Brightstorm: 1 (The Brightstorm Chronicles)

Product Information

Family isn’t always what you’re born into. It’s what you do for each other and the experiences you go through together that make a family.” Math Genie provides step-by-step solutions to math problems uploaded by users. Genie covers math problems ranging from pre-algebra to calculus. Users may ask up to three math problems per month and are guaranteed to receive solutions within 48 hours. [15]

If I were to compare this book to a film, I would recall some PG-rated classics such as ‘The Adventures of Baron Munchausen’ or ‘The Princess Bride,’ fantasy films that both children and adults could adore. I can picture myself reading this in middle school and becoming one of my favorites. Brightstorm. would be an excellent birthday present to a niece or nephew, or just to read to your kids at night. If not just for yourself, of course.Clear Sky should not have let her decoy killer eagles while she was expecting! That’s just… ridiculous. I’m not big on toms pampering their mates while they’re expecting (or any other time, for that matter) but this was just common sense. I feel like Clear Sky really struggled with knowing how you should treat your mate, and that he was not protective enough of Bright Stream, but overprotective of Storm and Star Flower. Bright Stream should not have even been involved in the eagle fight. I loved the found family trope in this book. I loved to see them still keeping their parents in their hearts but also finding people who will always care for them and love them. The crew of the Aurora was really precious. The plot was also pretty good. You would think a story simply about a crew of people travelling would be boring, but the author managed to keep me invested throughout! The pacing was very well done, as it was neither too fast nor too slow, and it had enough action to keep my interest. I do think that the mystery could’ve been more, y’know, ~mysterious~, as it was kinda obvious all the way through… but oh well *shrugs* It didn’t really affect my enjoyment in the long run. Miller, Claire Cain, "A Start-Up Helps With the Run-Up to College", The New York Times, October 21, 2008

What follows is a fun and fast-paced adventure reminiscent of a mix of Around the World in 80 Days and Lara Croft (if she was a kid), with mysteries to solve, a race to win, magical beasts, a steampunky world, and personal challenges to face. This is a very well-paced book, with plenty of action and high-stakes, as well as lovely personal and tender moments and introspection. I also loved how Hardy handled Arthur's feelings about his disability and how he overcame his anxieties around it.The basic set-up of the story is quite similar to lots of MG books: one of the protagonist’s parents died; they realise there might be more to it than that; they go on a miraculous journey to discover the truth; etc. I went into it kinda expecting it to average- but it definitely surprised me. Because although Brightstorm might not be the most original book out there, it’s still SUPER entertaining!!