Monday, January 6, 2014

Lion (The Five Ancestors Out of the Ashes #2) by Jeff Stone –ESSENTIAL

Stone, Jeff Lion (The Five Ancestors Out of the Ashes #2) 240 pgs. Random House Books for Young Readers, 2013. $16.99  Content: Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG.
Ryan and his best friends Phoenix, Jake and Hú Dié get a chance to learn road biking, a bit of a change from the mountain biking they love. They fly out to California to stay with Ryan’s cousin, Peter, an experienced road cyclist, who isn’t letting a past injury keep him from riding. In the first book Ryan was given a mysterious ancient substance called Dragon Bone. In this book, he is trying to get all of it out of his system, but it doesn’t want to let him go, offering him amazing healing powers and strength. Complicating matters is a bad guy whose very touch is poisoned. When an challenging competition and the kidnapping of Peter collide, its going to be up to Ryan and his friends to race to the rescue.
The book had its cards stacked against it for me. I haven’t read the popular first series by this author, nor the first book in this second series. I dislike biking and really any competitive sports. But Jeff Stone won me over in a major way. This was a fantastic read! I know I am gushing, but it is everything a student could want, adventure, sports, magic, mystery, bad guys, competition, and fun. Did I mention how well written this book is? I simply couldn't put it down. It’s a tad on the guns and violence side, so keep it with 5-6 graders if adding to your elementary collection. ve teachersstudent could want, adventure, sports, magic, mystery, bad guys

EL, MS –ESSENTIAL Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.

No comments: