Brothers Max and JB are mourning the news that their older brother is dying and unable to be rescued. He’s trapped on the famed Matterhorn in the Alps, far from their home in Pennsylvania.

On a walk to escape from the sadness, JB comes across a strange key sticking up out of the ground. Of course the two boys turn the golden piece. What happens next is not expected. All time stops. They soon find everyone frozen in place looking like wax figures instead of real live people.

And that’s just the first chapter! From there the crazy decision to go save their brother begins. On foot, bikes, a raft, and a a flying contraption like none other, Max and JB meet others who are unbound and able to move around. Some are helpful (like Dani) but most known as Mals are not. In fact they are more likely to kill the boys.

No more spoilers here as UNBOUND is full of page turning action and adventurous, scary scenes. Best for upper MG readers and anyone else who appreciates imaginative story telling.

PAGE COUNT: 319. BOOK BIRTHDAY: November 9, 2023

FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT UNBOUND by Ryan Johnson and Jared Branahl

1. Dani is the fiery and brave girl who joins the boys on their quest. She has the perfect personality and is a character you won’t forget.
2. Max is about five years older than JB. Their relationship is captured in great fashion here with frequent verbal sparring, but you’ll also see the bond they have for each other during their life threatening challenges. A special pair for sure.
3. The cover is a real eye catcher with the Alps rising in the background and the key in the foreground that started the story. It goes against the old adage of “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” The enticing plot is just as good.
4. Despite the serious nature of the story, there’s also humor with the witty comebacks Max, JB, and Dani have in most of their conversations.
5. The ending hints at a sequel which would be a win for readers of of this adventure.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Ryan Johnson has been writing stories since he was a child, starting with shameless fanfiction when he didn’t actually know what fanfiction or intellectual property rights were. He has since graduated to creating worlds and characters of his own, usually in collaboration with his co-writer and cousin, Jared Branahl.

Their first manuscript was a 300K-word epic fantasy that their 83-year-old grandmother dutifully read and annotated. That story, though fondly remembered, was not ready for prime time. Undeterred, they continued to dream up stories and peer pressure each other into pounding out pages. Producing seven children between the two of them didn’t do much for time management, but it did provide the inspiration for their debut MG/YA novel. Sitting beside his premature infant in the NICU, Ryan conjured up the premise of UNBOUND. In it, two boys stumble across a key that freezes time, giving them just the chance they need to save their brother from certain death.

Several years and stories later, Ryan and Jared have gotten older, but the thrill of discovering a world together has not.

Ryan lives in Missouri with his wife, four children, and three cats.

As a teenager, Jared Branahl thought he wanted to make movies. Four years of film school later, he realized that what he actually wanted to do was share and tell stories. So that’s what he’s been doing ever since: by day as a certified school librarian, by night as an author of YA fiction. He’s also a proud husband and the father of three voracious readers that keep him constantly on the lookout for the next great story to share.

Along with his co-writer and cousin, Ryan Johnson, Jared most enjoys reading and writing science fiction and fantasy. He’s always been drawn to the possibility of asking “What if?” One particular image played in his mind and sparked his imagination, an image of a strange key sticking up out of the ground. What would happen if you turned that key? What adventures would await? It turns out that Max and JB Devereux found that key, and UNBOUND is the story of their adventure.

UNBOUND is the first published novel by Jared Branahl and Ryan Johnson.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Be sure to check out all the other great features and reviews on today’s Marvelous Middle Grade Monday!