The Adventure in the Magical World
One night. Four wishes. A magical planet that won’t let them leave until they learn to be friends.
When four rivals from the same fourth-grade class are mysteriously transported to a magical world, they learn the hard truth: either work together or stay trapped forever.
Athletic Lyle, genius Percy, disabled Erica, and privileged Belle must battle bloodthirsty pirates on the open sea, a massive serpent in a dark forest, a ghost in haunted swamps, and a witch who rules the frozen mountains.
But every failure sends them back to the beginning. And with dragons waiting in their final trial, these kids will have to do the impossible: overcome their differences to work together… or be trapped in an endless loop of battles they can’t win alone.
The only way home is together... if their pride doesn’t destroy them first.
The Adventure in the Magical World is catching on.
And to prove it, the mother of one of my readers kindly emailed me updates. (But I promised I wouldn’t include his name, so I’m substituting it with “John.”)
In earlier updates, she told me that she and her husband had a tough time getting John out of bed and to school one morning — because the previous night, they received their paperback copy of The Adventure in the Magical World.
And he couldn’t put it down!
Then, one evening, she returned home late from a PTO meeting and found John… still up and stillreading the book! And she couldn’t get him to bed because all he wanted to do was update her on the adventure!
When he finished the book, she sent me the final report. Here’s what she had to say:
“[John wants] me to let you know that he finished your book a few days after he started it!
He’s asking me to write the following: ‘I am so happy that you wrote such an interesting book. That's one of the best books I have ever read. One question: will you put the same characters in the next book please?’
Every week he has to write an essay about a chapter book… He usually writes 1-1½ page(s).
He decided to write an essay about [The Adventure in the Magical World] for school — and wrote 7½ pages (as an 8-year-old!!!).
[He] spent a whole Saturday (from 10am to 7pm!) and half a Sunday writing his essay, because he loved your book so much!
We celebrated his achievement: of both reading a 500+-page book and writing 7½ pages about it.”
Isn’t that amazing? I really think so!
In case you’re uncertain if your child can tackle such a big book, John did, couldn’t put it down, and LOVED it. And he’s eagerly awaiting book two!
Why not encourage your child to take it in small bites instead of one big mouthful?
Read a chapter a night or, since some are bigger chapters, read to the section break (that’s the image of a planet and stars that crops up throughout chapters) and then call it a night.
As with any book, it usually takes a chapter or two before you start to get into it. But once the Swallowtail Four are in the Magical World, I bet, like John, your kid will have a hard time putting it down, too.
It really is a wonderful adventure.
Q: What age is this book appropriate for?
A: While written for ages 9-13, advanced younger readers (8+) who enjoy fantasy adventures may also appreciate the story. The book features positive messages about friendship, self-worth, and working together.
Q: Is the content scary?
A: While the characters face challenges like pirates and dragons, the focus is on friendship, problem-solving, and teamwork rather than scary elements. The tone remains appropriate for middle-grade readers.
Q: How is vocabulary handled in the book?
A: Challenging words have footnote definitions for immediate understanding while reading. A complete Glossary in the back provides an excellent opportunity for vocabulary building. Parents and teachers might consider using these words for vocabulary cards or learning activities.
Q: Why are there weapons in a children's book?
A: The weapons in the story exist only in the Magical World where they're used safely as part of the fantasy adventure. The book includes a clear message in the Front Matter emphasizing that weapons in the real world are dangerous and should never be handled by children without proper adult supervision and guidance.
Q: How long is the book?
A: The book is 513 pages with 23 full-page illustrations. While this might seem long, the engaging story and illustrations keep young readers interested throughout the adventure.
Q: Which format should I choose?
A: The story is identical in all formats:
Q: Did you use AI in creating this book?
A: While writing The Adventure in the Magical World, I used AI as a research assistant to verify scientific concepts for Percy’s character and brainstorm some character names. This is similar to how authors traditionally use research assistants or consultants.
The story, characters, plot, dialogue, and all creative elements are entirely my own work. (Well, four kids came up with the main characters’ names and looks.) AI served only as a fact-checking tool to enhance technical accuracy, much like using an encyclopedia or consulting an expert.
Q: Why does the first illustration appear softer than the others?
A: This is an interesting effect of printing on cream paper! The first illustration contains more light elements, which create a gentler appearance when printed on cream-colored pages. It's similar to how watercolors look different on white versus cream paper. The subsequent illustrations, which feature more shadows and darker elements, maintain stronger contrast naturally on the cream paper.
Crafting passionate tales for adult hearts and creating magical worlds for young minds!
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