About the Book
Title: Noah Zarc: Mammoth Trouble (Book #1)
Author: D. Robert Pease
Publication Date: July 22, 2013
Publisher: Evolved Publishing (2nd Edition)
Number of pages: 214
Recommended age: 9+
Summary: Noah lives for piloting spaceships through time, dodging killer robots and saving Earth’s animals from extinction. Life couldn't be better. But the twelve-year-old time traveler learns it could be a whole lot worse. His mom is kidnapped and taken to Mars; his dad is stranded in the Ice Age; and Noah is attacked at every turn by a foe bent on destroying Earth… for the second time.
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My Review
I have never been a science-fic fan, don't get me wrong, I loved and grew up watching Star Wars and Star Trek. Aliens are cool, I even watch Ben10 with my 8YO boy and enjoy each episode as much as he does but stuffs like futuristic terminology - not so cool.
Well, there are no aliens in this book and I can assure you that the only weird futuristic theory is Hamilton's handkerchief explanation about the time travel. Instead you have the modern day Noah's Ark; the Noah Zarc family, travelling through time and era in their huge ARC or Animal Rescue Cruiser; an enormous snub-winged manta ray shaped collecting a pair of animals in hope to save the animal world. Sounds peaceful and original enough. However, throw in a twelve year old old with a love of adventure or anything exciting, a big bad guy, a stowaway, a dangerous rescue mission and we have all the elements that makes a great book.
Noah is born as a paraplegic, being bound to a wheelchair his whole life, I can understand his yearning for freedom to move around without restriction, the ecstatic feeling when he is floating and moving weightlessly while travelling in space or when he is piloting the spaceship. Freedom tastes so sweet for this boy who is so full of life.
I particularly highlighted this when I read it "Everyone enters this world with some kind of handicap. Whether it's the place they live, the family they're born into or the weakness of their legs, no one has a perfect life. What makes each of us special is how we deal with our circumstances." Well said Mum! I'm glad that the author put this in the story to serve as a reminder to kids. Not many of us can focus and rejoice on the good side of our life, the kids will have to know about this earlier in their life.
This science-fic book is well written, even with the Star Trek settings there were not too much technical details that will probably confuse the young readers. Although this Mama is confused with the calculation of years to jump forward or backward to get to that exact time and location of the event by tracing the DNA of time streams. What? DNA of time streams??? Ok I think I better leave these calculations to the younger minds.
The Buzz About the Noah Zarc Books
Book 1: "Pease's strength as a storyteller lies in his ability to connect multiple time periods imaginatively, as well as Noah's excited, fast-paced narration." ~ Publishers Weekly
Book 1: "If I had read this book at age 10, I think it would have made me love SF just as much as reading Asimov did. If you like the non-stop action and humor of Rick Riordan's Olympians books, I think you'll also like Noah Zarc." ~ Sher A. Hart, book blogger and author
Book 2: "This is another great mind-bender. The wild time jump details are fabulously thought out and cause some unexpected results." ~ Michelle Isenhoff, Children's Author
Book 2: "A well-written, adventurous read for young readers and even adults, Noah Zarc blasts through space and into your imagination." ~ TKristufek, Amazon Reviewer
Book 3: "I was completely captured by the characters, the action and the issues and questions: set in fantasy but integrating concepts and engaging readers with a fun tale that teaches as it entertains." ~ Gaele, Amazon Reviewer
About the Author
D. Robert Pease has been interested in creating worlds since childhood. From building in the sandbox behind his house, to drawing fantastical worlds with paper and pencil, there has hardly been a time he hasn't been off on some adventure in his mind, to the dismay of parents and teachers alike. Also, since the moment he could read, books have consumed vast swaths of his life. From The Mouse and the Motorcycle, to The Lord of the Rings, worlds just beyond reality have called to him like Homer's Sirens. It's not surprising then he chose to write stories of his own. Each filled with worlds just beyond reach, but close enough we can all catch a glimpse of ourselves in the characters he brings to life.
* $25 Blog Tour Giveaway *
Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice)
Contest ends: June 11, 11:59 pm, 2014
Open: Internationally
How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.
Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, D. Robert Pease and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.
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Thank you so much for taking part in the Noah Zarc: Mammoth Trouble Blog Tour. So glad you enjoyed the book. It is very interesting to hear the perspective of someone who can relate to Noah's character because I felt that the way his disability was discussed in the book was very well done. I liked the way the author didn't use it as a gimmick in the story, but rather integrated Noah's thoughts and experience in a way that felt very genuine. I grew up on Star Trek and Star Wars too, and I'm glad the author didn't go too far with the descriptions of the technology and the mind-bending aspects of time-travel. I can see middle grade boys and girls who love sci-fi thoroughly enjoying this book series! Another thoughtful review Jennifer - thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed a good book, simple enough for the kids but interesting enough for the kids to follow the story, perhaps even the series.
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