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lavoiture's review against another edition
4.0
My son's name is Arlo and we also live in Colorado so I'm legally required to read this book.
Not perfect, but it's a fun trilogy.
Not perfect, but it's a fun trilogy.
jacobblank's review against another edition
4.0
Not quite the ending I was hoping for, but it was a satisfying and thoughtful ending nonetheless. Funny and engaging as ever while similarly raising interesting talking points between you and the young person you’re reading with.
Ultimately, there is a LOT of story here with many parts of the fascinating world left under-discovered. It feels like the author is swinging for more content beyond the original trilogy. This also allows for young readers to let THEIR imaginations fill in the blanks which would be a great exercise.
Ultimately, there is a LOT of story here with many parts of the fascinating world left under-discovered. It feels like the author is swinging for more content beyond the original trilogy. This also allows for young readers to let THEIR imaginations fill in the blanks which would be a great exercise.
joshuanovalis's review against another edition
A fun and fitting end to the trilogy. This third entry felt a bit rushed (this could easily have been two full-length books instead of one), but overall, I’ve enjoyed my timed with this series and appreciate John August’s decision to center Arlo’s internal conflicts around issues of character, integrity, and justice, giving a more substantive core to the typical coming-of-age fare.
amatczynski's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
readingthroughtheages's review against another edition
5.0
I am so sad this trilogy has come to an end. I feel like Arlo has more stories to tell!
If you have readers that like action and adventure and suspense and just a touch of the fantasy world, then you have readers for this trilogy. The first book took me about 100 pages to get into. After that, there is not a moment to take a breath - in that book and then all the way to the last page of the third book.
This book closes out Arlo's initial story. Answers are given and some stories are finally put to rest. Although I really feel there is more that can be explored with Arlo and friends... hint, hint Mr. August and Roaring Brook Press.....
If you have readers that like action and adventure and suspense and just a touch of the fantasy world, then you have readers for this trilogy. The first book took me about 100 pages to get into. After that, there is not a moment to take a breath - in that book and then all the way to the last page of the third book.
This book closes out Arlo's initial story. Answers are given and some stories are finally put to rest. Although I really feel there is more that can be explored with Arlo and friends... hint, hint Mr. August and Roaring Brook Press.....
booksandpops4000's review against another edition
4.0
I thought this was solid book conclusion to the series. I still will hope for more books in this series because I really want to see him keep going in the rangers. I found this be such a fun read and loved seeing how this book connected back to the other books in this series. I loved how fast pace this book was. I really loved how this book had both supernatural problems but also family problems. This book also tackled friendship drama and high school. I found this book to be a joy to read and really hope we get more book in the series eventually.
js_wordsmith's review against another edition
4.0
Great ride, but the landing didn’t stick
I’ve really enjoyed this series as a whole, but the end of this felt very meh. While book 2 really built to something, I just felt like the end of this book just happened and there wasn’t much build up or release. Still, it was a good ride while it lasted and I really enjoyed it.
I’ve really enjoyed this series as a whole, but the end of this felt very meh. While book 2 really built to something, I just felt like the end of this book just happened and there wasn’t much build up or release. Still, it was a good ride while it lasted and I really enjoyed it.
the_fabric_of_words's review against another edition
5.0
This was a fantastic conclusion to the Arlo Finch series! I reviewed the first book back in 2018, and I thought it was just a fantastic premise I'd not seen done in middle grade before and it was brilliantly executed. A year later I featured the sequel as a Holiday Pick and now I'm featuring the final book as a Summer Reading pick.
It's as hot as the cover implies.
Arlo goes on a hike, but as you know, nothing's normal about hiking through the Long Woods. In fact, Arlo's hoping to cross half the globe in one afternoon to bring his father home from Guangzhou, China. That's right, because the Long Woods have portals everywhere there's a forest or a large stand of trees, potentially.
But first, he takes his friends and fellow Patrol members, Indra and Wu, with him to meet up with Fox, who leads them to Fallpath, the City of Lost Things, so they can consult the Atlas for the location of the opening in Guangzhou.
Of course, the atlas is not what Arlo's expecting (I won't ruin what it is, or how they get to consult it), but still, it does get Arlo and his sister, Jaycee, to Guangzhou and they manage to smuggle their father out of China and back home -- without a passport, long plane ride, going through Customs, etc.
That's, of course, when the story really picks up. Because his father's a wanted fugitive, and it's an impossible-to-explain journey, and the Eldrich -- who want Arlo's spirit knife, which he's still got -- have eyes everywhere. Even within the FBI, apparently.
They want his dad for his computer hacking / programming skilz, and an agent pulls Arlo out of school to question him about whether he's seen his dad. But then he add, Arlo may be in danger -- from the homicidal sociopath, Hadryn. Who may be back, and out to get him.
I won't ruin the twists and turns from here. It's a fun read, one I didn't want to come to an end.
I predict it'll be a long time before another author can write a middle grade fantasy featuring scouting as well as John August did!
Enjoy.
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
It's as hot as the cover implies.
Arlo goes on a hike, but as you know, nothing's normal about hiking through the Long Woods. In fact, Arlo's hoping to cross half the globe in one afternoon to bring his father home from Guangzhou, China. That's right, because the Long Woods have portals everywhere there's a forest or a large stand of trees, potentially.
But first, he takes his friends and fellow Patrol members, Indra and Wu, with him to meet up with Fox, who leads them to Fallpath, the City of Lost Things, so they can consult the Atlas for the location of the opening in Guangzhou.
Of course, the atlas is not what Arlo's expecting (I won't ruin what it is, or how they get to consult it), but still, it does get Arlo and his sister, Jaycee, to Guangzhou and they manage to smuggle their father out of China and back home -- without a passport, long plane ride, going through Customs, etc.
That's, of course, when the story really picks up. Because his father's a wanted fugitive, and it's an impossible-to-explain journey, and the Eldrich -- who want Arlo's spirit knife, which he's still got -- have eyes everywhere. Even within the FBI, apparently.
They want his dad for his computer hacking / programming skilz, and an agent pulls Arlo out of school to question him about whether he's seen his dad. But then he add, Arlo may be in danger -- from the homicidal sociopath, Hadryn. Who may be back, and out to get him.
I won't ruin the twists and turns from here. It's a fun read, one I didn't want to come to an end.
I predict it'll be a long time before another author can write a middle grade fantasy featuring scouting as well as John August did!
Enjoy.
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
kathrines_bogrum's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0