September 2015
Amazon
$4.99
12.99
Children's Fantasy
for advanced readers ages 9-12
From the author:
Imogene is only five years old when her parents suddenly and
mysteriously disappear. Left with no choice but to live with an abrasive
relative, she finds comfort in the alliance she's forged with an unlikely
friend. She secretly holds dear, her mother's last words. "Five years,
Imogene. I shall come for you in five years." Imogene sadly soon learns,
that things are not always as they seem. Upon reaching the age of ten, she has
new confidence, and eagerly awaits her parents' return. Under the encouragement
of her friend, Imogene embarks on a journey to an incredible world, learns who
she really is, and where her true destiny lies.
My review:
Imogene of the Pacific Kingdom is a mix of other wildly
popular adventures for younger readers, without the gore and murder situations found
in stories for slightly older readers. The story is lengthy, with a vocabulary
that may require occasional explanation.
A daughter is left in the care of an uncompassionate
relative during her youth, and learns at age ten that she is no ordinary child.
Imogene’s strange and compelling love of water nearly gets her in trouble with
the relative who thinks perhaps soccer is more suitable. When the time is
right, Imogene’s parents do not return…Imogene is drawn to them in their fantastic
world. Imogene quickly adjusts to her new life with her quirky new gifts, until
the Pacific Kingdom is in danger once more.
As the author notes, it’s up to Imogene to not only learn,
but follow her true destiny. I tried to read the story through the eyes of a
fourth or fifth grader and enjoyed Imogene’s spunk. As a parent and
grandparent, however, I was sometimes dismayed at an occasional lapse of
respect for adults, even if Imogene’s cantankerous aunt was quite over the top,
Lemony Snicket-style. Although I imagine young readers won’t notice the healthy
amount of exclamation points on a page, they really weren’t necessary as the
dialog and action moved along just fine. I think the story would have been much
stronger if the author had chosen only one or two characters to narrate,
at least at one time, instead of an occasionally confusing multiple point of view
style. That would have allowed Imogene to carry the story with her own heroism.
Imogene of the Pacific Kingdom is aimed at older elementary school female readers, though boys would
certainly find much to like as well.
The next book in the series, Dager of the Tasman Empire, releases February 24.
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