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A review by notesonbookmarks
Arlo Finch in the Valley of Fire by John August
4.0
Picked this up from the library after I listened to the author's podcast about the writing, selling, publishing and publicizing of his book (called "Launch" if you want to check it out... so fascinating!). I figured I've had good luck in the past with podcasters turned book authors so it was at least worth a look.
Well, I wasn't disappointed. Arlo Finch is a 6th grader who gets relocated to Pine Mountain, CO. He's just a normal kid with a normal-ish family. He joins the Rangers (a boy scout-ish type of group), because pretty much every 6th grader does as a way to be involved and starts to learn about the outdoors and the local stories and traditions. And that's when things start to get weird. Arlo will appeal to all the kids. He's part of the real world, and he attends a real school, so everything feels like it could really happen. But it's also fantastical and fun and a little bit scary (not too bad, I did allow my 7.5-year-old to pick up the book when I finished, and I think he'll be totally fine reading it). Recommend for fans of middle-grade lit, fantasy, and adventure. I truly think this story could become timeless if it gets into enough hands!
Well, I wasn't disappointed. Arlo Finch is a 6th grader who gets relocated to Pine Mountain, CO. He's just a normal kid with a normal-ish family. He joins the Rangers (a boy scout-ish type of group), because pretty much every 6th grader does as a way to be involved and starts to learn about the outdoors and the local stories and traditions. And that's when things start to get weird. Arlo will appeal to all the kids. He's part of the real world, and he attends a real school, so everything feels like it could really happen. But it's also fantastical and fun and a little bit scary (not too bad, I did allow my 7.5-year-old to pick up the book when I finished, and I think he'll be totally fine reading it). Recommend for fans of middle-grade lit, fantasy, and adventure. I truly think this story could become timeless if it gets into enough hands!