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Max and the Gatekeeper #1
Max and the Gatekeeper
A war has been waging for centuries; a magical and technological battle between good and evil. This conflict will affect life everywhere, but not everyone is aware it exists. When twelve-year old Max Rigdon is sent to stay with his grandfather for the summer, he unwillingly enters the fight. The day Max steps off the bus he is marked with an evil curse and immediately becomes the target of evil men and creatures with designs on ruling the universe. Not only does this curse cause Max physical pain but it allows his enemies to track and find him. He soon learns that the reason for this unwanted attention is because his grandfather is the keeper of a gateway; a powerful machine that makes travel to hundreds of strange unknown worlds possible. The enemy will do anything to gain possession of this power in their quest to control all worlds. With the help of his friend Cindy and others, Max must quickly learn the necessary skills to survive if he is to avoid the deadly trap that has been planned for him and his grandfather. A trap that has been decades in the making with Max as the missing piece. If successful it will change life as we know it.
276 pages, Paperback
First published June 4, 2007
113 people are currently reading
3492 people want to read
About the author
James Todd Cochrane
18 books98 followersJames Todd Cochrane was born in Fremont, California. He received his BA from Utah State University, where he majored in Business Information Systems with a minor in German.
A writer since elementary school, he published his first novel, Max and the Gatekeeper, in 2007. The sequels, The Hourglass of Souls and The Descendant and the Demon's Fork, followed
He now lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he writes part-time while working as a computer programmer.
His first novel, Max and the Gatekeeper, is on the Accelerated Readers List and was a 2010-2011 Alaska Battle Book.
He recently published his first novella, Centalpha 6 Part I. This will be a running YA Sci/Fi series. Part II is set for release November 2012.
A writer since elementary school, he published his first novel, Max and the Gatekeeper, in 2007. The sequels, The Hourglass of Souls and The Descendant and the Demon's Fork, followed
He now lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he writes part-time while working as a computer programmer.
His first novel, Max and the Gatekeeper, is on the Accelerated Readers List and was a 2010-2011 Alaska Battle Book.
He recently published his first novella, Centalpha 6 Part I. This will be a running YA Sci/Fi series. Part II is set for release November 2012.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
August 11, 2020
Max Rigdon is sent to his grandfather for the summer and unknowingly enters a centuries old fight between good and evil, where humans are rally strange creatures, and there is a gateway into another world, something like the wardrobe in The Chronicles of Narnia.
Confronting the neighbourhood bullies turns out to be entering something deeper and darker than at first glance (something like Harry Potter and his friends battles with Draco Malfoy and his Slytherins), and together with his friend Cindy, and under the tutelage of his wise grandfather who explains to him the state of strange events and the deep dark battle between good and evil behind them (much like Gandalf's talk to Frodo in his home in Hobbiton at the beginning of the Lord of the Rings).
Together with his friend Cindy and aided by Yelka the Elf they must confront the dark forces which include evil hooded figures called Nightshades (something like the Ring wraiths in Lord of the Rings).
They re-enter the strange world to rescue Cindy and are befriended by a woolly black elephant like creature.
An entertaining little read between two worlds, it also reminds me somewhat of Never ending Story and Labyrinth, as well as The Chronicles of Narnia, where teenage kids are sucked up into strange battles where they play a leading role.
Not an all time classic but young readers will enjoy this. It is entertaining and nicely written.
Confronting the neighbourhood bullies turns out to be entering something deeper and darker than at first glance (something like Harry Potter and his friends battles with Draco Malfoy and his Slytherins), and together with his friend Cindy, and under the tutelage of his wise grandfather who explains to him the state of strange events and the deep dark battle between good and evil behind them (much like Gandalf's talk to Frodo in his home in Hobbiton at the beginning of the Lord of the Rings).
Together with his friend Cindy and aided by Yelka the Elf they must confront the dark forces which include evil hooded figures called Nightshades (something like the Ring wraiths in Lord of the Rings).
They re-enter the strange world to rescue Cindy and are befriended by a woolly black elephant like creature.
An entertaining little read between two worlds, it also reminds me somewhat of Never ending Story and Labyrinth, as well as The Chronicles of Narnia, where teenage kids are sucked up into strange battles where they play a leading role.
Not an all time classic but young readers will enjoy this. It is entertaining and nicely written.
January 24, 2009
For centuries, Great Britain has been spitting out a parade of popular children's fantasy books as if they were going out of fashion: Alice in Wonderland, The Hobbit, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Chronicles of Prydain, His Dark Materials, Harry Potter, The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Derkholm series, Artemis Fowl, the list goes on and on. This is to say nothing of the many British folktales and legends that gave birth to the fantasy genre. Unfortunately, even with gems like The Wizard of Oz or newer creations such as Fablehaven or The Spyderwick Chronicles under our belt, Americans have yet to challenge the Brits for sheer creativity or longevity in children's literature. This is very surprising considering the vast wealth of talented American writers who have made their mark in other genres of fiction. Perhaps, now, that we have entered a new millennium, the pendulum is beginning to swing.
Enter James Todd Cochrane's Max and the Gatekeeper, an unheralded new star among children's fantasy literature that is sure to draw its fair share of readers. Max and the Gatekeeper is the latest among a slew of children's fantasy books featuring a boy-wizard theme. But unlike its predecessor Harry Potter, Max and the Gatekeeper takes us on a thrill ride that explores technological, as well as mystical concepts. It is as much a literary successor to Star Wars as Harry Potter.
12 year old Max Rigdon is sent away by his mother to spend the summer with his grandfather. But no sooner than he arrives, he discovers there is a plot to kill him and his grandfather by a mysterious order of malevolent wizards and a vast assortment of other nefarious foes who are bent on controlling the universe. Max quickly learns that the enemy wants to kill him and his grandfather so that they can take control of a one-of-a-kind machine that allows users to travel to different worlds.
Max meets several new friends who want to help to keep him safe, including his Tomboyish, but cute neighbor Cindy. But Max must learn magic and an array of other impressive skills in order to survive the deadly threats against his life. His grandfather presents to him a dangerous choice to save a host of worlds, not the least of which is his own. But ultimately, Max must decide if he is willing to take on such a dangerous task knowing that billions of worlds and countless races are depending on him to protect them from the enemy's plot to dominate them.
I found Max and the Gatekeeper to be an amazing book. At first, I feared it was just going to be another wanna be Harry Potter clone. But this book turned out to be so much more. This book engages its readers from the very beginning and takes them on a wild adventure throughout many vastly different and exotic worlds. Danger is always just a breath away and Max is a character we grow to love and care about. There is never a dull moment in this book and, for me, reading the ending was better than eating chocolate.
Kudos to Mr. Cochrane for creating such an intelligently written and emotionally stirring book. Of the many children's fantasy books I've read this year, I am looking forward most to reading the sequel to Max and the Gatekeeper. Anyone who loves a great fantasy thriller should check this book out too.
Enter James Todd Cochrane's Max and the Gatekeeper, an unheralded new star among children's fantasy literature that is sure to draw its fair share of readers. Max and the Gatekeeper is the latest among a slew of children's fantasy books featuring a boy-wizard theme. But unlike its predecessor Harry Potter, Max and the Gatekeeper takes us on a thrill ride that explores technological, as well as mystical concepts. It is as much a literary successor to Star Wars as Harry Potter.
12 year old Max Rigdon is sent away by his mother to spend the summer with his grandfather. But no sooner than he arrives, he discovers there is a plot to kill him and his grandfather by a mysterious order of malevolent wizards and a vast assortment of other nefarious foes who are bent on controlling the universe. Max quickly learns that the enemy wants to kill him and his grandfather so that they can take control of a one-of-a-kind machine that allows users to travel to different worlds.
Max meets several new friends who want to help to keep him safe, including his Tomboyish, but cute neighbor Cindy. But Max must learn magic and an array of other impressive skills in order to survive the deadly threats against his life. His grandfather presents to him a dangerous choice to save a host of worlds, not the least of which is his own. But ultimately, Max must decide if he is willing to take on such a dangerous task knowing that billions of worlds and countless races are depending on him to protect them from the enemy's plot to dominate them.
I found Max and the Gatekeeper to be an amazing book. At first, I feared it was just going to be another wanna be Harry Potter clone. But this book turned out to be so much more. This book engages its readers from the very beginning and takes them on a wild adventure throughout many vastly different and exotic worlds. Danger is always just a breath away and Max is a character we grow to love and care about. There is never a dull moment in this book and, for me, reading the ending was better than eating chocolate.
Kudos to Mr. Cochrane for creating such an intelligently written and emotionally stirring book. Of the many children's fantasy books I've read this year, I am looking forward most to reading the sequel to Max and the Gatekeeper. Anyone who loves a great fantasy thriller should check this book out too.
August 14, 2014
In my review of Max and the Gatekeeper I have taken into account that this book is meant for the 10 to 12 year old age group.
The story started well with all the ingredients for a great childrens fantasy.A sulky 12 year old, old strange grandfather,forbidden room and spooky people.
The story was very simply written with lots of short sentences. More suitable for the 10 and under age group. Too much detail and explanation about every event detracted from the suspense.
The authors attempt to make Max seem like any ordinary 12 year old boy made him come across as hesitant and unsure and a little annoying. Max's character didn't develop during the story. He was still very unsure of himself right up until the end. Cindy is a much more convincing protagonist.
Loved the twist and really didn't see it coming.
I hope in the next book Max really steps up and shows those baddies what he's made of.
Like the new version of the cover.
I would like to thank Goodreads and James Todd Cochrane for my copy of Max and the Gatekeeper in exchange for an honest review
The story started well with all the ingredients for a great childrens fantasy.A sulky 12 year old, old strange grandfather,forbidden room and spooky people.
The story was very simply written with lots of short sentences. More suitable for the 10 and under age group. Too much detail and explanation about every event detracted from the suspense.
The authors attempt to make Max seem like any ordinary 12 year old boy made him come across as hesitant and unsure and a little annoying. Max's character didn't develop during the story. He was still very unsure of himself right up until the end. Cindy is a much more convincing protagonist.
Loved the twist and really didn't see it coming.
I hope in the next book Max really steps up and shows those baddies what he's made of.
Like the new version of the cover.
I would like to thank Goodreads and James Todd Cochrane for my copy of Max and the Gatekeeper in exchange for an honest review
October 12, 2022
Great book!
This was a fun adventure! I will definitely continue with the next book in this series someday! Solid 4 star story!
This was a fun adventure! I will definitely continue with the next book in this series someday! Solid 4 star story!
September 25, 2022
The story started off ... uh ... not so good. However, after the 25% mark it slowly pulled me in and ended up being a fun read. I'll read the next in the series but I'm not in a hurry to do so.
June 7, 2015
I was excited about receiving this book and wanted to start reading it as soon as possible because, even though I am in my mid twenties, I honestly enjoy YA books, or books like this in general. Sadly, it had to be packed up right away from an unexpected (but pleasant!) move.
Normally I start with positives first followed by negatives, but today I feel like just mixing it all in. Page 2 bothered me deeply with the word... "mother'd".. I don't even think that is a really word. Google search was even confused by it. If I am mistaken, then my apologies. Next, Max is 12 years old but the boy used on the cover looks at least 14. I even got a second opinion on that one. That threw me off. That aside the front cover and font selection was very delightful and looked really awesome.
Some may consider me a harsh critic sometimes, but I feel honesty is very important and key to improving a good writer's works. With that being said, I'll continue on with the review. There were some things that seemed silly in this story, like Max going to Yelka's world, even though they all knew of his mark and the effect. In the end they all come to Max's world to train him so it doesn't make sense as to why they went through all of that other trouble in the first place. I also think at the very beginning Max's Grandpa should have been a little more protective and leery knowing that the enemy had something up their sleeve with the way they were acting the first night. Also, for the most part, there were no reasons for the children to be taken to the other worlds when it seemed like in the end the adults took care of the tasks at hand while having to babysit. I don't think this was all exactly well planned/thought out during writing. There was also something off early on with the writing and I still can't put my finger on it.
Oh my goodness, the unexpected twist in the end! I still don't know if I loved it or hated it (I'll admit, til that point he was my favorite character... not gonna give spoilers!). I love surprises, and that was DEFINITELY a surprise, so I think over all I liked it. The overall story was very unique and different from other books in its many special ways. It was truly a VERY enjoyable read and would fit very well for middle school children, or *cough* adults my age who enjoy these types of books. That's why I will have to give this book 5 stars, because as I read, I saw lots of improvement, and I am excited to see that this story continues with more books and can't wait to read them!
Normally I start with positives first followed by negatives, but today I feel like just mixing it all in. Page 2 bothered me deeply with the word... "mother'd".. I don't even think that is a really word. Google search was even confused by it. If I am mistaken, then my apologies. Next, Max is 12 years old but the boy used on the cover looks at least 14. I even got a second opinion on that one. That threw me off. That aside the front cover and font selection was very delightful and looked really awesome.
Some may consider me a harsh critic sometimes, but I feel honesty is very important and key to improving a good writer's works. With that being said, I'll continue on with the review. There were some things that seemed silly in this story, like Max going to Yelka's world, even though they all knew of his mark and the effect. In the end they all come to Max's world to train him so it doesn't make sense as to why they went through all of that other trouble in the first place. I also think at the very beginning Max's Grandpa should have been a little more protective and leery knowing that the enemy had something up their sleeve with the way they were acting the first night. Also, for the most part, there were no reasons for the children to be taken to the other worlds when it seemed like in the end the adults took care of the tasks at hand while having to babysit. I don't think this was all exactly well planned/thought out during writing. There was also something off early on with the writing and I still can't put my finger on it.
Oh my goodness, the unexpected twist in the end! I still don't know if I loved it or hated it (I'll admit, til that point he was my favorite character... not gonna give spoilers!). I love surprises, and that was DEFINITELY a surprise, so I think over all I liked it. The overall story was very unique and different from other books in its many special ways. It was truly a VERY enjoyable read and would fit very well for middle school children, or *cough* adults my age who enjoy these types of books. That's why I will have to give this book 5 stars, because as I read, I saw lots of improvement, and I am excited to see that this story continues with more books and can't wait to read them!
May 2, 2013
It took me perhaps three years to finally get around to reading this after it was recommended to me by a friend, but I am very glad I finally did. Because of the cover, I was concerned that this book would contain too much baseball for my tastes as I’m neither a young boy nor a sports fan. I was pleasantly surprised to encounter a clean, well-written, logical fantasy/science fiction blend that endeared me to the characters and constantly propelled me to read on. I was especially impressed by how reasonable and down to Earth the children’s responses to their situations were. One way in which science fiction and fantasy often falls short for me (though I am a fan of both) is in the unrealistic portrayal of young protagonists’ emotions to make them seem braver and less emotionally vulnerable than I imagine real children would be. This was not the case here. For example, a young girl trapped in an alternate world is extremely distressed over how her parents might respond to her disappearance. The characters throughout this story were very realistically portrayed and I loved that. I was endeared to the protagonist from the very first chapter and very soon after to his best friend and grandfather.
As for the negatives, I must admit I would have enjoyed slightly shorter chapters. I tend to like ‘quick-read’ length chapters and these were just a touch longer than that (though not by much). Also, I had a hard time grasping the scale of the other worlds, which is a detail I imagine would only bother a select few neurotic readers like myself. I just really wanted to know if these other worlds involved multiple planets and galaxies or if each world was more planet-sized or perhaps even smaller.
However, overall, real characters in combination with danger, suspense and intrigue made this a very satisfying read for this lover of science fiction and fantasy. I would highly recommend this book to anyone, young or old, that enjoys these elements.
As for the negatives, I must admit I would have enjoyed slightly shorter chapters. I tend to like ‘quick-read’ length chapters and these were just a touch longer than that (though not by much). Also, I had a hard time grasping the scale of the other worlds, which is a detail I imagine would only bother a select few neurotic readers like myself. I just really wanted to know if these other worlds involved multiple planets and galaxies or if each world was more planet-sized or perhaps even smaller.
However, overall, real characters in combination with danger, suspense and intrigue made this a very satisfying read for this lover of science fiction and fantasy. I would highly recommend this book to anyone, young or old, that enjoys these elements.
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June 30, 2015I am the author of Max and the Gatekeeper and will not rate or review my own work. I decided to use this space to let readers know about promotions regarding my work.
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May 17, 2019
Max and the Gatekeeper by James Todd Cochrane
Max and the Gatekeeper starts out well with some bit of excitement to get the reader interested and then a slower paced mystery that stretches out only for as long as Max's Grandfather sees fit to torture him.
Max Rigdon is just an ordinary kid who is not quite so ordinary (by virtue of his connection to his grandfather) yet is quite ordinary in the world that he lives because of how things in the story work. The premise is that we have high potential for magic in our world but less inclination and thus less ability to tap into it.
Grandpa was once involved in a science program that examined certain potential and ended up opening a gateway into many dimensions where magic existed and in a way the gateway was emulating what some of the other worlds do with magic. Once the door was open Grandpa and some others were able to tap into the magic of the other worlds and learn how to use it on ours. But there is a sort of war going on and Max's Grandpa is guarding our world from the evil while helping others in other worlds to fight the evil and try to keep the gateway technology out of the hands of others. In the war Max's father was a casualty and that leaves Max as the sole heir to the task his grandfather has undertaken.
What Max doesn't realize is that he has been sent to his grandfather this year to learn all that they can teach him about the gateway and the magic. And the whole town where his grandfather lives is controlled by the evil that is trying to gain access to the Gateway.
I've already probably gone too far so I'll stop there.
There are a number of things I really liked about this novel. First off it obviously is a Young Adult or Teen novel. Max is around twelve and Max's partner in magic schooling Cindy is also of that age. I really enjoyed that Cindy was in no way ever portrayed as being helpless and in need of protecting. She's pretty level headed most of the time and even her mistakes seem to make sense and the consequences only help demonstrate her ability to fend for herself. Max too is an independent spirit and he learns quickly.
These stories-yes there are more- have the potential to be like the Harry Potter franchise. But as some others have noted the reader might get the feeling of things being rushed. The big evil is addressed right away and that helps to rush things along. I at one point was not sure there would be enough left for more story, but there really is plenty of wiggle room.
The parallel worlds or universes give this an element similar to Sliders of TV fame and open the stories for lots of possibilities. The magic rules are interesting and seemed consistent and the pace was pretty well handled to keep me interested.
I'm sure if James Todd Cochrane had decided to spend just a bit more time on developing both the good and the evil characters that this book could have been much longer. I'm not sure how much more improved it would be, but definitely longer and that might limit the age group. So I think in the long run the decision to look a bit rushed may be good for the age group this seems to target.
And the fact that there are more gives room for character development. We'll definitely have to see.
This is a good book for the Younger reader with mostly tame content to give it a wide distribution of readers. I'm well beyond that target age and really loved it.I think people interested in Fantasy and some SFF fans who aren't picky about needing adult scenes and solid science will really enjoy it.
It's a great and fun read.
I picked this up in June and notice that it was updated in November. I'm not sure what all needed fixing but I must have been mostly distracted by the story and didn't notice any problems.
J.L. Dobias
Max and the Gatekeeper starts out well with some bit of excitement to get the reader interested and then a slower paced mystery that stretches out only for as long as Max's Grandfather sees fit to torture him.
Max Rigdon is just an ordinary kid who is not quite so ordinary (by virtue of his connection to his grandfather) yet is quite ordinary in the world that he lives because of how things in the story work. The premise is that we have high potential for magic in our world but less inclination and thus less ability to tap into it.
Grandpa was once involved in a science program that examined certain potential and ended up opening a gateway into many dimensions where magic existed and in a way the gateway was emulating what some of the other worlds do with magic. Once the door was open Grandpa and some others were able to tap into the magic of the other worlds and learn how to use it on ours. But there is a sort of war going on and Max's Grandpa is guarding our world from the evil while helping others in other worlds to fight the evil and try to keep the gateway technology out of the hands of others. In the war Max's father was a casualty and that leaves Max as the sole heir to the task his grandfather has undertaken.
What Max doesn't realize is that he has been sent to his grandfather this year to learn all that they can teach him about the gateway and the magic. And the whole town where his grandfather lives is controlled by the evil that is trying to gain access to the Gateway.
I've already probably gone too far so I'll stop there.
There are a number of things I really liked about this novel. First off it obviously is a Young Adult or Teen novel. Max is around twelve and Max's partner in magic schooling Cindy is also of that age. I really enjoyed that Cindy was in no way ever portrayed as being helpless and in need of protecting. She's pretty level headed most of the time and even her mistakes seem to make sense and the consequences only help demonstrate her ability to fend for herself. Max too is an independent spirit and he learns quickly.
These stories-yes there are more- have the potential to be like the Harry Potter franchise. But as some others have noted the reader might get the feeling of things being rushed. The big evil is addressed right away and that helps to rush things along. I at one point was not sure there would be enough left for more story, but there really is plenty of wiggle room.
The parallel worlds or universes give this an element similar to Sliders of TV fame and open the stories for lots of possibilities. The magic rules are interesting and seemed consistent and the pace was pretty well handled to keep me interested.
I'm sure if James Todd Cochrane had decided to spend just a bit more time on developing both the good and the evil characters that this book could have been much longer. I'm not sure how much more improved it would be, but definitely longer and that might limit the age group. So I think in the long run the decision to look a bit rushed may be good for the age group this seems to target.
And the fact that there are more gives room for character development. We'll definitely have to see.
This is a good book for the Younger reader with mostly tame content to give it a wide distribution of readers. I'm well beyond that target age and really loved it.I think people interested in Fantasy and some SFF fans who aren't picky about needing adult scenes and solid science will really enjoy it.
It's a great and fun read.
I picked this up in June and notice that it was updated in November. I'm not sure what all needed fixing but I must have been mostly distracted by the story and didn't notice any problems.
J.L. Dobias
January 21, 2023
Adventurous tale of a young boy being trained to use magic.
4 solid stars
Twelve year old Max arrives at his Grandpa Joe's decrepit home for the summer, only to become embroiled in a deadly game of magical good versus evil.
Without divulging much more of plot in this action-packed story, I will opine that the author uses vivid imagery, characters both wonderful and despicable and multiple plotlines to create a wonderful mid-grade tale. One cannot help but side with the protagonists and develop more than a little dislike of the antagonists.
I took exception with two items with this book. The first being a few editing errors (around 5), that led to confusion during critical junctures of the story. The second involved some descriptive scenes I felt were a little too violent and gory for a mid-grade book. I understand I am from the baby boomer generation, so perhaps what I consider "too violent and gory" may seem ordinary to today's mid-grade readers. But as I stated previously, this is just an "mature adult's" opinion.
I also felt the situations Cindy, Max and Grandpa Joe's young neighbor, were placed into unfairly portrayed her as the bullied and tortured victim much too often. Max endured far less abuse than did Cindy.
Still, an enthralling yarn that entertained and kept me interested throughout the entire book. Be prepared for some very unusual magical spell names and visits to other worlds! Enjoy your trip through this story's "portal!"
4 solid stars
Twelve year old Max arrives at his Grandpa Joe's decrepit home for the summer, only to become embroiled in a deadly game of magical good versus evil.
Without divulging much more of plot in this action-packed story, I will opine that the author uses vivid imagery, characters both wonderful and despicable and multiple plotlines to create a wonderful mid-grade tale. One cannot help but side with the protagonists and develop more than a little dislike of the antagonists.
I took exception with two items with this book. The first being a few editing errors (around 5), that led to confusion during critical junctures of the story. The second involved some descriptive scenes I felt were a little too violent and gory for a mid-grade book. I understand I am from the baby boomer generation, so perhaps what I consider "too violent and gory" may seem ordinary to today's mid-grade readers. But as I stated previously, this is just an "mature adult's" opinion.
I also felt the situations Cindy, Max and Grandpa Joe's young neighbor, were placed into unfairly portrayed her as the bullied and tortured victim much too often. Max endured far less abuse than did Cindy.
Still, an enthralling yarn that entertained and kept me interested throughout the entire book. Be prepared for some very unusual magical spell names and visits to other worlds! Enjoy your trip through this story's "portal!"
March 29, 2019
I bought this book when I was trying to convince my daughter to read a few e-books and audible books. I am not going to say very much about it and the theory that if you don’t have anything nice to say you shouldn’t say anything at all. It’s OK I suppose. Sometimes books for young people have young characters who seem a little too skilled or too brave or too strong. In this book 12-year-old Max is being schooled by his grandfather to take over his job of saving and protecting the world. Two pre-teens travel to Otherworld and meet a variety of strange beings and to face death numerous times. Then he goes home realizing he will never be able to do justice to his summer vacation when he goes back to school And regular life.
September 16, 2017
Thank you Goodreads and Todd Cochrane for giving me this book. I absolutely loved it! Max is such a believable character, along with his grandpa and new friend Cindy.
Max believes he is going to have a boring summer with his grandfather that he barely knew, he was in for what heck of a surprise!!
The story line was great, the setting were well introduced not overly done that you get bored and skip it.
Personally my favourite character was Ell, he was amazingly introduced and his story just grew.
The twist near the end totally surprised me, I was just starting to really like that character and bam turn around!
I will have to get the sequels!
Max believes he is going to have a boring summer with his grandfather that he barely knew, he was in for what heck of a surprise!!
The story line was great, the setting were well introduced not overly done that you get bored and skip it.
Personally my favourite character was Ell, he was amazingly introduced and his story just grew.
The twist near the end totally surprised me, I was just starting to really like that character and bam turn around!
I will have to get the sequels!
February 22, 2021
I received this book for free from Goodreads Giveaways. An engaging story about a young boy sent for the summer to live with his grandfather. He discovers his grandfather is a lot cooler than he thought. Dark magic is threatening the town his grandfather lives in and the boy helps his grandfather fight the threat.
July 10, 2017
I won this here on goodreads. Wow - loved this book! Very unexpected! I certainly hope there will be more from James Todd Cochrane. It starts out as what appears to be a boring summer for a young boy, and ends up being the experience of a lifetime. Fantasy, intrigue, mystery - amazing.
October 24, 2019
Interesting
It was good. It kept me interested. This was my first book on the kindle app as a kid. Great
It was good. It kept me interested. This was my first book on the kindle app as a kid. Great
Read
July 1, 2020Great book for people with imagination
Good book loved it and gonna read the others five stars from me cause I just like the way everything happened and author is very descriptive
Good book loved it and gonna read the others five stars from me cause I just like the way everything happened and author is very descriptive
December 26, 2021
Non stop Action
This book has non-stop action right grim the word go. I enjoyed it immensely. Looking forward to the next in series.
This book has non-stop action right grim the word go. I enjoyed it immensely. Looking forward to the next in series.
September 3, 2023
Story is great, but drags because there is too much telling and not enough showing.
For my clean readers: no language. No romance. Includes violence, but nothing graphic.
For my clean readers: no language. No romance. Includes violence, but nothing graphic.
October 2, 2016
This book has virtually anything that a twelve year old – Max's age and presumably the target readership - might find fascinating. There's magic; a time come dimension machine capable of taking those in the know to an infinite number of new and strange worlds, aliens that are bad news and aliens that you would be happy to meet; shape-changers; betrayal; evil dressed up in the guise of authority; school bullies, who are really stupid and not that courageous; a fiesty girl – who has to appear in such novels nowadays but here seems realistic enough to be more than a token; the generation gap which only exists due to the failure of the young boy to appreciate what previous generations have already learnt; and an ending that allows for a sequel. And I'm sure I've missed out some things.
It's a long time since I was 12 and, I must admit, I'm not really sure what young people of that age are really into. But there's enough here to attract the interest of most with a modicum of imagination. All young people have a dream of being a hero/heroine in extreme circumstances and here both the young protagonists have their opportunity to confront and overcome adversity.
Obviously the whole story line is ridiculous but that's what these novels are for, to take the reader into a fantasy world where, literally, anything can happen.
The novel had pace and the two young people go through a process where they are very different at the end of the summer holiday than they were at the beginning.
If I have one quibble it's that Cindy's parents were portrayed as a great deal more understanding than I think they would be in reality – even in a story where reality is in short supply.
I'll try and find a young person who is the target audience and see if I've got it right.
It's a long time since I was 12 and, I must admit, I'm not really sure what young people of that age are really into. But there's enough here to attract the interest of most with a modicum of imagination. All young people have a dream of being a hero/heroine in extreme circumstances and here both the young protagonists have their opportunity to confront and overcome adversity.
Obviously the whole story line is ridiculous but that's what these novels are for, to take the reader into a fantasy world where, literally, anything can happen.
The novel had pace and the two young people go through a process where they are very different at the end of the summer holiday than they were at the beginning.
If I have one quibble it's that Cindy's parents were portrayed as a great deal more understanding than I think they would be in reality – even in a story where reality is in short supply.
I'll try and find a young person who is the target audience and see if I've got it right.
October 5, 2013
*I received a free copy of this book from the author through Shut up and Read in exchange for an honest review*
Max doesn't want to spend the summer with Grandpa Joe, especially when there are are creepy chanting people and bullies with magic powers. But he needs to learn his destiny, safeguarding a gateway to other worlds, and stopping evil enemies from taking control of it. With Grandpa's friends and Cindy, his only friend, Max is mixed up in magic, danger and adventure.
This was a really enjoyable, easy to read adventure for all ages. There are evil people from several galaxies who want to kill the rest of Max's family to gain control of the gateway, and only a few people are standing against them. Max and Cindy have to learn magic to help keep themselves alive as they help to stop their enemies. There are several trips to other worlds in a Stargate style plot, meeting new races and animals. There are magical battles and life or death dramas. It keeps moving along at a good pace, with the author putting the characters into lots of dangerous situations to entertain the readers.
I liked the characters in the book. Grandpa Joe is a very cool guy and I liked the fact that our hero was a pensioner! It makes a nice change to have a bit of diversity. Max and Cindy are good kids and I liked their growing relationship which includes that awkward is she just my friend or does she LIKE me like that situation. It's a fun innocent puppy love subplot which is cute because we can all remember that first childhood crush! I liked the different people that Max meets on his travels and I really liked Ell! The bad guys were entertaining pantomime villans who you wanted to yell 'boo, hiss!' at every time they appeared, especially Alan!
There was a nice twist towards the end which I did guess a bit earlier. I think it might have been a subtle hint left by the author in a bit of dialogue, as I spotted this and thought, 'hmmm!'. But guessing the twist did not spoil the reveal at all, it just made me go 'Ha I was RIGHT!' which is quite satisfying!
This is a book that will appeal to anyone who enjoys fantasy, magical adventures, and a good fast moving plot. There is one bit of dialogue where a pile of swear words is implied but not written, but other than that it is suitable for all ages. I'd certainly like to read the rest of this series.
Max doesn't want to spend the summer with Grandpa Joe, especially when there are are creepy chanting people and bullies with magic powers. But he needs to learn his destiny, safeguarding a gateway to other worlds, and stopping evil enemies from taking control of it. With Grandpa's friends and Cindy, his only friend, Max is mixed up in magic, danger and adventure.
This was a really enjoyable, easy to read adventure for all ages. There are evil people from several galaxies who want to kill the rest of Max's family to gain control of the gateway, and only a few people are standing against them. Max and Cindy have to learn magic to help keep themselves alive as they help to stop their enemies. There are several trips to other worlds in a Stargate style plot, meeting new races and animals. There are magical battles and life or death dramas. It keeps moving along at a good pace, with the author putting the characters into lots of dangerous situations to entertain the readers.
I liked the characters in the book. Grandpa Joe is a very cool guy and I liked the fact that our hero was a pensioner! It makes a nice change to have a bit of diversity. Max and Cindy are good kids and I liked their growing relationship which includes that awkward is she just my friend or does she LIKE me like that situation. It's a fun innocent puppy love subplot which is cute because we can all remember that first childhood crush! I liked the different people that Max meets on his travels and I really liked Ell! The bad guys were entertaining pantomime villans who you wanted to yell 'boo, hiss!' at every time they appeared, especially Alan!
There was a nice twist towards the end which I did guess a bit earlier. I think it might have been a subtle hint left by the author in a bit of dialogue, as I spotted this and thought, 'hmmm!'. But guessing the twist did not spoil the reveal at all, it just made me go 'Ha I was RIGHT!' which is quite satisfying!
This is a book that will appeal to anyone who enjoys fantasy, magical adventures, and a good fast moving plot. There is one bit of dialogue where a pile of swear words is implied but not written, but other than that it is suitable for all ages. I'd certainly like to read the rest of this series.
May 29, 2017
After the past few middle school targeted books I've read, I was worried that Max and the Gatekeeper would be the same recycled plot and characters. It was a nice surprise to find, instead, a really well-done book. I mean, sure, the plot is nothing original. But there was enough care put into building the worlds and the characters in this story that I can overlook the plot.
The creature design was what impressed me the most. This book didn't go for the easy creatures (although one of the character is, technically, an elf) - time was actually spent making unique animals and aliens, and building their worlds. It made me think a lot of the Pendragon series, if Pendragon was written for a younger audience and had less humanoids occupying the various worlds.
The antagonists were pretty stereotypical. Their end goal is domination of all the worlds. However, the villains get credit for supplying an explanation for the bullies that show up early on in the book. Thank you for that. Bullies are fine in a story, so long as they have actual motivation behind their actions. And I'm pretty sure "our parents work for a demon master, and we've got to kill your family to get what we want" is a good excuse for a bit of name-calling and fisticuffs.
Max was very well developed over the course of the book, and was one of the more realistic middle school protagonists I've seen in a while. He also didn't overreact to situations, which a lot of these stories tend to do. He starts off unsure of himself, and scared of having to eventually save the world. He hates that this fate is basically being pushed on him. It's a pretty normal reaction for a kid to have under those circumstances, and he actually handled it very well, considering. As he gets trained, and as he sees what's at stake, he finds out that he's stronger than he gives himself credit for, and he's willing to lay down his life to save his friends and their worlds. That, or the villains are all wusses, which is entirely possible as their plans all get ruined by two twelve-year-old children.
Cindy was a nice sidekick. She wasn't a damsel in distress, but she also wasn't a complete tomboy, to the point where you wonder why she wasn't just written as a male character.
The creature design was what impressed me the most. This book didn't go for the easy creatures (although one of the character is, technically, an elf) - time was actually spent making unique animals and aliens, and building their worlds. It made me think a lot of the Pendragon series, if Pendragon was written for a younger audience and had less humanoids occupying the various worlds.
The antagonists were pretty stereotypical. Their end goal is domination of all the worlds. However, the villains get credit for supplying an explanation for the bullies that show up early on in the book. Thank you for that. Bullies are fine in a story, so long as they have actual motivation behind their actions. And I'm pretty sure "our parents work for a demon master, and we've got to kill your family to get what we want" is a good excuse for a bit of name-calling and fisticuffs.
Max was very well developed over the course of the book, and was one of the more realistic middle school protagonists I've seen in a while. He also didn't overreact to situations, which a lot of these stories tend to do. He starts off unsure of himself, and scared of having to eventually save the world. He hates that this fate is basically being pushed on him. It's a pretty normal reaction for a kid to have under those circumstances, and he actually handled it very well, considering. As he gets trained, and as he sees what's at stake, he finds out that he's stronger than he gives himself credit for, and he's willing to lay down his life to save his friends and their worlds. That, or the villains are all wusses, which is entirely possible as their plans all get ruined by two twelve-year-old children.
Cindy was a nice sidekick. She wasn't a damsel in distress, but she also wasn't a complete tomboy, to the point where you wonder why she wasn't just written as a male character.
August 1, 2014
I received this book from the author for an honest review.
I will not repeat what many others have said regarding content, instead I will speak to the global aspects of what I consider makes this an excellent read for young and old alike.
The book is a great story for middle grades students. It kept my interest throughout. I loved the descriptions and the characters. The nightshades that hiss when they speak were very reminiscent of the Harry Potter movies and it made them seem more realistic to me, but that is where the similarity stops. This is not another Harry Potter novel.
The good versus the bad never gets old and especially when it is this well written. The adventures include traveling to different worlds and meeting people who teach you magic, like being able move things and make yourself invisible. The characters and their worlds are described in ways that allowed me to picture them clearly and yet were not over described in such a way as to bore me details. I like this fact, as I want a story to park my imagination, not draw me the entire picture.
Both the main characters are charming and realistic. The fact that this book has two strong lead characters, one male and one female, makes it a story that will appeal to both boys and girls and pre-teens and teens alike will enjoy the story. I liked that Max was described as reluctant to visit his grandfather, which is very true of many boys in the middle grades. They want to be out doing, not spending time with “old folks.” Cindy is a girl who does not really fit into the town and does not really know why. She makes a great Watson to Max’s Sherlock. The compliment each other very well.
I found it hard to believe that this was Mr. Cochrane’s debut novel. He did an excellent job out the gate and carried it through to the end. It is an excellent fantasy novel for young and old.
The only reason I did not give it 5 stars is that I did not like it quiet as much as I did some others I have read and I cannot figure out how to do 4.5 stars.
I will not repeat what many others have said regarding content, instead I will speak to the global aspects of what I consider makes this an excellent read for young and old alike.
The book is a great story for middle grades students. It kept my interest throughout. I loved the descriptions and the characters. The nightshades that hiss when they speak were very reminiscent of the Harry Potter movies and it made them seem more realistic to me, but that is where the similarity stops. This is not another Harry Potter novel.
The good versus the bad never gets old and especially when it is this well written. The adventures include traveling to different worlds and meeting people who teach you magic, like being able move things and make yourself invisible. The characters and their worlds are described in ways that allowed me to picture them clearly and yet were not over described in such a way as to bore me details. I like this fact, as I want a story to park my imagination, not draw me the entire picture.
Both the main characters are charming and realistic. The fact that this book has two strong lead characters, one male and one female, makes it a story that will appeal to both boys and girls and pre-teens and teens alike will enjoy the story. I liked that Max was described as reluctant to visit his grandfather, which is very true of many boys in the middle grades. They want to be out doing, not spending time with “old folks.” Cindy is a girl who does not really fit into the town and does not really know why. She makes a great Watson to Max’s Sherlock. The compliment each other very well.
I found it hard to believe that this was Mr. Cochrane’s debut novel. He did an excellent job out the gate and carried it through to the end. It is an excellent fantasy novel for young and old.
The only reason I did not give it 5 stars is that I did not like it quiet as much as I did some others I have read and I cannot figure out how to do 4.5 stars.
October 17, 2013
Introduced by Shut up and Read.
A sweeping enchanting story set in a world where the forces of good and evil battle for sway. No, this is not a "read it before", predictable tale, it is a vivid, beautifully woven saga of magic, mayhem and mystery. Adventure abounds, wicked plots and evil questing beasts frighten and entertain. Rarely, if ever, am I faced with a book I'm actually nervous to write a review for, this was one; I was afraid I would not be able to do it justice, it is simply too excellent.
Max, pays a reluctant visit to his grandfather for his summer vacation, he is immediately marked and tracked by the creatures of darkness. Max soon discovers, not only that he admires his grandfather, but that the old man is a seasoned traveler to far flung fantasy worlds, courtesy of an intriguing time machine. He befriends Cindy, a beautiful, tomboy, and makes instant enemies with the group of town bullies, who are far more dangerous than first thought.
Max and Cindy are charming characters, full of warmth and fun. Their halting, first blush infatuation is a delight to read, both refreshing in its innocence and evocative in its promise.
Suspense, and danger force Max and Cindy into a vortex of "other worlds" for which they need to learn enthralling magical arts to survive. From believable, truly scary monsters, to shimmering fairies and stealthy night shades, this book has it all. The ambit and sheer breadth of the authors imagination is staggering and ever awe inspiring. The target market here is probably pre-teen, but for anyone who fears that wonder is merely a glimmer of vaguely remembered majesty on a fading horizon, this book will fix it totally, a fit read for both child, and the child in you. A must do fiction, more heart-stoppingly amazing than anything I've picked up in years: which kid(or adult), after all, does not want to be the hero with hard-won superpowers who is touted to save the world.
A sweeping enchanting story set in a world where the forces of good and evil battle for sway. No, this is not a "read it before", predictable tale, it is a vivid, beautifully woven saga of magic, mayhem and mystery. Adventure abounds, wicked plots and evil questing beasts frighten and entertain. Rarely, if ever, am I faced with a book I'm actually nervous to write a review for, this was one; I was afraid I would not be able to do it justice, it is simply too excellent.
Max, pays a reluctant visit to his grandfather for his summer vacation, he is immediately marked and tracked by the creatures of darkness. Max soon discovers, not only that he admires his grandfather, but that the old man is a seasoned traveler to far flung fantasy worlds, courtesy of an intriguing time machine. He befriends Cindy, a beautiful, tomboy, and makes instant enemies with the group of town bullies, who are far more dangerous than first thought.
Max and Cindy are charming characters, full of warmth and fun. Their halting, first blush infatuation is a delight to read, both refreshing in its innocence and evocative in its promise.
Suspense, and danger force Max and Cindy into a vortex of "other worlds" for which they need to learn enthralling magical arts to survive. From believable, truly scary monsters, to shimmering fairies and stealthy night shades, this book has it all. The ambit and sheer breadth of the authors imagination is staggering and ever awe inspiring. The target market here is probably pre-teen, but for anyone who fears that wonder is merely a glimmer of vaguely remembered majesty on a fading horizon, this book will fix it totally, a fit read for both child, and the child in you. A must do fiction, more heart-stoppingly amazing than anything I've picked up in years: which kid(or adult), after all, does not want to be the hero with hard-won superpowers who is touted to save the world.
November 25, 2016
Max and the Gatekeeper is the debut novel from James Todd Cochrane. The first in a planned series for young readers, Max and the Gatekeeper follows the adventures of 12-year old Max Rigdon, who is less than thrilled to be sent to his Grandpa's house for the summer. Immediately upon arrival, weird things start happening, and Max suspects his Grandpa has a secret. Along with his new friend Cindy, Max encounters adventures - and danger - beyond his wildest dreams, and far beyond the world he knows.
The Good: Max and the Gatekeeper is a fast-paced tale with plenty of action and a potent mix of magic, technology, creatures and characters, and just the right amount of violence. The premise Cochrane builds here could lead to numerous storylines in the future, so you definitely get a sense that there are more stories ahead. The spells and gadgets should appeal to young readers, especially those looking for a new adventure now that the Harry Potter series has come to an end.
The Bad: Despite Max and the Gatekeeper's potential appeal to young readers, it's not the kind of novel that adults will enjoy like they would a Harry Potter or His Dark Materials book. There's not much in the way of character development, and the pace of the story, while ideal for kids, makes the story feel rushed and not fully developed. I also had a problem with what seemed like an arbitrary division of characters into either "good" or "evil" categories. Exactly what made certain characters "evil" was never adequately explained.
The Verdict: While not without its flaws, Max and the Gatekeeper is still an entertaining debut novel from a promising writer. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to young readers, but parents and adult fans of this kind of fiction probably won't get as much out of it.
The Good: Max and the Gatekeeper is a fast-paced tale with plenty of action and a potent mix of magic, technology, creatures and characters, and just the right amount of violence. The premise Cochrane builds here could lead to numerous storylines in the future, so you definitely get a sense that there are more stories ahead. The spells and gadgets should appeal to young readers, especially those looking for a new adventure now that the Harry Potter series has come to an end.
The Bad: Despite Max and the Gatekeeper's potential appeal to young readers, it's not the kind of novel that adults will enjoy like they would a Harry Potter or His Dark Materials book. There's not much in the way of character development, and the pace of the story, while ideal for kids, makes the story feel rushed and not fully developed. I also had a problem with what seemed like an arbitrary division of characters into either "good" or "evil" categories. Exactly what made certain characters "evil" was never adequately explained.
The Verdict: While not without its flaws, Max and the Gatekeeper is still an entertaining debut novel from a promising writer. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to young readers, but parents and adult fans of this kind of fiction probably won't get as much out of it.
December 13, 2014
Max Rigdon is sent to his grandfather for the summer and unknowingly enters a centuries old fight between good and evil, where humans are rally strange creatures, and there is a gateway into another world, something like the wardrobe in The Chronicles of Narnia.
Confronting the neighbourhood bullies turns out to be entering something deeper and darker than at first glance (something like Harry Potter and his friends battles with Draco Malfoy and his Slytherins), and together with his friend Cindy, and under the tutelage of his wise grandfather who explains to him the state of strange events and the deep dark battle between good and evil behind them (much like Gandalf's talk to Frodo in his home in Hobbiton at the beginning of the Lord of the Rings).
Together with his friend Cindy and aided by Yelka the Elf they must confront the dark forces which include evil hooded figures called Nightshades (something like the Ring wraiths in Lord of the Rings).
They re-enter the strange world to rescue Cindy and are befriended by a woolly black elephant like creature.
An entertaining little read between two worlds, it also reminds me somewhat of Never ending Story and Labyrinth, as well as The Chronicles of Narnia, where teenage kids are sucked up into strange battles where they play a leading role.
Not an all time classic but young readers will enjoy this. It is entertaining and nicely written.
Confronting the neighbourhood bullies turns out to be entering something deeper and darker than at first glance (something like Harry Potter and his friends battles with Draco Malfoy and his Slytherins), and together with his friend Cindy, and under the tutelage of his wise grandfather who explains to him the state of strange events and the deep dark battle between good and evil behind them (much like Gandalf's talk to Frodo in his home in Hobbiton at the beginning of the Lord of the Rings).
Together with his friend Cindy and aided by Yelka the Elf they must confront the dark forces which include evil hooded figures called Nightshades (something like the Ring wraiths in Lord of the Rings).
They re-enter the strange world to rescue Cindy and are befriended by a woolly black elephant like creature.
An entertaining little read between two worlds, it also reminds me somewhat of Never ending Story and Labyrinth, as well as The Chronicles of Narnia, where teenage kids are sucked up into strange battles where they play a leading role.
Not an all time classic but young readers will enjoy this. It is entertaining and nicely written.
December 13, 2016
This is an exciting book about a boy, Max, who begrudgingly goes to his grandfather's house for the summer only to realize that all is not what it seems. Max's grandfather Joe is actually the the Gatekeeper who guards a gate that is the door to infinite worlds and the different magic in each one. Joe wants to train Max to be his predecessor. There are also people in the town where Joe lives and all over who want access to the Gate and are willing to fight to get it. The whole town is under a curse of evil working against Joe. In this book Max along with his new friend Cindy learn about the Gate and what everyone is willing to do to gain access to it. They learn about magic and traveling between worlds.
This story is an interesting premise. It's full of non stop action and keeps the reader interested. Max, Cindy and Joe are likable characters. I enjoyed following their adventure. The only thing I didn't quite understand was why Cindy's family was the only family who hadn't yet been affected by the curse. I know that Joe's friend helped Cindy to hold it off once she learned of it but how did they dodge it until then.
I'm excited to see what Max and Cindy get up to the next time Max goes to visit Joe. I'm sure the next adventure through the Gate will be even more wild than this one.
I would like to thank the author/narrator/publisher for generously providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This story is an interesting premise. It's full of non stop action and keeps the reader interested. Max, Cindy and Joe are likable characters. I enjoyed following their adventure. The only thing I didn't quite understand was why Cindy's family was the only family who hadn't yet been affected by the curse. I know that Joe's friend helped Cindy to hold it off once she learned of it but how did they dodge it until then.
I'm excited to see what Max and Cindy get up to the next time Max goes to visit Joe. I'm sure the next adventure through the Gate will be even more wild than this one.
I would like to thank the author/narrator/publisher for generously providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 12, 2013
I enjoyed reading this book, the fact that there was action from the start kept my A.D.D in check and if it were not for work and my family i would have been done within a few hours. I would definitley reccommend it, and now am going to go back and read books 2 - 4 of the series,
11/12/2013
I would like to add to my review that I let my 12 year old daughter (who has A.D.D.) read the book and she loved it, which for her is saying alot because she does not like reading. I did not have to force her to keep reading it she did it on her own. I did however give her a deadline just like I had for my review. When she was finished she had asked me if this was a series or just a single book. When I told her it was a series her eyes lit up and asked me to get them. I was planning on getting them anyway for myself but now this is even more of an incentive. She also rated it obviously five stars she felt she could relate to the children with the bullying and all going on in the book. She said her favorite part was when the kids were going from room to room looking at the pictures thinking they were all fake. Thank you again for the chance to read this and also for giving my daughter and I something to talk about other than boy bands and who is doing what on disney channel.
11/12/2013
I would like to add to my review that I let my 12 year old daughter (who has A.D.D.) read the book and she loved it, which for her is saying alot because she does not like reading. I did not have to force her to keep reading it she did it on her own. I did however give her a deadline just like I had for my review. When she was finished she had asked me if this was a series or just a single book. When I told her it was a series her eyes lit up and asked me to get them. I was planning on getting them anyway for myself but now this is even more of an incentive. She also rated it obviously five stars she felt she could relate to the children with the bullying and all going on in the book. She said her favorite part was when the kids were going from room to room looking at the pictures thinking they were all fake. Thank you again for the chance to read this and also for giving my daughter and I something to talk about other than boy bands and who is doing what on disney channel.
April 26, 2013
I received this book from the author for an honest review. And boy what a journey I just took!
I have been reading YA books for quite some time and find that many have different stories but the same themes. This book was refreshingly different right from the start. The characters are well rounded and very interesting. The believability level ranks right up there with Harry Potter and you want to start looking for Max and his grandfather strolling down the road. The imagery of hopping into portals or gateways into different worlds is amazing and you really do feel like you are walking along side them. There are some twists and turns which keeps the book very entertaining even for us old folks. Of course it is a book of good vs. evil and it really is a battle to the end. I would highly recommend this to anyone who loves reading YA books no matter what age. Now I can't wait to read book 2!
I have been reading YA books for quite some time and find that many have different stories but the same themes. This book was refreshingly different right from the start. The characters are well rounded and very interesting. The believability level ranks right up there with Harry Potter and you want to start looking for Max and his grandfather strolling down the road. The imagery of hopping into portals or gateways into different worlds is amazing and you really do feel like you are walking along side them. There are some twists and turns which keeps the book very entertaining even for us old folks. Of course it is a book of good vs. evil and it really is a battle to the end. I would highly recommend this to anyone who loves reading YA books no matter what age. Now I can't wait to read book 2!
February 22, 2015
I think I got this as a free Kindle read, but I really liked the book, so I continued on the next book.
I thought that the character of Max was a strong character. He was very likable, and interesting.
The character of Joe or Joseph was even more interesting. I really wanted to learn more about him and some of his adventures.
The plot of the book was simple enough, a young boy, forced to spend the summer with grandpa finds interesting secrets about himself and his family. After learning these secrets, he finds himself in an adventure that he never could have dreamed about before coming to stay with his grandfather.
I think the book is well written, and that most young adults will like it.
It is fast moving. The author, James Todd Cochrane is very good at writing action.
It is a first book, and I only expect his books to improve as each is written.
I thought that the character of Max was a strong character. He was very likable, and interesting.
The character of Joe or Joseph was even more interesting. I really wanted to learn more about him and some of his adventures.
The plot of the book was simple enough, a young boy, forced to spend the summer with grandpa finds interesting secrets about himself and his family. After learning these secrets, he finds himself in an adventure that he never could have dreamed about before coming to stay with his grandfather.
I think the book is well written, and that most young adults will like it.
It is fast moving. The author, James Todd Cochrane is very good at writing action.
It is a first book, and I only expect his books to improve as each is written.
December 5, 2010
I'm having a very hard time getting through this book. I'm only reading it because it's on our Battle of the Books list and as a coach I need to know the books. Otherwise I would have stopped long ago. It could be a great book, but there's too much going on so the author is always jumping around to explain things and all he seems to be doing is explaining. I feel it's poorly written. It's as if I'm reading the writing my third grade students turn in. Good ideas, but it needs lots of polishing and "dress ups.".
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