4 out of 4 stars
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Winell Road by Kate Foster is a children's book that falls under the sci-fi/fantasy genre. The main protagonist is Jack, a 12-year-old boy, who seemed to be living a normal suburban life until one summer, he had an unexpected encounter with aliens. This sets in motion a chain of events that anyone with a spirit of adventure would be glad to experience.
The aliens contact Jack and tell him that they need his help to retrieve what they call the "vitax". It is said to maintain balance in the universe and in the wrong hands, it could cause devastating effects. With the help of his new neighbor, Roxy, who suspiciously moves in at this very timely moment, Jack sets out on an adventure. What awaits this brave pair? Will they succeed?
This was undoubtedly one of the best summers Jack had ever had. Although he always felt that the residents of the cul-de-sac he had lived in all his life were weird, he could never really place a finger on the specifics of their weirdness. For him to find out that he was the last one to find out the truth about his neighborhood and that even his own own parents were in on it is so shocking that he feels very betrayed.
The heart-pounding and sometimes dangerous adventures that Jack and Roxy undertake surely made for a good read. From the beginning, the suspense was rife and it kept me glued till the very end. I especially liked how dramatic irony was highlighted by multiple clues hidden throughout the story. The puzzles had me trying very hard to solve them and when I found out the truth, in the end, I was more than blown away because I clearly didn't see it coming. The ending was definitely the highlight of the book because of the room it provides for a second installment. I eagerly hope that the author will pursue this avenue.
Amidst the supernatural occurrences, themes of friendship, trust, family values, and obedience are expertly weaved in. This aspect of the book offers valuable lessons to all, especially younger readers because the content is presented in such a palatable manner. The language used is also simple with no overbearing vocabulary and in instances where difficult or foreign words were used, the meaning was thoroughly explained.
I liked this book because it shows the reader that an alternate reality is possible and in today's society where children spend most of their time indoors, it could ignite the spark of outdoor activities. It also broadens readers' imagination and will encourage them to look beyond the surface because not all is always as it seems.
For such an action-packed story, I was glad that it was professionally edited, with minimal errors that did not detract from the storyline. These include an extra letter after a word and wrongfully conjoined words. Without hesitation, I will, therefore, rate this book 4 out of 4 stars and recommend it to lovers of science fiction, anyone who likes deciphering clues and children of ages 10-14.
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Winell Road
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