YA action fiction with Dave and Diane Munson

Paperback, 224 pages

Published 2012 by Micah House Media

ISBN 9780983559023

http://www.dianeanddavidmunson.com/books/night-flight.shtml

$4.99 eBook

$9.99 Print

I met Dave and Diane at a conference and bought one of their books--this one. Hard to believe it's been five years. The Munsons have a fun, exciting background which makes them uniquely qualified to write these linked series of stories about federal agents and their families. Night Flight is the first of a young adult series linked to the "family friendly" adult series.

Agent Bo Rider's teenaged children accidentally become involved in a federal case of counterfeit money and go to hide out with their mother's parents in Florida. Naturally they find more adventure with smuggling and a homeless child.

It's been a while since I've had teens around, so I asked my high school teaching husband about the typical teen behavior and learned the Munsons were right on target. Junior high and teen readers up to fifteen or sixteen will like these stories flavored with enough danger and adventure, and the typical teen actions like getting a driver's permit. A retired working dog named Blaze plays a prominent role, so pet people will love reading about him. Faith talk also interweaves the narrative.

The story is told from both kids, Glenna and Gregg's, viewpoints, so the reader travels right along with them as they visit the beach and scary neighbors, airport, and ride in boats. One scene is from the crook's perspective. The book is a nice length, not too short to feel as though you're missing something, but not epic fantasy length for readers who may not have the patience to sit through a longer read.

I also recommend visiting the Munson's website for more background information and a look at the  interlinking series of books. https://www.dianeanddavidmunson.com/

Book Review: The Final Hour

 

The Final Hour

By Andrew Klavan

Thomas Nelson publishers

ISBN: 9781595547156

$14.99

General Juvenile Fiction, Action & Adventure

“You’re not alone. You’re never alone.”

The Final Hour completes the four-pack of Charlie West’s adventures with the Homelanders. Charlie is a high school student, perfectly normal in studies, a black belt in karate, a young man of great faith, with loving parents and a sister. His biggest problem is that he woke up one day with no memory. Accused and convicted of murdering one of his closest friends over a girl, he’s been on the run ever since.

This last novel begins with Charlie imprisoned in a federal petitionary with hardened criminals and guards who are only a little lower on the social scale. Sent to his knees on occasion with flashes of memory detailing the last several months, Charlie realizes that he’s been on an undercover mission for the US government to infiltrate a terrorist group who call themselves the Homelanders. But like an Impossible Mission gone wholly wrong, he’s been disavowed and his one living contact to the truth, Detective Rose, has no way to convince his superiors to clear Charlie now that the terrorist cell has been broken up.

When Rose reveals to Charlie that the leader of the cell has not been caught and Charlie must remain in prison where his treatment is less than fine, Charlie connects with his former karate master and friend, Sensei Mike.

In a desperate plan to thwart the terrorists final act of mass murder, the detective, the karate master, and the imprisoned high school student work together to get past not just the remaining zealous Homelanders, but the US government officials who refuse to believe in the danger.

Fast-paced, thrilling, and fingernail-biting action kept me reading the story until the last page. Klavan manages to make me hang on Charlie’s every decision, to root for him, groan in pain and despair with him, and pray with him when nothing else can possibly make a difference. If Charlie makes it in the Air Force, I bet he’ll be cooler than Jack Ryan. Recommended for junior high and up readers.

A copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher.