The League and the Lantern (Middle School Fiction Review and Giveaway)

Happy May! Summer is creeping up on us, and with summer comes the need for some good summer reading, yes? I'll be having a few reviews and posts with ideas in the coming weeks to help keep your kids (and maybe *you*) supplied with good books this summer.

First up is The League and the Lantern, a debut title by Brian Wells. Brian is an executive producer who has worked on many award winning network television movies. He knows what "Interesting" looks like! When he had a difficult time finding current fiction for his children to read that included entertaining and engaging story lines with characters worth emulating, instead of the inappropriately mature and dark plots that are so common today,  he chose to create rather than complain. Great idea that!

The League and the Lantern is an adventurous read for the Middle School ages. There's some mystery, some history, a smidge of sci-fi, and a LOT of pop culture references for kicks (running the gamut from The Princess Bride to Sonic the Hedgehog, To Kill a Mockingbird to all the major Super Hero Characters... my daughter lost count, but it was like a treasure hunt to see what would be mentioned next!).

Mixed in with the story, Brian also promotes rich vocabulary literacy, having woven in 140 of the top middle school vocabulary words. My  daughter wasn't aware of this information when she read the book, and can attest to the fact that their integration is unnoticeable and seamless. I love a book that uses good words! As a bonus, if you sign in to the League and Lantern website, you will find (among other resources and fun things) a vocabulary guide for parents, which documents the words, their context, and offers some vocabulary exercises to help judge comprehension. Pretty nice little bonus if you want to include a little learning in that summer reading! :)

From the publisher (Because I don't want to give anything away, I'll use their synopsis :) )
Jake Herndon’s middle school sleepover takes a shocking turn when a dangerous organization invades. As he and his new friends Lucy and TJ race for their lives on the streets of Chicago they unravel a centuries-old mystery and an incredible secret about Jake’s family. Packed with unforgettable characters, mind-bending twists and laugh-out loud humor, The League and The Lantern is a ride you won’t soon forget.

Don't you love it when one action serves a dual purpose? I have some good news for you! If you purchase a hardcover copy of The League and the Lantern this spring or summer from the League and Lantern website, you will be providing a free book to a needy child as well as your own. Click here to read more about their partnership with local and national organizations.

Action/Adventure with a bit of a National Treasure feel, this is a book that your 5th-8th grader will most likely enjoy reading, and hey, they might even learn something along the way! You can check out a sneak preview of the first six chapters of The League and the Lantern at The League and Lantern website.

And if you hurry, you can enter my giveaway for a free copy of The League and the Lantern, ends Wednesday, May 25.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can also visit The League and the Lantern's Social Media pages for more information and discussion:
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube

Blessings~

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.