Donna Galanti’s latest novel, Joshua and the Lightning Road, is an action adventure novel that kept me entertained from beginning to end. This may be for the younger crowd, but there is no reason you and I can’t enjoy it too and I did, very much.
MY REVIEW
This is a story of friendship, love, sacrifice, hope and courage. A wonderful, magical, mystery adventure for kids of all ages.
This book could start out: It was a dark and stormy night…
Joshua is the worrier and Finn is the adventurer. Finn is his Joshua’s best friend.
Their game of hide and seek ended badly. The lightning struck and when Joshua could see again Finn was gone and he was left with a warning…
He would be next.
So…it’s down the Lightning Road to find the answers. Let’s go together, shall we?
The descriptive writing showed me the road and I traveled it with Joshua.
There was the Child Collector who steals kids to sell.
The Reekers, because of their smell, he things they are stinky.
Giant ravens, like the Wizard of Oz monkeys and giant rats.
Myths, Greek Gods, and super powers.
Flying deer, sound familiar?
Takers – Earth people who came looking for the missing children. Not all are good.
Prophecy – one born who is part Earth human, part Nostos and part Olympian – the Oracle – all powerful. He could bring back all twelve gods. They would have to do good and close the Lightning Road forever.
I thought of so many movies I have watched that could have contributed to the writing of this story: Indiana Jones, where Kalimar abducts children to make them slaves; Harry Potter with his magic; the Neverending story.
Once I put my mind together with my inner child and let my imagination follow Joshua, the roller coaster ride shot out of the gate…
The characters are giving and go above and beyond anyone’s expectations. Some put their lives on the line for friends, family and all the missing children, while the others are so despicable, it makes me want to climb into the book and put them on the hamster wheel to produce the power, then finish them off after a suitable amount of torture.
Donna writes with humor interlaced throughout, giving this adventure that light touch that keeps it to a comfortable level for the youngsters.
“Mizzle – misty drizzle. “…we’re being mizzled right now.” “Better than being whizzled on.”
“If I ever got home again I would cherish every minute being bored. Bored was better than dead. “
I received this book in return for an honest review.
5 Stars
ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: Joshua and the Lightning Road
Publication date: May 19, 2015
Publisher: Month9Books, LLC.
Author: Donna Galanti
SYNOSIS
Stay away from the window, don’t go outside when it’s storming and whatever you do, do not touch the orb.
Twelve-year-old Joshua Cooper’s grandpa has always warned him about the dangers of lightning. But Joshua never put much stock in his grandpa’s rumblings as anything more than the ravings of an old man with a vast imagination. Then one night, when Joshua and his best friend are home alone during a frightful storm, Joshua learns his grandpa was right. A bolt of lightning strikes his house and whisks away his best friend—possibly forever.
To get him back, Joshua must travel the Lightning Road to a dark place that steals children for energy. But getting back home and saving his friend won’t be easy, as Joshua must face the terrifying Child Collector and fend off ferocious and unnatural beasts intent on destroying him.
In this world, Joshua possesses powers he never knew he had, and soon, Joshua’s mission becomes more than a search for his friend. He means to send all the stolen children home—and doing so becomes the battle of his life.
Donna is the author of the Joshua and The Lightning Road series and the Element Trilogy. She is a contributing editor to International Thriller Writers the Big Thrill magazine and blogs at www.project-middle-grade-mayhem.blogs…, a cooperative of published middle grade authors. Visit her at www.donnagalanti.com and www.ElementTrilogy.com. Donna wanted to be a writer ever since she wrote a murder mystery screenplay at seven and acted it out with the neighborhood kids. She attended an English school housed in a magical castle, where her wild imagination was held back only by her itchy uniform (bowler hat and tie included!). There she fell in love with the worlds of C.S. Lewis and Roald Dahl, and wrote her first fantasy about Dodo birds, wizards, and a flying ship (and has been writing fantasy ever since). She’s lived in other exotic locations, including her family-owned campground in New Hampshire and in Hawaii where she served as a U.S. Navy photographer. She now lives with her family and two crazy cats in an old farmhouse and dreams of returning one day to a castle.
Author Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
GIVEAWAY
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This book had everything and more! I’m happy dancing that you loved it too!
This was a surprise to me and I loved it. I loved Donna’s writing and will read anything that has her name on it. 🙂
Laura and Sherry, thanks for your awesome words! You made my day. And thanks for hosting the Joshua and the Lightning Road blog tour! Book 2, Joshua and the Arrow Realm will be out this winter (as soon as I finish revising and send back to my editor!).
If you need any reviews, let me know. I would love to continue reading about Joshua and I am always ready for an adventure. 🙂