It’s the year 2030 and students at MakerX20 are building gadgets for astronauts about to land on Mars. But, twelve-year-old KyRose has a secret mission of her own. She’s a freak. Well, at least, that’s what her classmates say when they see her talk to animals. All KyRose wants is to be normal, like everyone else, and to win over Georgia, captain of the soccer team and most popular girl in school.
Meanwhile, a mysterious migration leaves a young dolphin stranded. Will KyRose help? Or, in her frenzy to fit in, will she shun her special gift—and her best friend Cora—to achieve the acceptance she so longs for?
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KyRose was not the kind of character I loved from the beginning. She cheats to be a better goalie by breaking the rules with some futuristic technology, lies at times, and doesn’t do a good job of being a friend. The cause of KyRose’s change to this personality comes from her infatuation with being a part of the popular girl’s inner circle.
As the 27 chapters progress, KyRose gradually become a lot more lovable. She learns from mistakes and readers discover her compassionate connection to animals and more of her backstory. The result is a magical, environmental tale.
Set in Venice, California, the magic centers around KyRose’s ability to have actual conversations with animals just as if two people were talking. This bodes well for both a dolphin and 2 eagles that need help.
KyRose Takes a Leap is the first in a trilogy. Book #2 will lead the young heroine to London with a new environmental focus. Let’s hope the theme of living with nature, environmental problems, and advances in technology will continue to be the focus of the series.
FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: KyROSE TAKES A LEAP by Cicek Bricault
- An in depth glossary is worth reading in the back pages. A full paragraph is given to such topics as Artificial Intelligence, Electromagnetic Spectrum, and Probiotics to name just a few. There’s also an 11-question discussion guide for reading groups that will help guide student thinking.
- Set just 7 years in the future the technology presented was fascinating, especially where we could be headed with virtual reality.
- Middle school insecurities abound and handled well. MakerX20 is a STEAM school but there’s always going to be drama when 12-year-olds are together.
- Family. There’s Mom, Dad, and an older brother who provide different levels of support to KyRose. Every kid should be as lucky.
- Challenges young readers to take charge when it comes to nature and animals. The book will inspire them to look at what might be happening in their own community.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Children’s book author Cicek Bricault (chee-check brie-co) came to recognize through her own young daughter that both boys and girls would benefit from a new and holistic female role model, one that is brave and vulnerable and connected to her own power, and in touch with her own voice, emotional intelligence, and purpose in the
world. This seed formed the main character of Cicek’s new middle grade novel, KyRose Takes a Leap, a story based in the near future that tackles STEAM themes, a love and respect for animals, coding, artificial intelligence, augmented reality, healthy ecosystems and more.
Having also been influenced by our world’s chronic environmental issues and the devastation and harm humans have caused – global warming, toxic chemicals, overfishing, and more – Cicek wanted to be part of a change for the better. She strove to reveal in her book the value of animals and habitats and how we, as part of the ecosystem, can live in balance and learn from nature.
An avid tech and science lover, Cicek’s mission is to inspire young people to use the STEAM elements to identify problems and work together to invent and implement solutions big and small to make our world a more loving, holistic place to live. She hopes to inspire others to act as stewards with a sense of curiosity
and purpose.
When she isn’t writing transformative and thought-provoking books for young readers, she enjoys tinkering in her workshop, fixing broken bits around the house, and designing wearables. She lives with her husband, two teenage children, mother, and dog Bogie, in Venice Beach, California, in a sustainably built eco-friendly house.
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