A parent recently asked me a question that I’d heard before: “My child is a visual thinker. They only read graphic novels as the images keep them focused. Any suggestions for a more prose based novel that might help broaden their tastes in books?”

This new series might be a great first step. By all outward appearances, Children of the Phoenix looks like it might be a graphic novel. Inside are magnificent, colorful illustrations, but they only serve as full page images of what you have just read in this text-based story.

The tale is fast paced and starts out in a very contemporary setting before moving into a fantasy full of larger than life characters. Here’s what to expect:

When Elias and Alice’s mother disappears in a nearby forest, the siblings quickly embark on a journey to find her. But nothing can prepare them for what lies ahead–not when they come face-to-face with a crew of aliens who whisk them away to a spaceship where they meet terrifying creatures, dangerous attackers, and a secret that changes all Alice and Elias have ever known about their family. Amid the mayhem, will Elias and Alice be able to traverse through the stars and
find their mother?

Multiple viewpoints reveal the story with Alice taking most of the chapters followed by Elias and Brock, the giant creature pictured on the cover. The 176 pages is another appealing aspect that will attract readers who won’t touch one of those typical 300-page MG novels.

CHILDREN OF THE PHOENIX: THE EYE OF THE STORM is out next month (December 12th). The second installment, THE IRON ROSE, is set for release next summer.

FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: CHILDREN OF THE PHOENIX

1. What makes the illustrations great are the facial expression vividly showing the emotions each character is experiencing.
2. Elias and Alice are appealing siblings. Elias is the younger of the two and is more fascinated by the technology and creatures. Alice is a strong-willed older sister who will do whatever it takes to reunite with Mom.
3. The memorable creatures from Brock the giant lizard to the likes of Farei, a giant bird who pilots the spaceship with her brain.
4. They don’t reunite with their mother in this first of the series, but her background story sets up an enticing future for this adventure.
5. The modern day dilemma of having your father arrested provided the tearful and angry emotions from Elias and Alice. Heartbreaking and an important part of the plot.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR

Karl Johnsson is a comic artist and illustrator. He has had a burning passion for SF/F art from a young age and has been drawing for as long as he can remember. He’s recently created a two-part epic fantasy comic, Vei (2019, 2020), which has received international renown and has been translated into several languages. He also illustrates books for children and young adults and storyboards for
film and TV.

Oskar Källner is an author devoted to all things science fiction. His passion was sparked when he was a kid and discovered Jules Verne and read absolutely everything by him in the city public library. He continued with Isaac Asi- mov, Robert A. Heinlein, Arthur C. Clarke and C.J. Cherryh to only mention a few. Oskar has won several short story competitions and has a body of work consisting of novels, short stories, and children’s books. He’s been published in several languages, most recently in Future Science Fiction.

*******************************

COMMENTS ARE WELCOME BELOW!

BE SURE TO VISIT OTHER BLOGGERS ON TODAY’S MARVELOUS MIDDLE GRADE MONDAY