The First Ten Focus Group Feedback for SandPeople: An Across Time Mystery
Because SandPeople 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.
Manang Muyang
From the book's page on Amazon, one learns that this children's story happens along the shore in Texas where 12-year-old Lea spends her summer. The blurb hints at a ghost and new friends. Who are the "sandpeople"? None of these things were appealing to me; I wouldn't have sampled the book outside of First Ten. After reading the sample, I found that there was more to the story. Lea's parents decided to part ways, and they sent Lea away to live with her aunt in Texas. Despite the deeper plot, I was not compelled to read further. I couldn't relate to the main character, Lea. I noticed that the author liked to use semicolons, sometimes wrongly. At 26% of the sample, "things she and Laura had planned; canoeing, sleepovers..." would have been better with a colon. Comma splices were common too. An example was at 33% with "That settles it, they can't both go to Grandma's for the summer." The author may need to tweak some sentences. The official OBC reviewer expressed admiration for the book, giving it full marks. The great rating did not make me reconsider my decision not to read the book, though. I did like the prologue which portrayed a ship in distress. Maybe the ghost was someone who sank with the ship.
First Ten review added on March 26, 2021, at 4:59 am by Manang Muyang.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Vickie Noel
I would have attempted to read this book outside the program based on its cover; the artwork is quite appealing to me. I can't make much of the title, though, so the blurb would have given me a good idea of what to expect. After reading the sample, my opinion didn't change. The writing style is quite natural and smooth. I felt sad for Lea when her parents made the big announcement of their separation, and there was no one to help her fully understand the situation. My parents are separated too, but it happened when we (the children) were already adults; in fact, we'd been clamouring for it. It's not the same for Lea, and I'm rooting for her success in life. The book is professionally edited. However, "big corner" in the sentence, "Her room was a big corner one that faced the east" should be hyphenated since it functions as a compound adjective. I have no recommendations for improvement. I saw an OBC review that stimulated my interest, but my decision to read further is based on the sample.
First Ten review added on March 26, 2021, at 4:58 am by Vickie Noel.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Jeremie Mondejar
The cover photo is quite captivating and attractive, so I sample the book. Lea seems a good girl, a girl with determination in coping things she doesn't expect. I like the family portrayal of the author because it captures my interest. However, I will skip this book because I don't like to read a family drama, though the OBC review tells that the plot focuses on Lea's transformation during her summer vacation. Fortunately, the sample looks professionally edited because I don't pick up any errors or typos. I can't cite anything for improvement because the story flows smoothly, especially for younger audiences to comprehend. The OBC review is present, but it doesn't affect my reading decision.
First Ten review added on March 26, 2021, at 4:53 am by Jeremie Mondejar.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Rodel Barnachea
Following my reading of the title's official OBC review and Amazon page, I opted not to acquire the book. I didn't find myself interested in the premise, which is about Lea staying with her aunt and getting separated from her family and best friend for the entire summer. I think the story isn't my cup of tea. Sampling the title failed to change my mind. I wouldn't purchase it because nothing in its Amazon sample piqued my curiosity or had me wanting to read the rest of the book. The initial opinion I had about the book wasn't dispelled even after I perused the sample. The first ten pages cover a prologue and some pages of Chapter 1. My favorite part is reading Lea's reaction to the news of her parents separating. I couldn't note any errors in the text; I believe the book is professionally edited. I have no advice to offer to the author.
First Ten review added on March 26, 2021, at 4:46 am by Rodel Barnachea.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Howlan
The first ten pages are good. I like the narration as it sounds deep and sad. The story is said from the point of view of Lea, a twelve-year-old girl. Lea came to know about the separation of her parents and that she will be spending the summer with her Aunt. She showed her displeasure and stayed over at her friend Laura's house. Then she cut her hair as a sign of displeasure of her parent's separation. I like the character of Lea and the story-line interests me. It is a coming-of-age story with bittersweet memories. So, I am going to read this book as I am interested in the story. No typos were found in the first ten pages. I found nothing to improve in the first ten pages. The Official OBC Review is present, and the reviewer rates it highly.
First Ten review added on March 26, 2021, at 4:44 am by Howlan.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Catherine Hsu
If I hadn't read the sample, I would have read the book as I love the cover and the color palette that is used. After reading the sample, I have not changed my mind. I really liked how the book set up the relationship between family members, such as between Lea and T.J. I did, however, notice errors such as in the use of the semicolon and sentence fragments: "She thought of all the things she and Laura had planned; canoeing, sleepovers, hunting along the morning tideline for things left by the sea." Therefore I think a little more editing is needed. The official review didn't change my mind and I look forward to seeing how relatable the main character is.
First Ten review added on March 26, 2021, at 2:45 am by Catherine Hsu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Nikolas Farmakis
This is a young adult fictional story about an adolescent woman and her family struggles. I would not have read this book based on the title, the cover, or the genre, as I do not like young adult stories. I will not read this book, as it seemed boring and dull. I found no editing errors in the text, so the book was professionally edited. What I liked most about the text was that it was realistic and followed a real-life scenario. To improve, the author should add more suspense and tension to the story to make it more interesting and exciting. This book had an Official OnlineBookClub review, which did not affect my decision.
First Ten review added on March 26, 2021, at 2:39 am by Nikolas Farmakis.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Shrabastee Chakraborty
Along with a beautiful cover, the title also felt alluring. The official OBC review, that rated the book 4 stars, made me want to read the book. I found no errors in the first ten pages. The prologue talked about a voyage from Greta's perspectives. Though I wasn't sure about her identity, that should be revealed later. The actual chapters narrated Lea's vacation and how their parents decided who would stay with their grandmother over the summer. I loved the unique descriptions, of both the surroundings and the nature of people, especially from the POV of a pre-teen girl. I didn't find anything to dislike nor have any suggestions for improvement. I would gladly read this book.
First Ten review added on March 26, 2021, at 2:33 am by Shrabastee Chakraborty.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Sou Hi
If it's not for this program, I wouldn't be interested in this novel. The reason is that the blurb is unimpressive, and the cover is not very suggestive of the content. The official review is alright, but Amazon's customers have different opinions about the book. The sample introduced us to the life of Lea, a young girl whose parents are going to divorce. Her younger brother is coming with their father, while Lea will spend the summer in Texas with her mother.
I like Lea's brother, T.J. Despite being young, he seems mature and understanding. Unlike his sister, he takes the divorce quite well with positive thoughts. The editing is fine, and I have no suggestions for improvement. However, the pace is slow and monotone, so the book can't pique my interest. Thus, I won't buy it.
Error example: She thought of the view out the small window at the foot of her bed, that looked out on the road that curved away between the low green hills, where Papa walked each day to the plot of family land he farmed. -> I think the comma after "her bed" is unneeded.
First Ten review added on March 25, 2021, at 11:10 pm by Sou Hi.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Ekta Kumari
The book documents the adventures of twelve-year-old Lea in a tiny village where she is to spend her summer with her aunt. I liked the premise, though the blurb wasn't intriguing enough for me to read the book. So, I wouldn't have read it if it wasn't a part of the top ten program. The things I did like the most while sampling are the narrative and the thorough portrayal of the scenes. The scenic descriptions were also entertaining to read. The exchange of dialogues between the characters was engaging. As for the editing, I would say the book is professionally edited as I didn't find any errors in the portion sampled. I did see an official review before sampling. However, I won't be reading the whole book as I don't think I'll enjoy the whole story. I don't have any recommendations to make other than that the different chapters can be named. Although it isn't a necessity, it will make the book more entertaining.
First Ten review added on March 25, 2021, at 11:06 pm by Ekta Kumari.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Mutai Marshal
Some decisions made by parents end up impacting negatively on their children. Since her parents are separating, Lea cannot bear the pain of going to her aunt’s place. Will she enjoy her summer? I loved most the simple language deployed, which makes the message fathomable. The dialogues also give the book a fluid flow. I wouldn’t have read this book based on the cover page and title as they hinted at a children’s book, a genre I don’t like. Having sampled the first ten pages and read the OBC review, I will not finish reading this book as it is best suited for a young audience. It seems exceptionally edited. I recommend incorporating themes that the various chapters address in the table of contents to guide the reader.
First Ten review added on March 25, 2021, at 10:49 pm by Mutai Marshal.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Ann Ogochukwu
I think I would have sampled this even if it weren't for this program. The cover and title are catchy, and I liked how the OBC official review portrayed the book.
I enjoyed the sample, despite the several punctuation errors in it. However, I won't be completing this book. The storyline was interesting, but I don't think it would hold my interest for long; it seemed better suited for teenagers. So I won't bother starting it.
The first error I noticed was in the prologue, a missing comma before the coordinating conjunction, and: "The lines of caulk felt soft and her heart dropped at the thought of the ocean coming in." The other errors, although subtle, were quite distracting, as they disturbed my comprehension. A careful round of editing would improve the quality of this work remarkably.
First Ten review added on March 25, 2021, at 10:40 pm by Ann Ogochukwu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Jorge Leon Salazar
In the sample, it is observed that Lea is the main character. Her parents announce to her and her brother T.J. that they are splitting up. Then, they decide Lea spends the summer vacation with her Aunt Meg, which is a disappointing situation for her as she was not expecting it. I liked some vivid descriptions like the one of Lea's bedroom and the sight from her window.
In what I read in the sample, the plot does not develop much, but it is clear the story revolves around Lea. The official review confirms that the plot swirls around Lea and her experiences with her aunt, highlighting her transition from childhood to adulthood.
I was unimpressed by the cover or the title, the term “SandPeople” sounds a bit derogatory to me. Regarding the genre, I am very unattracted to paranormal events. I read some customer reviews that although they are flattering, did not motivate me.
Although the plot is ingenious, it did not persuade me. However, I think this book would be appealing for teenagers or young readers, especially girls who may be relatable to Lea. The editing seems remarkable since I did not observe any typos or errors to comment on. Ultimately, I don't think I will read the rest of the book.
First Ten review added on March 25, 2021, at 10:18 pm by Jorge Leon Salazar.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
xsquare
The cover and title of the book are quite interesting and eye-catching. However, I don’t usually read children’s books, so I don’t think I would’ve sampled the book if it hadn’t been part of the First Ten program. The stellar rating from the official OBC review did not really convince me. I like that Lea cuts her hair: it feels like a very symbolic move. I did not see any typos, and I don’t think that there was anything that the author could have done better. However, I didn’t find the premise of the book or the writing to be very compelling; it seems like quite a typical coming-of-age story for middle-school readers. I won’t be reading the rest of the book.
First Ten review added on March 25, 2021, at 6:30 pm by xsquare.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Sarah_Khan
The cover of this book is pretty and the title makes me want to find out more. The Amazon blurb made me think this book was for a younger audience, so if this book was not a part of the First Ten program, I would not have sampled it. The first ten pages are well edited. It was sad reading about a couple's divorce through the eyes of their daughter. I thought it was a selfish thing for the mother to say she thought her twelve year old daughter would understand. The OBC review was positive and it did confirm my suspicions about this book being for a younger audience. For this reason, I will not be reading the rest. I do not have any suggestions for the author.
First Ten review added on March 25, 2021, at 6:14 pm by Sarah_Khan.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Alice Heritage
I am not particularly in the market for children's books, so I probably wouldn't have sampled this on the basis of the genre. The hashtags on the bookshelves page are interesting as I like paranormal themes. I won't buy this today as I didn't feel a strong enough emotional connection to the main character. The editing seemed of high quality. I think there is a word missing from the phrase "pulled her old stuffed bear" - pulled out? pulled over? I liked the promise of a paranormal adventure at Aunt Meg's cabin by the gulf of Mexico - I might have been interested to read about that if I were younger. I could not quite visualize the shadow house described in the opening passage. I could be wrong, but I can't imagine how a shadow would look like that when viewed from a corner room at sunset. I also did not find the haircut scene drastic enough. Going from waist length to shoulder length may represent a big change, but it all still seemed mild compared with what a distressed young person might do. So maybe those aspects could be improved. The OBC review was good but didn't affect my decision.
First Ten review added on March 25, 2021, at 4:58 pm by Alice Heritage.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Rayah Raouf
I would have chosen to sample the book because the cover is very inviting. The genre is not exactly something I would read, but I wouldn’t mind checking it out. I will not buy and read the whole book. The sample was fun to read, but I do not want to read a story about a girl growing up. It's not my first choice when it comes to books. I noticed no grammatical errors in the sample. Therefore, the book seems to be professionally edited. I like how the girl decided to go get a haircut without telling her mother. She said she has her own allowance and can do what she wants with it. I cannot think of any improvements to be made. There was an official review, and it did not affect my decision in wanting to read the book.
First Ten review added on March 25, 2021, at 2:38 pm by Rayah Raouf.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Sanju Lali
Nothing was clear to me from the cover and the title of this book regarding its contents because "SandPeople" meant many things to me. So, I considered reading the official review of this book to know what is inside the book. The official review gave me the idea that this book focuses on a teenager Lea, who had to deal with the pain of separation from her family and live with a stranger. This idea piqued my interest to sample the book. After reading the first ten pages, I realized that this book is not professionally edited because I found some grammatical errors in the sample. For example, the sentence, " Lea didn’t look and, a moment later, they were outside on the sidewalk...". The sentence could have been, " Lea didn’t look, and a moment later, they were outside on the sidewalk...". The thing l liked the most is the author's idea of portraying the psychological effect of separation of parents on their children. I lost interest in reading this book because I needed a more detailed description of the scenes to visualize them clearly and invest in the story. My suggestion to the author would be to go for a round of professional editing and consider the difficulties faced by me while reading the book. Looking at all these facts, I decided not to purchase and read this book today but wait until the author could help by considering my suggestion so that I could read it pleasurably.
First Ten review added on March 25, 2021, at 2:09 pm by Sanju Lali.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Aubrey Lewis
The overall appearance of the book is neat and solemn but not very eye-catching, in my opinion. When I read through the official OBC review, I felt that I wouldn't be able to appreciate the book since I am not normally fond of coming-of-age stories, especially ones involving family drama. If I weren't a part of this program, I wouldn't have read the sample at all since the book's cover, genres, and summary didn't interest me enough to want to check it out willingly.
When I finished sampling the first ten pages, I decided to read the rest of the book. The contents seemed professionally edited so far, and the author's writing style was surprisingly smooth, engaging, and fast-paced enough to my liking. Before I knew it, I already went past the required ten pages; I was that immersed in the story. I felt for Lea when her parents eventually told her about their decision to separate. As a young girl, it must have felt devastating when things she considered a part of her life began to break off. She loved her mother and father but her parents were no longer happy with each other, something which put the family into a difficult situation. Because things are getting interesting, I am planning to read the rest of the book soon.
Since I enjoyed the sample so far, I don't think there are any improvements the author needs to make.
First Ten review added on March 25, 2021, at 10:31 am by Aubrey Lewis.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Justine Ocsebio
I would have sampled this book based on the blurb, as it seemed like a promising coming-of-age tale. I like the realistic depiction of what it’s like living inside a problematic household. The scene where Lea is fantasizing about her summer vacation inside her room while her parents are fighting outside is so realistic to me. This is a simple coming-of-age novel, and I’m looking forward to diving into it. I think I’m going to read the whole book. I disliked nothing, and I didn’t see anything that needed improvement. The text is well edited. The official review helped confirm that this book was worth the shot.
First Ten review added on March 25, 2021, at 6:33 am by Justine Ocsebio.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Maria Esposito
I knew I would not be interested in this book before I sampled it. I find the title and cover design extremely fascinating, but I do not like reading young-adult novels. The book has 15 customer reviews on Amazon, but this had no impact on my decision. Reading the first ten pages did not make me change my mind. The story begins as Lea overhears her parents fighting. When they invite her and her brother downstairs, she knows that something is wrong. In fact, they inform Lea that they are separating and that she is going to stay with her aunt for the summer. I loved the author's writing style. It is vibrant and warm, and I could easily visualize the space around Lea and her house. There is nothing about it I disliked: I simply do not read young-adult fiction. If I had a young adult in my life, I would definitely recommend this book. I did not come across errors, which makes me think that the book has been professionally edited. The book has an official review on this website, but this had no impact on my decision.
First Ten review added on March 25, 2021, at 5:53 am by Maria Esposito.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Verna Coy
Although this book isn’t quite my type and I don’t plan to purchase it, I enjoyed reading the sample. What I liked best was how the action began on the first page. I liked how this author’s writing takes a reader right into the book and holds attention well. I saw no need to improve on this work, it seems well edited and the story is interesting. I enjoyed the Online Book Club review. It gives a top rating to this story. Nice job.
First Ten review added on March 25, 2021, at 3:54 am by Verna Coy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
J_odoyo
SandPeople by Cheryl Kerr is a riveting and seemingly well-written book. The earlier pages of this book are so engaging and beautifully written. I think the book’s cover page was okay; it was attractive enough. The title was attractive and professional. I liked the book’s description on the Amazon website; it was precise and informative enough to allow for an accurate guess of what to expect in the book. The book also had an official OnlineBookClub review. The review gave insight into what the book entails. I didn’t find any error (in the pages I’ve read), and I think that the book was professionally edited. In the opening pages, the author writes a riveting story of Lea, a Junior High student faced with the pain of their parents separating during summer. She has no option but to accept the fact that she'll be staying with her aunt in Texas. Lena knows that she will be missing her friend, Laura but she can do nothing about it. The progress of this story is so promising, and I can’t stop guessing what is next. Sincerely, I wouldn't recommend anything for the improvement of this book; it was well written. Having read the first ten pages and the OnlineBookClub review, I’m not going to finish reading this book because I’m not a fan of this genre.
First Ten review added on March 25, 2021, at 2:55 am by J_odoyo.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
gen_g
Based on the title and cover, it seems like a mystery for young adults, which I am not in the market for; hence, I would not have sampled it. I have also come across a positive OBC review of the book, but this would not have changed my decision not to sample, since this book does not belong to a genre that I am looking for. After sampling, there are a couple of errors present. For example, at 0% in the sample, there is a missing comma to mark the introductory clause: "In Alsace(,) it would now...". I suggest more editing. However, I appreciate that the author took the time to give some descriptions of the various characters and what they are thinking about instead of going right into the story, as it will help readers to better relate to the characters. To illustrate, we learn a bit about Lea: she is a student at Harper Ridge's Junior High, and she has been studying maritime superstitions and sea stories. Her best friend is named Laura Evert, and both of them hung out so often together that their names were run together as one by their other friends. Lea and Laura have been friends for 10 years at the age of twelve, becoming "double-digit friends". However, as I am not in the market for mysteries for young adults/older children, I will not be buying the book today.
First Ten review added on March 25, 2021, at 2:41 am by gen_g.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
CrescentMoon
After reading the blurb, I would not pick this book up because the premise didn't really grab my attention and the book seems to be for younger readers so I'm not the target audience for this book. After reading the first ten pages, I spotted quite a few grammar errors. In chapter one, "...Lea wrote the last seven on her final math homework..." I was confused about this sentence at first. I didn't know what "seven" was referring to. "Seven" could be referring to the last seven questions, the last seven problem sets, or even the number seven so I think this sentence should be written with more clarity. Also, "...year, 1998. Almost the next century." Almost the next century is not a complete sentence so I think it would be better to have a comma after 1998 and finish off the sentence with almost the next century. What I liked best about the book so far was the writing style. The sentences and phrases and descriptions were quite simple and straightforward. I'm used to reading books with more complex language because the books I generally read are geared more toward adults so the simple language in this book is really good for a younger audience like middle school-age students. The writing style is appropriate for the intended younger audience. I also enjoyed how Lea reminisced about her home and family members as it allows the reader to connect and empathize with Lea. My suggestion for improvement is to fix the errors. There was an onlinebookclub review, but this genre is not for me so I won't be reading the rest.
First Ten review added on March 24, 2021, at 11:19 pm by CrescentMoon.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Jsovermyer
I like the picture of the young girl on the cover. The title is also intriguing. I would probably buy this book from the cover alone. The official reviewer liked this book and gave it a high rating. I found no spelling or grammatical errors and believe it has been professionally edited. I like Lea and Laura's friendship. Lea is a well-written character, and I can understand her wanting to cut her hair, rebelling for her parents' decision to separate. There was really nothing I disliked about the sample pages. I like to read young-adult novels and think this one will be heart warming and emotional. I will probably finish this book sometime this year.
First Ten review added on March 24, 2021, at 10:34 pm by Jsovermyer.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda
I knew I wanted to read this book just from the cover. It's lovely and intriguing at the same time. Did I love the blurb: a ghost and a coming-of-age story? Sign me up! The ratings are mixed, but I still would have bought the book based on my first impressions.
What I liked the most about the first ten pages is that the narration is both intriguing and simple. It's hard for adult authors to capture the "simple" way kids talk and process things. For example, how Lea is so excited about her double-digit-friendship with Laura (adorable!) or how T.J. gives her a hard time (I know what that's like). I think the author achieved a narrative style that will resonate with many kids. But I was also intrigued. What is the shadow house?
I didn't find editing mistakes, although the review states there are some. I don't think improvements are necessary. However, after reading the first ten pages, I realized the plot is too simple for my taste. The official review confirmed that this is not the best pick for me.
First Ten review added on March 24, 2021, at 9:14 pm by María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Brenda Creech
I would not have chosen this book based on the cover and title, as I could tell it was for the younger generation. After reading the official review, I was certain I would not be reading the rest of the book. The sample I read was ok, and I am sure young teens will love this one. I did not see any errors, and I didn't see anything I would say needs improvement. The sample was about Lea's parents announcing they would be separating for the summer and Lea would be going to stay with her aunt, whom she barely knew. Lea was even more upset when she found out her best friend had known before she did that Lea's parents were separating. This book will be wonderful for young teens as they will be able to relate to Lea. However, the story is too young for me and something I don't care to read at this time. Therefore, I will not be reading the rest of the book.
First Ten review added on March 24, 2021, at 8:24 pm by Brenda Creech.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Stephanie Runyon
The cover is tasteful, and I would have sampled the book based on the target audience since I have a child in middle school. There was an OBC review that was encouraging about the content. I did like how Kerr portrayed Lea's emotional turmoil. I think that the parents should not have separated the siblings during a difficult transition in life. I also find it extremely strange that Laura knew about the divorce before Lea. I didn't encounter any errors and did not see any other online reviews to ultimately decide to pass on the book. The prologue didn't seem to fit the main story, and I feel that could be confusing. The idea of suddenly just sending the children off to two different locations and the evasive nature of the mother was a bit unsettling for me. I have no improvements to recommend. The story wasn't one that I liked.
First Ten review added on March 24, 2021, at 7:53 pm by Stephanie Runyon.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Gabrielle Sigaki
SandPeople by Cheryl Kerr is a young adult book that brings Lea and the conflicts she passes through, such as the divorce of her parents. If I didn't sample this book, I wouldn't read it based on its Official OnlineBookClub review since I'm not interested in coming-of-age novels. After sampling it, I didn't change my mind because the novel didn't catch my interest. However, the book seems professionally edited, there's nothing to be improved in it, and I liked the fact that the author narrates Lea's point of view like a teenager would think about the situations she is passing through, which makes her a relatable character.
First Ten review added on March 24, 2021, at 7:22 pm by Gabrielle Sigaki.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kajori Sheryl Paul
'SandPeople' is a book written by Cheryl Kerr. The book starts off with Greta crossing the ocean from Alsace. Then, the story shifts to 1998. Lea's parents are splitting up. She is sent to Texas to spend the summer with her aunt. Her brother is sent to their grandmother's house. The sentence construction is faulty in "Greta's heart squeezed as she thought how good now that Anna had been too small for the voyage." Apart from this, the editing is good. I like the writing style. It makes us relate to Lea. The cover and the title are pretty. The OBC review and the Amazon reviews are appreciative. There is nothing in need of an improvement. I will read this book as I would like to know how Greta's story connects with Lea's story.
First Ten review added on March 24, 2021, at 6:42 pm by Kajori Sheryl Paul.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Lucille27
Based on the cover, maybe I would have chosen to read the book. It looks professionally made and visually appealing, yet it looks a bit vintage or old (like from the 90's). However, I really liked the design and I think it works to captivate the readers. I read the Online Book Club review and saw that this was a coming-of-age story. This fact motivated me to read more about it. I love these stories. The book looks professionally edited and I could not find any mistakes or typos in the sample. I really like how it begins with a fast rhythm and the narrative voice from the protagonist. I think it is a very real depiction of a teenager. I do not think I would change anything from this book, except for that small detail about the cover (but as I mentioned, this is a personal and subjective perspective and I think it works for the book). I am very eager to continue reading more about this. Congrats to the author.
First Ten review added on March 24, 2021, at 6:29 pm by Lucille27.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Timothy Rucinski
The Official Review was very well done, and the cover quite nice. If I were looking for a book for middle school children, this one would have caught my eye. But since there are no such children in my life right now, well, I won't be reading it. However, I most liked the author's ability to create realistic characters. I felt that I knew each of them fairly well after reading the selection. There really wasn't anything that I disliked. As a recommendation, I would suggest that a professional editor take a look at the book. Not that the errors are all that egregious, but there are a few that make some of the sentences awkward. For example, in the second paragraph of the Prologue, the author writes "She thought of the view out the small window at the foot of her bed, that looked..." Either no comma should be used, or the word "that" should be replaced by "which" particularly since the word "that" is used again immediately afterward, making the sentence awkward. At 61% into the sample, there is a semi-colon instead of a period in the sentence: "Then it hit her; Laura was upset for her, Lea." In the fourth paragraph from the end of the sample, the author refers to Lea's Mother as both "Mom" and "mom," interchanging upper and lower case.
First Ten review added on March 24, 2021, at 5:06 pm by Timothy Rucinski.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Theresa Moffitt
I wasn’t drawn to the cover of this book. It looks to be a book for young adult readers or a romance novel. I can’t tell what the book is about from the title. For these reasons, I wouldn’t have picked the book up based on the cover alone. The Online Book Club review was very positive for this book. It gave the book a rating of 4 out of 4 stars. I haven’t read an additional customer review. The first ten pages begin with a prologue of a girl named Greta traveling by ship and dreaming of being home. It then skips to 1998 and Lea who is doing her homework and arguing with her brother when their father comes home. He’s getting ready to have a family meeting to discuss how they aren’t getting along. I didn’t see any errors in the first ten pages, so I believe the book was professionally edited. I also didn’t see any area that the author could improve upon. I will not finish this book because I believe the story is for a much younger reader. I think the target audience is young adult and it will appeal to readers of that age group.
First Ten review added on March 24, 2021, at 4:54 pm by Theresa Moffitt.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Ari Martinez
If it wasn't for this program, I wouldn't sample this book based on its title, cover, or Official OnlineBookClub review because this book is primarily for young teens, and I usually don't like YA novels. After reading the first ten pages, I will read the rest of the book because I thought the story is going in a good direction, and it feels as if I will enjoy reading it. My favorite part of the sample was the way Lea's emotions are explained. I also liked how neither the father nor the mother are made to be the "good guy" or the "bad guy" in the divorce. I cannot think of any way to improve the book, and it appears to be professionally edited.
First Ten review added on March 24, 2021, at 4:53 pm by Ari Martinez.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Chelsy Scherba
I liked how the author introduced the story with Greta on the ship. I’m curious to find out how this girl of the past relates to Lea from 1998. It’s also kind of cool that Lea is close to the age I was in 1998, I was actually 11. Lea has to deal with her parents’ divorce and learning about herself, which I think is good for children going through those circumstances. The reviewer saw nothing to dislike about the book, and so far I agree. The editing looks professional and error-free. I can’t think of any suggestions for improvements. The only reason I wouldn’t purchase today is the price is a tad higher than I usually pay. Also, I’m not the target audience and I have no kids. I don’t read a lot of children’s books, so I would not have found this book outside of the program.
First Ten review added on March 24, 2021, at 4:41 pm by Chelsy Scherba.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kirsi Cultrera
I do not belong to the target audience of this book. Therefore, I doubt I’d checked it out without this program. This book was the most adorable story I’ve seen in a long time. Lea and her circumstances were easy to relate to, and the author’s way with words was smooth and absorbing. The story felt relatable, and I believe young readers will enjoy it thoroughly. I could not think of anything that should’ve been done otherwise. Even editing was close to perfection. Reading an Official OnlineBookClub review confirmed my first impressions of this book being a beautiful story. Regardless, it did not affect my decision, which went against reading this book, as I don’t belong to the age group. However, I will surely hint about this book to the mothers of children within the targeted age group.
First Ten review added on March 24, 2021, at 4:37 pm by Kirsi Cultrera.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Odette Chace
I like the title and cover of the book. The synopsis on Amazon was not very informative. I don't generally enjoy books involving pirates, so I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. However, after reading the official Online Book Club review, I am much more interested in it. The review gave it a perfect rating of 4 out of 4 stars, and while some supernatural elements were mentioned, it seems that the book explores deeper issues about growing up and dealing with circumstances outside of your control. "In Alsace[,] it would now be spring" (0% of sample). I noticed a few other minor errors in the first ten pages, but believe the work was professionally edited. There were a few instances where I noticed the author used the same words too many times. For instance, "She sighed; her parents seemed to be fighting all the time this year. She looked around her room. She had especially grown to love its quiet this year. She tried not to hear the silence downstairs and turned her thoughts to what she would do on the first day of summer vacation. She loved the first morning of vacation best..." (loc. 67). The phrase "this year" is repeated and vacation is used twice in the next couple of sentences. Lea's reaction to her parents getting divorced was my favorite part of the sample. It reminded me of my childhood as my parents divorced when I was about the same age as Lea. Aside from what I have already mentioned, I can think of nothing to improve the first ten pages. I am really looking forward to finishing the book.
First Ten review added on March 24, 2021, at 4:29 pm by Odette Chace.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Kelyn
If I had not been a member of this program, there is still a small chance that I would have run across this book. I sometimes enjoy reading YA novels in the sci-fi/fantasy genre, and the time-travel and ghost aspects of this one fit that trope quite well. I don't know that the cover would have particularly done anything to encourage my interest since the image is simply of a young girl. Still, the title sounds mysterious enough to elicit curiosity. I am not familiar with the author, so that would not have affected my decision. The blurb is quite short but, even so, gives an effective glimpse of the storyline. There are many customer reviews on the Amazon site, the vast majority of which are positive. The review on this site was quite complimentary as well. Taken together, this set high standards for the sample to meet. Although I did not see a review on the Amazon site that was explicitly identified as being from this program, if I had, I would have been interested in what the reviewer had to say. In the sample, Lea was almost immediately engaging. What girl wouldn't want a tree that doubled as a secret stairway next to her bedroom window! You could feel her pain when her parents told her about the separation and how upset she was by plans to send her to live with an aunt she barely knew for the summer, especially since her brother got to stay with their grandparents. I think my favorite part was learning about her friendship with Laura and how close they were. As far as I can tell from the sample, I wouldn't change a thing. Although I do not have daughters of an age to benefit from this book, and they have never experienced a divorce situation, I do not feel the book is relevant to me, but I will be recommending it to a couple of teacher friends of mine. The book seemed well edited. I found no 'countable' mistakes in the sample.
First Ten review added on March 24, 2021, at 4:12 pm by Kelyn.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Emy Katherine
The story follows the adventures and misadventures of a 12-year-old girl named Lea McKinney, who is forced to spend the summer with her estranged aunt in Texas because of her parents' separation. Although both the title and the cover caught my attention, I would not have read the book based on the genre. As I am not interested in reading coming-of-age stories, I did not change my mind after reading the sample and the OBC review. However, I found the writing style pleasant to read and had no problems connecting with the characters. I could feel Lea's sadness and anxiety when her parents told her that they were separating. I would suggest another round of editing, though, as I noticed some errors that disrupted the flow of the story. For example, it should be written "Laura’s mother looked in, bothered by the silence. Usually, they chattered late into the night" instead of "Laura’s mother looked in, bothered by the silence, usually, they chattered late into the night." (location 171 of 253 • 67%) It should also be written "... the eaves of their house on the main road in Oldenburg" instead of "... the eaves of their house on the main road in Oldeburg." (location 37 of 253 • 14%)
First Ten review added on March 24, 2021, at 4:11 pm by Emy Katherine.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Scerakor
After reviewing the title, genre, cover, blurb, and review of this book, I would not have read this book. I'm not the targeted audience for a book like this and am not interested in picking this one up. 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 liked how the premise behind this book, and a traditional theme in coming-of-age stories, came out early within the sample that I read. The concept of divorce and how that is going to affect Lea and T.J. sets the stage for the rest of the book. That being said, I don't believe that this book is marketed towards my age group, I'm not a fan of coming-of-age stories, and nothing in the sample piqued my interest enough to get me to pick this one up. The book looked well written and edited, and despite the fact that it isn't geared towards me, there was nothing that I saw that I would have changed in the sample that I read. There was an official OBC review, and although it was very praising of the book, it did not affect my decision at all.
First Ten review added on March 24, 2021, at 4:04 pm by Scerakor.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Mariana Figueira
Before reading the first pages, I was mildly interested in the book because I like young adult adventure novels. After reading the sample, I know I don't want to go through the rest of it, it's more emotional than I thought. There's nothing I enjoyed really, though I don't hate it; I didn't like the descriptive narrating style, I found it a little overbearing, so maybe that could be improved. This book does seem professionally edited and has an official Online BookClub review.
First Ten review added on March 24, 2021, at 4:02 pm by Mariana Figueira.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Yvonne Monique
The book cover does not give much away about the story, but the blurb and OBC review explain perfectly what this book is about and what the target age group is (8 - 14 years). Personally, I would not choose this book in a book store as I am not part of the target audience, but I can imagine that a teenager girl would do so. I like the description of the story line and if I would be a teenager, I would surely enjoy this book. The protagonist, Lea, seems to have a lot going on in her young life, and I think that Lea's story can help many teenagers to find confidence in themselves whilst going through their parents' divorce. The first ten pages seem to be professionally edited as I did not find any errors. I have no suggestions for improvement. I will not buy this book as I am not a teenager anymore, but I will surely recommend it to several teenagers that I know.
First Ten review added on March 24, 2021, at 3:57 pm by Yvonne Monique.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
AntonelaMaria
If I haven't read the sample of this book through this program, I wouldn't have read it otherwise. I rarely pick up young adult contemporary books nowadays. This book has an excellent Offical Onlinebookclub review. However, it didn't convince me to buy this book. I like the sample. Especially that part of Lea going to the hairdresser is relatable. Women react that way when something unexpected happens. I didn't notice any grammatical errors. I wouldn't change anything about the book. The cover is pretty.
First Ten review added on March 24, 2021, at 3:49 pm by AntonelaMaria.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Laura Ungureanu
First off, the cover seemed so peaceful to me. However, upon seeing that it's a mystery, I immediately lost interest. I still wanted to check with the OBC review for a second opinion, which made me more inclined to give this book a chance. I was definitely drawn by the fact that the story focuses on Lea and not on her parents. That's because children are often the ones who really suffer when their parents separate. I didn't understand the Prologue, but it is probably going to be explained later. I also liked the writing style, but I find the book to be too childish for my taste (it is told from the point of view of a child). It is meant for a younger audience, so there's nothing wrong with it and it doesn't need improvement, but I won't continue reading. The editing seemed fine, as I encountered no problems.
First Ten review added on March 24, 2021, at 3:35 pm by Laura Ungureanu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
TheMazeRunner
I would sample this book based on a cover and the official review. I liked the sample. The writing is okay and readable, and it makes this book interesting. I like how the characters are well-developed emotionally. I have found a minor error in the sample: "Her room was a big corner one that faced east." This sentence misses a comma between 'corner' and 'one'. Beside that, I think this book is professionally edited. I like the content of this book, and I will read it in the future. There is nothing that has to be improved in it.
First Ten review added on March 24, 2021, at 3:19 pm by TheMazeRunner.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Kaitlyn Canedy
I likely would have skipped the sample of SandPeople if it hadn't been the OnlineBookClub's book of the day. The title's name caught my attention, which is what compelled me to read the sample. I really enjoyed Lea's character; she seems to be a rebellious pre-teen that does not care what other people think of her. I did not see any grammatical errors in the sample. Due to the fact that this book is intended for a younger audience, I will be skipping it. There are no improvements that I can think of for this book. An official OnlineBookClub review exists for this title, but I had already made my decision before I read this review. Readers that are pre-teens and are going through a tough time in life may like this book the most.
First Ten review added on March 24, 2021, at 2:56 pm by Kaitlyn Canedy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Bertha Jackson
I would have checked this book out based on the book cover, title, and genre. The blurb and customer and OnlineBookClub reviews are favorable for this book. After reading the first ten pages, I am interested in the plot's ghost element and have put the book on my WTR shelf. I did not see any errors in the first ten pages, nor did I see anything I would recommend for improvement. The plot flowed smoothly, and it engaged my interest. I will get this book and read it.
First Ten review added on March 24, 2021, at 1:35 pm by Bertha Jackson.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Total ~ 27%
SandPeople earned a score of 27%.
In other words, out of the top-level reviewers who read at least the first 10 pages of this book, 27% 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 SandPeople
