Book Review: Christopher Collin and the True Okemus - The Adventure Continues

Coming soon to an Amazon outlet near you - Book Two in Enelle Lamb's great new children's adventure series, "Christopher Collin and the True Okemus." Well-known for her articles, support group website for parents of ADHD children, and a recently re-published self-help book, Enelle has created an engaging adventure series inspired in part by her son's fascination with Pokemon trading cards.

Replete with daring rescues and exciting, last minute escapes, the second book in the series, "Christopher Collin and the True Okemus: The Magician's Surprise," jumps in where the first book left off - smack in the middle of a thrilling adventure. Old friends from the first book rejoin the action, while we learn more of the Evil Nin, Teddo, and his plans, as well as meeting a new friend - a girl!

In the first book in this fun adventure series, we are introduced to our hero, Christopher Collin, his struggling, single-parenting mother, his best friend Jesse, and a colorful assortment of characters that inhabit the magical world of the True Okemus.

These fascinating creatures, some little, and some not-so-little, but each with their own powers. Despite their powers, though, they have been separated into their own small environments, their own Kemus spheres, magically imprisoned on their cards and unable to visit each other. The evil Nin, or wizard, who imprisoned the creatures is using them to replicate trading cards and finance his dreams of becoming a Great Wizard.

Christopher's new friends, Teek, Blazon, and Bubbles, have battened their hope of freedom on the young boy's assistance, deciding he is a great wizard after Christopher accidentally falls into their world through one of the magic trading cards.

Christopher confides in his best friend, Jesse, and soon both boys are adventuring in the magic realm of the cards.

As the second book begins, Nin Teddo, the evil wizard taking stock of the damage after ignominiously loosing a battle with a new and unknown challenger. Not only had this interloper sprung some of Teddo's best traps, he had bested the self-important wizard at his own game. Smarting from this take-down, Teddo vows to uncover whatever he can about this threat.

The plot thickens when Christopher awakens to discover his best friend, Jesse, is nowhere to be found. First, a Genie, then a duel with a wizard, and now this. After searching the whole apartment to no avail, Christopher Collin realizes he must search for his buddy among his Okemus friends. He needs to find Jesse before the boy's mother realizes he is missing.

Book Two in this delightful series introduces a few new characters, notably a new friend for Christopher Collin and Jesse - a girl, and the dynamic duo becomes a trio.

Young Robyn is certainly a match for the boys with her down-to-earth common sense and zest fr adventure. The addition of this new friend is not without some bumps in the road, as the children grow and develop from a two-some into a three-some. Enelle Lamb's handles her young characters' blossoming friendship with sensitivity and gentle humor.

With her flair for spinning adventure-filled plots and her crisp, believable dialogue, Enelle again demonstrates the style that makes her writing so enjoyable. Children love reading these adventures. The fast-paced stories hold their attention, while the vocabulary challenges them to stretch and grow, but does not deter young readers.

The stories are a pleasure for adults to read as well, making these books great read-to-me books, as well as super tools for parents to encourage beginning readers. Due out in the spring of 2012, the second in this fun, new series is sure to be high on every parent's reading list.

© 2011, Text by Elle Fredine, All rights reserved