MARVELOUS MIDDLE
GRADE MONDAY
The Camelot Kids, Part One
By
Ben Zackheim
“The Camelot Kids, Volume One,” by Ben Zackheim, is the
introduction to his Camelot Kids Series. As such, it’s more of a “teaser” than
a full blown middle grade novel. I’ll review it as an introduction and hope to
interest you in Volume Two, as I am interested.
I’ve reviewed two of Mr. Zackheim’s middle grade books, “Shirley
Link and the Safe Case” and “Shirley Link and the Hot Comic.” Both are easy
read middle grade stories. They keep your attention and move quickly. However,
they just whet your appetite for more, as they are meant to.
This one is no
different. It starts out with the main character, Simon Sharp, living in New
York City, immediately garnering our sympathy as he becomes an orphan and goes
to live in an orphanage. He makes an intriguing statement “I hate you King Arthur.”
From there it goes from bad to worse for Simon.
Simon is bullied at the orphanage with just Sister Alphonse
his one true friend there. He goes to a series of horrible foster homes, just to
escape the bullies at the orphanage. After Sister Alphonse passes, Simon goes
to live in Scotland with an uncle he doesn’t know who offers room, board and an
education. Strange things happen before he leaves New York and even stranger
things on the plane ride there. When he arrives at his uncle’s “castle,” there
are more strange and fantastic things awaiting him—along with a new school and
a new school bully. Simon has to figure out what’s real, who can he trust, and
who and what is he. His life is now a fantastic adventure as he joins the
Camelot kids, meeting people and creatures who he thought were myths.
The story is fast-paced, exciting, and just the kind of
story reluctant readers will enjoy. Although aimed at boy readers, there are a
some interesting girl characters to entice girl readers. With the backdrop of a
present day and historical Scotland, plus lots of mythical people and creatures,
I thoroughly recommend this story to middle grade readers.
Information on Ben Zackheim is at http://www.benzackheim.com.
Tags:
Simon Sharp, orphans, bullies, New York City, The Camelot
Kids, Ben Zackheim, King Arthur, Lancelot, Knights of the Round Table, The
Arthurian Legend, castles, Scotland, Guinivere, Merlin, wizards, trolls,
gargoyles, trust, friendship, truth, trust, heroes, great deeds, family, home
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