, I’m sure it will be well received and enjoyed by many.

First Ten review added on April 6, 2019, at 3:22 am by Sonya Nicolaidis.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Cristina Chifane

I would've been tempted to check this book even without the first ten program because I absolutely loved the cover and title. I think they'd both attract children. The story itself seemed to be filled with mystery and adventures. With good editorial reviews and only one customer review, the book still needs to find its readers. The pages I've read were truly delightful. The dialogues between the two stepsisters Hattie and Dacey are well written and keep the reders engaged. I found myself curious to understand what happened to Dacey's cat and what the two girls would discover in the attic. I couldn't find any editing errors and the OBC reviewer confirms that the book is excellently edited. I'd like to add it to my reading list. I'll also recommend it to my friends who are teachers and could use it during their reading classes.

First Ten review added on April 6, 2019, at 2:32 am by Cristina Chifane.

Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

R Lawrence

I was excited to read this book because the cover, title, and genre all seem similar to books I have enjoyed in the past. After sampling the book, I was a little disappointed because some of the reviews, not the Official OnlineBookClub review, I read made me think this was a YA book, but it appears to be for a younger audience. Because of that, I will not be finishing the book. Even though I did enjoy what I read, I would rather be reading something a bit more challenging. I really like the two sisters because their relationship is very realistic and they are both different, but equally interesting characters. I did not like the author’s writing style because in some places the sentences did not follow how one would normally speak. That gave me the impression that this book was not well-edited, even though I could not find any grammatical errors or typos.

First Ten review added on April 6, 2019, at 1:52 am by R Lawrence.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

CataclysmicKnight

I love the cover of this book. It really captures the magic and fantasy of exploring a hidden realm, and the two sisters are clearly evident in the image. YA fantasy is my favorite genre, so I definitely would've looked into this even if it wasn't the book of the day.

So far I'm really enjoying The Invisible Realm. The two sisters are terrific characters, and there's even a cute, wild kitty in the mix. I'm looking forward to them finding the "invisible realm", and I didn't find any errors. In fact, the only negative is that this isn't a typical Kindle book, the pages are images. This means I can't highlight words or make them bigger. Their size is fair, but I still prefer them bigger since my eyes aren't great.

This one thing definitely isn't enough to make me stop reading though. I probably wouldn't buy it since I have such a big stack of books to read, but since it was free I definitely want to finish it.

First Ten review added on April 6, 2019, at 12:39 am by CataclysmicKnight.

Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

revna01

I think the title and cover are a lovely choice. The first ten pages were fun and set a great tone for the rest of the book. I like the writing and the way the characters had clear and distinct personalities. My only suggestion would be to eliminate the semicolons, which were overused. I found no editing errors. Hattie and Dacey are new stepsisters and are at a cottage. A storm forces them to entertain themselves inside, and Hattie wants to investigate the attic for treasures from around the world. Sir Whiskers the cat darts off into the dark upstairs to make matters even more interesting. The OBC reviewer noted the whimsical nature of the magical story and the relationship that Hattie and Dacey have that grows over time, teaching valuable life lessons. The target audience is too young for my taste, so I won't be reading it. I did like what I read in the first ten pages though!

First Ten review added on April 6, 2019, at 12:32 am by revna01.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

LV2R

I liked the attractive book cover and the title. The Amazon Blurb gave a good summary of stepsisters, Hattie and Dacey, as they go on a treasure hunt in a hidden world with fairy tale characters; they learn what it means to be “real” sisters. This sounded cute. The sample described Hattie and Dacey and Sir Whiskers, the cat, all bored during a stormy day at the vacation cottage. I best liked that they wanted to explore the attic and followed the cat up the stairs. They were to start on their adventure. I did not notice any errors and think that the book must be edited very well. The OBC review mentioned that there were lessons of friendship and the two girls had to work together to solve riddles and mysteries. I want to read the book because it seems like an interesting and cute story even if it was written for children. I want to find out what is in the attic and where their adventure will take them.

First Ten review added on April 6, 2019, at 12:19 am by LV2R.

Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Sahani Nimandra

The Invisible Realm by Evelyn Dunbar Webb is a beautiful read that can be compared to Alice in Wonderland, and Narnia. Eye-catching cover illustration. The official review gives a great picture about this read, and surely it did persuade me to read this book. It's about two step sisters working out to solve the mystery of their lost cat and to find treasure in their new home. I didn't encounter any grammatical hindrances while reading. It's seemed like a promising read. Looking forward to read it in the near further.

First Ten review added on April 5, 2019, at 11:36 pm by Sahani Nimandra.

Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Chelsy Scherba

I love the way this book is written. It’s so easy to visualize bossy Hattie and her bookish little step-sister, Dacey. I liked that the sisters’ boredom leads them to go exploring the house they’re cooped up in during a dull vacation. The addition of the cat was also really cute. I really didn’t want to stop reading, so I’m glad I was able to snag a copy during the promotion. The editing looks really professional, I didn’t see any errors. The review described a lot of details about the book that interested me in reading more. I like the cover image and will gladly enjoy the rest of this cute story.

First Ten review added on April 5, 2019, at 11:26 pm by Chelsy Scherba.

Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Catherine Hsu

If I had not read the sample I would have read the book. I love the cover art a lot and I think the title text matches really well with art. After reading the sample, I have not changed my mind. The writing was very engaging and I really liked the figurative language, such as saying brown pigtails were "dangling like beagle's ears." I am really interested in the plot as well. The sample was professionally edited. I did not read the official review but that did not affect my decision.

First Ten review added on April 5, 2019, at 10:03 pm by Catherine Hsu.

Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Juliana_Isabella

I wouldn't have chosen this book for myself because the cover makes it clear that it's intended for children. However, after reading the review, I thought I might enjoy it. I did enjoy the general story and the fact that it appears to have no grammatical errors, but the story is written from a child's point of view, so it will probably only appeal to children. With that being said, I won't be finishing the book.

First Ten review added on April 5, 2019, at 9:38 pm by Juliana_Isabella.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

sarahmarlowe randomeducator

The cover is very nicely done! The illustration is intriguing, and the title design is clean and readable. If I were looking for a good chapter book, I would have picked this one up. And, I wouldn't have been disappointed. The characters are well-drawn, the dialogue is easy and smooth, and the plot seems to be leading to some fun adventures. I like the bit of conflict between the step-sisters as they are getting used to each other. And, I love the cat. Nice touch! There were some editing issues, though. The first is on page 6: "I've got to find something to do or I'll scream." A comma is needed after "do." I won't be reading this book simply because I am not in need of a children's chapter book. However, I would recommend it to those who are. I have not read an OBC review of this book.

First Ten review added on April 5, 2019, at 7:17 pm by sarahmarlowe randomeducator.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

micoleon13

This is a great cover page which got my attention immediately. It's profesionally done and looks mysterious and fun. I would be interested in finding out more about the book. The OnlineBookClub review was very complementary and outlined a story that I really like the sound of. The mix of adventure, fantasy and riddles will make it an exciting read for children. The pages which I read were well written and edited and I liked that the author captured the image of the young girls interacting with each other, down to the taunting and arguments of whether or not to go up into the attic to follow Sir Whiskers. While I liked the story, it is a bit too much aimed at children for me to want to continue reading it. I have no ideas for improvement.

First Ten review added on April 5, 2019, at 7:11 pm by micoleon13.

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. Further, this book is meant for children. Having read the sample, I liked how simple the language used in the book was. Children will easily be able to read and follow the book. Further, the plot of the book seems interesting and enjoyable. However, I was expecting more illustrations in the book and was a little disappointed that there were none in the sample. I did not find any major editing or grammatical errors. Since the book is meant for children, I do not think I will read the rest of the book.

First Ten review added on April 5, 2019, at 6:42 pm by AA1495.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

NuelUkah

The cover and title look enticing. The kindle size is quite large, but I got my copy. I like how the relationship between Hattie and Dacey was developed from the beginning. The official OBC reviewer made this book sound adventurous and fun. Hence, I'm going to read it. I didn't notice any error.

First Ten review added on April 5, 2019, at 6:29 pm by NuelUkah.

Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Jsovermyer

The cover art and title, The Invisible Realm, are both exciting and should draw the attention of young readers. This is a beautiful and fun children's adventure story. It's a plus that it teaches lessons on the importance of family and friendship. Hattie, the big stepsister, and little stepsister, Dacey, are cute and well-defined characters, even in just ten pages. I especially liked Dacey's Maine Coon cat, Sir Whiskers, because my pet is also that kind of cat. The official review rated this book highly, and I would agree that it is well-written and exciting. I didn't find any spelling or grammatical errors and believe that it has been professionally edited. However, I had some trouble increasing the font size for this book on my Kindle reader. I like this book, but I have already selected several other children's books to read. So I will not be finishing this one.

First Ten review added on April 5, 2019, at 5:15 pm by Jsovermyer.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

ritah

I love the cover and title of The Invisible Realm, based on that I would have sampled the book. After reading the official review, I sampled the novel. I liked Hattie's desire for adventure, but I also understood the seven-year-old Dacey's fear of crawling critters. I did not spot any errors in the pages I read. I'm intrigued by the plot of this book and stories that feature adventure are one of my favorites to read, which is the reason why I will be reading the rest of the book.

First Ten review added on April 5, 2019, at 4:41 pm by ritah.

Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Kajori Sheryl Paul

'The Invisible Realm' is a book written by Evelyn Dunbar Webb. The title, cover, OBC review, and Amazon review did a good job at convincing me to give this book a try.

The book leads me to believe that it is a children's book. It is the first book in the ‘A-maze-ing Mystery Series’. Hattie and her stepsister, Dacey, are stuck in the courage during vacation due to a storm. They decide to explore the cottage, which was built before the Civil War, before their parent's return. I did not find any error. I think it is professionally edited. I like the writing style. I will give this book a try as I like to read books of this genre, and it reminds me of ‘The Chronicles of Narnia'.

First Ten review added on April 5, 2019, at 3:11 pm by Kajori Sheryl Paul.

Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

britt13

This sounded like a cute adventure story based on the official review! I love that it is step-sisters bonding because that could be very relatable to many children of homes that are mixed family. I also absolutely love this cover, it is enticing as all get out! I was excited to read the first ten. Hattie and Darcy seem like they have a lot of room to grow closer throughout the book which is nice. I love Webb's writing, it is very strong. Sentences such as "Even my freckles are depressed" really bring the story to life. I also really like the image at the start of the chapters. I did not really dislike anything of what I read, and I found no grammatical errors, but I do not have any children this age, so I will not be reading further. I do think it seems like a great book though!

First Ten review added on April 5, 2019, at 3:07 pm by britt13.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Laura Ungureanu

When I saw the cover, I had the feeling that this book will conquer the hearts of children. It reminds me of Narnia the best, so I wouldn't hesitate to check it out myself. The stepsisters Hattie and Dacey are bored on vacation. Hattie decides it would be fun to check the attic. I enjoyed reading the dialogs between the two girls because I know that their relationship will improve. I find important for a children's book to have a moral lesson. In this case, the book teaches children to solve conflicts. I won't continue reading the book because I don't read children adventure books. I found no grammar errors.

First Ten review added on April 5, 2019, at 2:55 pm by Laura Ungureanu.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Jessacardinal

The cover and title of the book are nice but would not inspire me to read the story because it seems to engage a younger audience than myself. Nonetheless, the sample is well written, interesting, and error free. It seems the author had the book professionally edited. I specifically appreciate the descriptive details that paint vivid imagery in one's mind while reading the text. There is nothing I would attempt to improve within the sample pages. This is the first time I have crossed paths with this book. I have not seen any prior reviews for the book, but this does not affect my desire to read or not read a book. I believe the story targets older children and young teens. As I am much older than that age group, I do not plan to purchase or read the rest of this book.

First Ten review added on April 5, 2019, at 12:54 pm by Jessacardinal.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Mai Tran

This sounds like a heart-warming book about the meaning of sisterhood. However, I wouldn’t have read it without the program because it’s meant for children. While it’s normal for stepsisters to feel awkward with each other at first, it’s not very enjoyable to witness the tense relationship between Hattie and Dacey. The book seems professionally edited. I won’t continue to read this book because I’m not interested in the girls’ adventure.

First Ten review added on April 5, 2019, at 11:20 am by Mai Tran.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

HRichards

I probably wouldn't have picked this book up as it is for younger readers. Having read the sample I won't be continuing with the book since it is for middle grade students. The sample deals with Hattie, a young girl who is disappointed because her vacation is being ruined by rain. Her stepsister suggests they explore the house. The writing is pretty good and this book should appeal to middle grade readers. The writing is for younger readers, which is why I'm not that interested in it. I didn't notice any grammar errors. I have not read any other reviews for this book.

First Ten review added on April 5, 2019, at 11:10 am by HRichards.

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. My kids aren’t of the target demographic age and it didn’t sound like something that I would want to read myself. 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 loved how the author was able to capture the attitude and nature of the age groups of the characters involved. In particular, when Hattie declares that she makes the decisions because she is 11, it rings completely true of the age group’s self-confidence and bravado. That being said, my children aren’t old enough yet to attack this book. Although it does seem interesting, I’ll defer a couple of years before presenting it to them. 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 April 5, 2019, at 9:52 am by Scerakor.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

cpru68

Hattie and her stepsister Dacey are waiting out the rain while on vacation at a beach cottage. Their parents have gone off to the store, and Hattie’s dad has put her in charge over seven year old Dacey. Dacey is content to read her book, but Hattie seems restless and doesn’t want to sit around. She convinces Dacey to explore the attic to find treasure. At the end of the sample pages, they are standing at the attic door leaving readers to wonder what lies beyond it.

I liked the description of Dacey’s cat and how his running away sets the scene for Hattie and Dacey to go explore the house. I think young readers will enjoy the way this opens with a bit of mystery surrounding where the two girls are and an unfamiliar setting. I thought the idea of a blended family was good too. With Hattie being 11, and Dacey 7, there are adjustments to be made and an adventure lends way to bonding.

I did not find any errors in punctuation, spelling or grammar so this seems to have been professionally edited. I won’t be finishing this book as I generally read non-fiction, and this is geared for those much younger than myself. However, I am grateful for the opportunity to have read the sample pages of this, and I will send it out on my social media for others to look into.

First Ten review added on April 5, 2019, at 9:52 am by cpru68.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Renu G

Hattie and Dacey are two stepsisters who begin a treasure hunt inside the cottage where they are staying. They are accompanied by their cat. This looks like an interesting mystery for children. However, for some strange reason, I could neither zoom nor rotate the pages on my Kindle App. This was annoying. It was very difficult to read the small font. It seems to be well edited and I did not find any error. I liked their idea of a treasure hunt. Initially, I was interested in reading the book, but after reading the first ten pages, I changed my mind because of the inability to magnify the pages.I suggest changing its page settings to enable reading on smartphones.

First Ten review added on April 5, 2019, at 9:49 am by Renu G.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Kristy Khem

I loved the cover design and title of this book because they already seemed to tell a story. There were good reviews on Amazon, and the blurb was intriguing. Therefore, I would have chosen to read this book. The sample did not disappoint me. I really liked Hattie’s character. Although she wasn’t thrilled about her new stepsister, she attempted to interact with her. At first, Dacey suggested exploring the old cottage they were staying in but quickly became scared when Hattie mentioned the attic and cellar because she was afraid of spiders. However, Hattie was really brave and encouraged Dacey along. I also liked the inclusion of an animal in the story. Sir Whiskers, Dacey’s Maine Coon cat disappeared up the steps into the attic, so the girls had no choice but to go and find him. I didn’t see any errors in the sample so I can confidently say that this book was edited fully. Although I’m not a child, I think I would still enjoy reading this story so I will buy and read the rest of this book. The 4/4 star rating by the review team on OBC also encouraged me to get this book.

First Ten review added on April 5, 2019, at 9:45 am by Kristy Khem.

Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Delaney35

I would not normally read this book. It is for children, though it was enjoyed by the official reviewer. The first few pages started off with Hattie having to babysit her younger stepsister. I did not notice any grammatical issues. I though it was cute, but is still not a book I would finish. The main focus appears to be the relationship between the two girl. I think children who have step-siblings would be able to relate well to this book. There wasn't anything that I think was bad about it, it's just not compelling enough to finish for me.

First Ten review added on April 5, 2019, at 9:40 am by Delaney35.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

gali

I wouldn't have sampled the book on my own, as I am not the target audience. I didn't change my mind after sampling the book. Two stepsisters, Hattie and Dacey, embark on a treasure hunt and find themselves in another realm. Although the premise of the book is interesting, the writing was a bit juvenile to my taste. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the sample and liked the whimsical aspect of the tale. That it corresponds with Alice in Wonderland added to its appeal. While I didn't notice any glaring errors, the font was far too small. I would have read it anyway, despite the small font and juvenile writing, if it was available for Kindle. As it isn't, and the book is meant for kids, I won't read it. The positive OBC review didn't sway my decision either way.

First Ten review added on April 5, 2019, at 9:17 am by gali.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Theresa Moffitt

I really like the cover of this book. The cover art is an accurate description of the story and indicates that the book is for a young reader. I don’t think I would have picked up the book based on the cover because it seems intended for a younger audience. I haven’t read a review of this book yet. The first ten pages were very well-written. It tells the story of Hattie, an eleven year old, and dacey, her seven year old step sister. They are in the house alone on vacation and decide to explore the attic on a rainy day. The dialogue between the two girls is interesting and entertaining. The chapter ends as they try to open the attic door which makes you want to read on immediately to the next chapter. I believe the book was professionally edited because I didn’t see any errors. While I liked the story and characters, the book is for a younger reader. I will not finish this book.

First Ten review added on April 5, 2019, at 9:16 am by Theresa Moffitt.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Total ~ 36%

The Invisible Realm earned a score of 36%.

In other words, out of the top-level reviewers who read at least the first 10 pages of this book, 36% 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 The Invisible Realm