Scan barcode
honey_ob's review against another edition
5.0
Second time reading Arlo Finch and I still think he is the Best!
Love this series!
Love this series!
booksandpops4000's review against another edition
3.0
* I would give this book 3.75 stars for review*
I found this book to be the prefect mix between adventure, magic and nature adventure. I feel in love with the worlds that was created. I really loved the main character and also the the trio characters that was created. I thought the concepts of the scouts was so fun to read but also a nice balance between fantasy and realistic elements. I thought the Arlo WAS such a fun lead and this book just made me smile. I thought it was super fast pace novel!! I really can't wait for book 2!
I found this book to be the prefect mix between adventure, magic and nature adventure. I feel in love with the worlds that was created. I really loved the main character and also the the trio characters that was created. I thought the concepts of the scouts was so fun to read but also a nice balance between fantasy and realistic elements. I thought the Arlo WAS such a fun lead and this book just made me smile. I thought it was super fast pace novel!! I really can't wait for book 2!
rightonmama's review against another edition
4.0
Arlo is such a likable character in a magical world just plausible enough that kids could imagine these adventures might be possible for them, too. I got drawn into his world and am already looking forward to the second book.
dandelionsteph's review against another edition
3.0
It didn't use its fantasy elements to the full extent. Some chapters had little, if any, fantasy things happening, and little of it actually took place in the Valley of Fire or in another world, despite the Valley of Fire's prominence in the book title and illustration. It felt like the author wanted to make a biography of his experience in the Boy Scouts in a quirky Colorado town, realized it wouldn't sell well, and added in a few fantasy elements.
theybedax's review against another edition
4.0
This story was great from start to finish. I have never wanted to join the scouts more and I desperately wanted to be a part of the scouts. I appreciate the fact that they aren't gendered scouts but instead groups of fantastic kids/teens learning amazing things!!
yvonne_larsen's review against another edition
3.0
En rigtig fint univers, men med for lidt egentlig handling.
Da drengen Arlo flytter med sin søster og mor op til sin onkel i Colorados bjerge indlemmes han i den lokale "Ranger" trop. Nu kunne man tro at en ranger "bare" er en slags spejder, men sandheden er en smule mere magisk.
Jeg er vild med det univers som forfatteren har bygget op - parallelverdenen gemt i skoven som kun er tilgængeligt for børn - er magisk og fyldt med spændende væsner.
Men desværre bruges der lidt for meget plads på beskrivelser og lidt for lidt plads på spænding og action scenerne. Fx så fylder scenen med "Den flammende dal" kun et enkelt kapitel, hvorimod der bruges adskillige kapitler op til med beskrivelser af slædekørsel og spejderknob.
En middel læseoplevelsen.
Da drengen Arlo flytter med sin søster og mor op til sin onkel i Colorados bjerge indlemmes han i den lokale "Ranger" trop. Nu kunne man tro at en ranger "bare" er en slags spejder, men sandheden er en smule mere magisk.
Jeg er vild med det univers som forfatteren har bygget op - parallelverdenen gemt i skoven som kun er tilgængeligt for børn - er magisk og fyldt med spændende væsner.
Men desværre bruges der lidt for meget plads på beskrivelser og lidt for lidt plads på spænding og action scenerne. Fx så fylder scenen med "Den flammende dal" kun et enkelt kapitel, hvorimod der bruges adskillige kapitler op til med beskrivelser af slædekørsel og spejderknob.
En middel læseoplevelsen.
the_fabric_of_words's review against another edition
5.0
We've read books based on Scouting, and inevitably I get lost in the badges, ranks, etc. This one was amazingly different - and utterly unpredictable.
Sure, the tale has all the requisite badge and wilderness survival stuff - but it's chock full of magic, as well, and a MC who discovers his own magical abilities and friends along the way.
The story is unpredictable, as well. I did not see the rampaging, blood-thirsty creature that hunts the MC in his own house coming at all. As a reader, I'm rarely taken so by surprise - and I enjoyed it!
My 13-year-old son recommends this, with his concise "Yeah, it's a good read."
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
Sure, the tale has all the requisite badge and wilderness survival stuff - but it's chock full of magic, as well, and a MC who discovers his own magical abilities and friends along the way.
The story is unpredictable, as well. I did not see the rampaging, blood-thirsty creature that hunts the MC in his own house coming at all. As a reader, I'm rarely taken so by surprise - and I enjoyed it!
My 13-year-old son recommends this, with his concise "Yeah, it's a good read."
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
mylesthiele's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
shelby_7664's review against another edition
4.0
A few weeks ago, my husband sent me the first episode of this new podcast called Launch, saying that he thought I would enjoy it. So I gave it go, and turns out he was right. I loved it!
Launch is hosted by screenwriter John August, who recently decided he wanted to write a children’s book. So he did. And then he made a podcast about the creation of the book, starting with the moment he began writing his story, to in the latest episode discussing how books are printed. John August talks to people involved in every step of the process, including the man who designed the typeface used on the front of his new book.
After listening to the first four episodes, I decided that I actually really wanted to read this book, which was released on February 6, and is called Arlo Finch in the Valley of Fire. It is a middle grade book, and is similar to the Percy Jackson or the Mysterious Benedict Society. So we went to our local Barnes & Noble and picked up a copy.
I have read some fantastic middle grade books as an adult, and I have also read some that I think I would have enjoyed much more if I had read them earlier in life. I was a little worried that this would fall into the latter category, as the Percy Jackson books did for me.
However, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The main character (Arlo Finch) is a young boy who moves to Colorado with his mom and sister. In an attempt to fit in, Arlo joins the Rangers group, which is similar to Boy Scouts. However, Arlo soon discovers that the Rangers do more than learn basic survival skills and go on camping trips. They learn about using the magic of the Long Woods to create snapfires and thunderclaps, and how to avoid creatures such as NightMares and Wisps. Arlo draws some attention from the darker forces of a newly discovered world, and as a result finds himself on quite an adventure.
Although this story seems to be another variation of the same plot line that is told in nearly every middle grade book (young boy finds himself on an unexpected adventure and turns out to be especially talented at some special skill, saving the day) there are a few things that make Arlo Finch’s story different. The writing of this book is very intelligent, and definitely helps cater the story to an older crowd. The book is also structured well- chapters are an appropriate length and always have little “cliff-hanger” endings, the pacing is spot on, the characters are well-developed... basically, I wasn’t bored, but the action also wasn’t so fast-paced that details are missed. Arlo Finch in the Valley of Fire is the first in the trilogy, with the next book set to release in the spring of 2019. Although this book definitely set up plot lines for books to come, it was also a complete story in and of itself.
I had high expectations for this book and fortunately they were met. I am very excited to continue with the series. This group is appropriate for a wide variety of readers- from the 8-12 age group it was initially intended for, up through adults who need a little bit of extra magic in their life.
Launch is hosted by screenwriter John August, who recently decided he wanted to write a children’s book. So he did. And then he made a podcast about the creation of the book, starting with the moment he began writing his story, to in the latest episode discussing how books are printed. John August talks to people involved in every step of the process, including the man who designed the typeface used on the front of his new book.
After listening to the first four episodes, I decided that I actually really wanted to read this book, which was released on February 6, and is called Arlo Finch in the Valley of Fire. It is a middle grade book, and is similar to the Percy Jackson or the Mysterious Benedict Society. So we went to our local Barnes & Noble and picked up a copy.
I have read some fantastic middle grade books as an adult, and I have also read some that I think I would have enjoyed much more if I had read them earlier in life. I was a little worried that this would fall into the latter category, as the Percy Jackson books did for me.
However, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The main character (Arlo Finch) is a young boy who moves to Colorado with his mom and sister. In an attempt to fit in, Arlo joins the Rangers group, which is similar to Boy Scouts. However, Arlo soon discovers that the Rangers do more than learn basic survival skills and go on camping trips. They learn about using the magic of the Long Woods to create snapfires and thunderclaps, and how to avoid creatures such as NightMares and Wisps. Arlo draws some attention from the darker forces of a newly discovered world, and as a result finds himself on quite an adventure.
Although this story seems to be another variation of the same plot line that is told in nearly every middle grade book (young boy finds himself on an unexpected adventure and turns out to be especially talented at some special skill, saving the day) there are a few things that make Arlo Finch’s story different. The writing of this book is very intelligent, and definitely helps cater the story to an older crowd. The book is also structured well- chapters are an appropriate length and always have little “cliff-hanger” endings, the pacing is spot on, the characters are well-developed... basically, I wasn’t bored, but the action also wasn’t so fast-paced that details are missed. Arlo Finch in the Valley of Fire is the first in the trilogy, with the next book set to release in the spring of 2019. Although this book definitely set up plot lines for books to come, it was also a complete story in and of itself.
I had high expectations for this book and fortunately they were met. I am very excited to continue with the series. This group is appropriate for a wide variety of readers- from the 8-12 age group it was initially intended for, up through adults who need a little bit of extra magic in their life.