Book Review: Tokens and Omens

TOKENS AND OMENS by Jeri Baird is the first book in an exciting new adventure fantasy series filled with secrets, challenges, and a quest for survival.

The sixteen-year-olds in a rural village spend months preparing for a dangerous “rite-of-passage” known as “The Quest”. During this time, they receive tokens and omens based on their behavior. Although the quest is intended to test individuals, the teens soon discover that Fate may have something else in mind that has implications for the entire village.

Told in alternating chapters through the eyes of two teens, the story addresses thought-provoking questions about fate, friendship, and choices making the novel much more than your typical fantasy fare.

Librarians will find this fast-paced fantasy popular with teens who enjoy Hunger Games along with the many other recent titles that incorporate quest and game components. With well-developed characters, refreshing magic elements, and believable world-building features, this book can stand-alone. However, most readers will be looking forward to the next installment of this engaging young adult series.

To learn more about the author, go to https://jeribaird.com/.

Published by Jolly Fish Press on July 19, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Book Review: The Book Scavenger

BOOK SCAVENGER by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman is a middle grades adventure filled with quests, clues, and ciphers.

When Emily stumbles upon a strange copy of The Gold Bug by Edgar Allan Poe, she teams up with cipher-solving neighbor James to solve a mystery. However when the pair find themselves tailed by two thugs, they realize their quest has become much more than a book scavenger game.

The author did a stellar job weaving codes and ciphers into the storyline. Although adults will quickly figure out the mystery, youth are likely to be on the edge-of-their-seats until the last couple chapters.

Librarians will find a broad audience for this fast-paced suspense. Use this book as the focus of a display containing both fiction and nonfiction books focusing on treasure hunts, games, codes, and geocaching.

What makes this book particularly fun is the transmedia element. The Book Scavenger game is real and youth can participate by hiding and finding books.

To learn more about the game go to the Book Scavenger website at http://bookscavenger.com/.

To learn more about the author, go to http://www.jenniferchamblissbertman.com/.

Published by Henry Holt on June 2, 2015.