Cover art by Joe Todd-Stanton, published by Nosy Crow, 01 June 2024, ISBN: 978-1839945182
If there was ever a book likely to replace a game controller in a child’s hand, this must be the one! Structured in the style of a platform game, with all the creative world building, visual imagery and kinetic energy of a family-friendly adventure game this book will take young readers aged 7 + on an exciting immersive quest. Prize-winning author Kieran Larwood knows how to create compelling characters and throw them into a dynamic plot which engages readers from the first page.
We arrive in the dismal town of Grotville, an outpost of Zerb, an island dominated by the National Dungeon League’s Dungeon Runner competition which plays out in the subterranean tunnels. Our hero, Kit Kitson, is a gnorf (half-gnome/half-dwarf) who along with the rest of the town’s inhabitants is obsessed with the daily Dungeon Runner broadcasts, watching the progress of their favourite teams as they battle monsters, solve quizzes and challenges and find their way through mazes below ground. When one team accidentally becomes a dragon’s dinner, Kit finds himself recruiting a team to compete against the local troggle bullies, to enter the contest. With under-sized Kit armed with a blunt wooden sword as their fighter, Thorn, a vegan vampire as their healer, and Sandy Sanders, another gnorf as their mage, surely team ‘Triple Trouble’ are pushing their luck against not only the local thugs Breg, Dora and Nora, but teams of spidlings, hedgepigs and dwarves! A classic David and Goliath story transposed into the very modern and recognisable setting of a computer game, this story is perfect for emerging readers.
There is so much to love about this book:
The imaginative characters in team Triple Trouble are adorable.
The classic scenario of underdogs taking on the bullies is entertaining, funny and engaging.
Joe Todd-Stanton’s illustrations bring the action alive in manga-style artwork.
There are panels of factual content which look like a mash up of computer game graphics and Top Trumps cards.
The speech bubble dialogue between the hosts of the Dungeon Runners broadcasts breaks up the pages of narrative text in an interesting way.
The text is printed in a large and dyslexia friendly font, making it easy for all newly independent readers to access.
There is plenty of white space around the text, which also helps young readers keep their place on the page.
Just under 200 pages of fast-paced, enthralling, adventure makes this a book that children will feel compelled to finish.
There is a sneak peek of Level 2 of the quest at the end of the story.
I wholeheartedly recommend Dungeon Runners Level 1 Hero Trial to primary schools, parents and care-givers as a fantastic book choice to entice youngsters away from their electronic devices and into the pages of a super-enjoyable story.
Disclaimer: I was very grateful to be sent an advance copy of this book by Nosy Crow and Nina Douglas PR in exchange for my honest opinion.
Cover art by Alan O’Rourke, published by Little Island, 18 April 2024, ISBN: 978-1915071491
I am delighted to join the blog tour today for Dinosaur Pie written by Irish author and poet Jen Wallace. Jen has kindly agreed to answer some questions about the inspiration and themes behind this fun-filled, bite-sized novel for children aged 6+ which has a lovely message of acceptance at its centre.
Author Jen Wallace
Q & A with Jen Wallace
I read in the PR material for Dinosaur Pie that you have been diagnosed with both ADHD and Autism. Could you explain to readers the difference between the two diagnoses and what impact, if any, they have had on your writing career?
Autism is often described as a social, communication and sensory difference and ADHD is more about attention, impulsivity and activity levels. They have very different diagnostic criteria.
I think being unrecognised as AuADHD for so many years had quite an impact on my writing life. I find it so much easier to write now that I have a better understanding of who I am and what my needs are.
Could you tell us a bit about the inspiration behind Dinosaur Pie and its journey to publication?
Dinosaur Pie was something I invented to encourage my toddlers (who are now teens) to eat their dinner. Cottage Pie really wasn’t sparking their interest, but Dinosaur Pie had them running to the table. So it became part of our family lore and I wrote a poem about it.
When I tried to turn it into a picture book text it became a much bigger story. I began writing it in chapter book form while I was on the Raising Voices Fellowship with Children’s Books Ireland and finished it a few weeks after. I then sent it to Little Island and they decided to offer me a contract.
I have read quite a few middle grade and young adult novels about neurodiverse characters written by authors with lived experience but yours is the first example that I have read aimed at a younger readership. What made you decide to write a story for readers of age 6+ and what were the challenges of representing neurodiversity for younger readers?
This age group is where I think my humour hits best and as my youngest is that age I fell naturally in writing for younger kids. I had such fun writing Dinosaur Pie, possibly because my inner child is alive and well and giggling.
Because I’m neurodivergent myself, the characters I write are often neurodivergent too. It’s my normal, so it’s not challenging at all.
What effect do you hope that Dinosaur Pie will have on readers?
I hope they will enjoy the story, and have a few laughs. I hope they feel a connection to the characters and sense the kindness in the relationships in the book. I hope they will see it as totally normal to have a neurodivergent main character.
I loved the representation of “difference” as Rory trying to navigate school as a dinosaur. I understand that you write poetry as well as stories; do you feel that being a poet helps you create the imagery in your stories?
Thank you! I think being a mostly visual thinker helps my writing in all forms. I am very detail oriented so I think that makes creating imagery interesting for me. Being a poet means that I spend quite a lot of time crafting sentences and agonising over which word to use.
Another aspect that I found wonderful was the inclusive and empathetic headteacher asking Rory how he would like to be described; a dinosaur student or a student who is currently a dinosaur? Could you tell us about the importance of asking a neurodivergent individual how they would like to be described?
It is important because we all have language preferences, and some descriptive language can be hurtful or annoying to the person you are communicating with or about. I think this goes for all humans. ‘How would you like me to describe you and your needs? is just good manners.
The perfect balance between laugh-out-loud humour and the message of acceptance of differences must have been difficult to get right, how did you manage it?
Thank you. I try to write with kindness and a gentleness towards my characters. I like my humour to be about the ridiculous situations characters find themselves in as this is where I find myself using humour to cope.
I didn’t go in with the explicit intent of writing about acceptance, but rather exploring how kindness can help people muddle through tricky times together. But, I suppose, kindness necessitates acceptance.
Can we assume from the way that the story ends that we will be lucky enough to meet Rory and his friends Daria and Oleg in further adventures?
Well, I do have a book two idea brewing but I have a few other manuscripts on the go too. I’m sure when Rory has more to tell us, he’ll be pestering me to write a book.
Finally, if you were transformed into a dinosaur, would sausages be your top carnivorous craving? If not, what would be top of your shopping list at BuyMart?
My top carnivorous craving would be Italian salami but sausages might be more affordable in dinosaur quantities!
Thank you for answering my questions. I wish you great success with Dinosaur Pie.
Thank you for the great questions and your lovely comments.
My review
As a health librarian, with an interest in helping to improve levels of health literacy, I am always pleased to see new books which increase understanding of health and wellbeing which are written in accessible language for different population cohorts. I love this very funny and touching story which I think will appeal to children who are moving away from reading scheme books and taking their first steps into independent reading.
The imaginative concept of a young neurodiverse boy, sometimes called ‘Roary Rory’ being accidentally transformed into a dinosaur after eating a dinosaur pie is ideally suited to the intended readership. We are given an insight into a few of the ways that Rory’s neurodivergency affects his ability to organise himself for school in the opening pages but I think that the subsequent presentation of ‘difference’ when he takes on dinosaur form is extremely clever and engaging. The way that he experiences the world differently through his enhanced senses combined with the need to turn his head to compensate for decreased binocular vision, gives children a relatable way to understand the sensory overload which many individuals with ADHD or autism might experience. Readers also see the anxiety that Rory feels about a trip to the doctors as well as the relief generated by realising that there are other children in the town who share his experience.
There are also lovely examples of the value of friendship and allyship in this story. Oleg and Daria prove their worth as best friends during ‘Operation Make Rory Human Again’ whilst Lex, a teenage neighbour offers quiet support and kindness. Headteacher “call me Trudi” shows the importance of respecting individual preferences when she asks Rory how he would like to be addressed:
A dinosaur student? Or a student who is currently a dinosaur? Which is your preference, Rory?
page 84
In contrast, we have some examples of poor attitudes from teacher, Mr Buckley and the BuyMart store manager, Shane.
Finally some praise for the publisher, Little Island, who have considered the readership carefully in the formatting of this book. It is:
Small size, just right for little hands
Has short chapters, ideal for building resilience and sense of achievement in reading independently
Printed in a clear, large font with extra line spacing
Stylishly illustrated throughout by Alan O’Rourke
I highly recommend Dinosaur Pie as an entertaining and engaging book, which will help to develop empathy, for readers of 6 years and older.
My thanks to Antonia Wilkinson PR and Little Island for supplying me with a proof copy of Dinosaur Pie ahead of publication on 18th April 2024 and for inviting me to join the blog tour. Do check out the posts by my fellow book bloggers on the schedule.
Cover art by Jim Field, published by Hachette Children’s Group, 14 March 2024, ISBN: 978-1444947571
This Lake is Fake is the sixth and final title in the popular Rabbit & Bear series, written by Julian Gough and illustrated by Jim Field. This winning combination of humorous, character-driven writing and beautiful, expressive artwork has created another accessible story to encourage young readers who are starting their independent reading journey.
The contrasting characters of Rabbit and Bear contribute to an engaging story in which kind, hard-working bear eventually succeeds in helping Rabbit to discover that his vision for a ‘Perfect World’ which excludes his friends and requires no effort from himself, will not actually guarantee his happiness. I love the way that the pink colour palette used in Jim Field’s magnificent artwork depicts Rabbit’s rose-tinted view of the world. Once Rabbit realises that planning, teamwork and friendship are needed to create a space in which to live productively, the story delivers a heart-warming ending. There is a great deal of gentle humour as well as a large side-helping of poo jokes which are likely to entertain the intended readership of children from the age of 6 years.
This book is presented as a small sized hardback, perfect for younger children to hold comfortably, with well-spaced, clear text and illustrations on every double page. It features a glorious map of Rabbit and Bear’s forest home at the start, and at 100 pages in length, it provides children with the achievable aim and subsequent satisfaction of reading an entire book independently. This Lake is Fake is a lovely choice to offer young readers in classrooms and primary school libraries to read for pleasure.
My thanks to Antonia Wilkinson PR and Hachette Children’s Group for sending me a copy of This Lake is Fake in exchange for my honest opinion.
Cover art by Jo Lindley, published by Farshore Books, 14 March 2024, ISBN: 978-0008508265
Alien Apocalypse, the second book in the Interdimensional Explorers series by Lorraine Gregory is a zany, fast-paced, space adventure, brilliantly constructed to bring maximum entertainment to children of 8 years and above.
Eleven year old Danny appears to live a pretty ordinary life to most of his friends, family and neighbours. However, his very best friend Modge and his super-intelligent cousin Inaaya are both in on the secret that Danny is apprentice caretaker at the Interdimensional Lost Property Office (IDPO) where Danny’s grandad has been caretaker for many years previously. When Grandad takes off on a cruise with his new ‘fancy woman’ at the IPLO’s busiest season, Danny finds himself called into action on a task for which he is in dire need of training. ‘Returns Day’ is looming, the date when all of the most rare and valuable lost items in the multiverse have to be returned to their rightful owners…and Danny doesn’t even know where the secure storage vault is, let alone how to access it!
Emergency training is organised. Theft, scapegoating and double-crossing ensue. Intergalactic travel and extra-terrestrial pursuits reveal dastardly plans being enacted. Creatures, civilizations and planets are imagined and illustrated with wit and furnished with mind boggling names. The action is relentless. Think; The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy on steroids! This really is a page-turner; blending laugh out loud humour with a race against time to save the entire multiverse. It is wonderfully illustrated throughout by Jo Lindley, and there are extracts from Inaaya’s Astrophysicist Notebook (IAN) scattered through the story, creating a format which is likely to appeal to young readers. I can see this story providing huge entertainment for confident readers from age 8 right through to readers at the top of primary school or early secondary school who want a substantial story where the text is broken into manageable chunks.
I am most grateful to Farshore Books for providing me with a review copy of Interdimensional Explorers Alien Apocalypse ahead of its publication on 14 March 2024.
Cover art by Jenny McLachlan, publisher Farshore, 29 February 2024, ISBN 978-0008524302
The second volume of eleven year old Danny Todd’s diary is an absolute hoot, detailing in words and doodles (from the immensely talented Jenny McLachlan), his zany experiences with mischievous fairy S-dot-Tink, S.Tink (more commonly known as Stink because she won’t reveal her first name).
There is an excellent cartoon strip occupying the early pages, which recounts the arrival of Stink from Fairyland to Humanyland in the first book of the series. I think this will be thoroughly appreciated by young readers who rely on school, classroom or public libraries for access to new books, because I am sure that this series will be so popular that it will not always be possible to borrow the books in the correct order. The rest of the book is written in a lovely clear ‘hand writing’ font, laid out in fully illustrated journal format which is hugely attractive to read. The design allied with the laugh-out-loud content and alluring cover is sure to entice the most reluctant of readers.
Jenny McLachlan certainly knows how to appeal to young readers and the kinetic plot covers the experiences of everyday life in Year 7 alongside some spectacularly chaotic occurrences provoked by a malfunctioning fairy wand, an evil wizard on the loose and a school assembly organised by an enthusiastic LARPer teacher! The plot builds to a dramatic crescendo on the school stage and reveals the power of friendship as an antidote to overcome the most dastardly of rogue plans. I had great fun reading Fairy vs. Wizard and I know that it would have been greatly appreciated in this house had it been available a good few years ago. I’d highly recommend as a gift for children of 8/9 years and above and as an essential addition to school library collections.
I am grateful to Farshore Books for sending me a review copy of Fairy vs. Wizard ahead of publication.
Stink Worst.Fairy.Ever.written and illustrated by Jenny McLachlan
Cover art by Jenny McLachlan, published by Farshore, 16 March 2023, ISBN: 978-0008524272
If you want the full back story to S-dot-Tink’s arrival at the home of Danny Todd, then I suggest you get your hands on this fun-filled book. I was lucky enough to spot it on the shelves of my local public library and have been snorting with laughter at this zany origin story.
What better birthday present can your average eleven year old boy want from his three year old sister than a fairy door? What can possibly go wrong when he tries to sarcastically summon up a fairy? And just how much chaos can one little woodlouse-eating fairy cause when she decides to bring a troll and a gnome into Humanyworld with her?
This hilarious illustrated diary-format book will have readers rooting for Danny Todd as he tries to bring order to a wave of entropy in his neighbourhood. This is a book which will positively fly of the bookshelves! Highly recommended for readers of 8/9 years and above.
Cover art Katie Rewse, published by Noodle Juice, 16 November 2023, ISBN: 978- 1915613288
The sixth in the Little Book Big Idea series from publisher Noodle Juice follows the same format as others in the series and lives up to the same high standards that I have come to expect from this publisher. It is an attractive, high quality, hardback non-fiction book combining carefully designed facts and pictures.
I love the way that the book encourages young readers to be curious by using questions as chapter titles. Each double page spread starts with a question, some examples are: when does history start? Are there different types of history? How do we study history? My particular favourite was: Whose stories haven’t been told? The answers are provided as fabulous whole page, as well as small panel artwork by Katie Rewse, combined with small blocks of text written by Sarah Walden, who is one half of the partnership behind Noodle Juice. The text is presented as interesting fonts, sometimes slightly curved around the illustrations but always clear and accessible to read.
What is History? is an ideal book to encourage children to take an interest in events of the past and ask their own how and why questions about the way historic actions have been recorded. It would make an excellent gift for any child of 8 years and above, and I am sure will be welcomed by school librarians, key stage 2 teachers and home-educators.
I am very grateful to Noodle Juice and Antonia Wilkinson for my gifted review copy of What is History? in exchange for my honest opinion.
I have reviewed several other titles in the Little Book Big Idea series:
Cover illustration by Alessia Trunfio, published by Little Tiger, ISBN: 978-1788956598
The first in a new series of time-slip adventures, Time Travellers Adventure Calling, packs a lot of education and entertainment into just under 150 pages, making it an ideal read for children of 8 years old and above. In my experience, time travel adventures are usually very popular with primary school children and I love the way that Sufiya Ahmed has used this structure to provide a really positive story about the power of democracy.
This story starts with a school trip to the Houses of Parliament after Mia, Ayaan and Suhana have had their designs for their local MP’s Christmas card chosen as winning and runner up entries to his annual competition. Through the MP’s visit to their school assembly and their subsequent day out, readers are given a valuable lesson in civics in an accessible way to which they can easily relate. Despite their unpleasant and prejudiced headteacher, Mr Hayes, the three children are thoroughly enjoying the opportunity to explore the public areas of Westminster and learn about its history, when suddenly Suhana’s phone twists them through time to 1911. They arrive on 17th June, the date of the Coronation Procession of the Women’s Social and Political Union which was organised to demand votes for women.
As they negotiate the crowded streets, unexpected hazards and battle against the clock to ensure their return to the present day, the children forge a bond of friendship and meet some prominent figures from the suffragette and suffragist movements. With a Pakistani heritage herself, Suhana is both surprised and delighted to find women from South Asia participating in the demonstration. Through her reaction, readers can understand the importance of bringing to light the hidden voices and faces from history. Her curious and questioning attitude, which has elicited unjust and unkind responses from her headteacher, is shown to be important for correcting the absences in the historical record. I also enjoyed the way that historical protest for women’s emancipation was juxtaposed against the current Fridays for Future demonstrations. The theme of standing up in solidarity with important beliefs is nicely demonstrated by Mia and Ayaan, who react against Mr Hayes’ unfairness to make a tangible difference for Suhana.
There is some interesting factual detail on the women’s suffrage movement at the end of the book as well as biographical details on Lolita Roy and Princess Sophia Duleep Singh. I am certainly looking forward to the next Time Travellers adventure which is due to be published in October 2024. I think that this series is going to be very popular in primary schools, not just for presenting interesting historical facts in an engaging format but also for surfacing the idea that we should question the historical record for what has been omitted.
I am very grateful to Little Tiger for sending me a review copy of Time Travellers Adventure Calling in exchange for my honest opinion.
Cover art by Flavia Sorrentino, published by Chicken House 8 June 2023, ISBN: 9781911490951
Ancient Rome takes on pop culture in this very funny time-slip portal story for the middle grade audience. Marie Basting has blended historical research with humour to weave a plot with a wonderfully inclusive message.
Livi, or Silvia Fortuna Juno De Luca, lives with her father, Ben, in the shadow of Hadrian’s Wall. The perfect setting for Dad and his merry band of Live-Action Role-Players (LARPers) to dress up in authentic historical costumes and re-enact the daily lives and battles of your average Roman citizen! Recently, the fantasy has gone one step further with the building of Rome Play, a replica Roman village, thanks to the prop-building skills of Kenzo, a professional special-effects maestro and Dad’s best friend. So much faith do these two have in their venture that Kenzo is skipping his chance to help at a nearby Harry Styles concert to be present for the opening mega role-play event weekend!
Dad’s mysterious disappearance as the grand opening approaches leads Livi through the polystyrene replica of The Arch of Constantine on a strangely misty evening and into the ‘welcoming’ arms of a long lost family! I don’t want to give away any more plot details for fear of spoiling the increasingly wondrous character reveals and plot twists, as Livi faces internal and external battles after learning the prophecy of her quest. Instead, I will tell you what appealed to me in this book and why I would highly recommend it for children of 8 years and above:
The design includes beautifully illustrated chapter headers by Flavia Sorrentino
There are Latin phrases (immediately translated into English) throughout
Historical Roman terms are emboldened in the text and explained in a glossary
The time-slip/portal structure makes history immediately relevant to real life
Short chapters and humour make the book an appealing read for the target audience
Through Livi’s extraordinary family an important message about diversity and acceptance is delivered.
It is a great example of presenting well-researched historical detail in a thoroughly entertaining story so that education is delivered by stealth.
I am only sorry that My Family and Other Romans has been sitting in my TBR stack for too many months due to work pressures squeezing my reading time in the latter half of 2023. I will be passing it on to a primary school library, where I hope that it will be greatly enjoyed by KS2 pupils.
I received my copy of My Family and Other Romans as a free gift from Chicken House following a Twitter giveaway organised by @ErinLynHamilton for which I am very grateful.
If you enjoy this book and want to dig deeper into Ancient Roman history through fiction, I highly recommend the entire series of The Roman Mysteries by Caroline Lawrence.
Cover artwork by Teo Skaffa, publisher Uclan Publishing, 7 March 2024, ISBN: 9781915235886
Buckle on your swords, pull on your leather boots, hoist the Jolly Roger and leap aboard this thrilling new middle grade adventure!
The year is 2507 and rising sea levels have ushered in a new golden age of piracy. The Pirate Federation controls the oceans and trains its youngsters at one of nine exclusive schools around the world. In this introductory book in what looks to be an exciting new series, we voyage to the Coral Sea Province location of the Pirate Academy and join the eleven-year-olds in Barracuda Class on a swashbuckling adventure. This book is buoyant with action, filled with clashing swords, competition and striving for mastery…and that’s just the activity in the Headcaptain’s study on parents’ day! Whilst the main child protagonists are the progeny of the fiercest and most successful pirates terrorising the oceans, and their teachers are also famous pirates, the Pirate Academy seems to be a civilised boarding school with a jolly appealing curriculum and strong friendships between the pupils.
However, below the surface, there are disturbances emerging in this carefully ordered society. Firstly, Jasmine Peacock’s parents’ ship which is usually the first to arrive for Captain’s Evening, has gone missing on the high seas. Then, Captain Raven Moon dramatically removes her son, Wing, from the Academy, telling his roommate Jacoby Blunt that “These are dangerous times to be a pirate”. Wing’s place amongst the Barracudas is taken by Neo Splice, who arrives in mysterious circumstances and arouses suspicion about his true identity. With rumours swirling of a spy at Pirate Academy and the emergence of The League of True Pirates, the aspiring youngsters need to call on all of their training and their bonds of friendship to swing into action and rescue their kidnapped classmates.
At just over 200 pages, with short chapters broken up with cartoon-style illustrations by Teo Skaffa, I am certain that Pirate Academy New Kid on Deck is destined to be a bit hit with readers of 8+. The story zips along at a terrific pace, the characters – both adult and child – are engaging and fun, and the plot keeps readers guessing until the very end to discover the first traitor at the Academy. With further books scheduled, the second is due to publish in August 2024, it’s time to enrol at Pirate Academy and learn what it takes to become a true pirate legend.
I am hugely grateful to Uclan Publishing and Antonia Wilkinson for sending me a proof copy of Pirate Academy New Kid on Deck ahead of publication on 7th March 2024.
Cover art Laura Ellen Anderson, publisher Farshore, 01 February 2024, ISBN: 9780008591335
I cannot tell you how thrilled I was to receive a proof copy of Marnie Midnight and the Moon Mystery, the first book in a new series by one of my favourite author-illustrators, Laura Ellen Anderson. Oh my goodness, this book is an utter delight, a magnificent fantasy creation which brings the smallest inhabitants of our planet to the fore, delivering a subtle ecological message in a package of glorious illustrations and charming storytelling.
The three main characters are Marnie Midnight, a moth who is obsessed by the moon; Floyd Flombidium, a flamboyant bee-who-is-really-an-A; and Star Vonstrosity, a supremely self-possessed ant princess! These three inhabitants of the small village of Thimbledown meet on their first day at the big bug school, Minibeast Academy, and forge a firm friendship on an out-of- this-world adventure. Marnie has been desperate to attend the Academy where her idol, Lunora Wingheart, once studied. She is determined to follow in her predecessor’s flutterings and track down the long lost, secret Book of Moon Spells, even if it means flying to the moon to find it. However, she is flabbergasted to discover that nobody else believes in moon magic and furthermore, that she is actually punished for talking about Lunora in school. When the three friends discover a dusty and apparently forgotten Moon Studies room at the top of the Academy, a breathtaking journey of discovery begins.
This book is going to be hugely popular with children of age 6 and above. The topic of minibeasts is always fascinating for young children and in this immersive story, Laura Ellen Anderson carefully combines the essential science and environmental importance of these creatures with a brilliantly imagined fantasy world. I don’t want to give away spoilers but will just say that there is a beautifully artistic map of Thimbledown as well as an illustrated guide to the main characters at the start. Most pages contain lavish black and white illustrations and chapters are short, making this an ideal book for children who are beginning to read independently. It would also make a marvellous bedtime story, one which I would have loved to share had it been around 15 years ago! Before I finish, I have to give a mention to the characters who inhabit the ‘mean girl’ trope – the ‘Betterflies’ led by the majestically mean Veronica Spottage; I look forward to seeing how she and her hangers-on, Thelma and Louise, fare in subsequent stories!
I know that school budgets are tight at present, but I do encourage you to add Marnie Midnight and the Moon Mystery to your classroom and school library collections to inspire both enjoyment in reading and a fascination with the insect kingdom.
I am most grateful to Liz Scott and Farshore Publishing for providing me with an advance proof of this book to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
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