If you love fantasy, especially one with a memorable cast of characters, then BOO AND PATCH A TAIL OF HOPE will be a good choice for the upcoming summer.
Boo, the young protagonist lives with his foster family and is pulled into a world he never expected. He discovers family secrets that have been kept hidden for a long time. Along for the journey are an out of this world dog named Patch who does more than look cute. Also with him are a group of friends all unique in their ways. They provide many laughable exchanges with each other.
Throughout the adventurous journey, their friendships are tested, but with courage they find answers to what is going on in this other world. Dangerous, suspenseful moments happen at every turn but never last too long before a solution is found.
The world building is excellent but my favorite takeaway was the devotion between a boy and his dog. Without each other the end results would be far different.
The ending hints at more stories to come in a potential series as one big unanswered question remains about his real parents. Readers will be anxiously awaiting additional books.
BOO AND PATCH A TAIL OF HOPE is best for upper middle grade readers and one that will be a welcome addition to their bookshelves. It’s also at a length that will appeal to those who avoid the 300-400 page fantasies.
BOOK BIRTHDAY: March 7, 2026 PAGES: 188
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Gary Christopher Boardman, originally from Blackpool, relocated to Southampton in the sunny south of the UK at the age of two, where he has lived ever since. Gary was a calm child with a vivid imagination and dreamt of setting the world alight one day. With most dreams, reality got in the way, and like everyone else, he had to settle in with the rat race of what is called ‘work’. Becoming a proud father in 2007 gave him the opportunity to feel young again and experience the world again through a child’s eyes and rekindle some of that motivation to do something more creative with his life.
As his son grew older, he wanted bedtime story after bedtime story, and to keep up with the boy’s desire for adventures, the solution was easy: Gary would weave his own stories on the spot to keep the magic of story time going,nurturing a bond that remains strong even now his son has grown into a teenager. Whilst he tried his hand at all sorts of make believe stories and magical adventures, there was one that stood out amongst the others ‘Boo& Patch’.
Boo & Patch started out as a simple idea of a boy and his dog traveling through wormholes on different adventures, quickly becoming a nightly request. Gary needed to be on his toes and come up with new story after new story, and with pleasure, he did so. With much encouragement from his family and setting some personal time aside, he set to the task of bringing these characters to life in his debut book, Boo & Patch, a Tail of Hope. As he continues Gary is excited to expand the ‘Boo & Patch’ series and explore new stories. His journey into the literary world is just beginning, promising more enchanting adventures for readers, young and old.
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