“Fright Train is the third book in the Weirdville series by author Majanka Verstraete and is a great addition to the collection. The Doll Maker set a unique stage for the chapter book genre, feeding on some of the basic fears that children have, and react to dramatically. One could try to compare these to the R.L. Stine series, but they would be wrong to narrowly define them in such a way. Verstraete has a very unique storytelling style that touches the child within, but also reaches the adult reader.
Fright Train was closer in story style and overall fear factor to The Doll Maker and gets a slight edge on the LIKE meter for that fact alone. All three books have earned the same ranking, and will remain as such.
I feel that Verstraete has a clear construction of a setting for her stories, with the town of Weirdville, and her characters all fit into the dramatic setting. Playing on the innate fears that young people have, is a subject that can work well, or fail miserably and I think that Fright Train was right on target... not too scary, but just enough to make you squirm.” – Penelope Anne Bartotto
DROWNING IN FEAR
(A Weirdville Book – #4)
This spooky (in a fun way) lower grade adventure, perfect for kids 7-10 years old, is now available. For more information about this book, please visit the Evolved Publishing website.
~~~~~
For as long as he can remember, Nolan has been afraid of drowning. The fear is so bad he can’t even go swimming with his friends.
In an attempt to help him get over his fears, his Dad signs him up for a summer camp near Lake Weird. Ever since Nolan heard the news, he’s been having nightmares about an abandoned cabin near a lake, and about him drowning in water thick as blood.
Nolan is certain his nightmares are related to his fear of drowning, but when he arrives at summer camp, and finds out there’s a cabin near Lake Weird that matches the withered cabin from his nightmares, he realizes something more sinister is going on.
Can Nolan find out the reason why he’s spent his entire life being afraid of drowning? How is it connected to the spooky cabin from his nightmares, and the lake surrounded by creepy, crawling mist?
~~~~~
Praise for Drowning in Fear:
“I read this last night because it’s a kid’s book and it won’t be creepy right? WRONG! I’m a wuss for sure. It was creeptastic but not gory so I don’t mind my girls reading it. I was surprised at how well developed the characters were and they held MY attention. I actually cared about what happened. ... Drowning in Fear reminds me of the books I grew up with by RL Stine and Christopher Pike. If you loved those these will be perfect.” – BoookLover
VALENTINA AND THE HAUNTED MANSION
(Valentina’s Spooky Adventures – #1)
The first book in the Valentina’s Spooky Adventures series is now available. For more information on this book, please visit the Evolved Publishing website.
~~~~~
Valentina isn’t thrilled with her parents’ decision to move into an ancient, gigantic mansion in the middle of nowhere—filled with dark, unsettling rooms, and far away from civilization, where they don’t have to worry about hiding who they are. Sure, it may be perfect for a vampire family like hers, but moving here meant leaving her best friends behind.
The new house has some perks, though. Valentina gets to choose her own room, and when she explores the mansion on her own, she discovers a trophy room, a museum room, a music room, and much more.
From the moment Valentina started exploring, however, she’s felt someone watching her. Strange things start to happen all around her: footprints appear in the dust, a disembodied voice sneezes....
...and just because Valentina is a vampire, doesn’t mean she doesn’t get scared like any other little girl.
~~~~~
Praise for Valentina and the Haunted Mansion:
“This is such a cute book with beautiful illustrations. I read this book to my 8 year old [sic] niece, well actually my niece read me the book. She loved it and couldn’t wait to turn the page so she could find out what happens next. I have to say she was disappointed because it ended too soon. My niece and I both didn’t want it to end.” – weluvdopey, Reviewer at Amazon
“Valentina and the Haunted Mansion is an adorable children’s book. The story is engaging, and the illustrations are lovely. My eight year old [sic] daughter also read this book, and she really liked it.” – Karen Arrowood
“I loved the story and the illustrations are very well done also. I can tell this one is going to become a fast favourite with my grandchildren at bed time. Will be watching out for the next installment of Valentina’s adventures.” – Book Worm Deb
“I was going to wait to read this with my little ones but the story was so cute and the illustrations too adorable to resist. Valentina is a little vampire who is afraid of monsters and doesn’t want to move into a new house...sounds like any parents child. Kids will be able to relate to her while finding the story fun and exciting. Don’t worry about a young child being scared, this story is not scary and the words the author uses to describe everyday spooks will leave you in hysterics!” – Taterbug78, Reviewer at Amazon
VALENTINA AND THE WHACKADOODLE WITCH
(Valentina’s Spooky Adventures – #2)
The second children’s picture book in the Valentina’s Spooky Adventures series, suitable for kids 4-8 years old, is now available. For more information on this book, please visit the Evolved Publishing website.
~~~~~
It’s not every day that a witch gets stuck in your chimney, dangling upside down.
When Valentina and her newfound friend Jerry play dress-up in the attic, the Whackadoodle Witch comes crashing down the chimney. She claims to be one of the most powerful witches of all time, but even she can’t free herself without a spell book.
Just one problem: that spell book was snatched by Meanie Muggers, invisible thieves who steal valuable objects and hide them where you’d least expect.
If Valentina and Jerry want to help the witch, they’ll have to search the house from top to bottom. Not an easy task in a house crawling with monsters in all shapes and sizes.
VALENTINA AND THE MASKED MUMMY
(Valentina’s Spooky Adventures – #3)
The third children’s picture book in the Valentina’s Spooky Adventures series, suitable for kids 4-8 years old, is now available. For more information on this book, please visit the Evolved Publishing website.
~~~~~
When noises shake Valentina’s bedroom in the middle of the night, and her resident ghost, Jerry, hides under her bed, the little vampire girl tumbles into yet another adventure.
Eager to investigate the source of the uproar, she bumps into her brother Vlad in the hallway. He’s as clueless as she is, but at least he’s not as terrified of the noises as Jerry.
The trio follows the noise to the museum room, where they find an opened sarcophagus, and a mummy wearing a mask....
More from Evolved Publishing
We hope you loved The Clumsy Magician. If so, then you’re sure to love these other wonderful books for kids, too!
For lovers of mildly scary but mostly fun Lower Grade adventures in the style of classic fairy tales (suitable for readers 7-11 years old):
THE UNDERGROUND PRINCESS
(A Balderdash Saga)
By J.W. Zulauf
The first book in the Balderdash Saga series, suitable for kids 7-11 years old, is now available. For more information on this book, please visit the Evolved Publishing website.
~~~~~
Not all fairytales take place in rolling hills or along sparkling beaches. Some happen right below our very feet like the corpses they are....
~~~~~
Princess Scarlet is on a journey to find true love, but a malevolent force, Maleer, is in the process of dethroning her father, King Hurlock. Maleer intends to rule the underground kingdom of Balderdash, build an army, and break through the ground to invade the land of the living.
; As Scarlet runs out of options to save those that matter most, she is forced to make decisions that will determine the fate of her entire kingdom.
~~~~~
Meet many friends, and a couple foes, on your visit to Balderdash. Whether you’re searching for true love with Princess Scarlet, or fighting for honor with Roland, the pirate knight, there is something for every reader within this coffin tale.
~~~~~
Praise for The Underground Princess:
“This fabulous book completely took me by surprise. When I read the book summary I thought to myself “Oh dear, a zombie book for middle grade”. But, this book is nothing like what I expected. This book features brilliant writing from the author, believable and relatable characters (yes, even though they are “dead”), and a clever yet simple plot. The story uses basic themes pulled from classic fairy tales (e.g., girl wants to fall in love, evil person trying to rule the world, girl finds true love, etc.); but, the twist of having dead (and decaying) characters living in an underground world provides unique and innovative scenarios which resulted in the creation of a riveting and original story.
“A word about the illustrations … the book features roughly one illustration (by Luke Spooner) per chapter and for a middle grade audience, that is definitely a good thing! Because the book features characters who are in various states of decay, I felt that it was not only appropriate to include images of the characters but advantageous so that children’s imaginations would not lead them to something more frightening than what is depicted in the story. While the illustrations are creepy, they are not frightening so I felt the illustrator did a good job in depicting various scenes and characters in such a way to not give children nightmares.
“My Bottom Line:
“The Underground Princess is a fabulous and unique book that completely took me by surprise. It features exceptional writing, relatable characters, and a very clever plot with underlying messages about loyalty, courage, beauty, and love. I highly recommend this book to children ages 6 to 12 as a great read-aloud book or for those interested in reading something with a touch of macabre. This one is definitely a candidate for a Hidden Gem Award by MDBR in the future!” – Mother Daughter Book Reviews
For lovers of humorous Lower Grade adventures in the style of classic fairy tales (suitable for readers 7-11 years old):
TALES FROM UPON A. TIME
By Falcon Storm
1) The Persnickety Princess
2) Natalie the Not-So-Nasty
These lower grade adventures are perfect for kids 7-11 years old. For more information on these books, please visit the Evolved Publishing website.
~~~~~
The Persnickety Princess:
High up in the tallest tower of the purplest castle in the Kingdom by the Sea, Princess Lavender awaits rescue. Desperate as she may be, only the most dashing, well dressed, properly mannered prince will do. Oh, and he must stand exactly four and three-quarters inches taller than her. A princess has got to have standards, after all.
When, finally, one such prince comes to her castle—not to rescue her, but her younger sister—Lavender refuses to be ignored. Instead of waiting for the next suitor to come along, she devises a plan to put herself in danger, thus forcing the upstart prince to forget her sister and rescue her instead.
Well accustomed to getting her way, there is only one thing, unfortunately, that this princess can’t control—her luck. When her plans go awry, putting her in very real danger, will she allow the prince to rescue her as he sees fit? Will he even want to try?
And will anyone be able to find a way to rescue Lavender from her persnickety ways once and for all? Find out in this comedic tale of princes, dragons, and dreams that just may come true.
~~~~~
Praise for The Persnickety Princess:
“This book was utterly delightful. Although I’m no where near the target age group for this book, I still found it completely entrancing and adorable. This is the type of story that could get children who don’t enjoy reading, nose deep in a book. I have decided that this will be my son’s first fairy tale chapter book. I can not wait to read this too [sic] him! Unfortunately, it’s still a bit big for him. I might try anyhow, just because I had so much fun with it that I can’t wait to share that delight with my child. This is a book that belongs on every child’s book shelf!” – pinkspo0n “HF” (at Amazon)
“The Persnickety Princess is the first novel by Alaskan author Falcon Storm, and I think it’s a fine start. His style of writing is charming and appealing. His characters are fun and the story itself kept me interested and, I felt, had a good moral to pass on for girls and boys. Also, the men of the tale being closer to average height than most “heroes” in fiction is a nice change and a nice detail. You don’t have to be six foot four to be a hero.” – M. Fenn
“This is a wonderful read, full of humor and unexpected moments that left me laughing and shaking my head-in a good way! I especially enjoyed Upon A. Time, the narrator of the story. He’s a bard-excuse me, Bard, because you can’t forget the capital “B”-who finds himself captive after causing a little too much commotion. As a Bard is want [sic] to do, he decides to tell a tale in hopes of getting himself out of trouble. His quirky sense of humor is great, and I can’t wait to see what he will do in the next installment. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys fairytales, or has a little one to read to at night. I’m sure they’ll enjoy it.” – Jamie B. Musings
~~~~~
Award for Natalie the Not-So-Nasty
~~~~~
Natalie the Not-So-Nasty:
In the quaint little village of Austerville, people live in fear of the local Wicked Witch. Luckily for the Witch, though, they have many a squabble and always seem to be in need of a custom-ordered hex or curse.
Neighbor painted his mailbox a color you don’t like? Optico Cadorn! His house is flooded with kumquats.
Someone forgot to say “Good morning!” as she passed you on the street? Levinta Bam! She won’t be able to sleep for a week.
Such a thriving business would be a dream come true for any Wicked Witch, but there’s just one problem: Natalie may be a little clumsy, but she isn’t even the slightest bit wicked.
Alas, no matter how often she tries to explain her true character, the townspeople refuse to listen. It certainly doesn’t help that every time someone requests a curse, something terrible befalls the object of their malcontent. They chalk this manufactured malfeasance up to the Wicked Witch, strengthening her reputation and the demand for her services.
When a young Alchemist accidentally fills the town with the noxious fumes of his newest potion, they turn to Natalie for her greatest curse yet. Can she convince him of her pure intentions, or will he, too, run away in fear? Will Natalie find herself questioning whether she really might be wicked, after all? Find out in this comedic tale of witches, rumors, and the magic of finding yourself.
For lovers of Middle Grade Sci-Fi (suitable for readers 8-14 years old):
THE NOAH ZARC TRILOGY
By D. Robert Pease
Book 1 – Noah Zarc: Mammoth Trouble
Book 2 – Noah Zarc: Cataclysm
Book 3 – Noah Zarc: Declaration
This middle grade science fiction series is perfect for kids 8-14 years old, full of space adventures, time travel, and more. For more information on these books, please visit the Evolved Publishing website.
~~~~~
Multiple Award Winner, including:
~~~~~
OR GET ALL 3 BOOKS IN 1, WITH
SPECIAL BONUS ILLUSTRATIONS, IN:
NOAH ZARC: OMNIBUS
By D. Robert Pease
~~~~~
NOAH ZARC: MAMMOTH TROUBLE:
Noah lives for piloting spaceships through time, dodging killer robots and saving Earth’s animals from extinction. Life couldn’t be better. But the twelve-year-old time traveler learns it could be a whole lot worse. His mom is kidnapped and taken to Mars; his dad is stranded i
n the Ice Age; and Noah is attacked at every turn by a foe bent on destroying Earth... for the second time.
~~~~~
NOAH ZARC: CATACLYSM:
Thirteen-year-old Noah Zarc rockets to Venus in a quest to learn more about his past. He refuses to believe his father is really the monster everyone says he is. Could there be valid reasons for everything he’s done, including abandoning Noah at birth?
While searching for answers to secrets no one wants to talk about, even those that have remained hidden for over a thousand years, Noah becomes embroiled in a mission that could cause the greatest cataclysm in the history of the solar system. Will his name, Noah Zarc, be forever linked to the most devastating crime in humanity’s existence, all because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time?
~~~~~
NOAH ZARC: DECLARATION:
As battles rage across the solar system, Noah must work to join together a rag-tag bunch of miners, farmers, and scientists who would rather just live in peace. With only a time-traveling ship full of animals and a general from the history books, the Zarc family has to stand against the full might of the Poligarchy. Will the truth about what really happened a thousand years in the past be enough to stop total war, or will Noah and his friends need to find another way to bring down a dictator?
~~~~~
Praise for Noah Zarc: Mammoth Trouble:
“Pease’s strength as a storyteller lies in his ability to connect multiple time periods imaginatively, as well as Noah’s excited, fast-paced narration.” – Publishers Weekly
“The story of Noah Zarc, although set in a science fiction world is really a thriller, and I can say that the action never stops! Devoid of any major fight sequences, it still does not lack action. Some of the flight sequences are edge-of-the-seat affairs, as Noah is seen trying either to follow someone or at other times, run away from people following him. The story also has a number of twists and you really don’t know the intentions of the bad guy until quite late in the story. There are a couple of big twists in the story which really define the direction the story takes.” – Ritesh Kala’s Book Reviews
Weirdville: The Clumsy Magician (Lower Grade Spooky Fun Adventure) Page 6
